Art Talk Monday: Holiday Happenings

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director The annual flurry of holiday activities blew in with December 1. Be sure to mark the following programs on your calendar in order to create a most “feel-good” season for you and your family. 

This Thursday, December 11, will be Ruston’s Christmas Parade, which will leave from the LA Tech football stadium parking lot at 6pm, head onto Alabama Avenue, and make a loop around downtown Ruston. Last year my children were on two separate floats, so my husband and I enjoyed riding, each of us with a child. It was lots of fun seeing the cheering crowd as a float rider….oh the joy on so many faces! This year, however, we’ll be enjoying the event from the other side again, with arms loaded with the treats they catch.

The following evening, on Friday, December 12, a favorite part of the Main Street Winterfest activities will be held at the Ruston Civic Center: Children’s Choirs. The evening, beginning at 6pm, will feature local schools singing Christmas carols. There is little sweeter than the voices of children singing in unison, particularly at such a special time of year when unity, family and giving are forefront in our thoughts. Schools that will be performing are Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center, Cedar Creek, Hillcrest Elementary, Glen View Elementary and AE Phillips Lab School.

When the Winterfest singing concludes, walk a couple of blocks to the Dixie Center for the Arts for the annual Russtown Band Christmas Concert. The show begins at 7:30pm. The admission fee is a non-perishable food item or a new toy. These will be donated to Christian Community Action and Toys for Tots. The band will play familiar holiday favorites, as well as unfamiliar holiday tunes to expand your repertoire. I’m a Christmas music fan, as well as a former “band nerd,” and I always really enjoy this concert. It’s beautiful to hear familiar music performed live in such a lovely space.

Still want more holiday festivities next week? On Saturday, December 13, head down I-20 to Grambling. Their day-time Christmas parade will begin at 10am. It will be full of floats and candy, providing fun for the family.

This is a time of year when magical memories are made. Take advantage of our close-knit community and check out some of these activities.

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As an aside, I want to remind you as you do your Christmas shopping to keep nonprofits on your gift list. Donations of time, as well as monetary donations of any amount, make a huge difference in our efforts. As a return-gift to you, you can feel good knowing you’re helping the community. (And monetary donations are tax-deductible!)

Art Talk Monday...on Tuesday

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Opens December Fourth

This week's Art Talk Monday is by Hilary Hileman of Ruston Community Theatre. Don't miss this production-- it's a wonderful way to kick off your holiday season! Call the Box Office at a (318)255-1450 to purchase your tickets.  Ruston Community Theatre’s next production is the popular holiday play The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,  written by Barbara Robinson. It is sponsored by The Lewis Family (of Lewis’ Boutique), opens December 4^th at The Dixie Center for the Arts and is being directed by Mitch Dufour.

The young Herdman clan, savvy connoisseurs of juvenile delinquency, show up at church for the first time after hearing that there is a free all-you-can-eat snack buffet. Grace and Bob Bradley are simultaneously attempting to produce the Christmas pageant after the director breaks her leg. In desperation, and despite protests from other church members, they cast the hardened hooligans in starring roles. As a result, the Herdmans reenact the traditional Christmas tale in a rather unconventional fashion.

Director Mitch Dufour says, “Once again, I’ve had the pleasure of being involved with the some of the most wonderful people in North Louisiana. It is always enchanting to watch a script come to life as actors, technicians, costumers, backstage workers and many others lend their talent to a production. The magic of this particular production has been especially sweet. Please come out and see this fun family show. You don’t want to miss the best Christmas pageant ever!”

Ruston Community Theatre is posting individual videos from cast and crew members on Facebook.  Be sure to check out our Facebook page at www.facebook/RustonCommunityTheatre.

The dates for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever are Thursday, December 4^th through Saturday the 6^th at 7:00 p.m. and a Sunday December 7^th matinee at 2:00 p.m. at The Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults and $6 for students/children. Additionally, Ruston Community Theatre and The Lewis Family are proud to sponsor two sold-out school performances of this play. Visit RCT’s website at www.rctruston.org and Twitter page at Twitter@RustonCoTheatre.

Jason Coleman....Tickling the Ivories this Saturday

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Ashley James. Ashley is a past Dixie Board member and founding member of Troupe Dixie. She is passionate about supporting and serving all arts and cultural organizations in North Central Louisiana. Jason Coleman Returns to Ruston for his Third Performance at the Dixie

The Dixie Center for the Arts is thrilled to bring back by popular demand Jason Coleman, grandson of the late Floyd Cramer, featuring Meagan Taylor on guitar. The show will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014, at 7:00 p.m., and is sponsored by Bobby Conville, Ron Deal, Earl Smith, Financial Advisors & Wells Fargo Advisors.

After more than 140 performances of Jason’s Legacy of Floyd Cramer concert since 2010, Jason is excited to present The Piano Magic of Floyd Cramer. In addition to the new name, the concert will feature some new songs and a few special surprises alongside the Floyd Cramer classics that he has been performing for years.

Jason performed on TV twice with his grandfather; once in 1989 on Nashville Now and once in 1994 on Music City Tonight. He also treasures the memories of playing the piano on occasion with his grandfather at his live shows. A very special moment for Jason was being asked by Hank Locklin to play the piano with him at the Grand Old Opry in 2002. They performed “Please Help Me, I’m Falling”, which his grandfather originally recorded with Hank nearly 50 years prior.

Performing with Jason at the Dixie will be Meagan Taylor, the great-niece of famed guitarist and producer Chet Atkins. Meagan began learning from Chet his unique style of guitar playing in 1999, and since his death, she has been privileged to continue learning from many of his close friends and fans.

