Land of Spirit

Last week I had what we call the ’sinus crud.’  Coughing, sore throat, talking just a little above a whisper - maybe even sounded a bit like a frog!  It was the third week I had suffered with ‘welcome to spring in the south’!  On Tuesday I was downtown at the Welcome Center finishing up paper work from Land of Spirit auditions when in came M.J.  Miser from 92.1 WLHR Radio.  She was very excited and wanted comments about President Obama being invited to come see Land of Spirit!

Genny and I laughed and said, sure we’re sending an invitation.  We think this play will spark an interest with the President - we’re talking about Victory Gardens in the 1940’s and the First Family is planting a Victory Garden on the South Lawn of the White House.  The tough times of the 1940’s (during World War II)mirrors some of the tough times we are facing today - there are lessons to be learned from history!

M.J. whipped out her digital tape recorder and Genny said a few words, then she turned to me.  I said, “oh no, I sound like a frog - I don’t want to be on the radio.”  She said, “oh but let me hear what you have to say about the President.” 

Dumb!  Dumb! I said why I thought we should invite the President - we wanted him to see that we, the people of Franklin County, were bonding together for a cause - just as we are bonding today, neighbor to neighbor helping each other through tough times.  That’s what our play is about!  They did it in World War II and we can do it in 2009!  But, please don’t put this on the radio - I sound like a frog.  She gave that sweet little smile and said Thank You.

In a matter of minutes M.J. was gone and we were back to work.  Never thought any more about it until I went to the Waffle House for coffee on Wednesday afternoon.  Before I got inside I met one of the regular coffee drinkers coming out the door.   He said, “Judy, do you really think they can land Air Force One at the Franklin County airport?”  Caught by surprise since I had forgotten the interview, I asked what in the world was he talking about.  He replied that he had just heard me on the radio explaining why the President should come see Land of Spirit!  Well, that was just the beginning.  For the next three days everywhere Genny or I went, there were questions about President Obama coming to Franklin County.   We finally had to admit it would be impossible to land Air Force One in Franklin County but we could get a helicopter into downtown Lavonia - like when we have a lifeline patient!    It sure sparked a lot of interest in the new LOS production Gas Sugar Nylons & Chocolate Bars.

But, don’t you think it would be neat if the First Family did come see the play?   One thing is for sure, if you don’t extend the invitation they most likely will not be here - Sooooooooo, Genny and I got that letter in the mail ASAP!    And, we copied it to Jane V. Kidd, Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, as well as, to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Franklin County Democratic Party.  Oh yes, the Vice Chair of the Franklin County Party just happens to be a Land of Spirit Cast Member - Sheila Spencer!  And, don’t think we left out the Radio Station - their copy went straight to Terry Carter, Vice President of South Carolina/Georgia Broadcasting and Chief Operating Officer (and, who just happened to have be in attendance when President Obama was sworn in as President).  

And, Mr. President if you happen to be reading this - we’ll see you at the theater!   Judy 

PS - Mr. President, if you can’t make it to Franklin County in June, I feel sure the Land of Spirit Cast will be happy to take the show on the road to the White House   Or, the Kennedy Center. . .

Now that the first public reading and auditions are behind us, the work on Land of Spirit speeds up!  Jules & Richard left on Sunday for Allendale, SC where they are opening a new project in April ~ but, they are to complete casting for Land of Spirit’s Gas Sugar Nylons & Chocolate Bars very soon.  Cast members are anxiously awaiting their new roles.

However, A Great Lavonia Community Inc. board members have not had time to slow down as of yet - actually, we’ve kicked into another gear.  First, there is a fundraising HOBO DINNER  scheduled for Saturday Night, March 28.  Members are selling tickets and making sure all the food will be ready.  There will be homecooked pintos; black-eyed peas; cabbage; slaw; mac & cheese; fat back meat; tomato relish; and delicious homemade desserts.  If you have not gotten a ticket - there is still time.  Call Genny or Vivian at 706-356-8202 or 1926 and get a ticket!  It’s going to be down home SOUTHERN COOKIN AT ITS BEST!  ALL Proceeds go to support Land of Spirit. 

But, the work doesn’t stop there.  We’ve begun work on gathering props for the new show.  This year’s production is set in the 1940’s - World War II era - a little different from last year’s 1920’s needs.   We’re trying to locate real tires from that era - no radials for this play!  And, there is scrap metal to locate for the children’s metal drives - a goat cart for transportation - and, butterflies.  Lots and lots of beautiful butterflies!

Cosutmes will be a challenge this year, as well.  The 1940’s appeared to be a fun time with shorter skirts, army uniforms, and lots of gardening clothes since everyone was planting Victory Gardens during the 40’s.   Haven’t found any ’spectator pumps’ as of yet, but we’ll keep on searching!  Goodwill and Salvation Army stores are wonderful places to shop for costumes. 

If you came to last year’s play you might remember the beautiful quilted banner made by Joyce Loehr.  It had the name of the play around the sides and eight squares which related to scenes in the play.  Well, Joyce has already begun work on a quilted banner for 2009, as well.  She is such a talented seamtress and combine those skills with her new computerized machine skills and she produces one amazingly beautiful piece of art work.  I can hardly wait to see what she comes up with this year. 

