community Spring arts preview section
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Section C • Sunday, April 24, 2016
Cirquetoruk
Gwinnett to welcome adaptation of ‘Avatar’ By Jon Gallo
Staff Correspondent
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Consider yourself forewarned: Cirque du Soleil’s latest show isn’t like anything the world’s largest theatrical producer has ever assembled.
“Toruk — The First Flight,” which will more inside play at the Infinite Energy Arena from June Photos from “Toruk — The First Flight”........ 4A 15 through 19, focuses on telling a story instead of using words to bridge amazing “If people expect to see formula Cirque, circus acts that highlight shows such as they will question where we are going,” “Ovo,” “Amaluna,” “Joya” and “Varekai,” Fabrice Lemire, “Toruk’s” Paris-born which played at the arena last summer. artistic director, told The Miami Herald.
“Toruk — The First Flight” is inspired by director James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster movie “Avatar,” which takes place on a moon named Pandora that’s home to blue-skinned creatures known as Na’vi. See CIRQUE, Page 6c
2C • SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016
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spring arts preview Parton to keep it ‘Pure & Simple’ at Infinite Energy By Jon Gallo
Staff Correspondent
a disc with new songs with a disc containing those that made her country music’s leading lady. The first album will feature songs such as “Mama,” inspired by Parton’s mother, Avie Lee Parton, as well as the title song, “Pure & Simple.” “I don’t know how pure I am, but I know I’m pretty simple,” she said at her press conference to announce the new album, which is expected to be available this summer. Speaking to reporters at her theme park, Dollywood in Tennessee, Parton said she wants to tour this year “because I may do more television next year. I might even do a series or
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Dolly Parton is going to back to the basics for her biggest North American tour in a quarter-century. “The tour itself is called ‘Pure & Simple,’ mainly because it’s kind of scaled down,” she told Rolling Stone. “But there’s only four of us on stage, we play different instruments and we all sing and we do all those songs that people know, but they’re just not as big and we don’t have a lot of effects on stage and any of that.” Parton, 70, will take her show on the road to 60 cities, including Duluth, where she will play the In-
finite Energy Arena at 7:30 p.m. June 4. Though Parton hasn’t finalized a set list, it’s a good bet plenty of her 25 songs that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart will make the cut. “We don’t have a lot of video; we don’t have any, really,” Parton told Rolling Stone. “In the bigger places where we play we’ll have to have some video cameras, where you’ll see me — because I’m so little. But actually, I’m doing a lot of songs really scaleddown … but, of course, I do a lot of talkin’. What else would I do, right?” Her tour coincides with a two-disc album, “Pure & Simple With Dolly’s Biggest Hits,” which will pair
IF YOU GO • What: Dolly Parton’s Pure & Simple Tour • Where: Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth • When: 7:30 p.m. June 4 • Tickets: www.infiniteenergycenter.com
something. So I wanted to be sure to get out there and at least thank my fans.” Parton had a breakout hit with the NBC television movie “Coat of Many Colors,” which aired in December and was based on her childhood and the song she wrote about the garment her mother made for her. “You never know about a song, if it’s going to be a hit,” she told reporters. “And you certainly never know about a movie, either. But like the song, the movie really touched so many people. We have had a lot of requests to do a sequel and possibly a series. We’re talking about it. It would be about the mountain people, kind of based on my life, if we can work out all the details.” Parton said she may continue her career in television by writing, producing and possibly acting in a series based on her life and stories that have chronicled her meteoric rise to fame and fortune. Decades before she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and won eight Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, five Academy of Country Music Awards and three American Music Awards, she was just a girl with 11 siblings grow-
Music legend Dolly Parton is bringing her “Pure & Simple” Tour to the Infinite Energy Arena in June. (Special Photo)
ing up in a poor farming family’s tiny cabin in the foothills of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains. After starring on a radio show and appearing at age 12 at the Grand Ole Opry where she sang her first single, “Puppy Love,” she moved to Nashville upon graduating from high school in 1964. She signed a record deal with Monument and met Carl Dean, whom she married two years later. He has been by her side as she has sold more than 100 million records. Parton has 110 singles that have charted.
“I’m a girl of many colors. My songs are my songs, and my stories are my stories,” Parton said. “There’ll certainly be some redeeming qualities in it, but it’s not going to be like the film ‘Coat of Many Colors.’” Though she remained vague, this much is clear: Parton’s concert at Infinite Energy Arena, which she hasn’t played since November 2005, may by her last in Georgia for quite some time. “I figure,” she told Rolling Stone Country, “I gotta get it while the getting’s good.”
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spring arts preview ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ comes to Fox By Jon Gallo
IF YOU GO
Staff Correspondent
Decades before she won any of her four Grammys or was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and long before she had a hand in writing more than 110 pop hits that made the Billboard 100, and years before she sold any of her 75 million records, Carole King was just a ponytailed girl from Brooklyn with a dream. “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” chronicles the life of a teenager who defied her mother’s wishes to pursue her own to become one of music’s greatest singer-songwriters. “Beautiful,” which will stop at the Fox Theatre from May 24-29 as part of its national tour, shines a light on a trailblazer behind hits such as “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “You’ve Got A Friend.” “You can’t fake an icon,” Abby Mueller, who plays King, told the Star-Tribune. “You do an interpretation and bring the truest part of you to that role.” The two-act show starts at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in 1971, when the then-29-year-old King sang “So Far Away.” “Beautiful” then shifts to Brooklyn, which is where King planted her musical roots and where she told her mother, Genie, she was going to Manhattan to sell songs to music publisher Donnie Kirshner (Curt Bouril). Of course, Genie (played by Suzanne Grodner) tells King — then 16 — it isn’t a good idea, and of course, King goes anyway. Mueller takes over the role vacated by her sister, Jessie, who won a Tony Award for her performance as King when “Beautiful” was on Broadway. Jessie is now starring in “Waitress.”
• What: “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” • Where: Fox Theatre, Atlanta • When: May 24-29 • Shows: 7:30 p.m. May 24-26, 8 p.m. May 27, 2 and 8 p.m. May 28, 1 and 6:30 p.m. May 29 • Tickets: Visit www. foxtheatre.org
Abby Mueller, above, takes over the role of Carole King vacated by her sister, Jessie, who won a Tony Award for her performance as King when “Beautiful” was on Broadway. At left is a scene from the show. (Special Photos)
“My initial feeling was that it was too close, since my sister originated the role so brilliantly,” Abby Mueller told The New York Times. “But my agent and also my parents encouraged me to look objectively at the situation for what it was: an opportunity to audition for an incredible, challenging role in a great show.” “We didn’t set out to cast within the Mueller family, but she auditioned and blew us all away,” director Marc Bruni told The Boston Globe. “She has an accessibility of emotion that makes you care about Carole.” It’s in Manhattan where King, after singing her song “It Might As Well
Rain Until September,” meets a young songwriter named Gerry Goffin (played by Liam Tobin) while attending Queens College. They bond — through music and love — and the next thing Carole knows, she’s married and pregnant with the first of the couple’s two children. She channels the lifechanging news into “Some Kind of Wonderful,” which The Drifters recorded in 1961 and which soared as high as No. 6 on Billboard’s R&B chart. “Women are dealing with the same thing, trying to figure out what they want,” Abby Mueller said. “In (the theater) business, our lives are not as linear as, perhaps, normal people.
