I know, I know- it’s Football Season. It’s the time of year when all our resources, energies, time and money go into supporting our local football athletes. As a former Packer cheerleader and alumna of Moultrie High School, I shout loud and clear – GO PACK GO! I was also a Band Mom and a Soccer Mom so I get it- it’s important to support our student athletes.

It is equally as important to support the student artists in our community. Long after football season is over — and we are once again State Champs — our student artists will continue to work on their craft, spending hours practicing piano, drums, violin or voice. Many student artists write, create, paint or draw daily to continue sharpening their skills. Students in stage plays and organized choir programs meet regularly — sometimes 6-8 hours per week for 6-10 weeks preparing for a performance.

As I am writing this article on Wednesday of this past week, I am getting ready to travel to Savannah with 13 very talented Senior High Students who will compete in a state wide One Act Play competition. These students have been rehearsing upwards of 10 hours a week to prepare for this opportunity. This past Monday when school had not yet resumed due to the hurricane, these students took advantage of the time and spent the entire day at the Arts Center practicing, putting finishing touches on sets and costumes and making sure they are ready to represent Colquitt County on their own “playing field.”

The delightful musical “NEVERMORE- The Imaginary Life & Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe” will take the stage locally on Thursday, October 25th and Saturday, October 27th at 7:30 PM and Sunday October 28th at 2:30 PM. All tickets are $10.

Due to Hurricane Michael we rescheduled the performances of “ANNIE Kids” — the junior version of the timeless classic of Little Orphan Annie. This production, made up of a cast of 36 children in Kindergarten through 5th grades, will take place on Thursday, November 1st at 7 PM and Saturday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 4th at 2 PM. Tickets are $6 person for this performance.

“SEUSSICAL the MUSICAL” — the story of “Horton Hears a Who” — will be presented by our Middle and Junior High Theater Company on Thursday, November 8th and Saturday, November 10th at 7 PM and Sunday, November 11th at 2 PM. This one act musical is full of Seuss characters, rhymes and energy! Tickets for these performances are $10.

So there you have it — at least three opportunities to support some of our student artists in the next three weeks. On the horizon are a December dance recital, the United Way Family Theater production and much, much more.

To make sure you never miss an opportunity to celebrate and support our student artists in music recitals, dance recitals, art exhibits or theater performances, stay connected with us through our website www.colquittcoutnyarts.com, our Facebook Page, Instagram and Twitter.

We hope to see you in our next audience, cheering on these students!