Meagan Taylor and Jason Coleman’s paths first crossed only in recent years, but their musical styles were compatible from the very beginning. The two currently play together in venues both large and small, reviving the beloved sound left behind by Floyd and Chet, and we are delighted to have them back at the Dixie this season.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Dixie Box Office at 318-255-1450. Season ticket packages are also still available for purchase. The Dixie Center for the Arts, located at 212 North Vienna Street in Ruston, is a non-profit volunteer-driven organization that works in partnership with North Central Louisiana Arts Council, Ruston Community Theater and Ruston Civic Symphony Society. For more information, visit www.dixiecenter.org.

Art Talk Monday: The Classical Singer

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director. NCLAC had an exciting week last week, as we held our beer-tasting fundraiser, ARToberfest, as well as our annual School Show Presentation.

Opera soprano Brenda Wimberly presented her show, The Classical Singer, to 232 students and chaperones at the Dixie Center for the Arts.

NCLAC holds a musical presentation for Lincoln Parish middle school students each year at the Dixie Center. This year’s participants included students from IA Lewis, Simsboro High School, Ruston Christian Homeschoolers, and Montessori School of Ruston. Her stage show included a portion of Puccini’s Vissi d’arte from Tosca, which brought tears to my eyes. It was breathtaking. Ms. Wimberly sang works in English, as well as Italian, French and German. The performance included arias, art songs and musical theatre. The students were a very respectful audience, and Brenda says she was “amazed” at the experience and “the way that I (she) was received by the students.”

Ms. Wimberly offered an interactive element to the show with a student sing-a-long and a question and answer session. She led the audience in a vocal exercise using the word pizza. Their 200+ voices singing together sounded angelic. Brenda walked around and answered questions offered by the students, such as how long she had been singing, what inspired her to sing opera, and “Are you famous?!”

This unique, private educational performance was made possible through sponsorship by Ruston Civic Symphony Society and NCLAC’s partnership with the Dixie Center for the Arts. In addition, Lincoln Parish Achieve provided bussing for the public schools, making this educational field trip free for each of the schools and students. Thank you so much to these wonderful sponsors who help NCLAC in our art education programs.

Wimberly is a Louisiana native who has studied opera around the globe. She holds degrees in vocal performance from Prairie View A&M University, where she received the Presidential Citation in Performing Arts from NAFEO, and the University of Michigan. She has also studied with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, and the San Francisco Opera. She was accompanied by pianist LaDonald Ensley from Monroe.

It is proving more difficult each year to secure student attendance for this annual performance. Perhaps it’s testing, changing school policies, a tighter academic timeline … I’m sure there are many reasons for the change. The NCLAC office has pondered if perhaps bringing performers to the schools, rather than bringing schools to the theatre, would be a better plan. However, as I was sitting in this historic theatre experiencing Ms. Wimberly’s program, I decided that it is necessary to continue to bring students to this space.  There is definitely a time and place for bringing artists to schools – it is essential as well! – but there is also something incredibly magical about seeing an artist in an environment dedicated to his/her craft. So as long as we’re able to coordinate these shows and bring students on site, we will continue to plant the seeds and cultivate an appreciation for the arts.

If you would like to see more photos from this performance, visit our facebook page.

5th Annual ARToberfest!

Tickets available now--

NCLAC's beer-tasting fundraiser is Friday!

Beer tasting fundraiser?! Yes, that's what happening! Celebrate the craft of beer brewing this weekend--- Trust us: it's the best night out in Ruston!

Tickets are on sale for the North Central Louisiana Arts Council’s 5^th Annual ARToberfest, which will take place at The Norton Building on Friday, Oct. 24. This event celebrates a variety of styles of beer, from the finest commercial bottles to our region’s unique home brews.

There are still General Admission tickets available for $20. These include 6:30pm entry,live music, bar snacks and unlimited beer tastings. Food trucks will be selling food on site. The night ends at 10pm.

Tickets are available at the Dixie Center for the Arts and Fine Line Art Supply.  Call (318)255-1450 for more information.  No one under the age of 21 will be allowed at the event. The Norton Building is located at 207 West Mississippi in Ruston.

Tickets will also be available at the door.

This year's Title Sponsors are Marsala Beverage and Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. Additional sponsorship provided by The Norton Building, Fine Line Art Supply & Print Lab, Devine Wines & Spirits Plus, and Sundown Tavern, with support from Super One Foods and Raising Cane’s.

We appreciate our sponsors who help make this night a success!

Home brews are a highlight! Devine Wines and Spirits is back again with the Devine Home Brewer Awards. Be sure to vote for the People's Choice Brewer.

We will have four raffle baskets with exciting prizes, and food trucks will be on site to sell tasty food. Be sure to bring some cash!

ARToberfest supports NCLAC’s Holiday Arts Tour that is set for November 20-23 in downtown Ruston.    

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Holiday Arts Tour Sites and Artists

NCLAC is pleased to announce its artist roster for this year’s 17^th annual Holiday Arts Tour. This year will be the largest arts tour on record, with 35 Tour sites, and a wide array of performing arts offerings. The following downtown merchants will be displaying artists' works for the 17th annual Holiday Arts Tour, November 20-22. Musical performances, as well as demonstrations by artists, will take place at select locations.