You graduate from college. You meet your spouse. You get married, and you start having kids. That timeline gets a little skewed. You’re trying to negotiate having a family around your career. When is it convenient to have a baby when you are trying to book your next job?” King and Goffin move into an office at 1650 Broadway, a Mecca for those in the music-writing industry, where they meet lyricist Cynthia Weil (Becky Gulsvig), who they serenade with “Take Good Care of My Baby.” Composer Barry Mann (Ben Fankhauser) wanders into the office and inquires about working with Weil. Shortly after, Kirshner of-
fers a challenge that would change everything: The Shirelles need a new song immediately. Weil and Mann go with “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” but King and Goffin craft “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” which becomes The Shirelles’ first No. 1 hit in 1960. The group, which would go on to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, had just one other song to reach the top spot — “Soldier Boy” in 1961. With his decision, Kirshner changed music history. King-Goffin and Weil-Mann became cordial rivals, and the results spawned songs that transcended generations. KingGoffin gave The Drifters “Up on the Roof,” while Weil-Mann gave them “On Broadway.” Have you ever heard “The Loco-Motion” or “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’?” Little Eva wouldn’t have never heard of the song that sparked a dance craze and reached No. 1 had King and Goffin not written it. The Righteous Brothers have Weil and Mann to thank for perhaps their most famous No. 1 hit. But at a time when King and Goffin solidified their standing as songwriters, their personal lives crumbled when Goffin told his wife he wanted to sleep with Janelle Woods (Rebecca E. Covington), who they met while taping a TV special where Woods is singing Goffin and King’s song, “One Fine
Day,” which ultimately was recorded by The Chiffons in 1963 and reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Seventeen years later, King sang it and the hit peaked at No. 12. If the first act is about King and Goffin becoming one, the second act of “Beautiful,” which is based on a book by Oscarnominated screenwriter and playwright Douglas McGrath, is about them separating. King gives Goffin another chance, providing he ended his affair, which leads to King and Goffin to write “Pleasant Valley Sunday.” The song, which becomes a hit for the The Monkees in 1967, refers to the street in New Jersey where King and Goffin were living in an attempt to start anew. But Goffin reverts to cheating, having an affair with singer Marilyn Wald (DeLaney Westfall). King ends the marriage, which is symbolized with “It’s Too Late,” a charttopping song that anchor King’s 1971 album “Tapestry” that held the top spot on the album charts for 15 weeks, earning King a Grammy for Album of the Year. She tells Weil, Mann and Goffin she’s moving to Los Angeles to pursue her own career, leaving them with the song “You’ve Got A Friend.” Ultimately, Goffin apologizes for his infidelity, but it’s too late. He dies in 2014 at age 75; King has a concert in London in July. King takes the stage at Carnegie Hall, alone, and plays the piano while singing “Beautiful,” which has since been covered by Barbara Streisand and Richard Marx. “It is a story about a woman finding herself and believing in her talent,” Bruni said. “It is relatable whether you are a woman or a man. It has that kind of universal appeal.”
By Venue — ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT GWINNETT GWINNETT AURORA THEATRE 128 E. Pike St., Lawrenceville 678-226-6222 www.auroratheatre.com • Through May 8: “Sotto Voce” • May 5-29: “I’m Not Rappaport” • May 7: Aurora Children’s Playhouse “Sing!” by Wendy Bennett • May 14: Aurora Children’s Playhouse “Freeze Frame!” by Big Thinkers Science Exploration • May 21: Aurora Children’s Playhouse “The Big Bad, Little Red, Pig Show” by The Puppet Guy • June 12-22: “Criminal Hearts” HUDGENS CENTER FOR THE ARTS Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 300, Duluth 770-623-6002 www.thehudgens.org • Every Friday: Toddler Fridays • Ongoing: Selected works from the permanent collection on display INFINITE ENERGY ARENA 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth 770-813-7500 www.infiniteenergycenter. com • Through April 24: Disney on Ice presents “Frozen” • May 6: Leadercast: Architects of Tomorrow • June 15-19: Cirque du Soleil’s “TORUK — The First Flight” inspired by James Cameron’s “Avatar” • June 23-25: Forward Conference • Aug. 19-21: Jehovah’s Witness Regional Convention • Nov. 18-19: Belong Tour • Ongoing: Atlanta Gladiators
• Ongoing:Georgia Swarm • Through April 24, April 28 — May 1: New Dawn Production presents “PicINFINITE ENERGY nic” THEATER 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, • May 6-7: Notre Dame Academy presents “Alice in Duluth Wonderland” 770-813-7500 www.infiniteenergycenter. • May 28: Mark Pitt’s Elvis Concert “Support to our com Troops and Veterans” • May 1: Bhakta Markandeya Kuchipudi Dance NEW LONDON THEATRE Ballet 2338 Henry Clower Blvd., • May 7-8: Beauty and the Snellville Beast 770-559-1484 • May 10-11: Lion King Jr. www.newlondontheatre. • May 13-14:ALL STARS org Performing Arts presents • Through May 1: “Our “Inspiration!” Town” • May 20-22: Northeast • May 13-29: “Art” Atlanta Ballet presents • June 10-26: “To Kill a “Beauty and the Beast” Mockingbird” • June 5: Dance Show• July 8-24: “Assassins” case 2016 • Aug. 13, Dec. 14-15: ALL SYLVIA BEARD THEATRE STARS Performing Arts Buford Community presents “Home by Dark” Center, 2200 Buford Highway, Buford KUDZU ART ZONE 770-945-6762 116 Carlyle St., Norcross www.bufordcommunitycen770-840-9844 ter.com www.kudzuartzone.org • Through May 1: “Moon• Through June 2: “After light and Magnolias” the Rain” and “Lessons • May 7 — 8: Barefoot in I’ve Learned” member the Park exhibit • June 9-26: “The Wisdom • June 10 — July 21: of Eve” “Open Juried” exhibit LIONHEART THEATRE 10 College St. N.W., Norcross 678-938-8518 www.lionhearttheatre.org • May 6-22: “You Can’t Take it With You” • Aug. 4-7: “The Tempest” — Children’s musical • Sept. 9-25: “Run for Your Wife” • Oct. 21-23: “Bewitching” • Oct. 27-29: Lawless Spirits History Tour • Nov. 4-20: “A Raisin in the Sun” • Dec. 8-18: “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
TANNERY ROW ARTIST COLONY 554 W. Main St., Buford 770-856-8145 www.tanneryrowartistcolony.com • Through May 27: Winner’s Circle • June 4 — August 26: Summer Showcase • Sep. 10 — Oct. 14: Fall Challenge • Oct. 22 — Dec. 2: Fall Juried Art Exhibit 2016 • Dec. 10-11: An Artful Holiday
NEW DAWN THEATER Mall Corners, 3650-A Satellite Blvd., Duluth 678-887-5015 www.newdawntheatercompany.com
ALLIANCE THEATRE 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-733-4650 www.alliancetheatre.org • Trhough May 1: Ethel
ATLANTA atlanta
