Famous Novel Creates Historical Tourist Phenomenon

This column appeared in the Wednesday (1.25.06) Tribune & Georgian newspaper.

This May, if you take exit 93 off I-65 and travel west about 30 miles to Monroeville, Alabama, a sleepy town of 7,000 souls in southwestern Alabama, you probably won’t see her. Town folks will be mum about speculations and even turn away from any questions as to whether she’s in town. But you won’t see her in Monroeville at this season because she has never seen the spectacle that brings more than 5,000 strangers to town each year and more than 30,000 to the town the rest of the year. Even though she authored it and lives with the spectacle that has surrounded it for almost a half century, Harper Lee doesn’t like trading on her book’s fame and popularity; audiences on the other hand, love the ideas, characters and symbols present in “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

Each May, the Monroe County Heritage Museums does, however, deploy all its resources annually to create a stage version of “To Kill A Mockingbird.” It has taken on the feeling of a holy grail to the folks that live here, those that re-create the book’s powerful scenes, and those that make the pilgrimage to sit in the outdoor staging area on benches and see it, many more than once. Pastor’s, lawyers, policemen, county commissioners, moms, teenagers, firefighters, teachers, foresters, and other townspeople star in the play they say sends a “message of racial tolerance.” They have performed it not only in tiny Monroeville, but also on stages in Washington, DC; Hull, England; and Jerusalem. So ingrained is the play and its processes into the town’s culture, that a local actor once signed a check with his character’s name and it cleared the local bank.

In a unique turn, the play casts audience members as jurors. So involved do they become that they often quarrel about whether to acquit Tom Robinson, the accused. While of course they eventually must convict (according to the script), this is just one example of the power of word and stage. So for 16 performances a year, Monroeville trades on its fame and its possibilities. It escapes the humdrum of a drive for miles behind omni-present log trucks and radio broadcasts of ever-present airwave evangelists for a few days, and offers visitors a special glimpse into souls that are both good and evil.

This possibility exists for us, too. When “Crooked Rivers: Sisters Three” appears in April and May this year at Crooked Rivers State Park, we will begin the tradition of telling the tales, sharing the lives and commenting on the vagaries that surround our community’s history. We will sit outdoors, conjoined in spirit with congruent actors and playgoers in Monroeville, AL, all of us wondering if we can attain a similar success and fate.

Opportunities for this week and upcoming weeks: celebrate Mozart’s 250th birthday with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, TCU, 1.26, 7:30 p.m.; great guitar and jazz combines with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, UNF, 7:30 p.m.; create your own art with your kids at JMOMA’s Family Art Class, 1.28, 2 p.m.; listen minute by minute to superstar Michael McDonald, Florida Theatre, 1.29, 8 p.m.; Soweto Gospel Choir, Florida Theatre, 2.3, 8 p.m.; try out new musical theatre on Amelia Island with “Bookstore” at Fernandina Bch Middle School, starts 1.28, 8 p.m.; and “Almost Abba” at Alhambra Dinner Theatre, 1.24 to 2.5.

(Cathy Newman of National Geographic is responsible for the idea for this week’s column. My thanks and acknowledgements to her.) If you have ideas or events you want me to share with readers, send me a note at pkraack1@tds.net.

1.25.05

Crooked Rivers Closer to Reality

This column appeared in the Wednesday (1.18) edition of the Tribune & Georgian newspaper

Remembering where we started is a way to keep us focused on our mission, according to wiser heads. So this week, let’s take a look at the progress of “Crooked Rivers: Sisters Three.” Hopefully I can provide some perspective and information that will pique your interest and make its arrival one that is eagerly anticipated.

For those that need a quick review, the genesis of “Crooked Rivers: Sisters Three,” an historical and entertaining theatrical journey through the history of Camden County and its residents, was the desire by locals to create a cultural tourism event that would have a lasting impact on our community and on those seeking travel and cultural destinations. With our unique coastal location and the depth of this region’s historical complexity, “Crooked Rivers” will offer travelers and local residents alike an opportunity to enjoy a musical stage show and deepen their knowledge of our area’s heritage.

To date, the caretakers of the “Crooked Rivers” legacy have been mostly engaged in preparations. Raising funds to create a worthy script, engaging directors, seeking and gaining community support, informing residents about the project and planning for a venue are the primary activities that have consumed them to date. At this point, one round of successful “gatherings” to seek performers has been held. Another and final set of “gatherings” to recruit actors, singers, dancers, stagehands and volunteers will February 25 & 26 from 2-4 p.m. at the CCHS Auditorium. If you want to get a sense of the spirit of the event and determine your level of interest in performing or volunteering in some other manner, this will be an event for you.

Other recent and ongoing activities about “Crooked Rivers” include a series of interviews done by cable TV programs and the print media with the some of the folks involved in the “Crooked Rivers” effort. This week, TV Camden is recording several scenes from the play for broadcast over the next several months on their channels with local cable operators. If you are cable subscriber, look for the TV Camden channel on your cable guide and be sure to watch for these moments.

Most important, we need to note the “Crooked Rivers: Sisters Three” production dates so they are firmly on our calendars. The performances will be April 21-23, April 27-28 and May 5-7 in Crooked Rivers State Park. The venue will be an open-air affair with free parking and a unique staging that employs all the charms of the state park and its environs. Ticket prices and where you can get them will be announced soon; we’ll send that information along as soon as it’s available.

Opportunities for this week and upcoming weeks: for blues guitar aficionados, catch local talent gone international recording star, Susan Tedeschi at the Florida Theatre, Jan. 18, 8 p.m.; if you are into romantic piano, see Jim Brickman, Florida Theatre, Jan. 19, 8 p.m.; contemporary jazz fans can see Najee, Ritz Theatre, Jan. 21, 8 p.m.; see unique photographs of zoo animals in ‘Captive Beauty: Zoo Portraits,’ an exhibit by Frank Noelker at UNF Gallery, through Jan. 19; take the family to the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s Family Day, TU Ctr., Jan. 22, 2 p.m.; and take in the new acts at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which opens Jan. 18 at Veteran’s Memorial Arena.

If you have ideas or events you want me to share with readers, send me a note at pkraack1@tds.net.

1.18.05

Nutcracker finally on stage, Footloose rehearsing

This column appeared in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper on Wednesday, 1.11.05.

Last week I wrote that the early rehearsals of Camden County’s spring musical, “Footloose,” were underway, starting last Monday. Those 40-plus students worked almost every day last week, on choreography for the six biggest numbers in the show. I got a chance watch the early results on Friday and Saturday. Their hard work is paying off and they are a pretty impressive group of young people. While they are clearly not where they want to be for a polished show, it is a pretty good big accomplishment to have that much preparation done almost three months before the production dates, which are March 31, April 1 & 2 at the Camden High School Auditorium. The most impressive thing is that these young people are incredibly enthusiastic about their work and consistently positive about working so hard and being a part of this group. Imagine that. Sort of blows up some stereotypes about today’s teenagers doesn’t it? If you wish, you take a sneak peek at some of their work at www.kraack.us/footloose where a few QuickTime movies of their rehearsals can be found.

