Land of Spirit

Hi,  It’s hard to believe it is January and work has already begun on a new show.  Seems like yesterday when we put The Last Hard Times to bed.   But, I’ve missed the Land of Spirit (LOS) Family and it’s exciting to start work again.

Today, Genny Cole & I actually worked on a grant for funding the 2010 play - boy, deadlines get earlier and earlier when the monies get tighter and tighter.  However, we can get this out of the way and then have fun working on the 2009 production.  

There has already been a 2009 planning meeting with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and A Greater Lavonia Community Foundation, Inc. (AGLC, Inc.).  And, AGLC, Inc. has met and laid out who is responsible for what tasks for the upcoming production.  This year, AGLC, Inc. will be in charge of operating the Lavonia Cultral Center, including Land of Spirit. 

It has been fun running into LOS cast and crew members since the show closed in the fall.  Children run up and give you a big hug and adults act as if we have known each other for years.  I saw Louise Allison last week (the day before her 91st Birthday) and she was wanting to know if I had the dates yet for when we would hold auditions for 2009 - and, then there was Jerry King I saw at the local art show and he was asking the same question.   Ray Stowers came by the Welcome Center this week and he said he was ready to get started, as well.  So, I guess after 32 regular and two VIP shows last year, we still have folks wanting to come back and be in the 2009 show.

We already know there will be a big change for 2009 - only 18 shows.  Four full weekends in June (16) and Thursday and Friday (2) of the first weekend in July.  With July 4th falling on a Saturday - we decided our last performance would be on Friday night, July 3.  NO Saturday show on July 4.   

With concerns for the economy and trying to compete with football, it was decided to NOT have a fall remount of this year’s production.   Actually, it was probably due more to competition with football than the economy.  Franklin County is sandwiched between three powerhouse teams. . . The University of Georgia, Clemson, and Georgia Tech!  No way can we get enough actors to work during those major games - we learned our lesson well in 2008 on the Georgia -Florida game weekend - don’t schedule plays for this time period!

Get out your calendar - mark these dates:  June 4-5-6     11-12-13   18-19-20  25-26-27 and July 2-3.  These are show dates and performances will begin at 7:30 PM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and the Saturday Matinee will begin at 2:30 PM.   Time is up for bloging tonight - more details will be posted at we get plans finalized.

Wonder what will be the name for this year’s play?????? 

 See you at the theater, Judy