• Through May 15: “Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story” • June 1 — July 3: “Pancakes, Pancakes!” ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta 404-876-5859 www.atlantabg.org • Through April: Atlanta Blooms • April 30 — Oct. 30: Chihuly in the Garden • May 7-8: Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour, Atlanta Rose Show • May 14: Endangered Species Day • Sep. 24: Garden of Eden Ball • Ongoing: Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen cooking demos every weekend • Ongoing: Science Café second Sundays through October • Ongoing: Orchid Market Weekends • Ongoing: Garden Tours ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER 130 W. Paces Ferry Road N.W., Atlanta 404-814-4000 www.atlantahistorycenter. com • April 25: Dave Isay presents Callings • April 27: Olmstead Plein Air Invitational Day • May 6: National Public Gardens Day • Ongoing: Wednesday Living Room Learning Series • Ongoing: Homeschool Days CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS 1404 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta 404-873-3391 www.puppet.org • Through May 22: “Beauty and the Beast” • May 7: “Davy Jones’ Locker” • May 12-15: Xperimental
Puppetry Theater CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF ATLANTA 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, Atlanta 404-659-5437 www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org • April 24: Meet the Holidays: Earth Day • April 30: Meet the Holidays: Cinco De Mayo • Wednesdays in April, April 25: Cooking with Colors • Sundays starting April 10: Eat a Georgia Rainbow • Ongoing: Gateway to the World exhibit • Ongoing: Step Up To Science exhibit • Ongoing: Tools for Solutions exhibit • Ongoing: Fundamentally Food exhibit • Ongoing: Let Your Creativity Flow exhibit • Ongoing: Leaping Into Learning exhibit • Ongoing: Music and Movement, Arts Studio • Ongoing: Eat a Georgia Rainbow, storytime • Ongoing: Super Spectacular Science Show • Ongoing: The Science Wondershop COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta 770-916-2800 www.cobbenergycentre. com • Through April 24: Ragtime • May 7-15: The Atlanta Opera presentsRomeo and Juliet • May 20-22: Atlanta Ballet presents MAYhem Kissed FOX THEATRE 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-881-2100 foxtheatre.org • April 24: Steve Martin and Martin Short
• May 24-29: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical • June 2: Toni Braxton Live • June 4: “A Prairie Home Companion” • June 21-26:The Wizard of Oz • June 29: Bring It! Live FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 767 Clifton Road N.E., Atlanta 404-929-6300 www.fernbankmuseum.org • Through Apr. 28: “Wild Africa” on IMAX • Through July 31: “Wild Music” • Through Aug. 14: “Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence” • May 21: Archeology Day • May 27: Fernbank Forest Night Tour • June 4: World Oceans Day • June 19: Superhero Day • Ongoing: Fernbank Forest Bird Walk March • Ongoing: Tadpole Tales HIGH MUSEUM OF ART 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-733-4400 www.high.org • Through May 1: “Green Pastures: In Memory of Thornton Dial, Sr.” • Through May 15: “Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion” • Through May 22: “What Is Near: Reflections on Home” • Through May 29: Vik Muniz, “Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks” • Ongoing: Molly Hatch: Physic Garden • Ongoing: Howard Finster: Paradise Garden • Ongoing: African Art: Building the Collection • Ongoing: Friday Night Lates, Toddler Thursdays To submit an event for By Venue Arts & Entertainment, email features@ gwinnettdailypost.com.
4C • SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016
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spring arts preview
Scenes from Pandora
C
irque du Soleil’s “Toruk — The First Flight” will bring the magic of James Cameron’s 2009 film “Avatar” to the Infinite Energy Arena on June 15-19. (Photos: Jesse Faatz)
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SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016 • 5C
spring arts preview Follow the yellow brick road to Fox for ‘Wizard of Oz’ BY JON GALLO
Staff Correspondent
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The yellow brick road is heading to the Fox Theatre. Dorothy, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow and the Wicked Witch of the West will bring the stage adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” to the Fox Theatre for eight shows from June 21-26 as part of its second North American tour that started in December and will end in July. The timeless tale is based on the Oscar-winning screenplay and features the original Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg songs and characters from the classic film that turned 77 this year. “There are a lot of old familiar lines,” Mark A. Harmon, who plays the almighty Oz, told the Eagle-Tribune. “It’s basically a staged version of the musical.” Dorothy is played by Sarah Lasko, Aaron Fried is the Cowardly Lion, Jay McGill is the Tin Man, Morgan Reynolds is the Scarecrow, Shani Hadjian is the Wicked Witch of the West and Miss Gulch, Rachel Womble is Glinda the Good Witch of the North, Randy Charleville is Uncle Henry, Emmanuelle Zeesman is Auntie Em, and Nigel the Cairn terrier is Toto. “I love the movie so much, and I love Judy Garland,” Lasko told The Washington Post. “When I saw that there were auditions, I said I have to get this role. … If there’s any role that I wanted to play that I felt was so perfectly matched with who I am as a person, it was Dorothy.” “The Wizard of Oz” had
Scarecrow, who is played by Morgan Reynolds, looks for his brain above in “The Wizard of Oz,” which comes to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre in June. Sarah Lasko, above right, stars as Dorothy. “The Wizard of Oz” will play eight shows at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta from June 21-26. (Special Photos)
its world premiere on stage at the London Palladium Theatre in March 2011. It debuted in North America in December 2012 in Toronto, where it stayed before touring throughout the U.S. between September 2013 and June 2014. “You have to respect the original work and you have to be able to hold to it in a way that the audience doesn’t feel alienated, because there’s a certain memory that they have of this character,” Lasko said. “If you totally deny that, then that’s a disservice.” Though this show features some new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, it retained the same award-winning team that oversaw performances in London and Toronto, including director Jeremy Sams, choreographer Arlene Phillips and musical supervisor Graham
IF YOU GO • What: “The Wizard of Oz” • Where: Fox Theatre, Atlanta • When: June 21-26 • Times: 7:30 p.m. June 21-23, 8 p.m. June 24, 2 and 8 p.m. June 25, 1 and 6:30 p.m. June 26 • Tickets: Visit www. foxtheatre.org
Hurman. Robert Jones is in charge of the set and costumes, while Hugh Vanstone supervises the lighting design, Mick Potter oversees sound and David Cullen heads orchestration. “It’s visually stunning, absolutely stunning,” Harmon said. “The sets, costumes and special effects make it so visually appealing. Rarely do you ever see a stage adaptation of something you love so close to the original.”