Also, a reminder about another performance I mentioned in a previous column. The long awaited performance of our local production of “The Nutcracker” will be Saturday (Jan. 14) at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the CCHS Auditorium. Call 882-7500 to purchase tickets or you can get them at the door on the day of the show. This is another example of how persistent young people can be when they are involved in the arts. These performers, faced with having to cancel a show because nature intervened in the form of migrating bats in the ceiling of the auditorium, never wavered in their willingness to keep rehearsing and preparing for some future performance date. Now that time is here and they deserve an appreciative audience. The advice I gave earlier still applies: take a young person and enjoy watching them watch this performance. Their smiles and imaginations will run amok, as they become mice and soldiers and dancing princesses in a new kind of pretend world.

In a note about theatre history, on Monday of this week, “Phantom of the Opera” officially became the longest running show on Broadway, having raised the curtain on 7,486 performances. That supercedes the record previously held by “Cats” and it also means that producer Cameron Mackintosh is the producer of the top three longest running shows in Broadway history, with “Les Misérables” holding third place. What made this important to me, besides the artistic significance, was a note I saw about the total worldwide gross from “Phantom” alone: $3.2 billion to date. Who says that there isn’t any money to be made in the arts?

Opportunities for this week and upcoming weeks: Mandolin fans will enjoy Mike Compton and David Long in concert at The House of Jam, 6-9 p.m., $15, Jan. 12; see the art of Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Renoir and other impressionists and post-impressionists at the Main Gallery, Florida School of the Arts, Palatka, through Fri., Jan. 17, free, 8:30-5; imagine the sound of eight (8) cellos in concert when Cello Octet Conjunto Iberico plays, Church of the Good Shepherd, Jan. 13, $18-25,
8 p.m.; opera fans can get into the bohemian life in early 19th century during Puccini’s “La Boheme” at TUC, Jan. 13, 8 p.m.; enjoy a salute to MLK, Jr. with the Ritz Chamber Players at TUC, Jan. 14, 8 p.m.; the whole family will enjoy Family Day at the Cummer Museum of Art; noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 15.

If you have ideas or events you want me to share with readers, send me a note at pkraack1@tds.net.

1.11.05

Arts Students Spend Off Day Footloose

This column was published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper on Wednesday (1.4.05)

By the time you read this, a unique and inspiring thing will have happened. Most of you know that school holidays ended this week and students were scheduled to return to classrooms in Camden County on Tuesday (Jan. 3). Some high school students, however, did the unthinkable – they came back to school a day earlier than required. Bright and early on Monday morning, when a large contingent of their friends was still in bed, about 40 or so actors, dancers and singers charged onto the stage at the high school auditorium. And they began to cut “Footloose.”

For the next eight hours, these dedicated students learned and laughed their way through challenging choreography, blocking, music, and movement rehearsals with their directors and choreographers. While they could have been shopping, watching TV or playing video games, these young actors worked at their craft. Just like good athletic teams don’t get that way by practicing haphazardly, theatrical productions don’t become excellent without hard work, maximum effort, positive attitude, serious dedication, and spontaneity. And I promise you that more than one cast member will say later on, “man, I hurt from all that practice.” And I guarantee their teachers and directors will assure them that it gets better and it IS worth it. I further offer that they will “get it” when they hear the audiences cheer and clap for them when the curtain drops on opening night.

These eager thespians are in the cast of the Camden High School’s Fine Arts Department musical, “Footloose.” They will be joined in late March and early April by equally hardworking musicians to perform this fun show for our community. All of them will be preparing for the next three months, during a marathon of memorization, rehearsal and refinement. This musical is filled with fun music, and features themes about the challenges that come with growing up and being a family. It is funny, instructive and redemptive. It is NOT the movie; it is the Broadway musical, about characters with which kids and adults alike can identify.

As rehearsals continue and anticipation grows, we will occasionally revisit these exciting young performers as they prepare their show for you. Most of all, keep in mind these are students on a mission, that are willing to dedicate their time and efforts to something bigger than each of them individually. Giving young people the opportunity to learn that lesson alone is another good reason to keep the arts alive and well in their lives and in our communities.

Opportunities for this week and upcoming weeks: First Wednesday Art Walk, downtown Jax galleries, museums, venues, free, Jan. 4,5-9 p.m.; New Beginnings, New Year Poetry Slam, Florida Theatre, Jan. 4, 7 p.m. (safe for kids, no cursing allowed); Theatreworks presents “Thumbelina,” Florida Theatre, original children’s musical, Jan. 8, 2 p.m.; “Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes,” Alhambra Dinner Theatre, through Feb. 19; Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presents “Viva La France,” Times Union Ctr, Jan 6, 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Jim Brickman, Florida Theatre, Jan. 19.

If you have ideas or events you want me to share with readers, send me a note at pkraack1@tds.net.

1.4.05

The Arts and A Moment of Ease

This column appeared in the 12.28.05 edition of the Tribune & Georgian newspaper.

The lyrics of a classic Rolling Stones song came to mind over the weekend. And, with deference to The Mick’s problems, I think that maybe he and the rest of the Stones were wrong; it is possible to “get some satisfaction.” Although I am sure that I am thinking in a different vein than that intended by the 60s rock & roll classic, I personally know of at least 2,000 people that got some satisfaction this past weekend at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. The rest of this story in just a moment.

One of the best and most enduring qualities of the arts is that they offer viewers, listeners, and participants emotional comfort and release, while all the while offering intellectual stimulation for conversation, laughter and discernment. Ralph Waldo Emerson offered that the nature of the arts was to “open great gates of a future, promising to…lift human life out of its beggary to a god-like ease…” Whether it is the simplest of childhood plays and songs to the most sophisticated music, paintings, or dance, the most resilient heart can be purified, uplifted and inspired by artistic endeavor.

Especially if you are a parent of the artist, and an audience member. So, there we were, nervously crouched in National Theatre in D.C. last Sunday (Dec. 18th), surrounded by all those spirits of famous actors, singers and dancers that have graced its stage for more than 200 years. The audience was abuzz with pre-show chatter, including one young man that said, in a disappointed pout to his father, using an overly loud voice: “the guy who is playing Valjean is, like, the third understudy.”

The rest of the next three hours seems a blur now; I am not sure I will ever get used to the feeling. After choking back exclamations of joy and sobs of emotion, we made it to the end of Les Misérables and eventually to the stage door, where we desperately and proudly hugged this Valjean’s neck. I do remember the audience being so generous at the end of the prayerful song “Bring Him Home” and standing as one at the end of the show, as if to say “thanks for lifting our lives and bringing ease to our world, if only for a moment.” And they did it for him at his bow, our son, our Valjean, who offered that 2,000-person ensemble a moment at the “great gates of the future.”

After the show, in a gently pointed way, I asked the young man that was upset at seeing the “third understudy” if he enjoyed the show. He was effusive in his praise, particularly for the actor playing Valjean. “I’ve seen the show five times and he was one of the best ever,” he said. I think it was then that I finally breathed and confessed my interest. And joyfully took him and his family to meet my son, Jason Kraack. At that moment, I think began to understand this lyric from Les Mis: “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

Other best bets for this week and upcoming weeks: at the movies, “The Producers” opens (not for kids, but fun campy humor for adults); 30th annual New Year’s Bluegrass Festival at Jekyll Island, Dec. 29-31, 706-864-7203 for info; Bruce Ann Ferguson’s “The Joy of Painting” at Vandroff Art Gallery, 5:30-10 p.m. through Jan. 1; “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” at Limelight Theatre, 7:30 p.m.; family fun at MOSH’s Universe Science exhibit “Trains;” music by Billy Joel and choreography by Twyla Tharpe in “Movin’ Out” at TU Ctr, Jan. 17-22; Broadway’s big fat musical comedy hit, “Hairspray,” at Times Union Center, Feb. 28-March 5.