Carriage House: Patricia Jones, Catherine McVea, Annie Richardson, Laura Lewis, Becky Bennett, Nan Cole, Beth Holland

Townsend House: Laura Glen Lawson

Sundown Tavern: Todd Cloe, Emily Lawson; music by Dan Sumner Quartet

House of Flowers & Cake Shoppe: Julie Crews, Leigh Buffington

The Frame Up: Hooshang Khorasani

Embellishments: Chene Clay Company

Lewis Boutique: Christiane Drieling; music by Rhapsody Quartet

202 N Vienna: Adrianna Speer, Meredith McGregor, Zachary McCauley, Cathy Crow, Jenna Fincher, Hannah Cooper McCauley, Megan Landis; Piney Hills Quilt Guild; poetry reading; Sprout Sunday activities

Kelly Moore Bag: Joey Slaughter; music by Monty Russell

Makers Union: Frank Hamrick; music by Bethany Raybourn

Dixie Center for the Arts: group exhibition of Holiday Arts Tour artists

Art Innovations: Jackie Cochran, Francis Carson

Studio 301: Jonathan Donehoo, Dean Dablow, Peter Jones, Patricia Jones, Annie Richardson, Kit Gilbert, Catherine McVea, Phoebe Allen Mathys, Dianne Douglas

Turbo Goat Sporting Goods: Shawn Hood

Turbo Goat Bicycle Shop: Whitney Caskey

Rumo's Barber Shop: Todd Maggio

Pastry Moon Soaps: Rickey Pittman, Maureen Hinton; music by Rickey Pittman

Frame of Mind: Peter Hay

Beau Monde: Rachel Johnston

Fine Line Art Supply: Sienna Haralson; music by The Taylor Outfit

Stitchville: Allie Bennett

Re/Max Results Realty: Marguerite Hogue, Emily Gautreaux; music by Elizabeth Vidos

Accent of the East: Ruth Yung, Michele McGehee; music by Meihan Guo

The Children's Shoppe: Nina Stephens

Chartreuse Pear: Caroline Youngblood, Dorene Kordal

The Fashion of Ruston: Shalis Stevens, Lacey Stinson; music by Karl Puljak

Main Street Exchange: Maggie Jones Boudreaux, Shelly Nealy Edgerton; music by Cain Budds

Lagniappe Embroidery  & Gift Shoppe: Allen Tuten, Sonny Monteleone

Social & Leisure: Alice Morgan

Delta Day Goods: Richard Kordal

Park Avenue Antiques: Loretta Owens

Blue Wire Electronics: music by Stiff Necked Fools and the Bluesaholics

Rodeo Botuique: Cheyenne Morrow

Social Bites of Ruston: Nicole Duet

The Fabric Shop: Allison Vestal

A Round-Robin Poetry Reading will be held on Saturday afternoon with readings by poets Errol Miller, Veronica Schuder, April Honaker and Genaro KyLy Smith.

Sprout Sunday Projects will  include a book reading by a local children's author,  fiber arts projects, ornament making, and more.

A Community Variety Show will be held Sunday afternoon at the Dixie Center for the Arts featuring performances by the following: Elizabeth Vidos, Mike Sullivan Dance Studio, Marc Faulkner, Meihan Guo, LG Dance Studio, Ruston Community Theatre, and Grambling University Choir, with Emcee Joel Sharpton

More details about Holiday Arts Tour will be added as the date approaches. Follow along with news about the Tour on our facebook page.

NCLAC’s Holiday Arts Tour is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts council and administered by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.

Art Talk Monday: ARToberfest Is Almost Here!

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC's Executive Director

The countdown is on to this year’s ARToberfest, which will be NCLAC’s 5^th annual beer-tasting fundraiser. This tasty evening will be Friday, October 24, from 5-10pm, at the Norton Building in downtown Ruston, giving us more room than ever to showcase the region’s home brews, a variety of commercial beers, and to provide hours of musical entertainment. Tickets for the event can be purchased at Fine Line Art Supply and the Dixie Center for the Arts. Two options are available. Early Bird tickets, at $30 each, provide 5pm entry, a commemorative pint glass, and a pretzel necklace. Only 100 of these are available, and they’re going quickly. General Admission tickets, at $20 each, provide 6:30pm entry. Each option offers the ticket holder tastings of beers until 10pm and access to live music. Pint glasses will be for sale, as well as pretzel necklaces and raffle items. New this year will be food trucks, offering sales of food that pair well with beer, so be sure to bring cash for dinner. The music line-up for this year includes Ken Carter; Bethany Raybourn and the Goodness Gracious; Danny Lee and Dave; and the Swinging Richards.

Let’s talk about who is making this event possible. First of all we have Marsala Beverage as Grand Title Sponsor, providing 70 commercial beer varieties. These give attendees the opportunity to try many new beers that are available for purchase in our area without committing to an entire six pack at the store. Next, Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living is our Title Sponsor, providing clean, smoke-free air for this indoor/outdoor event. For our dedicated home brewers, Devine Wines and Spirits Plus is once again offering the Devine Home Brewer Awards, with handsome trophies for our People’s Choice and Brewers’ Choice winners. The Norton Building itself is our Site Sponsor, assisting with our new, larger venue. Sundown Tavern is the After Party Sponsor, so be sure to head over to Sundown when ARToberfest ends to finish your night right. For our hardworking volunteers, including brewers and musicians, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is providing dinner, and Super One Foods, our Snack Table Sponsor, is providing bar snacks for ticket holders. Behind the scenes we have our fabulous ARToberfest Committee who has been working for months to make this night the best it can be: Meg Waters Allen, Allie Bennett, Cain Budds, Nicole Duet, Amanda McCoy and Elaine Thompson.

We are grateful for the support of so many people with this event because it raises funds for Holiday Arts Tour, scheduled for November 20-23. This year’s Tour, the 17^th annual, is the largest in memory, with 35 downtown locations participating. Our roster of artists this year includes 60+ visual and literary artists, and 15+ musical performances, including a Community Variety Show on Sunday, Nov. 23, that will feature ballroom dancing, singing, international music and more. We will again offer Sprout Sunday activities for children, artists’ demonstrations, a poetry reading, and artists who are ready to share insight into their works with you. Mark your calendars for Holiday Arts Tour next month, and visit nclarts.org to get more details about the weekend.