6C • SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016
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spring arts preview Cirque
•From Page 1C But Cirque du Soleil’s version takes place thousands of years before the movie, as two young warriors — Ralu and Entu — try to save their people after a natural disaster threatens to kill the planet’s lifeline, the sacred Tree of Souls. “It is completely different; it’s not like other Cirque shows. I want people to come open-minded that this is something they haven’t seen before so they can enjoy it without expectations,” Gabriel Christo, who plays Ralu, told The Miami Herald. “Ralu is on stage the whole time, and it’s a physical show, and I have to focus all the time and interact with a lot of people. It’s a challenge.” Still, the link between “Toruk” and “Avatar,” which generated more than $2.78 billion at the worldwide box office to make it the highest-grossing film of all time, shows Cirque du Soleil is trying to evolve into a another genre, one vastly different than basing shows on Michael Jackson and The Beatles. “We have a lot of acting in the show,” said Christo, a 28-year-old Brazilian. “That’s different than other shows, which have always been acrobatic. This brought me a whole new perspective — acting, talking on stage and performing on projections.” “Toruk’s” set also distinguishes the show. The Tree of Souls is 80 feet wide and 40 feet tall, and the total projection surface, which includes the stage floor, two lateral screens and the Tree of Souls, is about 20,000 square feet, which is more than five times the size of a standard IMAX screen. The show uses 38 video projectors — 22 for the stage
Actor Raymond O’Neill, above, gets into character as The Storyteller of the Anurai clan in Cirque du Soleil’s “Toruk — The First Flight.” (Photo: Youssef Shoufan) At right are scenes from the show. (Photos: Jesse Faatz)
Tawkami, created more than 1,000 pieces, including shoes and jewelry. • What: Cirque du SoThe Storyteller, voiced by leil’s “Toruk — The First Flight” Raymond O’Neill, narrates • When: June 15-19 how Ralu and Entu try to • Where: Infinite Energy save their civilization. The Arena, Duluth duo interacts with numer• Show times: 7:30 ous Na’vi clans, with each p.m. June 15-17, 4 and specializing in a skill. The 8 p.m. June 18, 1:30 Omaticaya has gymnastics; and 5:30 p.m. June 19 the Tawkami has aerial • Tickets: Call 770-626dance and silk flying; the 2464 or visit www.infiniAnurai has balance; the Titeenergycenter.com pani has pole acrobatics; and the Kekunan is fantastic with floor, eight to send projeckites. Since each clan resides tions into the audience, six in different landscapes, for the Tree of Souls and two which rinclude flowery fields for the lateral screens. to the desert, the constant “To me, this show is more changing of imagery to alter like a movie than a stage the terrain provides another production,” Lemire told The element, as do the massive Tulsa World. “It is a feast for puppets. the eyes. You are completely “It is maybe the most submerged in this world, and elaborate show the company it is so convincing it is difhad done — on a visual ficult not to believe it is real.” level, certainly,” Lemire told “Toruk” has a 35-member The Tulsa World. “Normally, cast, which is small for one with a Cirque du Soleil of the company’s shows. production, the chief wow However, 115 costumes are factor is the acrobatics, the used in the show, an average incredible things our artists of 3.3 per performer. The can do. Now, we still have costume department, which the wow factor of the acroneeded 437 yards of fabric batics, but on top of that is and 120 fishing rods just to the even greater wow factor create the flowers for the of the visuals.”
IF YOU GO
ON SALE NOW! 855-285-8499
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June 21-26 • FoxTheatre.org/Wizard
SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016 • 7C
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spring arts preview
Hudgens Center hosting Bethany Collins exhibit BY CURT YEOMANS
Center for the Arts added its name to that list. The center opened a Bethany Collins’ work new solo has been exhibited in a exhibit, wide range of galleries called and museums, from the “With the High Museum of Art in Exception Atlanta to Columbia Uniof the Sky: versity’s Wallach Gallery Works by Bethany Collins in New York. Bethany The Museum of ConCollins,” on April 12. The temporary Art, the Flint show of work by Collins, Institute of Arts, the Birwho won the $50,000 mingham Museum of Art 2015 Hudgens Prize, is set and the Studio Museum to remain open through in Harlem also are among May 21 at the center, the places where Collins’ which is located on the work has been put on Infinite Energy Center display. campus. Spring Prev.pdf In 1 a statement, 4/13/16 3:15 PM EarlierKidsville this month, the Collins Duluth-based Hudgens explained the exhibit’s
name comes from the color blue and its place in IF YOU GO the natural world. • What: With the Excep“As languages have tion of the Sky: Works by developed over time, blue Bethany Collins exhibit • When: Now through is often the last color to May 21 be named,” she said. “For, • Where: Hudgens With the Exception of Center for the Arts, 6400 the Sky, blue appears so Sugarloaf Parkway, rarely in the natural world. Building 300 But some studies show • Hours: Tuesdays that when we can name a through Saturdays, 10 thing, it becomes easier to a.m. until 5 p.m. visualize. It follows then • Admission: $5 for that when we cannot name adults, $3 for children, students and seniors, a thing, we cannot see it. and children under 2 are “So, perception affects admitted for free. language just as language • More Info: thehudalters perception itself. gens.org “With the Exception of the Sky” mines the visual and linguistic relationblue, while challenging ship between black and the certainty and clarity of meaning.” Art lovers looking to get a chance to speak with Collins will get a chance to do so next weekend. Hudgens officials announced they will hold a midshow reception and artists talk from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the center, whose official address is 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building 300. The talk itself will begin at 2 p.m. Collins is an Atlantabased artist who works childrensmuseumatlanta.org in multiple disciplines. Hudgens Center officials 404.659.KIDS (5437) she has been praised in the 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive Atlanta, GA 30313 New York Times for her work at using language, specifically for a series where she took definitions pulled from Webster’s New World Dictionary of American Language and turned it into art. Inspiring feeling and exploring human In that series, known as emotion through words, art, and more. the Contronyms series, she erased parts of the definiPresented nationally by Presented in Atlanta by tions after transposing them to American Masters
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A WHOLE NEW KIND OF FUN IS HERE.
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OPENING JUNE 11
Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
Funding for this program is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
This 2016 charcoal on found paper piece by Bethany Collins, which is simply known as “Untitled (Guilty Until Proven Innocent),” is one of the works in her solo exhibit. (Photo Courtesy of Hudgens Center for the Arts/Bethany Collins)
paper to emphasize snippets of what she had transposed, officials explained. Collins’ exhibit is only one of several activities taking place over the next few weeks at the center, though. Other exhibits include “Selected Works from the Permanent Collection: Ben Shahn,” and “Thinking Through Art: Blurring the Boundaries Between the Arts & Science,” which will be on exhibit from April 30 through May 21. The “Thinking Through Art” exhibit will feature work by Georgia Gwinnett col-
lege students, as well as Erin McIntosh. An Individuality: smART Program Exhibit is also coming up from April 30 through May 21. The Hudgens Center will also host Toddler Friday on April 29, free admission during Duluth Arts Week (May 7-14) and Family Day on May 14. The center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children, students and seniors, but any child under 2 will be admitted for free.
Creatures of
LIGHT Nature’s Bioluminescence
NEW EXHIBIT
From Charles randolph-Wright, director of Motown the Musical
a n e w a M er ic a n M us ic a l s ta r r i n g t h e n e x t g e n e r at i o n o f w i n a n s p e r f o r M e r s as BeBe and cece
“We’re all born for a purpose. this musical celebrates the journey of finding it.” —six-time grammy award winner BeBe Winans
BLINK. GLOW. FLASH. FLICKER.
By Ch a r les r a ndolph -Wr ight a nd B e B e Win a ns Music a nd lyr ics By B e B e Win a ns dir ec ted By Ch a r les r a ndolph -Wr ight
Discover the beauty and awe-inspiring science behind thousands of living organisms that blink, glow, flash and flicker—from the fireflies found in backyards to alien-like fish found in the deep sea.