If you have ideas or events you want me to share with readers, send me a note at pkraack1@tds.net .

12.28.05

Visual Art Is A Reward in Itself

This column appeared in the 12.21.05 edition of the Tribune & Georgian newspaper.

Last week, Camden County’s talented young artists provided the community with a look at their artistic accomplishments this year during an exhibit at the high school auditorium. Watching students, parents and teachers enjoy these refreshing pieces was interesting; it gave us all something unique and potentially unifying to talk about. The overwhelming interest this display created also made me wonder about the prevalence of the visual arts in our area.

I found that our community is plentiful with places to view visual art. Did you know there are 37 galleries, art stores, and exhibits between St. Marys and St. Augustine? Almost all of them feature artists whose work is indigenous. That is a lot of artistic energy in a fairly small region; that has to be a good thing. Last week, while shopping in one of the fun stores in our community, my spouse found some lovely ceramic pieces of serving ware created by a local medicine man that moonlights with his potter’s wheel. There is nothing like practical artwork; its tactile rewards are exceeded only by its visual beauty.

There is also nothing to compare with owning art for its own sake, especially pieces that have memories of travels with family and special occasions. One of the ways that we have found to make a new place your own is to bring it home with you. Last year, during a long overdue visit to my sibling in the north country, we happened upon a local artist that only displays his work in that community. We found something we could afford, as did my brother and his wife. Now, every day when I enter my kitchen, I can remember that weekend and our mutual enjoyment of this man’s talents.

So browse for and enjoy works by local artists and artisans. Owning them is nice, but sharing them is even more enjoyable. They always provide something unique and memorable for you to talk about, touch, and enjoy.

At the movies: Disney’s newest release, the remake of “Once Upon A Mattress,” the musical that rocketed the now legendary Carol Burnett to fame, came out on Dec. 20. This version features Burnett in the role of Queen Aggravain, opposite Tommy Smothers as her mute, but wise husband/king, and Tracey Ullman as Princess Winnifred, who handles the physically demanding role with aplomb. Great for kids and grownups alike.

Other best bets for this week: last chance to enjoy this year’s “Christmas Carole” at Alhambra Dinner Theatre, through 12.24; annual kids Christmas railroad toy train exhibit, through Dec. 29, 4-8 p.m., at First Christian Church in Orange Park; give kids a taste of the arts at Holiday Art Camp, Cultural Center, Ponte Vedra Beach, daily through Dec. 30, 9-11:30 a.m. (kids 4-5) & 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (kids 6-10); kids ages 6-12 make holiday gifts at Holiday Hoopla one-day art camp at Cummer Museum of Art, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; kids learn about the world of science at MOSH’s Winter Day Camp, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., acoustic Christmas music is the program for Inspection 12 at Jack Rabbits, 8 p.m., Dec. 25.

If you have ideas or events you want me to share with readers, send me a note at pkraack1@tds.net .

12.21.05

Arts in Business: A Value Added Asset

This column was published in the 12.14.05 edition of the Tribune & Georgian newspaper.

In the November 14, 2005 issue of Newsweek, writer Linda Stern offered an insight into techniques more than 120 U.S. companies are using to feed their spirit of innovation. To shake up the status quo, enterprises are working with arts professionals at the Creativity Connection (a New York nonprofit) to improve reactive, non-linear thinking among employees and managers. Improvisation, projects that require creative thinking, and jazz music are among the resources used to help employees learn to handle competition, resolve conflict and produce new processes, products and services.

I once had the privilege of watching a Georgia state Bar Association training session, in which lawyers honed their questioning skills in a competitive setting. To whom did they turn to be their witnesses? Actors from an Atlanta-based improvisational troupe, whose creativity in playing the roles required by the mock cases was inspiring and challenging for these highly accomplished attorneys. From the very first, these legal warriors recognized that to prepare for the realities of today’s courtrooms, they needed to learn and be associated with improvisational, creative and out of the box thinking. And they turned to actors, well trained and skilled in the specialized world of improvisational dialogue, both comedic and dramatic.

Today, in business and in academia, the big emphasis is understanding and using information gained from studying current research. Each of these examples offers proof of what the research tells us: there are clear links between creativity in the arts and in the trenches of daily business life. Communities, businesses and individuals that aspire to innovation in planning, production and marketing can create more positive space for those things to occur by supporting, adopting and fostering the arts.

On Saturday (Dec. 17), the Woodbine Woman's Club sponsors the 1st Annual “Christmas in Woodbine” Tour of Homes and Churches, along with an Artists' Exhibit showing works by talented Woodbine residents. A special feature of this year’s Woodbine Tour is several homes currently being restored that have not been lived in for quite a while. On the Tour will be the Gowen / Joiner house and the late 19th century Woodbine Plantation House of the Bedell family on the Satilla River. Five homes and 4 churches will be featured. Tickets are $15.00, Woodbine Woman's Club, PO Box 64, Woodbine, Georgia 31569. Tickets and Maps will be available at Woodbine City Hall on the day of the Tour.

Other best bets for this week and the weekend: offbeat singer John Prine at Florida Theatre, 12.14, 8 p.m.; movie buffs will head to Peter Jackson’s updated “King Kong” due in theatres on 12.14; The Jacksonville Landings Holiday Concert Series features performances by groups from schools, churches and dance companies, 12.12-17, weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. and Saturday 2-10 p.m.; The Florida Ballet’s “Community Nutcracker” at the Florida Theatre, 12.17 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; “A Christmas Carole” at Alhambra Dinner Theatre, through 12.24 (a holiday tradition featuring Tiny Tim and Scrooge); take the kids to see “Babes in Toyland” at the Thrasher-Home Center for the Arts in Orange Park, Jax, 12.17 at 8 p.m.; Have a “Blast!” at the Times-Union Center, 12.18 at 7 p.m. (a powerful show of percussion and visual ensembles); Jax Symphony “Home for the Holidays” Concerts at the Times-Union Center, 12.16-18, evening and matinee performances; “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” at the Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine, 12.15-1.14, (this show is by Alfred Uhry, who also wrote “Driving Miss Daisy.” Set in 1939’s Atlanta, it is delightful, funny and full of warmth!)

There more holiday events that readers might want to share; send me a note at pkraack1@tds.net to help us spread the word.

12.14.05

Holiday Arts Opportunities Include Dance and History

This column was published in the Wednesday (12.7.05) edition of the Tribune & Georgian newspaper.

Sometimes inspiration comes in the most unique ways. Witnessing the National Bulgarian Radio Children’s Choir sing Battle Hymn of the Republic with crystal clear young voices and glorious harmony, knowing that the children had full innocence of any knowledge of its meaning, yet seeing them thoroughly transfixed by its power, began my week with inspiration and moist eyes. The only problem is, I will never be able to say “thank you.” After beginning on that high note, however, I am confident life has good things to offer this season; just one more benefit of artistic expression and being an audience to its influence.