Last and certainly not least, I have to talk a bit about what an amazing community in which we live.  It does take money - and lots of it - to put on a show of such magnitude as Land of Spirit.  Last year our Charter Supporters stepped up to the plate and donated $1,000 each for construction of the theater and funding for our first play.  Well, they have stepped up to the plate again this year - even in these tough economic times - and, they’re donating $250 each to become a 2009 Land of Spirit Supporter.  Actually, we had people come up and say I realize you are only asking for $250 but I know you can use more - so, some are giving $500 and one even gave another $1,000 this year!  It warms our heart to know they care about Land of Spirit as much as Genny and I do. 

It truly has become a “Franklin County” project now, as well.  People from Canon, Royston and other parts of the county have been added to the A Great Lavonia Community, Inc. Board of Directors and they’re working hard to promote LOS in thier communities.  One of the members from Canon has sold over 40 tickets to the HOBO Dinner and brought in quiet a few new Supporters for 2009 ~ and, another Member from Canon has offered his services and supplies to build sound boards for the theater.  We are so blessed to have made several new friends from throughout Franklin County!

That’s just a little of what’s keeping us busy, I’ll try and share more with you over the weekend but it’s late now and I have to be up early tomorrow.  We have a Land of Spirit presentation at 10:00 for a district wide Teacher’s Soriety meeting being held in Lavonia.  We’re so lucky to be invited - this will help spread the word about 2009 Land of Spirit througout Northeast Georgia.  Thanks Kathy Mitchell we appreciate your thinking of us!

See you at the theater, Judy 

First let me apologize for the small print on last night’s blog.  When I went to publish, various codes came up in the blog and when I went to delet them, the font changed and I could not find how to change it back - No where can I find a font change on this blog site so, just maybe the codes showing up are not as bad as the EXTRA SMALL PRINT which I cannot even read with bifocals. . . enough said, let’s get to tonight’s reading (or, maybe I should say “last night” since it was already 1:20 before I began posting. 

Tonight’s reading was extremely important because in the audience was the group of storytellers whose stories make up Gas Sugar Nylons & Chocolate Bars.  Well, their reaction was the same as last night - they loved the play!  It was so great to hear the laughter and the applause when the play and new music from Heather was shared with the audience.

Can’t go into details tonight - bone tired.  We had 67 folks show up for auditions today - another 10 who called to say they wanted in the play but would have to come tomorrow or another day.  Fortunately, all but two had been in LOS 2008 so Jules & Richard are familiar with their skill level.  It was a fun day - more will come later about the auditions. 

 After I got home tonight I had to process the auditioning list from today and the individual  photographs to have ready for Jules & Richard tomorrow - Have to get some rest now - this sinus ‘crud’ has almost gotten this “older” lady down!

Are you in for a treat in 2009 - Gas Sugar Nylons and Chocolate Bars is going to be delicious. . .    See you at the theater, Judy    

Tonight, Friday March 13, we had the first reading of the 2009 folk life play - Gas Sugar Nylons & Chocolate Bars!  It’s only the second season for Land of Spirit and I went to the reading tonight as if was number 10 or 12 . . . I sat there anxious (or maybe I should just say nervous) trying to watch expressions on the faces of the audience - and, then to hear their comments.  I cannot begin to imagine how Jules must feel.  As Artist and  Playwright it has to be extremely hard to put your heart and soul into writing a play and then bring it before an audience and ask for their critique!  Writing for Community Plays is a different world than writing for other type performances.  But tonight, she must have been on top of the world when the first reading was over - it was extrememly well received by this first audience - Board Members for AGLC, Inc.; DDA Board Members, Mayor and Council from Lavonia; and other invited guests.  Since this is the finance arm of the play, I know there was a sigh of relief from all of us - I think the public will be just as pleased when they hear the first draft reading tomorrow night.  And, coming to the reading tomorrow night are most of the citizens who told these stories - we will miss 106 Year old Mr. Norman Still from Brown Convelescent Center,  but it's not a good idea for Mr. Still to be out in the rain late at  night! I say first draft because Community Performance, Inc. stresses the inportance of this being a community play - and, even though the stories used in the play are real, true life stories from our community - it is important that we like and support what the playwright does with those stories.   With Gas Sugar Nylons & Chocolate Bars I think Jules has done a surpurb job.  Yes, there are parts that make you laugh and parts that make you cry - just like REAL life.  But, she took a period of time in US History, World War II,  that was  difficult for its citizens and turned it into a period of time that shows what a country can do when determination, hard work, and the love of God, Country and the love for one another comes first.   Maybe it’s the same lesson we need to learn in the current US crisis.  It surely will give you something to think about.Can't wait for auditions tomorrow - they are from 10:00 - Noon, and then 1:00 - 4:00 in the afternoon at the theater.   And, at 7 tomorrow night - the reading of the first draft is open to the public.  If you are reading this on Saturday - PLEASE join us in the Land of Spirit Theater for auditions or tomorrow night at 7:00 - at the Lavonia Cultural Center - Highway 17, South!See you at the theater, Judy PS  Forgot to tell you that TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE - call 706-356-8202 or 1926 and make your reservations NOW!