So, now that you’re in the know about all-things-ARToberfest, be sure to get your tickets! Once again, they’re available at Fine Line Arts Supply and the Dixie Center for the Arts. No one under 21 will be allowed at the event. For more information, visit our ARToberfest facebook page, or our ARToberfest page on our official site .

'Til Beth Do Us Part - Opening Thursday

Art Talk Monday this week is by Hilary Hileman-Hyacinth of Ruston Community Theatre. Call the Box Office at (318)255-1450 to get your tickets to this week's performance. Ruston Community Theatre’s next production is a two-act comedic play titled ‘Til Beth Do Us Part, a Jones-Hope-Wooten comedy.  The play is sponsored by Northwood Medical Center and opens October 9^th at The Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston.  The director is Satish Bharadvaj.

Bharadvaj says, “'Til Beth Do Us Part is a comedy play. The cast is great! Some cast members are born comedians while others fall in situation where they become funny for the viewers just to be in such situation. The cast of six characters create a hilarious synergistic results. I enjoy every moment of being part of the production.”

The protagonist, Suzannah, is a frazzled career woman climbing the corporate track at her dream job but she gets no help from Gibby, her slothful spouse whose glory days are long past. Enter Beth, a southern belle on steroids who promises to whip Suzannah’s life into shape as her new personal assistant. Everything goes smoothly until Gibby realizes the steel magnolia from hell’s newest plan for efficiency involves moving him right out the front door. He enlists Suzannah’s best friend Margo and her ex-husband Hank to help him derail Beth’s plans for world domination. Will they succeed before Suzannah’s British boss from Carmichael’s Chocolates arrives?

The dates for ‘Til Beth Do Us Part are October 9^th, 10^th and 11^th at 7:00 p.m. and an October 12^th matinee at 2:00 p.m. at The Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults and $6 for students/children. RCT season tickets are now available for $40.00 for ‘Til Beth Do Us Part and the three remaining productions:  Holiday comedy The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, classic drama To Kill A Mockingbird and award-winning musical Bye Bye Birdie. Visit RCT’s website at www.rctruston.org, on Facebook at www.facebook/RustonCommunityTheatre, and on Twitter @RustonCoTheatre.

Art Talk Monday....The Shadow Box

  This week's Art Talk Monday is written by King Godwin, Chair of the Dept of Visual & Performing Arts, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, at Grambling State University. Call the GSU Box Office at 318-274-ARTS (2787)

Welcome to a “Season of Family Matters”

The Floyd L. Sandle Theatre Company of Grambling State University will open its 76^th production year with Michael Cristofer’s The Shadow Box, directed by Dr. King David Godwin, Dean of the College of Arts Sciences.  The production will focus on three distinctly different family groups and their abilities to handle death and dying.  The psychological and emotional complexities of both care giver and victim to be are explored in great detail.   In keeping with the theatrical theme of “Family Matters," this production drives home the revelation of humanity’s sometimes inability to accept the ultimate realism that we are all going to die.  More importantly, it reminds us all that we must live in each moment.  Death is no respecter of personal status, gender, age or person. The characters in the play cut across varied demographic elements.  There is a middle age father and mother who struggle with trying to find the right approach and best time to tell their only child, a teenage boy, that his father is dying. A non-traditional couple and an ex-spouse must reach beyond their personal differences, political, social and religious convictions to accept the inevitable while at the same time dealing with their own demons and sensitivities.  Lastly, there is an elderly mother who lives in yesteryear longing for her eldest daughter to return home, while her younger daughter, who is her caregiver, must strive to keep her comfortable and peaceful.

This production will make you laugh, cry and think.  The script is well written and runs about one hour and thirty minutes.   Characters include, Roman Higgins, Anthonia Hall, Melanie Williams, Franklin, G. KaDarius Gray, Roderick King, Leon Norvell, Ericka Good- Perry, and Jaleshia  Williams.  Set Design is by Joseph Osborn, a senior visual and performing arts major, Technical Consultation and oversight is under the tutelage of Professor Mary Fran Crook, Teshia Lincoln is costumer and make- up artist, Jamelia Hickman, Stage Manager  The production will run September 30-October 3,2014 with curtain time at 7:00 PM, in the Floyd L. Sandle Theatre of the Fine Arts Center.  The production will take place on the main campus of Grambling State University.

Award-Winning China Circus Acrobatic Troupe Set to Perform at the Dixie

This week's Art TAlk Monday, by Juliann Allen, local freelance writer who is currently pursuing an MBA at LA Tech Rays of red light stretch from the floor to the ceiling, forming a hazy pattern of strings on the black backdrop. A single spotlight in the darkness bathes a circle on the stage floor below as a performer balances on a thin rectangle of wood. A hollow tube lying on its side serves as the only connection from the wood to the bench below. Clad in vibrant blues and reds, the performer balances on the moving sheet of wood as the tube rolls back and forth. Arms extended to the side and feet widened, like a surfer riding a wave, the performer exudes poise and unwavering focus as she stares ahead. Several objects sit near the edge of the wood in front of her feet, and with a flip of the surface’s edge, the objects fly into the air and land neatly in a gold chalice balancing atop the performer’s head.

Acts such as this will enliven the Dixie Theater in downtown Ruston on Saturday, September 27, at 7:00 p.m. as the China Circus Acrobats, featuring the Anhui Troupe, present an evening of colorful scenes, bold stunts and expressive forms of art through body movement. Their daring feats of acrobatic skill are amazing and the beauty they bring to human performance art is breathtaking. The Anhui Acrobats are known for leading the way in creating new and stunning acrobatic skills and combining elegant dance with playfulness.