Each year about this time, particular dreams start to be realized. Visions of sugar plum fairies, dueling mice and handsome princes become real in studios, school cafeterias, and on theatre stages throughout the world. The music is so familiar that it may now be ingrained in our genome. Little girls joyfully endure become “bun heads” for a time; little boys gleefully play at sword fights. Tights, dance slippers and rehearsals consume afternoons, evenings and weekends for millions of children, adults and teachers for months on end. And then The Nutcracker, in all its incarnations, versions, and iterations, happens. You can find it in the smallest burgs and on the largest, grandest of stages in just about every country in the world. The story is timeless; the movement captivating, graceful and powerful. Set to Tchaikovsky’s first opus, from the beauty of the adagio and pas de deux to the strength and control of the grand jete, audiences realize that stories like this were meant to be told through dance and music conjoined. You can share a portion of this worldwide phenomenon at our local high school auditorium on Saturday (Dec. 10) at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Choreographed by Monica Harris and her teachers at Just Dance, local dancers from a number of area studios are featured performers in this second annual Nutcracker. Better yet, take a child that has never seen it and, when you can take your eyes off the athletes (that’s right, the athletes!) on stage, sneak a peek at their face. You will receive your best ever holiday gift. Tickets are $10 and you can get them at the door; call 882-7500 for more details.

On Saturday evening (12.10) from 6 – 9 p.m., you will want to join in St. Marys annual Tour of Homes sponsored by Arts Camden and St. Marys Tourism. This year’s Tour features more than 21 homes and businesses in the St. Marys historic village, including some new sites that have not been featured in previous year’s Tours. This year’s Tour include’s visits to eight historic St. Marys homes, as well as stops at local inns, B & B’s, and museums. You’ll be able to experience this year’s tour more conveniently by tram and tour bus. The Tour begins and ends at St. Marys First Presbyterian Church, on Conyers St. Contact the St. Marys Tourism office at 882-4000 for information; tickets are $10 in advance at local merchant locations or $12 at the door.

Other best bets for this week and next weekend: African Children’s Choir at Southside United Methodist Church, 12.7, 6 p.m. (free concert; voices of hope from children who have lost parents to war, disease, and famine); movie buffs will head to the new film version of C. S. Lewis’ classic, beloved tale The Chronicles of Narnia due in theatres on 12.9; The First Coast Nutcracker with the Jacksonville Symphony Ballet at the Times Union Center, 12.9-11 (grand ballet); Community Nutcracker at the Florida Theatre, 12.9-10 (grand ballet); A Christmas Carole at Alhambra Dinner Theatre, through 12.24 (a holiday tradition featuring Tiny Tim and Scrooge); free holiday music at the TubaChristmas Concert, Jacksonville Landing, Sat.12.10, 2 p.m. (it will be wonderful! I’ve seen them in Atlanta and Tampa – bravo!)

There are lots more fascinating holiday events; send me a note at pkraack1@tds.net if you think our readers would enjoy knowing about it.

12.7.05

Holiday Season Filled With Local Arts Opportunities

This column was published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper on Wednesday (11.30.2005).

With the holiday season full upon us, this week we will sample festivals, events, and activities available to readers in the immediate area. There’s something for just about every taste and preference on the schedule.

Coming up this weekend are local events that should be fun for all ages. Kicking off on Saturday (12.3) is the Search for the Yule Log, sponsored by First National Bank, the St. Marys Police Auxiliary and the St. Marys Tourism office. Children 12 and under begin their search for the elusive yuletide symbol at 2 p.m. and teens 13 and older undertake their mission at 3 p.m. The first seeker in each category to discover the Yule Log’s location will receive a $100 savings bond courtesy of First National Bank. Admission for all participants is a new, unwrapped toy or present for a boy or girl. The Police Auxiliary will distribute these gifts to local children whose holiday season needs brightening. You can get more information and details by calling St. Marys Tourism at 882-4000.

On Saturday evening (12.3) you can also enjoy the City of Kingsland’s annual Tree Lighting ceremony with music and a visit from Santa. Call 264-7333 for times and information.

Also on the docket for those seeking a unique dining and entertainment experience, Camden County High School’s Fine Arts Department invites you to A Madrigal Feast at the high school on Friday (12.2) at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday (12.4) at 1:30 p.m. You can feast on old-fashioned fare of roasted meats, hearty vegetables, seasonal fruits, and handcrafted desserts, then enjoy the talents of Camden County’s finest instrumental and vocal musicians, painting and sculpture artisans, and master thespians to cap the evening. Tickets are $20 per person for the evening and reservations are suggested; call the CCHS Fine Arts Dept. at 729-7463 for tickets and information.

Coming up on Saturday (12.10) is St. Marys annual Tour of Homes sponsored by Arts Camden and St. Marys Tourism. This year’s Tour features more than 21 homes and businesses in the St. Marys historic village, including some new sites that have not been featured in previous year’s Tours. You’ll be able to experience this year’s tour more conveniently by tram and bus. More details in next week’s column. Contact the St. Marys Tourism office at 882-4000 for more information about tickets ($10 in advance, $12 at the door) and Tour details.

Best bets for this week and next weekend: Great Russian Swan Lake by the Moscow Ballet at the Times Union Center, 11.30 (grand ballet); best new folk artist Caroline Herring at European St. in San Marco, 12.1 (traditional folk music); Inspecting Carol by Players by the Sea at their Studio Theatre in Jax Beach, Fri. and Sat.12.2-17 and Sundays 12.4,11 (hilarious holiday show); A Christmas Carole at Alhambra Dinner Theatre, 12.3-24 (a holiday tradition featuring Tiny Tim and Scrooge); free holiday music by the Southeast Navy Band at SeaWalk Pavilion at Jax Beach on Sunday, 12.4 from 4 – 8 p.m.

Hints: Find a performance of Handel’s Messiah to listen to or sing in; take a child to see the Nutcracker for the first time (lives will be changed!). We will find some locations and times for these events next week.

There are lots more fascinating holiday events; send me a note at pkraack1@tds.net if you think our readers would enjoy knowing about it.

11.30.05

Artistic Winners Start Early

This column was published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper on November 23, 2005.

Carolyn Cork (Greer) laughs a lot. Not just a giggle, but loudly, happily. She’s had that laugh since I first met her in 1982, when she was a student at Morrow High School in Clayton County, Georgia. Today, she’s a mom, a wife and a teacher. She wasn’t a quiet student then; she doesn’t perform any of the roles she has today quietly. She also likes to be in charge; has since she was a kid. When I mentioned her last week, I had no idea how significant it would be that I was thinking about her at that moment. You see, I was mentioning people in the arts that become winners because they search for and reach goals rarely reached by others. Carolyn has always been a winner, but now it is certified.

In 1984, when her beloved drama teacher moved away unexpectedly, Carolyn pledged she would keep their theatre arts program going, despite not having a really good teacher replacement. In the spring of 1985, when a twist of fate reconnected Carolyn and her teacher/mentor back at their high school, it turned out Carolyn had kept her word. All the talent and the commitment were still there. Those remarkable kids went on to perform a special play that won accolades across Georgia and created momentum in a program that lasted another decade.

That play was The Diviners, lovingly crafted by Jim Leonard, Jr. This folk tale is about Buddy Layman, whose soul and brain were damaged by an accidental near-drowning as a toddler, and the townfolk that loved him and cared for him. All who ever saw this show were changed by its message and by these young peoples’ performances. Four of those cast members are working professionals in the arts today, as teachers, performers and technicians. Carolyn Greer is one if them, a high school drama teacher in Owensboro, KY. Last week, a day or so after I mentioned her in our column, I received word that her students, competing in a similar competition to the one our high school drama students went to last week, were selected as the best show in the state of Kentucky. They will represent their state in Orlando, FL in the spring of 2006 at the Southeastern Theatre Conference One Act Play Festival. The play they performed? A special version of Jim Leonard Jr.’s newest play, Anatomy of Gray. Do you think maybe Greer and her former teacher, who now lives fairly close to Orlando, might share that experience together? If it were legal, I think I would take that wager.

