Athens Theatre in DeLand offers diverse programming

By Jeff Ault
BEACON COLUMNIST

posted Feb 11, 2009 - 9:11:00am

The reopening of the historic Athens Theatre in January was the realization of many long-sought dreams, and was heralded by a number of elegant and lively events. Now, as the confetti settles, workers will continue to add finishing touches to the theater, including additional moldings, makeup tables in the dressing rooms, theatrical lighting, and a permanent sound system. Also over the next few months, regularly scheduled programming will be unfolded, and the schedule will be a diverse blend of live shows, concerts and movie screenings.

This upcoming weekend will be high-spirited with a return engagement of The Complete History of America (Abridged). The show originally played at Sands Theater Center in September and then represented DeLand in the Florida State Theater Festival in Lakeland in November, where it won an award for Best Ensemble Performance.

"It's a great show to present right now," said Clark Adams, the show's director. "People just need to laugh and forget about the issues they are facing for a few hours."

Another live stage performance coming to the Athens this month is the one-woman show Rosa Parks — A Simple Act of Courage. The show comes to DeLand from Oklahoma, which actress Vanessa Adams-Harris calls home. This won't be her first trip to DeLand. Vanessa was seen at Sands Theater Center in 2008 as Lena Baker, in the DeLand Theatre Festival production of Who Will Sing For Lena, a powerful drama about the only black woman ever to be executed in the state of Georgia.

Classic and independent cinema will also find a regular home at the historic theater. Over the next few weeks, Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird and Easy Rider will flicker across the screen. People came out in large numbers for January's classic films, Singing in the Rain and Gone With the Wind.

"We drew 300 people for Gone With the Wind," said Debi McNabb, a member of the Athens Muses — a dedicated group of Arts Supporters for the Theater — who helped organize the event with themed drawings and drinks. "It was a huge success, and we look forward to offering many more classic movie nights in the future."

Daytona Beach-based Cinematique will also offer films at the Athens each month, typically on the last Monday and Tuesday of each month. February's scheduled concert brings in nationally recognized classical pianist Lorie Line and her Pop Chamber Orchestra traveling on its 40-city spring and summer tour.

For further information, log on to the Athens Theatre Web site, www.athenstheatre.org. For tickets, call the main box office at (386) 736-7456, or the day-of-show office at the Athens at (386) 736-1500.

UPCOMING ATHENS EVENT SCHEDULE

The Complete History of America (Abridged)

7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14

600 years of history in 6,000 seconds! From Washington to Watergate, from the Bering Straits to Baghdad, the trio of Matthew Carroll, Jo Crandall and Will Lage will take you on a 70-minute roller-coaster ride through the glorious quagmire of American history. This uproarious show is full of laughs, music, and yes ... Bob Dylan impersonations. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for students.

Classic Movie — The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15

This 1960 classic American film, starring Tony Randall as the king of France and Archie Moore as Jim, pays tribute to one of America's first great novelists, Mark Twain. All tickets cost $8.

Concert by Lorie Line

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21

Spend an intimate evening around the piano with Lorie Line as she plays all the favorites from over the years. She will play solo piano and also be joined by select performers from her Pop Chamber Orchestra. You'll enjoy this casual setting where the evening is all about Lorie and her center-stage grand piano. Tickets cost $35, and can be purchased online at www.lorieline.com.

Classic Movie — To Kill a Mockingbird

5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22

Told through the eyes of Scout, Atticus Finch's feisty 6-year-old tomboy, To Kill a Mockingbird carries us on an odyssey through the fires of prejudice and injustice in 1932 Alabama. Starring Gregory Peck. All tickets cost $8.

Cinematique presents the film El Baño del Papa

7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, and Tuesday, Feb. 24

A Spanish-language film about a small South American village that's in a flurry over the pope visiting their town. The pope's impending visit stimulates activity among the poorest residents, who hope to strike it rich by catering to the needs of the 50,000 expected pilgrims. Convinced that his idea is the best, one man uses up his family's savings to build a paying toilet. Tickets cost $10 ($8 for Cinematique members).

Rosa Parks — A Simple Act of Courage

7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27

Written and performed by national award-winning actress Vanessa Adams-Harris, Rosa Parks is a one-woman show that explores the dramatic emotions behind one of America's most treasured civil-rights leaders.

Classic Movie — Easy Rider

7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, and 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1

A story of two men (Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper) who set out on a drug-filled motorcycle journey across the United States on their Harley-Davidsons, with an alcoholic lawyer (Jack Nicholson) in tow, to discover the country and their place in it. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for students.

— Jeffrey Ault is the executive director for Sands Theater Center. His career spans radio, TV, film, theater, and corporate production in 28 states, Europe, Canada, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. He can be reached at JDAult@aol.com.

— JDAult@aol.com

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