Featuring more than 20 Chinese acrobats, the Anhui Troupe will perform classic acts like juggling, hoop diving, tight rope balancing and spinning plates. Chinese acrobatics have awed audiences for centuries, but not until in recent history was this performing art internationally shared as it is today. The ever-growing strength of our global connectivity allows us to experience foreign cultural elements more than ever. End your week on an extraordinary note and come enjoy an evening of unique and enlightening entertainment at the Dixie Theater.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Dixie Box Office at 318-255-1450.  Season ticket packages are also currently available for purchase. The Dixie Center for the Arts, located at 212 North Vienna Street in Ruston, is a non-profit volunteer-driven organization that works in partnership with North Central Louisiana Arts Council, Ruston Community Theater and Ruston Civic Symphony Society. For more information, visit www.dixiecenter.org.

New Season of Shows Announced at the Dixie Center

This week has seen a flurry of activity here in the Dixie Center for the Arts, and it gets me excited for fall when the new “season” of programs will begin. One of the best things about having our NCLAC office inside the Dixie Center is that we are able to stay abreast of so many cultural activities that take place here. This historic theatre gets a lot of use throughout the year, and if you have never been to an event at the Dixie, you’re missing out! Ruston Community Theatre, who last night opened their summer musical, The Sound of Music, has set its lineup for the upcoming year.  In October, they’ll hit the stage with Till Beth Do Us Part, a comedy about the ins-outs-ups-and-downs of marriage, directed by Satish Bharadvaj. The Christmas production this year will be everyone’s favorite The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, directed by Mitch Dufour. This one will have children’s roles, so be on the lookout for audition dates. Spring will bring the classic To Kill a Mockingbird, with director Nancy Wallace. Personally, I’m really looking forward to seeing on the Dixie Center stage! The season will end a year from now, with Bye Bye Birdie in July, directed by Dee Alexander. Who won’t want to see this one for some good old-fashioned fun.

The Dixie Center for the Arts itself has its new lineup of shows, and these will begin with Chinese Acrobats on September 27. Won’t this be fun!? Other musical performances scheduled are Jason Coleman in November, who will dazzle with the Piano Magic of Floyd Kramer; Jason Petty and the Swinging Cowboys in March; and Albanie Falletta and Thrift Set in April, who will entertain us with jazz of the ‘20s –‘40s.

Troupe Dixie, whose mission is to introduce new generations to the majesty of the Dixie Center, has set its schedule as well. September will bring back the Loud and Live concert series, with ‘90s music on tap for this year. October will feature the showing of a Reels and Chills Halloween movie, and their Merry Movie in December is always a fun night. Live events are wonderful here in this building, but there’s still something magical about seeing a movie in this space. If you haven’t done so, make plans see one here this year!

Our organization, the North Central Louisiana Arts Council, holds art exhibitions in the lobby throughout the year, featuring artwork by regional artists. September will be the Fall Crawl, where we’ll participate with other arts-businesses downtown in a walk-able art crawl. We also have Holiday Arts Tour activities here, including our Community Variety Show, which packed the house last year. In October, we’ll have opera singer Brenda Wimberly perform for Lincoln Parish 6^th graders.

In addition to the activities I’ve already listed, the Dixie Center for the Arts hosts the Russtown Band for its Christmas and Peach Festival Concerts. The community always looks forward to the annual Joe Woods Wildwood Express, as well as the March of Dimes Talent Show and the Dixie Horizon Talent Search.  Several schools hold events here, such as AE Phillips 8^th Grade Musical and Montessori School of Ruston’s Christmas Story Evening. For dates and other details, visit our website, nclarts.org, where we have a comprehensive community arts calendar. We do our best to include art activities throughout the region, so that it’s a one-stop source of information of places to go and things to see.

The next time you think there’s “nothing to do in Ruston,” take a peek at what’s happening at the Dixie Center for the Arts. It should be your destination for a variety of entertainment.

Art Talk Monday

This week's Art Talk Monday, mentioning last week's theatre performance at LA Tech, and THIS WEEK's musical performance of Jazzland at the Dixie Center for the Arts.  I want to tell you about two great opportunities for entertainment in town that you shouldn’t miss! First up, this weekend Louisiana Tech’s Department of Theatre is performing  The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This show is a long one-act musical comedy written by Rachel Sheinkin, with music and lyrics by William Finn, and directed by Cherrie Sciro, Coordinator of Theatre at LA Tech. As the winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, this show follows six students of Putnam Valley Middle School as they compete in the annual spelling bee. However, this is not the average contest as audience members will be selected to participate in the bee. With the competition on, it is a fight to the finish as only one student can be v-i-c-t-o-r-i-o-u-s. The show opened on Wednesday, and will run through Saturday, May 3. Call the Howard Auditorium Box Office at (318)257-3942 for ticket information. Musical comedy at Tech is not to be missed!

Next, on Friday, May 9^th, the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of North Louisiana will present their annual fundraiser JAZZLAND. All funds generated from the event will go directly to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Louisiana.

Starting the show will be Dr. Larry Pannell and the Grambling State University Faculty Jazz Ensemble.  Dr. Pannell formed a talented group of former and current Grambling State musicians from all over the country.  “Their jazz stylings were the hit of last year’s JAZZLAND and we are excited they have agreed to come back this year!” Janet Wilson, Director of Resource Development of the Boys and Girls Club, said. “This may be my favorite performance ever at the Dixie! They are playing everything from Barbara Streisand’s, The Way We Were to Al Green’s Lets Stay Together. This group is amazingly talented and if you miss THIS CONCERT- you are really missing something GREAT!” 

Headlining the evening is Marc Broussard, a singer-songwriter hailing from Lafayette. His style is best described as "Bayou Soul," a mix of funk, blues, R&B, rock, and pop, matched with distinct Southern roots. In his career, he has released five studio albums and one EP, and has charted twice on Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks.  Marc and his band are known for their relentless touring and high energy shows that have won them legions of fans.