Don’t miss local student artist Natalie Schulze’s one woman art exhibit at the Kingsland public library. Her paintings and sculpture will be on display for rest of the month of November.

Best bets for this week and next weekend: Swamp-funk soul band Mofro with the Jacksonville Symphony, at the Times-Union Center, 11.26 (Plugged In Music Series); The King of Western Swing, Bob Wills and the Original Texas Playboys, at the Florida Theatre, 11.26 (western/cowboy dance); 17th Annual Christmas Made in the South Arts and Crafts Festival, Prime Osborn Convention Ctr., 11.25, 26 & 27 (southern arts/crafts); Annual Lighting of the Tree, Jax Landing, 7:30 p.m., 11.25; 21st Annual Jax Light Parade and Fireworks Spectacular on the Riverfront, 11.26 (free/community holiday event); Gypsy, Alhambra Dinner Theatre, through 11.27 (musical/dinner theatre)

Upcoming events: Buckwheat Zydeco, Florida Theatre, Jan. 6; four decade chart topper Billy Joel, Jax Veterans Memorial Arena, Jan. 10; Movin’ Out, featuring music by Billy Joel and choreography by Twyla Tharp, Times Union Center, Jan. 17-22; Michael McDonald, Florida Theatre, Jan. 29; Arlo Guthrie, Florida Theatre, Jan. 31; Moody Blues, Florida Theatre, Feb. 27

Next week, we’ll sample a delicious feast of holiday festivals, events and activities to get you in the holiday spirit.

11.23.05

Winners Stand on Many Different Stages

This column was published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper on November 16, 2005.

It is wonderful thing to live in a community of winners. Flush from a victory propelling our Wildcats into the next round of football playoffs, winning seems contagious. Look at some other winners on a different stage that are a part of our school and community.

Two weeks ago, at the Region One Act Play Festival, held at the Camden County High School Auditorium, the Wildcat’s Drama Department also propelled themselves and their production of Sing Down the Moon into the state competition, winning a third Region Championship in recent years. By the time you read this, this cast of almost 30 performers, along with its directors and a contingent of parents, will know its fate in the state One Act Play competition. They will have left last Friday, driven all day, eating pizza and sharing laughter all the way to Rabun County, GA, as far north in Georgia as we are south. This trip will be possible because local businesses and individuals were kind enough and smart enough to know winners when they see them. These generous folks made donations and contributions to rent a bus, pay for meals, and hotel rooms. The performers will know this and be grateful, but they will be very focused on another agenda. Because, on Saturday, they will have gotten up early, watched other shows perform, and performed their show by noon. The competition will end Saturday at 7 p.m., and no matter how they place, they will start their long trek home by bus. Tired and still laughing, they will arrive back home at around 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning. No matter how they did in the competition, these talented performers will be changed. Their passion and their education will have been infused with the electricity of this experience and with lessons that will never be forgotten. These winners will be stronger, smarter and more involved students and, eventually, adults. We are lucky they are part of our school and community.

Watching these students grow and learn, I was reminded of some other winners that I knew, talented youngsters that had similar experiences. There was Jamie Moore, with the most energy in a performer that I have ever seen. You’ve seen him, too. He’s the Dad-guy in all those zany Wild Adventure commercials. I also thought of Holly, a graduate of Rockdale County High School. That’s Holly Hunter, famous star of the silver screen. She just recorded a public service announcement for the new Atlanta tourism public relations campaign, giving back to her home city. Carolyn Cork Greer’s name came to mind. She was so fond of her high school drama teacher that she went to college, became a drama teacher too and is now the driving force for the dramatic arts training for youth in Owensboro, KY. I also recalled Trent Blanton, whose high school theatre experience so charged him up that he was willing to go to an International theatre conference four states away with a drama teacher and drama students from another high school that he didn’t know. Six weeks ago, more than 15 years after he graduated high school, I stood in Toronto outside the stage door of the Princess of Wales Theatre after his performance of the national tour of Les Misérables and watched as he hugged that teacher, thrilled to see her again after all those years.

All of these winners have a common thread in their lives. Their early lives and experiences were informed and expanded because of the artistic training they received as students. To a person, they credit their teachers and their school experiences for creating a space in which they could grow artistically and as people. Ask them, they will confess: for them, the arts were the stage on which they learned how to win.

Best bets for this week and next weekend: Annie, at the Times-Union Center, 11.15-20 (musical); Nickel Creek, at the Florida Theatre, 11.20 (progressive bluegrass); Blind Boys of Alabama, at the Fine Arts Center, UNF, 11.17 (gospel/blues); Chiara Civello, Church of the Good Shepherd, 11.17 (jazz quintet)

The Crooked Rivers Saga Begins

This column is part of a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. It was published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA, scheduled for publication on Nov. 9, 2005.

This past Saturday and again on Sunday, sitting quietly in front of groups of interested participants, Crooked Rivers director Jerry Stropnicky made it clear why this day and many more to follow will define the future of Crooked Rivers: Sisters Three. He told of his recent adventure helping a community in Harlan County, KY open their production about life in the hills, valleys, and mines of eastern Kentucky’s coalfields. He has told this story before, many times. His background includes working for four years in Colquitt, GA with Swamp Gravy and helping produce other community-centered, historically based shows in communities across the nation. The meaning of what he is saying is momentarily lost; the tenderness and commitment overwhelms it. The themes are repeated and celebrated: all are welcome on this stage, everyone has something to contribute; we have stories to tell and together, as a team, we are going to tell them.

Jerry shared a couple of historical moments from the Crooked Rivers script with his new cast members. The stories are funny, poignant and promise to be wonderful moments in the Crooked Rivers production. Jerry tells how 11 and 12-year-old youngsters, in time past, would blatantly drive about Camden County, with the blessing of county and city law enforcement. When the state authorities were in the area, however, local police passed the word and these pre-teen drivers disappeared from local streets. When the state police pulled out, the dirt roads would fill once again with kid drivers. Another story that Stropnicky shared was one sends a clear message to audiences about our community’s history. There was a time when a man, a white man, was convicted by a local jury and district attorney, also all white, of killing and robbing two black women. However, the sheriff at the time would not carry out the death sentence in a bigoted protest against the jury’s verdict. This standoff ended when residents voted this biased sheriff out of office and elected a man that would do the jury and the voters’ bidding to carry out the deserved sentence.

Jerry’s conversation with his cast reinforced the point I made last week in our column. I also found out that he hadn’t read it, so it turns out we are on the same page. The point I made was that in an endeavor like this one, you make new acquaintances and unlikely friends. For me that process has already started.

Lori was there with her sweet children, Brenton and Kayla. She is an arts patron, whose interested was piqued again by reading about the “gatherings” for Crooked Rivers. Lori and her kids were joined by Casey and Steve with their children Ben and Madison. This family has a history with Crooked Rivers. They (except for Ben who was too little then) were in the initial one-act scenes and can’t wait to share in the full-length event. Alicia, a high school drama student and a dancer, also can’t wait for Crooked Rivers to begin. She wants to get started on building sets for the show. Alicia was so enthusiastic; she brought her sister Chelsea to join. Marcie, an eight-year resident, likes theatre, read about Crooked Rivers and came to be a part of the whole process. And, finally, I got to talk to Margaret, a distinguished lady, who recently retired from her career with an Ohio school system. Her warmth and curiosity about Crooked Rivers made for a wonderful conversation.