Edgerton Foundation New Play Award recipient
Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org), in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada, and The Field Museum, Chicago.
april 13–May 15
tickets as low as $20
tickets 404.733.5000 // Groups 404.733.4690 alliancetheatre.org/bornforthis
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FernbankMuseum.org/CreaturesofLight • Members Always Free
Series on the Alliance Stage Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
8C • SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016
gwinnettdailypost.com
spring arts preview
After three decades, cast reunites for show BY KEITH FARNER
Show times are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A reunion nearly 30 A discount matinee will years in the making will be at 10 a.m. on May 25 take place next month at with tickets starting at the Aurora Theatre as two $16. Regular show tickets actors reprise their roles range from $20 to $55 in a performance about and can be purchased two aging men who form online at tickets.auroraa long-time friendship. theatre.com or by calling “I’m Not Rappaport” the box office at 678will close the 20th season 226-6222. for the LawrencevAurora Co-founder ille venue as the Tony and Producing Artistic Award-winning play is Director Anthony Rodrischeduled to run from guez worked on the set May 5 through June 5. alongside them when the Revisiting the storyline theater was in Midtown. after playing identical The performance is roles in 1989 at Theatribased on the author’s cal Outfit, Rob Cleveland real-life encounter, and and Kenny Raskin, along it follows the daily ritual with director David de of two elderly men on Vries, reunite in “I’m Not a bench in New York’s Rappaport.” Central Park. While both keith.farner @gwinnettdailypost.com
dream of escaping the current realities of life — nursing homes, aging and dangers of urban living — they end up finding solace in each other’s company. “What is so special about this production is the rarity of having two actors star in the same roles they performed in 27 years ago,” Ann-Carol Pence, co-founder and associate producer, said in a statement. “Aside from being more age appropriate for the roles now, Rob and Kenny offer audiences a deep-felt connection that can’t be taught or rehearsed. Having David transition from actor to director this time around, and having Anthony serving as artistic director, brings an added layer of
IF YOU GO • What: “I’m Not Rappaport” • Where: Aurora Theatre • When: May 5 through June 5 • Shows: 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; matinee at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 25 • Tickets: $20-25; $16 for matinee
historical reference to our production; one that will certainly be an emotional revival.” Laughter is expected as the feisty Jewish Nat (Raskin) and Midge (Cleveland), a half-blind and cantankerous African-American, chat away their afternoons.
Rob Cleveland, above left and right, and Kenny Raskin, below left and right, will reprise their roles as Midge and Nat, respectively, in “I’m Not Rappaport” from May 5 to June 5 at the Aurora Theatre. (Special Photos)
Aurora Theatre announces schedule for 2016-17 season series — diversity, friendship and perseverance Reach for your calendar, — our hope is that these the Aurora Theatre has performances not only planned out its perforprovide entertainment, mances for the next 13 but educate and inspire months. people, too,” Aurora The 21st season of Theatre Producing Artistic the Signature Series will Director Anthony Rodrifeature a lineup including guez said. six plays and musicals for The series will feature all ages. both original productions “With many different and collaborations with themes present in this local theatrical organizaFROM STAFF REPORTS
tions. “In The Heights” is a co-production with Theatrical Outfit depicting the challenges facing Hispanic community members of New York’s Washington Heights. It will be staged from July 21 to Aug. 28. “Women In Jeopardy” is a comedy about two divorced women who set out to discover the mysterious secrets of a friend’s new
boyfriend. This play will be staged from Sept. 29 to Oct. 23. “Christmas Canteen” is an Aurora Theatre original and returns to the stage every year for the Christmas season. It features sketch comedy, theatrical numbers and lots of song and dance, and will be staged from Nov. 17 to Dec. 23. “The Mountaintop” commemorates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a re-imagining of
the last day before his assassination. This play will be staged from Jan. 12 to Feb. 12. A new musical will be staged from March 9 to April 16, 2017, but the Aurora Theatre has yet to announce what the new production will be. “Split In Three” is a comedy exploring the lives and challenges of three sisters living in 1969, when the last school system in Mississippi was
forced to integrate. The play will be staged from May 4 to 28, 2017. Season subscribers can now select their preferred seating. Single-show tickets will vary by performance and will go on sale to the public beginning on July 5. The Aurora Theatre is located at 128 E. Pike St. in Lawrenceville. For more information, visit auroratheatre.com or call the box office at 678226-6222.
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Sunday, April 24, 2016 • 9C
spring arts preview
Six upcoming concerts you don’t want to miss By Jon Gallo
Staff Correspondent
As the weather heats up, so does Atlanta’s music scene, with some of today’s and yesterday’s biggest stars scheduled to rock the Peach State before the first day of summer. Here are six concerts you don’t want to miss. Rihanna at Phillips Arena, 7:30 p.m. May 18 Is there any bigger singer on the planet right now than Rihanna? Eight-time Grammy Award and American Music Award winner: check. Has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide: check. The youngest and fastest artist to score 14 singles atop the Billboard 100: check. Been named one of Time magazine’s most 100 Most Influential People in the World: checkmate. She’s playing Phillips Arena as part of her “Anti” tour that will take her throughout the U.S. and Europe to promote her album with the same name. From “Umbrella” to “Diamonds,” and from “Take a Bow to “Work,” Rihanna has plenty of hits from which to please the crowd. Travis Scott will open the show, which had been originally scheduled for March 9. Tickets: www.philipsarena.com/events/detail/rihanna-1
37 MAIN 37 E. Main St., Buford 678-288-2030 www.buford.37main.com • May 6: Slippery When Wet • May 7: The Pak • May 13: Volume Knob • May 14: Aunt Betty • May 20: Mad Margritt • May 21: Hysteria • May 27: 12OZ Prophets 37 MAIN 6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Johns Creek 678-580-2329 www.johnscreek.37main. com • May 6: Rumours • May 7: John Waite and the Axemen • May 13: Departure • May 14: The Ruckus • May 19: Skid Row • May 20: Hollywood U2 • May 21: Head Games • May 28: Moby Dick • June 3: Slippery When Wet • June 4: Queen Nation • June 9: Kings X • June 10: Natural Wonder • June 11: Hysteria • June 15: Lynch Mob • June 17: Earth Wind and Fire Review • June 18: Man in the Mirror • June 24: Back in Black • June 26: Appetite for Destruction 40 WATT CLUB 285 W. Washington St., Athens 706-549-7871 www.40watt.com • May 6: The Broken String Band, Josh Morris, Jon Latham • May 7: Big Morgan, Nihilist Cheerleader, Wieuca • May 13: The Darnell Boys, Cicada Rhythm, The Athens Cowboy Choir • May 20: Booty Boyz • June 11: Dungen • June 17: Arbor Labor Union • June 18: Rex Norton, Crystal Hopkins, Sarah Elizabeth AARON’S AMPHITHEATRE AT LAKEWOOD 2002 Lakewood Ave., Atlanta 404-443-5000 www.livenation.com/venues/14086/aaron-s-amphitheatre-at-lakewood • May 6: Disturbed, Rob Zombie • May 7: Gregg Allman’s
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will perfom at Duluth on June 2. (Special Photo)