Tickets ($30 balcony seats and $40 floor seats) may be purchased online at on the Boys and Girls Club’s website, www.bgcncl.org and at the Boys and Girls Club located at 300 Memorial Drive, Ruston. Doors open at 6:45pm and the show begins at 7:00. An after party sponsored and held by Sundown Tavern will immediately follow.

So there you have it, folks. Two more top-quality arts performances right here in Ruston. And as a reminder, tonight is Ruston Community Theatre’s performance of All Because of Agatha at 7pm, as well as the Spring Gallery Crawl from 6-9pm, and the MFA reception for Construct  from 6-8pm. Visit our blog at nclac.wordpress.com for more details.

On tap this weekend...

Looking to make it an art-full weekend? Here's a list of happenings: VISUAL ART - Friday (tonight!)

BFA opening reception, Construct, at Rawle Enterprise Center, 6-8pm, 509 West Alabama. Annual show featuring graduating students in LA Tech's Photography program. Featured artists: Whitney Caskey, Austin Elgin, Morgan Kee, Hannah Merritt, Charles C. Rhea, Kevin H. Reddic Jr., Shradha Sharma-Bhandari, Cecily A. Stevenson

Ruston's Spring Gallery Crawl, on and near West Alabama in downtown Ruston, 6-9pm. Featured locations/artists: Makers Union- featuring the works of Mary Boothe Dunn; Percussive Arts Institute of Ruston (PAIR) - a student showcase performance followed by a talk about upcoming events, activities and class offerings; PAIR Gallery- presenting The Art of Music, an exhibition showcasing local art based on the concept and process of music; Fine Line Art Supply - featuring the intaglio work of Hillary Clary; Pastry Moon - showcasing the work of Whitney Caskey; Frame of Mind - presenting the cooperative works of the Artist Alliance from Louisiana Tech University.

THEATRE - Tonight (and beyond...at least for a couple more days)

All Because of Agatha, Ruston Community Theatre's spring production, directed by Billy Chandler. 7pm Friday and Saturday, 2pm Sunday. $12 for adults, $6 for students, at the Dixie Center for the Arts. In All Because of Agatha, set in 1974, Duff and Joan O’Hara relocate from California to Salem, Massachusetts. The historical property the real estate agent shows them has a suspiciously low price. They learn that in 1692 Agatha Forbes, accused of witchcraft, was burned to death right where the house sits, but before she died she swore she would come back every year on that date and terrorize the occupants right out the front door. In short, the house was haunted. Joan, a big fan of the occult, thinks that a resident witch is a great, challenging addition to the house and she persuades Duff that this is the perfect place for them. So of course Joan plans a party for the September date when Agatha will allegedly appear.

The cast includes actors Anna Alexander, Debbie Allen, Kevin Cuccia, Dusty Hampton, Hilary Hileman, Brenda Mitchell, Dixie Mitchell, Heather Peterson, Terry Stepp and Michael Tannerhill.

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, LA Tech Department of Theatre's spring musical, directed by Cherrie Sciro, at Howard Auditorium on the LA Tech campus. Tonight and Saturday at 7:30. General Admission $20, Students with ID $10, Youth & Seniors $15, Groups (10 persons or more) $10/person. Winner of 2005 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee follows six students of Putnam Valley Middle School as they compete in the annual spelling bee. However, this is not the average contest as audience members will be selected to participate in the bee. With the competition on, it is a fight to the finish as only one student can be v-i-c-t-o-r-i-o-u-s!

A Haunted Weekend is just around the corner...this week's Art Talk Monday

RCT Unveils Witchy Comedy

All Because of Agatha

By Hilary Hileman, Board Member Ruston Community Theatre, actress All Because of Agatha 

Ruston Community Theatre’s next production, the witty comedy All Because of Agatha, written by playwright Jonathan Troy, will debut at The Dixie Center for the Arts on May 1^st and run through May 4^th and is sponsored by Woodard & Clement Law Offices.

In All Because of Agatha, set in 1974, Duff and Joan O’Hara relocate from California to Salem, Massachusetts.  The historical property the real estate agent shows them has a suspiciously low price. They learn that in 1692 Agatha Forbes, accused of witchcraft, was burned to death right where the house sits, but before she died she swore she would come back every year on that date and terrorize the occupants right out the front door. In short, the house was haunted. Joan, a big fan of the occult, thinks that a resident witch is a great, challenging addition to the house and she persuades Duff that this is the perfect place for them. So of course Joan plans a party for the September date when Agatha will allegedly appear.

The cast includes actors Anna Alexander, Debbie Allen, Kevin Cuccia, Dusty Hampton, Hilary Hileman, Brenda Mitchell, Dixie Mitchell, Heather Peterson, Terry Stepp and Michael Tannerhill.

After All Because of Agatha, Ruston Community Theatre has one remaining production for the season: The award-winning musical The Sound of Music, which will run from July 10-13. Tickets for each of RCT’s productions are $12 at the door for adults and $6 for students/children. Visit RCT’s website at www.rctruston.org, on Facebook at www.facebook/RustonCommunityTheatre, and on Twitter @RustonCoTheatre.

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The NCLAC office would like to announce our summer interns: Hillary Clary, Art Education; Nicholas Davis, Community Engagement; Tess Stickney, Gallery Coordinator; and Rosalynne Fluty, Graphic Design. These young talents will be out and about in our community, working hard for their futures. Welcome aboard!

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Next week, the NCLAC office will be gone to Baton Rouge for Culture Connection, the Office of Cultural Development’s annual assembly of Louisiana’s culture stakeholders. This is a general assembly in which Louisiana’s cultural workforce meets to discuss the state of the arts, as well as hold break-out meetings and workshops in our respective fields. Those convening include professionals in the fields of archaeology, arts, French language, historic preservation and more. The agenda also includes addresses from state and national leaders, the Louisiana Culture Awards, and visits with legislators.