Every one of these cast members brought their own personal story with them to these gatherings and they are all going to help tell the stories found along the Crooked Rivers, where they can be discovered around every bend.

It's Time to Find Your Own Crooked Rivers Story

This column is the tenth in a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. It was published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA, scheduled for publication on Nov. 2, 2005.

It is beginning to look as if there is a common theme here in Camden County. Within reports from economists, tourism authorities and researchers from Georgia Tech are confirmations of the economic value of developing tourism in Georgia communities. The evidence is overwhelming that, in this era of mobility and information, interest in historically based entertainment and culturally interesting events is growing. Those reports also indicated that such opportunities are profitable for communities that make the sufficient personal and institutional commitment to create them.

In a previous column, I made the point that, beyond the economic and global reasons for a community to support an event such as Crooked Rivers, there are also other, more personal reasons, to do so. I wrote about some of the interesting things that happen when people commit to a project such as Crooked Rivers’: Sisters Three. One point I made was that in an endeavor like this one, you make new acquaintances and unlikely friends. Recently, that truth was made clear to me in a unique manner.

Last Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the Eagle Scout ceremony for Michael Merrill. I met Mike in the spring of 2005 while he was working on the high school production of “The King and I.” Actually, I got to know Mike while he showed me how to tie knots so that the rope ladder on the set looked realistic. As we sat on the floor manipulating rope and twine, Mike shared some neat things about his life: his scouting, his travels, his love of family and his fondness for my wife’s speech class. One thing I forgot to mention – Mike is also a rather large guy and an offensive tackle on Camden County’s championship football team. This giant young man is a great student and someone I admire. As he stood in a shelter at Crooked Rivers State Park, simply and lovingly thanking his family, neighbors, teachers and friends for their support of his accomplishments, I realized that Mike was living proof of my contention that commitment to positive community projects offers us all a chance to discover new facets, new people and new value in our lives. Right there, on the banks of Crooked River, Mike and I both found new stories.

According to the lyrics to a popular anthem from the Frank Wildhorn musical “Jekyll and Hyde,” “This is the moment, this is the time.” This is the time for us to take important steps to make our local opus a reality. It’s time for us to satisfy our curiosity about Crooked Rivers’: Sisters Three. What is Crooked Rivers about? How will this project work? If I get involved, what will I have to do or what will I get to do? And, just as important, if I decide not to be in Crooked Rivers, how can I support those that will make up the cast and supporting crew? What story can I find in the Crooked Rivers saga?

The answers to these questions and many more can be found by visiting Director Jerry Stropnicky and Crooked Rivers volunteers during their “participation gatherings” at Lisa Allen’s Dance Works studio on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and again on Sunday, November 6 from 2 to 5 p.m. Dance Works is located at 10880 Colerain Road in St. Marys. Jerry says that he wants to see people of all shapes, sizes, shades and ages. He wants to talk to anyone that wants to read, act, sing, dance, build sets, help with costumes, install lighting or be a stagehand. Most of all, Jerry says he needs people that want to learn about life and history along the Crooked Rivers, where around every bend is a story.

Crooked Rivers Can Help Us Catch The I-95 Flow of Tourists

This column is the ninth in a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. It appeared in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA on October 26, 2005.

For those dear readers that have taken the time to consider our almost weekly musings and to those that have sent positive messages, I extend my thanks. You can all take some comfort in this: it turns out that I am not a lonely voice crying in the wilderness. Not only have we been insightful in our point of view, but also we are now confirmed as accurate. To cite one master player whose irreverence always makes me smile: “It’s good to be the King.” (Although I am confident that a certain lass will soon tell me that while I may think I am, I certainly am NOT the King!)

Last week, in a presentation to local residents, researchers from Georgia Tech offered more proof that cultural tourism is a viable and important part of our community’s continuing economic diversification. According to Ed Lindsey of Economic Development and Technology Ventures, based on research conducted by Georgia Tech during the past year, we ought to be looking “in our own backyard” to create reasons for some of the 105 million residents that live along the I-95 corridor from Maine to Florida to visit, spend time and money in our communities. “There is more positive stuff [in Camden] than I’ve seen in a long time,” Lindsey said. “There’s a lot of promise; you just need to figure out how to knock down some manmade barriers.” Think about that: more than one-third of the U.S. population lives directly north and south of us. Do the math. If, in one year, just one percent of those people traveled through Camden County and spent an average of $100 for a night’s visit and some activities, that would mean more than $100 million in additional revenue for local businesses and nearly seven million dollars in local sales tax revenue alone for local governments. Now that would fix a lot of potholes, pave some roads, provide needed services for families and maybe even get us some extra mosquito sprayers! (That last bit is just a little humor, my friends in public service!)

Mr. Lindsey called I-95 a spigot. He challenged us to find ways to “stick out our cup and catch our share.” His point is that we have the tourists; we just need to cultivate them and give them a reason to arrive in greater quantities and to stay longer. Of most interest here was his notation that, when asked, tourists made specific references to things they liked to see and do in their travels. Now I know you probably have my earliest columns right at your fingertips for reference purposes, but just in case you don’t, let me paraphrase something we said here eight weeks ago that was just re-confirmed by Georgia Tech’s survey results: today’s tourists are older and have more money; they like to visit sites, events and activities that are interesting, historical and culturally unique; they like THEATRE, art galleries and museums. That’s right – THEATRE. Like what we have been talking about with Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three: energetic actors and singers, emotional and historically interesting stories that connect with audiences, catchy and meaningful music, and good looking sets, costumes and lights. Just like what tourists surveyed by Georgia Tech said they missed in Camden County during their travels and stays here.

I guess I won’t beat that drum any more this week. I can feel us all saying, “OK, we get it.” So, what can we do to deconstruct some of these “manmade barriers?” One thing is to come find out more about Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three. Director Jerry Stropnicky and Crooked Rivers volunteers will be hosting “participation gatherings” at Lisa Allen’s Dance Works studio on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and again on Sunday, November 6 from 2 to 5 p.m. Dance Works is located at 10880 Colerain Road in St. Marys. Jerry says that he wants to see people of all shapes, sizes, shades and ages. He wants to talk to anyone that wants to read, act, sing, dance, build sets, help with costumes, install lighting or be a stagehand. Most of all, Jerry says he needs people that want to tell about the life and history along the Crooked Rivers, where around every bend is a story.

What to Expect When You Are Part of Crooked Rivers' Sisters Three

This column is the eighth in a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. It was published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA, appearing on October 21, 2005.

For a few weeks it has been my pleasure to offer you some ideas about cultural tourism, its importance in today’s economic picture, and what might be possible in our community. One of the points I made previously was that involvement in and commitment to such a production has benefits beyond economic ones. It has by-products that are highly personal and highly rewarding, mostly related to ways that involvement in community and commitment to a project that is vital and worthwhile yields good memories, positive relationships and long-term personal growth.

While writing, I considered if readers might wonder why they should be involved with Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three; why should they come to a “gathering” and volunteer to be in this production. I also know that some people want to know what it will be like; exactly what will happen, what to expect when you get involved in a musical production, especially one that will be performed for the first time in its entirety. So this week, I want to share a little about what this might be like and what you can expect to give to and gain from such an experience. (I base these observations on more than 20 years of being part of a community theatre production team and on my own personal experiences of being part of such productions.)