Hall & Oates at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, 7 p.m. May 19 Of course Daryl Hall and John Oates are touring — what else do they do? They recorded their first record together in 1972 and haven’t stopped playing since — cranking out 18 studio records that included six hits that landed atop the Billboard Hot 100: “Rich Girl,” “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do),” “Maneater” and “Out of Touch.” Their ability to seamlessly blend soul, rock and pop enabled them to become arguably the greatest duo in music history. Though Hall, 69, and Oates, 67, are not as popular now as they were during the height of their careers when they cranked out 29 Top 40 hits from
1976 to 1990, they are legends. Hall, who sings and plays the guitar and keyboard, and Oates, who sings and plays the guitar and bass, are making their first appearance in Atlanta since playing a six-song set at last year’s Music Midtown. Tickets: www.thelakewoodamphitheater.com/ tickets Luke Bryan at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, 7 p.m. May 20-21 The native of Leesburg, Ga., who attended Georgia Southern University is one of country music’s biggest stars — so huge he’s playing two shows. His “Kill the Lights Tour,” which started in February and concludes in October to promote his album of the same name, is extremely predicable. He consistently plays
tour in 2017. Perhaps no major group has played Atlanta more during the past decade than Dave Matthews Band, which has played a dozen shows here since 2006. The band is known for playing longer versions of its songs, making every concert seem different. The band’s most recent album, “Away from the World,” debuted atop the Billboard chart in 2012, making Dave Matthews Band the only group to have six straight studio albums debut at No. 1. As for what to expect to hear, Dave the Infinite Energy Arena in Matthews Band has been around since the early 1990s and has cranked out the same 19 songs every too many hits to name. night, opening with “Rain Dave Matthews Band will is a Good Thing,” and be joined by acts who hitting “Play it Again,” have yet to be formally “Strip It Down,” “Drink announced, according to A Beer,” and “Drunk on the venue. You” before finishing the Tickets: www.thelakeset with “That’s My Kind woodamphitheater.com/ of Night” and encoring tickets with “Country Girl” and “I Don’t Want This Night Jimmy Buffett and the to End.” Bryan, who has Coral Reefer Band at sold more than 7 million Infinite Energy Arena, 8 albums and 27 million p.m. June 2 singles worldwide, will It wouldn’t be spring perform with Little Big without a trip to “MargariTown and Dustin Lynch. taville” to have a “CheeseTickets: www.thelakeburger in Paradise.” woodamphitheater.com/ Buffett, 69, is showing no tickets sign of slowing down, as he’ll visit Duluth as part Dave Matthews Band of his “I Don’t Know” at Aaron’s Amphitheatre tour that stretches from at Lakewood, 8 p.m. April to October and visits May 28 23 cities, from Bangor, If you don’t see Dave Maine, to Paris. Buffett Matthews Band this year, has played at least one don’t plan on seeing him show in Atlanta every next year, as the group year since 1995, except in said it doesn’t expect to 2005, and played at Infi-
nite Energy Arena in June. But don’t let his laid-back and island escapism lifestyle trick into thinking he doesn’t know what he’s doing. With his 27 album releases, around 40 tours, and his string of Margaritaville restaurants and resorts, he’s worth about $450 million, making him one of the world’s richest singers. Tickets: www.infiniteenergycenter.com Selena Gomez at Philips Arena, 7:30 p.m. June 9 Selena Gomez will hit Atlanta as part of her “Revival Tour” that will stop in 41 cities in the U.S. and Canada and begins in Las Vegas on May 6. Gomez, a multi-platinum singer and actress, has certainly made a name for herself since breaking up with Justin Bieber. Still haven’t heard of the former Barney & Friends and Disney Channel star who has been in more than a dozen movies? You’re probably in the minority, considering she has more than 75 million followers on Instagram — most in the world. Her latest album, “Revival,” which features hits “Hands To Myself,” Same Old Love,” and “Good For You,” debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart. In October, she scored her first Billboard Hot 100 single to hit the top 5 with “Good for You.” Tickets: www.philipsarena.com/events/detail/selena-gomez-1.
By Venue — MUSIC Laid Back Festival • May 19: Daryl Hall and John Oates • May 20-21: Luke Bryan, Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch • May 28: Dave Matthews Band • June 8: Journey and The Doobie Brothers with Dave Mason • June 16: Weezer and Panic! At The Disco • June 24: The Cure and Twilight Sad • June 29: Slipknot • July 15: Dierks Bentley, Randy Houser, Cam and Tucker Beathard • July 24: 5 Seconds of Summer: Sounds Live Feels Live Tour • Aug. 12: Def Leppard • Aug. 26: Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore and Colt Ford • Oct. 10: Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three and Kane Brown ATLANTA SYMPHONY HALL 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-733-4900 www.atlantasymphony.org • May 13 — 15: Broadway’s Golden Age • May 27 — 29: Music of Elton John • June 3: The Music of David Bowie A Musical Odyssey • June 5: Cyndi Lauper, The Peach Kings • Aug. 10: Alice Cooper • Aug. 26: Air Supply BOWMAN HOUSE CONCERT SERIES 323 Wilcrest Dr. SW, Lawrenceville 770-979-1314 www.facebook.com/bowmanhouseconcertseries • May 7: The Posies, The Pauses • Sept. 10: Aaron Lee Tasjan • Nov. 5: Gretchen Peters BUCKHEAD THEATRE 3110 Roswell Road, Atlanta 404-843-2825 www.thebuckheadtheatre. com • May 7: Animal Collective • May 20: Pasquale Esposito • May 21: Sara Evans • May 22: Paul Thorn • May 24: The Neighbourhood • May 26: Sam Beam and Jessica Hoop • May 28: Will Hoge
• June 11: Matt Corby • June 18: Lake Street Drive, The Lone Bellow • June 24: The Jayhawks CENTER STAGE THEATER 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta 404-885-1365 www.centerstage-atlanta. com • May 12: PVRIS • May 13: Silversun Pickups, Foals • May 14: The Sword • May 15: Ginuwine, Karlos Farrar • May 20: Damien Escobar • May 27: Dustin and Genevieve Ahkuoi • June 2: Emblem3 • June 21: The Wombats • Sep. 3: Broods • Sep. 24: Boyce Avenue • Nov. 5: Chris Mitchell COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta 770-916-2800 www.cobbenergycentre. com • June 10: Heart of the King Elvis Tribute • June 13: Happy Together Tour • June 15: Zach Seabaugh, Emily Ann Roberts • June 19: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons • June 24: Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson • July 8: GOT7 • Aug. 2: Peter Frampton EDDIE’S ATTIC 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur 404-377-4976 www.eddiesattic.com • May 6: Liz Vice, Steve Moakler • May 7: Kim Richey, Richard Barone • May 8: Secret Sisters • May 10: David Ellington • May 11: Ryan Beaver, Noah Hunt, Mato Nanji • May 12: The Bottle Rockets, Zach Seabaugh • May 13: Clay Cook • May 14: The Bitteroots, Brit La Palm, The Barrel Fever, Becky Shaw • May 15: Tony Lucca, Keaton Simons, Paul Pfau • May 17: Bobby Whitlock, Coco Carmel, Joshua Davis • May 18: Firekid • May 19: Gill Landry • May 20: Michael Tolcher
EVERETT’S MUSIC BARN 4055 Stonecypher Road, Suwanee 678-858-5363 everettsmusicbarn.net • May 7: The Davenport Brothers • May 14: The Decatur, Bluegrass Association Band, The Everett Family Band, Carolina Blue • May 21: The Bankesters • May 28: Wilson Banjo Co. • June 4: Chris Jones and The Night Drivers • July 9: Cumberland River • July 30: David Davis and The Warrior River Boys, The Due South Band • Aug. 20: Dale Ann Bradley • Sep. 10: The Due South Band FOX THEATRE 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-881-2100 foxtheatre.org • May 7: Floetry, Mint Condition • May 21: K. Michelle • June 17: Anthony Hamilton, Fantasia • June 18: Brit Floyd • June 19: “Weird Al” Yankovic • July 17: Shawn Mendes • July 30: Ray LaMontagne • Oct. 13: Celtic Thunder • Oct. 22: Bonnie Raitt INFINITE ENERGY ARENA 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth 770-813-7500 www.infiniteenergycenter. com • May 20: Cage the Elephant • June 2: Jimmy Buffet, The Coral Reefer Band • June 4: Dolly Parton • Aug. 6: Twenty One Pilots INFINITE ENERGY THEATER 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth 770-813-7500 www.infiniteenergycenter. com • June 25: Nashville Hitmakers THE LOFT 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta 404-885-1365 www.centerstage-atlanta. com/shows/the-loft/ • May 7: Sasy Mankan • May 12: The New Stew with Corey Glover and Roosevelt Collier