Marc Broussard to be Featured at JAZZLAND in Ruston

From our friends at the Boys and Girls Club of North Louisiana. This will be a great concert, so mark your calendars for May 9. Ticket purchasing details are found below: The Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of North Louisiana will present their annual fundraiser JAZZLAND, a benefit concert for the Boys and Girls Club on May 9th at the Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston, LA. The concert will feature noted Southern-rock/soul artist Marc Broussard and open with a performance from Dr. Larry Pannell and the Grambling State University Faculty Jazz Ensemble. All funds generated from the event will go directly to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Louisiana.

Tickets ($30 balcony seats and $40 floor seats) may be purchased online at on the Boys and Girls Club’s website, www.bgcncl.org and at the Boys and Girls Club located at 300 Memorial Drive, Ruston. Doors open at 6:45pm and the show begins at 7:00. An after party sponsored and held by Sundown Tavern will immediately follow.

Marc Broussard is a singer-songwriter hailing from Lafayette, La. His style is best described as "Bayou Soul," a mix of funk, blues, R&B, rock, and pop, matched with distinct Southern roots. In his career, he has released five studio albums and one EP, and has charted twice on Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks.  Marc and his band are known for their relentless touring and high energy shows that have won them legions of fans.  They have performed sold out shows in thousand plus capacity venues around the country, have been regulars on the festival circuit and have toured with such artists as Maroon 5, Dave Matthews Band, Ronnie Raitt and Willie Nelson, to name a few.

 “We are very excited to bring such a talented artist to Ruston,” said Jazzland committee chair Karen Gordon. “We hope Marc will help us sell out the Dixie and raise as much as possible for the Boys and Girls Club.”

Starting the show will be Dr. Larry Pannell and the Grambling State University Faculty Jazz Ensemble.  Dr. Pannell formed a talented group of former and current Grambling State musicians from all over the country.  “Their jazz stylings were the hit of last year’s JAZZLAND and we are excited they have agreed to come back this year!” Janet Wilson, Director of Resource Development of the Boys and Girls Club, said. “This may be my favorite performance ever at the Dixie! They are playing everything from Barbara Streisand’s, The Way We Were to Al Green’s Lets Stay Together. This group is amazingly talented and if you miss THIS CONCERT- you are really missing something GREAT!” Dr. Pannell graduated from GSU with his undergraduate degree and his Masters degree in Music from LA Tech University. He went on to study at The American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, IL and he and a classmate were the first Black men to graduate from the institute.

For more information please visit www.bgcncl.org or call 318-255-2242.

Wildwood Express Is Saturday!

This week's Art Talk Monday is by John Emory, Jr., Programming Director for the Dixie Center for the Arts. One of our biggest Dixie Center events is right around the corner.  On Saturday, April 12, the ninth annual Joe Woods Widwood Express Showcase will take the historic stage at 6:00pm.  We celebrate the life and legacy of Joe as we bring back band members who played in his original band and singers who often have a tie to Joe, and always a tie to the music he performed at the Dixie Theater every Saturday night.

Joe Woods was the one who kept the Dixie open when many had walked away from the theater that is truly Ruston.  Joe was determined to provide good family entertainment and great music for our community.  Many of those who were regulars in the shows are gone now, but their memoires are always around us in the theater that we all love.

The tribute show began as a fundraiser for the Dixie but it’s much more than that.  The venue, music and the people on the stage and in the audience represent all that is good in us.  Much credit is due those who make sure the presentation is a success year after year.  Mildred May who supported Joe and the orginal band from day one continues to raise money for the Dixie.  Mary Ann Woods gives much of her time and talent to producing the show with a spirit of kindness and warmth making everyone feel welcome and at home.  One of the busiest men I know is Travis Woods, but he sets aside time each year to promote the showcase and orchestrate an experience that we simply can’t miss.

A genuine commitment to the needs of others was always found in Joe Woods and the Wildwood Express Band.  Joe encouraged young people he met through the Ruston Police Department and also raised the self-esteem of adults and children by giving them a place to share their musical talent. Joe and the band, joined by loyal patrons,  could be found raising money for medical emergencies, in addition to special Christmas shows for children, giving each child a gift of fruit from Santa. Joe’s spirit of giving and community support live’s on in the Dixie Center for the Arts today.

Join us Saturday night as we pay tribute to Joe Woods and continue his dream of providing family entertainment in North Louisiana.

To reserve tickets call Libby at 255-1450 or drop by Dixie at 212 North Vienna in  beautiful downtown Ruston. Tickets are $15

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NCLAC would like to take a moment to thank one of our continuous supporters, Patricia Willis and The Children’s Shoppe, for her donation to our annual Silent Auction. The shop’s name was inadvertently left out of our thank you article in February. Thanks, Patricia!

All Because of Agatha

  RCT Unveils Witchy Comedy

All Because of Agatha

By Hilary Hileman

Ruston Community Theatre’s next production, the witty comedy All Because of Agatha, written by playwright Jonathan Troy, will debut at The Dixie Center for the Arts on May 1^st and run through May 4^th and is sponsored by Woodard & Clement Law Offices.

In All Because of Agatha, set in 1974, Duff and Joan O’Hara relocate from California to Salem, Massachusetts.  The historical property the real estate agent shows them has a suspiciously low price. They learn that in 1692 Agatha Forbes, accused of witchcraft, was burned to death right where the house sits, but before she died she swore she would come back every year on that date and terrorize the occupants right out the front door. In short, the house was haunted. Joan, a big fan of the occult, thinks that a resident witch is a great, challenging addition to the house and she persuades Duff that this is the perfect place for them. So of course Joan plans a party for the September date when Agatha will allegedly appear.