One important thing you will gain from being a part of the Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three production cast is a sense of family that is found no where else. You will be greeted as a friend, a family member and an appreciated link in a close-knit group. There will be highs and lows, accomplishments and frustrations. Some things will be difficult to learn, others will be sheer joy. You will leave each meeting or rehearsal sharing funny stories, revealing your soul to a new friend and singing snippets of songs that you simply cannot get out of your head. And when other friends, who are not in the cast, ask you about the experience, you will say: “Well, it’s like…it’s sort of a…well, you just have to be there to understand it!”

Another part of the experience of being in a production of this nature is that you learn things about yourself, as well as others. You often find new friends that you might not have met otherwise. You sometimes get tested and challenged to do things you haven’t done before or done in a long time. There are emotional and silly moments. There are compromises made and new principles established. As the production dates approach, you will find it difficult to concentrate on work and play; all of it pales in comparison to this new, intoxicating affair.

Finally, good things happen to people that do this stuff. Families that share the experience grow so much closer; neighbors and friends who collaborate gain new trust in and respect for each other. Children that are involved in such efforts show improvement in their reading, conversation and confidence. They benefit from their close proximity with adults that support and appreciate them and that are not their parents. Parents gain a new appreciation of their kids and share a great pride in their accomplishments, performance and improved behavior.

On a personal note, recently I had the opportunity to witness some of these experiences on a very personal level. When you fly long distances, get slightly sleep deprived and then see your own child perform in the national touring company of Les Misérables, it is a raw emotional phenomenon. I harkened to his first show when he stubbed his toe making an entrance in South Pacific, remembered him as a 10-year-old playing a dead body in Arsenic and Old Lace and his improvisation in Annie Warbucks that had me (as FDR) buffaloed when I went to shake his hand.

Through tears and pride, I wanted more people to share this experience. In Crooked Rivers, where there is a story around every bend, it can happen for you.

It's Time to Give Crooked Rivers' Sisters Three Your Support

This column is the seventh in a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. It was published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA, appearing on Wednesday (October 5, 2005).

During the past six weeks, our goal has been to explore how more and more locales are combining their historical legacy and memorable heritage into an informative and entertaining experience that community and tourist audiences want to share. When you look around the country at places where this is happening, there are common elements that seem to be at play.

First, persons that are aware of the importance of historical preservation, and how it can be done to maximize its impact, get involved and support this type of effort. In Camden County, these persons have been local historians, community leaders, and arts partisans that see a theatrical event like Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three as a way to clarify and amplify historical intrigue, fact, and lore, while providing the basis for an entertaining event that gathers audiences and gains a reputation as a significant and worthwhile addition to the other attractions that bring visitors to coastal Georgia.

Second, persons that desire to see cultural tourism events come to fruition find ways to incorporate the event(s) into community infrastructure and tradition. In Camden County, the city of Woodbine, under the leadership of Mayor Buford Clark and City Manager Sandy Rayson, has defined a clear path that makes Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three a part of its redevelopment plans. Their willingness to have the fledgling Crooked Rivers project perform segments of the show at their renowned Crawfish Festival in 2003 and 2004 was a significant beginning. Imagine how wonderful it will be in a few years to be able to stroll that balmy riverfront walkway in an early spring evening and then rise to the garden walk that wends its way into downtown Woodbine, arriving at a quaint and appealing theatre located right on the main thoroughfare in town, where county residents present you with a feast of music, humor, history and storytelling that leaves you wanting to know more, and ready to share it with others. Maybe you will even drop a bill or two into their coffers when you leave, in appreciation for what Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three gave you and for what it offers to residents and visitors.

Third, the creation process for cultural tourism events is difficult, and takes time, money and more work than one can describe. Until there is a product, only visionaries and dreamers invest. That time is almost up for Crooked River’s Sisters Three. In the next few weeks, you will be hearing lots of information about Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three “gatherings” in your community. These will be calls for interested members to come and hear about the ideas of the visionaries and the dreamers. They will be offering you a chance to bring your kids, your significant other(s) and your parents and climb aboard the Crooked Rivers bandwagon as actors, singers, storytellers, stagehands, performance workers, or for other important purposes.

In the next several months, you will begin to see folks and signs around that will ask for your financial assistance and support to make this project a reality. They won’t ask for much, but they will ask. You should say yes and do what you can. Because this effort deserves our grassroots local support, if for no other reason than it will help us become stronger and healthier as a community, not to mention the possible economic gains it can bring for us all. Pick either reason, or both – they are good enough reasons to say yes.

Crooked Rivers' Three Sisters Needs Local Backing

This column is the sixth in a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. It will be published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA, appearing on Wedenesday (September 28, 2005).

In the past five weeks, we have taken a short tour of what is possible. It is clear that, on a national scale, our affluent and mobile population looks for ways to experience the heritage of the places they visit during leisure and business travel. That search for entertainment and learning translates into local revenues: for residents as wages, for businesses as earnings and for local government as taxes and fees. This significant development means that our “Eden on the rivers” (the description of one local pundit) is ready. We meet the criteria: we are imbued with a gigantic local history that is colorful and unique; people love to come to coastal Georgia for fun, relaxation and business, we are located on a primary thoroughfare between opposite climates, and we have a community spirit that knows how to back a winner (go ‘Cats!).

Research and discussion has taught us how important it is for communities to use their treasured history and unique qualities when creating cultural tourism events and opportunities. However, there is an even more critical element shared by successful endeavors such as these. To build success and popularity among tourists and visitors, the most crucial factor is local support. Only through community belief in and participation in Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three will regional and national awareness become reality. Only by making the Crooked Rivers saga interesting and vital to ourselves, will we make it an essential “must see” for others.

Bill Grow, an original participant in the inception of Swamp Gravy in Colquitt, GA, believes this is a vital requirement for success. His observations are pointed. According to Grow, Colquitt’s success did not come from starting big. They did not seek big grants or major corporate donations until after they had successfully produced and shared their cultural tourism vision with their neighbors and friends. Grow’s formula for success is simple: start at home; build through local participation; and grow large through the excitement and demand you create in your own community.

Since a group of local patrons saw Swamp Gravy in 2002 and asked Grow come to Camden to give a workshop on how to get such a production together, Crooked Rivers has been building its local base. Arts Camden embraced it and local participation began to develop. By 2004, it had a name (Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three) and a breath of life in the form of a script based on hundreds of transcribed interviews of people of all ages, races and backgrounds in Camden County. Portions of the show have been performed at the waterfront park in St. Marys and at the Okefenokee Festival in Darien, GA, receiving positive popular acclaim. Displaying the vision and community commitment to sustain Crooked Rivers’ momentum, local companies such as Bayer Crop Science, Satilla River Landing, and Cumberland Harbour have provided essential funding that allowed the creative and organizational elements of Crooked Rivers to proceed and continue. Community leaders and elected officials in Woodbine have displayed remarkable vision that will allow Crooked Rivers to have a permanent home there in a few years, as the lovely improvements and development in that historic city continue.

Over the next weeks and months, your neighbors and friends here in Camden County will ask for your participation. They will ask for your donations and your time. It will personally be worth it for you to give both; it will be good for your community for you to give more.

Exploring the Stories Along the Crooked Rivers

This column is the fifth in a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. It appeared in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA on Wedenesday (September 21, 2005).

Last week, I introduced you to Three Sisters: Woodbine, Kingsland and St. Mary’s, cities with particular personalities and unique histories that inform and bring character to Camden County, Georgia. These communities, and the people that developed and populated them, grew up along the banks of the region’s winding waterways, the Satilla, Crooked and St. Mary’s Rivers. All of them are tied to the treasure that is coastal Georgia’s history. It was the allure of this historical and remarkable context that encouraged local residents to seek a way to bring the stories of the three sisters to life.