• May 13: Highly Suspect, Diet Cig • May 14: Baroness, Youth Code • May 20: Therapy Session Tour • May 24: Saul Hernandez • June 23: B.o.B. • July 3: Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, DJ Zone • July 7: Emily King THE MASQUERADE 695 N. Avenue N.E., Atlanta 404-577-8178 www.masqueradeatlanta. com • May 7: Blue October • May 12: Sacing Abel • May 17: Insane Clown Posse • May 21: Say Anything • May 22: The Summer Set • May 28: Caravan Palace • July 3: The Hotelier PHILIPS ARENA 1 Philips Drive N.W., Atlanta 404-878-3000 www.philipsarena.com • May 18: Rihanna • June 9: Selena Gomez • June 11: R. Kelly • June 29: Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas • Aug. 7: Janet Jackson • Oct. 26: Mana • Oct. 28-29: Adele RED CLAY MUSIC FOUNDRY 3116 Main St., Duluth 678-957-7283 www.eddieowenpresents. com • May 6: The Grascals • May 7 — 8: The Rat Pack Now • May 12: Scott Miller • May 20: Chuck Cannon, Chuck McDowell • June 4: John Gorka • Ongoing: Sunday night Songwriters Open Mic RED LIGHT CAFE 553 Amsterdam Ave., Atlanta 404-874-7828 redlightcafe.com • May 6: Royal Johnson, Sole Travelers • May 13: Gareth Asher and The Earthlings • May 15: William Wild, Anthony Aparo • May 17: Kenosha Kid, Ricci • May 19: Russ Still and The Moonshiners, The Brookses • May 26: Frenchy and the Punk, The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing • May 27: Rockabilly Kitty
Rose, Hot Rod Walt • May 28: American Hologram, Collins Drive • June 2: Shawn Spencer Band RIALTO CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 80 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta 404-651-4727 www.rialtocenter.org • May 28: Atlanta Jazz Festival SMITH’S OLDE BAR 1578 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta 404-875-1522 www.smithsoldebar.com • May 6: BB Palmer and Kudzu, Jake and The Beanstalk, Lagoons • May 7: Livingstone, Suburban Love Junkies, Grind Theory, Brooklynn, SOS • May 10: Shawty Fatt • May 11: Animal Years • Ongoing: DJ Sky
• • • •
THE TABERNACLE 152 Luckie St., Atlanta 404-659-9022 tabernacleatl.com June 2: Mudcrutch June 12: Gogol Bordello July 8: Chino Y Nacho July 29 — 30: 311
VARIETY PLAYHOUSE 1099 Euclid Ave., Atlanta 404-521-1786 www.variety-playhouse. com • May 4: Kamasi Washington • May 7: Steep Canyon Rangers • May 11: Tweet VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATRE AT ENCORE PARK 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta www.vzwamp.com • May 7: The Avett Brothers, Brett Dennen • May 15: Styx, .38 Special, Don Felder • June 6: Ellie Goulding • June 11: Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris • June 28: Barenaked Ladies, OMD, Howard Jones • July 23: Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, North Mississippi Allstars • Aug. 14: Dixie Chicks • Sept. 11: Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay Most tickets available through Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400 or ticketmaster.com
10C • SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016
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Middle school students from across Gwinnett compete on Monday in 100-meter races in a Special Olympics event at South Gwinnett High School. About 200 middle school students competed, while about 120 South Gwinnett High School students helped put the event on. (Staff Photos: Keith Farner)
Top of their game
Hundreds turn out for Special Olympics event BY KEITH FARNER
keith.farner @gwinnettdailypost.com
SNELLVILLE — Earlier this week it was a festive atmosphere at the track and field area at South Gwinnett High School, complete with balloons, ribbons and smiles. Some 200 Gwinnett middle school students on Monday morning took part in a Special Olympics event where they competed in 100 meter dashes, softball throws and long jumps. It was the culmination of a year of preparation and followed a similar event that happened a few weeks ago at Collins Hill High School. Lynnette Swanson, an adaptive physical education teacher at Oakland Meadow School who also works in the Parkview cluster, said the event is designed for the athletes to “think they can have success like anybody else can.� Swanson said the event has grown exponentially since it began some 25 years ago, and Monday at South there were 30 heats. A recent similar event at Mill Creek High School had 78 heats. About 120 South Gwinnett students volunteered at the event to help hand out ribbons, water and clipboards with results to be announced. The school’s chapter of Future Business Leaders of America was among the clubs who sent students, and
Grace Snell Middle School student Paul Bailey, pictured above right, competes in the long jump event on Monday alongside South Gwinnett High School junior Isabelle Williams at a Special Olympics event at South Gwinnett High School. Berkmar Middle School student Leo Garcia, pictured above left, competes on Monday in the softball-throwing Special Olympics event at South Gwinnett High School. Adaptive physical education teacher Kyle White helps Garcia with the throw, which won his heat.
it helped organize those volunteers. FBLA chapter President Hibah Berhanu, a junior, said she was glad to connect with middle school students to create a community environment with students from across Gwinnett. “I think it was really exciting,� she said. “This is the first year that I’ve done Special Olympics, so I got to see a lot of the potential from all of the special-needs students in Gwinnett County.� Junior Abby Cheek spent much of the event handing out water to athletes near the finish line of 100-meter races. “It’s just really rewarding
to see the kids when they finish their races, and it helps me improve my leadership skills to take initiative to find things that need to be done and helping doing them,� she said. Tara Haynes, sponsor of South’s FBLA chapter, said community outreach and support is part of the organization’s three initiatives, and it’s important to show all of the students that this effort is important. “I think it’s always something they will remember about their high school career is helping our middle school Special Olympic kids,� she said.
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Peachtree Corners commends Rep. Rice before his retirement BY CURT YEOMANS
Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason presents a proclamation to retiring state Rep. Tom Rice on Tuesday. The city took time to honor the longtime legislator before he leaves office later this year. (Special Photo)
curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com
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Gwinnett Daily Post presents
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Burlie W. (Trae) Taylor III and Katelyn R. Bryant
6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA
were married September 05, 2015, at The Payne-Corley House in Duluth with the Rev. Matt Marrs officiating.
Proud  sponsors:
The bride is the daughter of Merle and Kelly Bryant. She is a graduate of Collins Hill High School, 2008 and Georgia Southern University, 2013. She is employed by Hodges-Mace in Atlanta. The groom is the son of Wayne and Carol Taylor of Lawrenceville. He is a graduate of Collins Hill High School, 2008 and Georgia Southern University, 2012. He is employed by Habif, Arogeti and Wynne, LLP. Danielle Bryant of Springfield Missouri and Amanda Woods of Atlanta GA served as the maids of honor. Hannah Norman of Nashville, TN served as the matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Hayli Murray, Lauren Chambers, Courtney Griffin, Jana Phillips, Liza Davis, Hannah Smith, and Samantha Anderson.
The reception was at The Payne Corley House in Duluth. After the honeymoon to California, the couple resides in Atlanta.