The cast includes actors Anna Alexander, Debbie Allen, Kevin Cuccia, Dusty Hampton, Hilary Hileman, Brenda Mitchell, Dixie Mitchell, Heather Peterson, Terry Stepp and Michael Tannerhill.

After All Because of Agatha, Ruston Community Theatre has one remaining production for the season: The award-winning musical The Sound of Music, which will run from July 10-13. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults and $6 for students/children. Visit RCT’s website at www.rctruston.org, on Facebook at www.facebook/RustonCommunityTheatre, and on Twitter @RustonCoTheatre.

Treat your ears!

Piney Hills Harmony readies for regional competition with free public performance: Thursday, March 27 at 7pm, Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston. Piney Hills Harmony Chorus of Sweet Adelines is getting ready for its annual regional competition April 3-5 with quite a few new twists.

For the first time, the chorus will present its Friends and Family Night, which is a prelude to the competition, in the Dixie Center for the Arts. This year also marks the first time the chorus will compete in Houston, rather than Dallas. And the chorus is taking six new members this year, the biggest class of "rookies" since the 1990s.

Friends and Family Night is a free concert that will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27, and serves as a dress rehearsal – and more – for the upcoming competition.

"Normally, Friends and Family Night has been held in the chorus' rehearsal hall, but this year we opted for a venue with a real stage, with professional lighting, to get us totally revved up for the contest performance," director Sheila Nugent said.

This will mark the first time the chorus has competed in Region 10, which includes 23 choruses and spans Alabama, Louisiana and southeast Texas. Formerly, the chorus was in Region 25, which included north Texas, north Louisiana, southwest Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

"We and two other choruses have been transferred to Region 10 by the international office as part of a worldwide geographical reorganization," Nugent said.

Twenty-eight Piney Hills Harmony members from across North Louisiana will attend the Houston event. The six new members who will compete for the first time are Krisi Key, Calhoun; Traci Massey, West Monroe; Peggy Moore, Monroe; Judy Sapp, Rayville; Sue Wheeler, Farmerville; and Samantha Wilkinson, Ruston.

The March 27 performance will feature the chorus' competition package, "I Can't Begin to Tell You" and "Hard-Hearted Hannah," and other songs from its repertoire.

Also presenting its contest songs and other selections will be the quartet Rhapsody, composed of Nugent and Monroe residents Donna Fike, Carol Ogle and Judy Sisson. Another Piney Hills Harmony quartet featured on the show will be 4 His Glory, made up of Teresa Howard, of Monroe, and West Monroe residents Jean Dunham, Ginger Hicks and Ann Walker.

Nugent wishes to encourage area residents to come see the chorus members off and to cheer them on.

Dixie Horizon Talent Search

It's time for the annual Dixie Horizon Talent Search!  The entry deadline is March 19 at 3pm, and the big night is March 21.

This fun evening is open to the public for viewing, so come out and cheer on the contestants! Tickets, available at the door, are $7, and children under 12 get in free.

The First Place Winner will appear on Joe Woods Wildwood Express Showcase, April 12, 2014 at 6pm at the Dixie Center for the Arts. The top two winners will receive cash prizes and trophies.

Melinda Thigpen is the Director this year, so for more information contact her at adat71270@gmail.com   Melinda says, "Have fun and enjoy your experience at the Dixie Center for the Arts!"

• Type or print entry form. These are available at the Dixie Center, or by following the link below.
• Entry form and $40 entry fee due by March 19 at 3pm
• Make your check payable to the Dixie Center for the Arts
• Mail entry form and check to the Dixie or drop off at theater.
• This event is for family audiences - Please be selective in the content you wish to use.  No profanity.
• Tasteful dress or costume is encouraged.
• You will be judged on your talent, showmanship and stage presence.
• On March 21, check in one hour before show (5:30pm) in the Dixie Lobby. Turn in your CD, labeled with your name, and you will be issued a contestant number.
• All contestants are to meet in the Green Room at 5:45pm after checking in.

Click on this link for the entry form: 2014Horizon_EntryForm

Dixie Center for the Arts, P.O. Box 2771, Ruston, LA 71273

212 North Vienna, Ruston, Louisiana

HAT: Create! Map and Schedule

Thursday, November 21

5-8pm

Main Street Christmas Open House, with artwork displayed at 23 shops

Friday, November 22

4-8pm

Artists mix & mingle with shoppers at 23 shops

Free musical performances at 7 locations from 5-8pm:

Kellly Moore Bag, Olsen String Trio; Serendipity, Grace Notes Quartet; Sundown Tavern, Ken Carter Quartet; Patton's Downtown, Cain Budds; Fine Line/Stitchville, Elizabeth Vidos;     Rumo's Barbershop, Bethany Raybourn; The Lodge, Fred Beavers and Sara Sullivan

Round-Robin Poetry Reading from 6pm till at Pastry Moon

featuring April Honaker, Errol Miller, Veronica Schuder, Genaro Ky Ly Smith

Saturday, November 23

11-5pm

All-day shopping with artists in shops

Assorted artists' demonstrations in select locations

including flint-knapping, screen-printing, spinning, and calligraphy

Sunday, November 24

1-4pm

Sprout Sunday-- free art projects for children at 3 studios

try felting at Stitchville; doll clothes/armor at Pastry Moon; painting a fairtytale character ornament at Brush Hour

4:30 pm

Community Variety Show--free show at Dixie Center for the Arts featuring 5 performing groups

featuring Grambling University Choir, LG Dance Studio, Percussive Arts Institute of Ruston, Dixie Dancers, Ruston Community Theatre