The ideas germinated in a time of economic despair, when things seemed about as bad as they could be. Significant local employers had turned into empty promises. Discussions about finding new meaning in life and community gained urgency and vitality. In the need to look forward, visionaries found it necessary and inspiring to look backward. The oral and written histories held new promise: an opportunity to bring visitors and locals alike together in a place called “the fairest, fruitfulest and pleasantest of all the world” by French Captain Jean Ribault, the first European explorer to set foot in what is known today as Camden County, Georgia. These tales would not only pass on the stories of our coastal ancestors, but would help us reaffirm our own lives through their legacy.

Certainly, the stories would have to acknowledge and poke fun at certain givens of the region: like the problem visitors and locals alike have dealing with insects (you know why there isn’t a single gnat in Camden County? They are all married and have large families!); the fact that cultivating tourists has a long and colorful history in the area (you know in the summer, we skin ‘gators. In the winter, we skin tourists!); our penchant for long and involved church services (what do we want the Pastor not to preach on? Sundays!); and the source of the alligators in the sewers of New York City (sold as babies to northbound Yankees from roadside stands along highway 17!).

Other stories would disclose truths about the character and nature of the region from its origins and settlements (the clearly marked rice plantation on the plat map from the early 1800’s). Yet more tales would reveal the underpinnings of many folk’s properly developed distrust of authority (why you don’t ever want to fish with the deputy and how you avoided a ticket while driving on city streets when you were twelve). It would also be necessary to explore some of the characters captured in lore, including the would-be lothario that got himself elected state legislator to change the marriage laws. That way he could get married again after his divorce. And on it goes. There are so many more stories to tell; it seems that they are around every bend in the meandering rivers of Camden County.

As we continue to investigate the possibilities of the stories found along the paths of our crooked rivers, acknowledging their potential for providing entertainment, tourism and therapy, maybe we will discover new truths and new heroes. And, more importantly, maybe the stories we find and share will offer us some new brand of hope and a new sense of community that we can cast into a memorable cultural experience, creating stories of its own for those who come to share it with us.

The Three Sisters Reside Amongst the Crooked Rivers

This column is the fourth in a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. It was published in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA and appeared on Wedenesday (September 14, 2005).

Storytelling is one of the great traditions of the South. When you think of writers spawned in that tradition, it evokes names like Hemingway, Conroy, Faulkner, Welty and Williams. It recalls humorists and commentators such as Grizzard, Hiaasen, Clower and Barry. When you combine the Southern penchant for storytelling with the lure of the water, you understand why so many sailors, fishermen, shrimpers, and shippers are colorful and loquacious.

Richard Owen Greer, the original Swamp Gravy playwright, commenting on this particular regional characteristic, said: “I don't know what it is in the Southern psyche that breeds storytellers: a past too painful to be told plain? A love of reading endlessly between the lines? A genetic talent for turning monotony into entertainment? Northerners tell stories in private and call it therapy. Southerners tell stories in public and call it swapping lies.”

Ever since humans moved from a Stone Age existence to farming, communities and cultures developed most prominently along rivers, coasts, waterways and estuaries. From the Sumerians to the French Canadians, the Amazonians to the Spanish Conquistadors, the key to survival and progress for all was the presence of water for travel, sustenance and trade. Coastal Georgia has all this – the water, the history and the stories. St. Mary’s, the nation’s second oldest city, with its historical district and its role as the gateway to Cumberland Island; Kingsland, known for years as the place to stop during trips north and south along the Atlantic Coastal Highway; and Woodbine, the former rice plantation, that became the county seat – sister cities created and sustained amongst the crooked rivers that wind their way through Camden County. And around every bend in the crooked rivers is a story.

About five years ago, local folks, intrigued by the stories of the “three sisters,” the cities of Camden County, got the idea that if the farmers and locals in Colquitt, Georgia could muster up a play – a “happening”– set in that hot and culturally stunted place, surely they, too could do something similar. Possessed of all the intrigue, history and cultural advantages of the region, these visionaries believed they could collect, craft and retell the stories of the area in a way that would bring locals together, create a new sense of community and also gain outsiders’ attention and dollars. The resulting offering would combine the stories of the Native Americans, the sailors, the fishermen, the traders, travelers, and settlers (gentry, and hard scrabble alike) whose lives converged in the moist arms of the “three sisters,” nestled by the flowing waters of the Satilla, Crooked, and St. Mary’s Rivers.

Next week, more about the genesis, travails and future of the Crooked Rivers’ Sisters Three saga.

When Communities Create, the Gravy is Plentiful

This column is the third in a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. They will be published weekly in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA. This column appears Friday (September 9, 2005).

Recognizing and celebrating common community heritage in a unique and positive manner is one form of cultural tourism that has become an economic and public relations engine. This column will explore an example of an instance that attracted tourists, dollars and encouraged community rejuvenation and growth.

A decade and a half ago, Colquitt, Georgia, was a sleepy Southern town suffering under the load of double-digit unemployment, the complete absence of an industrial base, and the continued exodus of most of the young people out of town. Farming, the community’s chief industry seemed every summer to suffer from drought or flood. For people here, theater either meant a 45-minute drive to Tallahassee, Florida, or a trip to Albany, GA, the largest neighboring town, for a visit to the multiplex. This hot, dusty corner of Georgia, just north of the Florida line, held little promise of offering the world a musical comedy/drama so unique—and successful—that it could transform the concept of local theater and bring a new meaning to economic development.

The efforts of interested community members created an offering called Swamp Gravy, named after a local concoction using whatever ingredients are at hand and thrown into a pot to stretch a meal for growing families. This stage production has been presented in dozens of cities throughout the South and performed for sell-out audiences at Atlanta. It was named Georgia’s Official Folk Life Play and won several awards during performances at the 1996 Atlantic Olympics. That same year, Swamp Gravy performers wowed an audience at D.C.’s Kennedy Center and were featured in USA Today. During its run, Swamp Gravy has attracted more than half a million dollars in grants from corporate contributors. More importantly to residents, Swamp Gravy has become a source of $1 million in annual revenues through ticket sales and the injection of tourist dollars into the local economy.

All of this is impressive for a production that began with a simple idea: to collect stories from the community and transform them into theater. The resulting play would tell stories the locals already knew, but would do it in an entertaining manner, and just maybe a few out-of-towners would drop in. More than 15 years later, not only have the locals developed an affinity for their “Gravy,” tourists and aficionados have lauded it and continued to attend, bringing money, fame and new business to Colquitt. Today, the Swamp Gravy site is a renovated cotton mill, and it is surrounded by business spawned by this new cultural tourist attraction: museums, learning centers, shops and restaurants. All of these establishments provide income for operators, jobs for residents and revenue for local governments.

Karen Kimbrel, a Swamp Gravy musical composer, found the play to be a great tool of economic development in a region that has few. “Not only has this play put our little community on the map, but it is lifting the spirits of us all,” she says. “Teachers here will tell you that the school children who perform in Swamp Gravy are better students. This play is giving all of us a sense of pride and a better understanding of each other. It has also made us an important part of the Southern cultural scene. And we did it all in spite of difficult obstacles and challenges. For us, theater has become an awakening to the potential that rests in the human spirit.”

What a tribute to the power of ideas, the arts and community.