WOW! It is absolutely amazing the difference in the Wright Auditorium of the Colquitt County Arts Center with the new LED stage lighting now installed. Prior to the new lighting system, the board and instruments being used in the auditorium dated back to the initial renovation of the space in the mid ’80s. Repair parts were almost impossible to find for the old dimmer board and our lighting was a hodgepodge of instruments. Our theater friend Hugh Allegood spent several weeks about four years ago locating repair parts for the board and donated several new instruments at that time. However, it had become a fifty-fifty shot of late that the dimmer would turn on a light and the instrument would work.

Many times our theater program would have to block shows according to where we could get lighting on stage and many productions with 40 plus cast members had some players in the dark because we just couldn’t light the stage with what we had. The only way to work on the lights has been to drag out a huge heavy wooden extension ladder — with a missing rung — and make the climb to the highest point of extension and balance there while adjusting a light. Not safe by any means and there were fewer and fewer of us willing to make the climb!

Now thanks to the generosity of long time Arts Center supporter and friend, Jacquelyn Friedlander, grants from the Fox Theater Initiative and The Georgia Music Foundation, as well as support from the Arts Center Foundation and fundraising by the Arts Center Theater through productions and seat dedications, we have lights! Not only do we have lights — but they are full of color and movement and will enhance future productions and performances beyond what we ever dreamed possible. The initial grant also included sound upgrades that had to be taken out of the project due to cost. We will continue fundraising efforts in the hopes we can soon upgrade the sound system as well.

Friday, June 1st at 10 AM representatives from the Fox Theater Initiative will be here to present the Arts Center with a “big check” for the lighting upgrade. Help us show our appreciation for their support with your presence.

The total cost of the lighting upgrade came in at $53,203.35 with Diversified of Atlanta providing the equipment and technicians and local electrician Randy Knight providing installation assistance. These two companies were a pleasure to work with and made sure we received the best they had to offer.  

Not only will this lighting upgrade, and future sound upgrades, enhance our Arts Center theater productions, they will also allow us to offer a high quality well equipped space for local pageants, conferences, recitals and performance events for our community. The Arts Center prides itself in being able to offer our community the very best there is.

There are several theater performances coming up for you to check out our new lights. You will have the opportunity to see these lights in action for the very first time at the upcoming performances of THE MUSIC MAN presented by our Middle/Junior and Senior High Students.  With his fast-talking style, “Professor” Harold Hill convinces the parents of River City to buy instruments and uniforms for their youngsters in order to save them, but chaos ensues as Hill’s credentials are questioned and he is called upon to prove himself to the citizens of River City. Performances will be Friday, and Saturday, May 18th and 19th at 7 PM and Sunday, May 20th at 2 PM. All tickets are $10 and are available at the Arts Center.

The epic struggle between good and evil comes to life on stage in the musical phenomenon, JEKYLL & HYDE. Based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson and featuring a thrilling score of pop rock hits from multi-Grammy- and Tony-nominated Frank Wildhorn and double-Oscar- and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse, Jekyll & Hyde has mesmerized audiences the world over.

An evocative tale of two men – one, a doctor, passionate and romantic; the other, a terrifying madman – and two women – one, beautiful and trusting; the other, beautiful and trusting only herself– both women in love with the same man and both unaware of his dark secret. A devoted man of science, Dr. Henry Jekyll is driven to find a chemical breakthrough that can solve some of mankind’s most challenging medical dilemmas. Rebuffed by the powers that be, he decides to make himself the subject of his own experimental treatments, accidentally unleashing his inner demons along with the man that the world would come to know as Mr. Hyde. Auditions for the beautiful musical story of Jekyll & Hyde will be held on Tuesday, May 29th from 6-8 PM. Auditions are open to college aged students and up. You will need to sing a prepared solo – no more than 2 minutes long and be prepared for a cold read audition. Performances will be July 20th-22nd.

Another opportunity for local talent will be the CRUISIN’ 94 LIVE production that is being produced by Arts Center Theater members based on Jays Jam Session that can be heard every morning on local radio 93.9. Featuring hits of the 60’s , 70’s and 80’s, the Arts Center Theater will be looking for talent that can re-create hits from that era. We are looking for solo, duet and group acts, as well as musicians to make up the band. This is an all-volunteer effort as proceeds from performances will benefit the continuing upgrades of the Wright Auditorium. Auditions for interested performers and musicians will be Thursday, June 21st from 6-8 PM. Performances will be August 10-12.

One more opportunity is coming your way as the Arts Center Theater holds auditions for DREAMGIRLS on Monday, July 23rd 6-8 PM. Performances will be September 21st-23rd. Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical, with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based on the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called “The Dreams”, who become music superstars. Staged with a mostly African-American cast, the musical opened on December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. The musical was then nominated for 13 Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and won six. It was later adapted into a motion picture from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in 2006. The film starred Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose, and Keith Robinson.

So – there you have it- opportunities to be in the lights and opportunities to enjoy the lights of these fabulous theater productions.  For more information on these and any other programs the Arts Center offers- give us a call at 985-1922, check out our Facebook page or go to our website for more detailed information. Better yet- come and see us at YOUR Colquitt County Arts Center- where creativity finds community.