Thursday, May 17, 2012
Patrons, businesses and friends showed their support for the historic Strand Theatre by making donations and coming out to watch live performances at the first call-a-thon.
After 12 hours of manning phones and live performances from locals, the Earl Smith Strand Theatre raised $65,500 during its First Annual Strand Call-a-thon on Wednesday. That is $15,500 over its goal of $50,000. "The Strand has become a location for the entire community to get together," Earl Reece, executive director, said. An example would be the Great Locomotive Chase during which the Strand had about 500 people from every area of the community represented including the arts, lawyers, civic groups and more. "It's becoming a place where rather than just a community getting together it's like a family reunion," Reece said. "So many people support and know each other in Marietta. It's wonderful." When the Strand re-opened in January 2009, …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The fundraising events includes live entertainment and is free and open to the public.
The Earl Smith Strand Theatre is kicking off its 2012 fundraising campaign with the First Annual Strand Call-a-thon on Wednesday, a 12-hour fundraising event complete with an open house and live entertainment. The goal is to raise $50,000 in one 12-hour push. Members of the Friends of the Strand Board are manning the phone bank on the Strand stage from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., while performance sets take place in front of them at the top of every hour. The event is free and open to the public and is being broadcast live over the internet at www.ustream.tv/channel/strand-theatre. The money raised by the First Annual Strand Call-a-Thon will go toward the Friends of the Strand’s Capital Campaign. This campaign covers the renovation and construction …
For over 40 years, the nonprofit all-volunteer Cobb Children's Theatre has been a positive force in the community. Ryan Karstensen, who was with the theater for over 30 years, says goodbye to CCT.
Cobb Children's Theatre closed its curtains for the last time on March 20. "For over 30 years Cobb Children's Theatre has been privileged to serve our community in unique ways, and we have been blessed with the support of our community in return," Ryan Karstensen, who has been the leading force behind CCT since 1999, said on the theater's website. Karstensen has been involved with the nonprofit for most of his life. The theater first started performances in 1970. Karstensen started as a member in 1978, the year his parents Leslie and Norm took over the organization. "Cobb Children's Theatre created a community that brought strangers together who became long lasting friends," he said on the website. "We were the venue for imagination …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church will be a center of Greek food, music, culture and fun Friday through Sunday.
Cobb County’s largest cultural festival returns to Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church this weekend with the 22nd annual Marietta Greek Festival. The festival features the flavors of Greece in the food, the drink, the music, the dancing, the shopping, and the Byzantine architecture and iconography of the church itself at 3431 Trickum Rd. in Northeast Cobb. The festival runs Friday from 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is $3, but children under age 12 are free. Admission also is free to anyone during the first three hours of the festival, from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday. And a $5 weekend pass is available if you want to come and go. There’s a lot to bring you back: …
Friday, May 4, 2012
Atlanta artist Susan Easton Burns uses her hands and feet to communicate something simple with a serendipitous story on canvas. Her work is on display with her mother's at dk Gallery in Marietta.
Art of the Horse: A Mother and Daughter Show opens at dk Gallery on Marietta Square Friday. From 5 to 9 p.m., join artists Susan Easton Burns and Julia Burns for the opening with live music by Tim Easton. "I begin a painting by spontaneously throwing paint down and covering a canvas with a colorful underpainting," Susan Easton Burns said in her artist statement at dk Gallery. She continues this process while looking at the canvas from different angles until an image appears and then she defines that image. Susan strives to convey "something simple." She wants people to feel drawn to her work "because of the thick texture of the paint and the serendipitous story." Susan's favorite tool is her hand. She uses both her hands and feet to push …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Final performances of "Grease" will take place Thursday through Sunday.
This new production of Grease at the Strand Theatre features "You're The One That I Want," the #1 Billboard hit from the 1978 motion picture as well as the songs made famous by the original stage production such as "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'" and "We Go Together." After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl in town, Danny Zuko's world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock n' roll celebration of growin' up, cruisin' with friends and goin' steady. Local actor and Lyric veteran Jevares C. Myrick, as radio disc jockey Vince Fontaine, will lead a 1950's dance contest twenty minutes prior to each curtain. Contestants will be randomly …
The Delta flight attendant lost her three children and ex-husband in a plane crash last November. Two charity painting events will show support and raise money for Karen Sommerstedt-Perry.
Coworkers came together like family to paint angels at the Angels for Karen charity event. The April 18 event at Paint the Town on Marietta Square was the first of two honoring Karen Sommerstedt-Perry and her family. "The awesome response from her co-workers has astounded me," Brenda Bryant, owner of Paint the Town said. "In this day of 'each man for himself' I found a wonderful team at Delta that truly cares for each other like family! A company and coworkers that show compassion and support is a rare find." Perry's three children, Morgan, 9, Logan, 8, and Luke, 6, and their father Shawn Perry were killed in an Arizona plane crash on Nov. 23, 2011. Perry, who works as a Delta flight attendant, is also a breast cancer survivor. Last year …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The former board chair at Theatre in the Square is looking to start a new theater in the same location. Co-founder of Theatre in the Square Palmer Wells says it appears groundwork for the new theater has been going on for some time.
Mike Russell, former Board Chair of Theatre in the Square, has asked Marietta City Council for $50,000 to help open the Trackside Theatre Company at the recently closed theater's location, according to the Marietta Daily Journal. Theatre in the Square closed its curtains in March due to a lack of funding. “It is not feasible for us to finish our current season or launch a 31st season. We simply do not have the money," Russell said at the time. The requested funds for the new theater company would come from Marietta's auto rental tax; however, Mayor Steve Tumlin told the MDJ he has reservations about the new theater operating successfully since it would be run mainly by the same individuals, the MDJ reports. Theatre in the Square's Board …
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wind Chime designer and artist Janet Hulsey teams up with bead artist Stacey Stickels and take the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ vision to heart.
Art is to see and admire, but it is also to hear. Wind Chime designer and artist Janet Hulsey teams up with bead artist Stacey Stickels at Vintage-ology during the First Friday Art Walk on May 6. Using found objects of the past, Acworth artist Hulsey creates wind chimes with everything from vintage English biscuit tins to coffee pots with dangling flatware that make beautiful sounds when dancing in the breeze. Hulsey takes the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ vision to heart with her art pieces. Stacey Stickles’ bead works include bracelets, necklaces and earrings. These artists will be at Vintage-ology on Marietta Square from 5 to 9 p.m. on May 6. Recently celebrating their two-year anniversary of Vintage-ology, owners Karen Petelik and Susan …
The May art show at 2 Rules Fine Art on Marietta Square presents the work of Kay Vinson.
2 Rules Fine Art presents a solo art show for Birmingham artist Kay Vinson. Vinson’s show will feature her newest body of work, “Better Than New.” Vinson is a painter whose mixed media are filled with texture, pattern and soothing summer hues. Handmade papers, photo decals and found objects peek out under layers of colorful acrylic. The opening reception is May 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will include live music and refreshments. “Better Than New” will remain up through May 26. Gallery hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Keep up with all the news you care about by subscribing to our free email newsletter, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.
Benjamin Sims
3:49 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I'm going to miss the theater organization and the people in it. CCT will be deeply missed, it's a definite heart break. The friends that I made though CCT will last a lifetime. Thanks Ryan K. and the whole CCT volunteers for all these years of service! Farewell more ›