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Jackson Taylor of Lawrenceville served as the best man. Connor Norman, Garren McCloud, Joe Murray, Kyle Chambers, Dustin Johnston, Jon Wiggington, Bo Guillebeau, Phillip Buelterman, and Hamilton Brodnax served as groomsmen. Jonathan Hazard and Drew Hartley served as ushers. 413837-1
Peachtree Corners officials took a little time this past week to recognize the city’s voice in the state House of Representatives before his term ends. The city council issued a proclamation to Rep. Tom Rice, R-Norcross, on Tuesday. Rice announced in February that he would not run for re-election because he planned to retire from politics. He recently finished his final legislative session in Atlanta after 20 years in the General Assembly. “Tom Rice’s work on Peachtree Corners’ behalf will always be recognized as a valuable and integral part of the city’s history,� Mayor Mike Mason said in a statement. “We wish him the very best in his retirement. I know he will be missed when the General Assembly convenes next January.� His district includes Peachtree Corners, Berkeley Lake and parts of Norcross and Johns Creek. During that time, he was involved in legislative efforts that eventually led to Peachtree Corners’ creation in 2012, according to city officials.
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Media Specialist of the Year hails from Brookwood Good News from Schools
videos and infographics.” Mary Barbee, the school district’s director of Media Services and Technology Training, said Wilson oversees a dynamic program that emphasizes supporting instruction while providing spaces that promote reading and project-based Keith Farner learning. In May, Wilson will fession; teaching students compete for the Metro to locate and evaluate in- Atlanta District Media formation is only part of Specialist of the Year what I do,” Wilson said title. in a press release. “As a Creekland Middle media specialist, I also LSTC honored by PBS design instruction with Shana White, a techteachers so that students nology coordinator work collaboratively and at Creekland Middle present their work in for- School, has been named mats well beyond a tradi- a Lead PBS LearningMetional research paper, like dia Digital Innovator for
LUNCH MENUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Monday Gwinnett’s best burger, mini calzones, vegetarian entree Tuesday Chicken nuggets, vegetarian entree, PBJ’wich Wednesday Captain America chicken sammie, flavor to the max sticks, vegetarian entree Thursday Mini corn pups, deli fresh subs, vegetarian entree, PBJ’wich Friday Brunch 4 lunch, crunchy tacos, vegetarian entree MIDDLE SCHOOL Monday Crispy chicken sammie, Italian meatball sub, vegetarian entree, signature salads Tuesday Pizza by the slice, boneless wings, vegetarian entree, signature salads Wednesday Hot dog, Italian trio, vegetarian entree, signature salads, deli fresh subs Thursday Pizza by the slice, BBQ sammie, vegetarian entree, signature salads
Friday Brunch 4 lunch, seafood basket, vegetarian entree, signature salads, deli fresh subs HIGH SCHOOL Monday Pizza by the slice, crispy chicken sammie, BBQ pork sammie, deli fresh subs, fresh seasonal salads, vegetarian entree Tuesday Pizza by the slice, Gwinnett’s best burger, Italian trio, deli fresh subs, fresh seasonal salads, vegetarian entree Wednesday Pizza by the slice, crispy chicken drumstick, fiesta nachos, deli fresh subs, fresh seasonal salads, vegetarian entree Thursday Pizza by the slice, hot dog, lasagna marinara, deli fresh subs, fresh seasonal salads, vegetarian entree Friday Pizza by the slice, classic chicken nuggets, Asian rice bowls, home-style croissant, fresh seasonal salads, vegetarian entree
Georgia. Now in its fourth year, the program honors educators from across the country who exemplify excellence in using technology and digital media to support student learning. The Lead Innovators are awarded with yearlong professional development opportunities, virtual trainings, exclusive resources from PBS LearningMedia Custom, a free PBS TeacherLine professional development course and networking opportunities. The 52 people honored as Lead Digital Innovators will receive an allexpense paid trip in June to Denver to participate in the PBS LearningMe-
dia Digital Summit and the International Society for Technology in Education Conference. White said in a press release that when used properly, digital media provides teachers an effective method to enrich and differentiate their content, engage all learners and create a culturally responsive learning environment. “It is a huge honor and I am very excited about the opportunity to represent Georgia and meet other like-minded educators across the country at the PBS LearningMedia Summit,” she said. Scholarships for teachers Three GCPS teach-
ers are the recipients of $1,500 scholarships from the Gwinnett County Retired Educators Association. Michelle Bruzan of North Gwinnett High School, Hyun Soon McGee of Chesney Elementary School, and Renee Wilson-Wicker of Mountain View High School received the awards. The teachers were recognized for their hard work, innovative teaching strategies and the programs they created to benefit students. Keith Farner writes about education. Good News from Schools appears in the Sunday edition of the Daily Post.
Suwanee golf tournament raises $10K By Curt Yeomans
curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com
An organization that works with children who are dealing with situations that could otherwise traumatize them recently got some help from Verizon and the Atlanta Falcons. The communications company and the local NFL team announced their 12th annual Network of Champions Golf Tournament at The River Club in Suwanee raised $10,000 for CHRIS Kids on April 14. The celebrity tournament is designed to benefit the metro Atlanta community. “Verizon has been a longstanding and valuable partner of the Atlanta Falcons, and I know this is an event the staff and players look forward to every year,” Atlanta Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay said in a statement. “CHRIS Kids is an organization that I am personally very fond of, and I am very proud
quality, trauma-informed behavioral health services and support systems.” McKay, Verizon officials and current and former Falcons players, including Matt Bryant, Jonathan Babineaux, Dave Archer and DJ Shockley, were on hand at the tournament to meet attendees and to present the check to CHRIS Kids officials. “As we wrap up the 12th Annual Network of Champions Golf Tournament, we want to extend a special Verizon officials present a $10,000 check for CHRIS Kids. thanks to Rich McKay The money was raised through the 12th annual Network of Champions Golf Tournament at the River Club in Su- and the rest of the Atlanta Falcons staff and players, wanee on April 14. (Special Photo) the Verizon employees and the tournament participants of the tournament players “We are so appreciative that donated their time and for stepping up and raising for Verizon and the Atlanta money to support the incredso much money for such a Falcons’ supporting our orible work of CHRIS Kids,” deserving cause.” ganization and the people CHRIS Kids, whose that we work with on a daily Verizon South Area President Roger Tang said. “The name is partially an acronym basis,” CHRIS Kids Viceresources that CHRIS Kids for the words “Creativity,” President of Development provides to help individuals “Honor,” “Respect,” “InBrittany Burnett said. “This tegrity” and “Safety,” offers generous donation will allow overcome trauma and move to resiliency and self-suffibehavioral health services us to continue to bring the ciency is truly remarkable and support such as educaCHRIS Kids vision to life tion and training to children, by providing children, adults and much needed in the Atlanta community.” adults and families. and families with high-
Peachtree Ridge’s Robo Lions gearing up for worlds contest By Keith Farner keith.farner @gwinnettdailypost.com
Gwinnett’s best robotics team is again gearing up for a trip to the world championships in St. Louis. Peachtree Ridge High School’s robotics team last weekend finished second in the state out of 41 teams that competed in Athens. The Robo Lions were given the Innovation in Control, the Chairman’s Award and were the only Gwinnett team to qualify for worlds where they will compete with some 600 teams April 27-30. The teams will come from Australia, Canada, France and Israel and compete at the Edward Jones Dome. Teacher Mary Rutland,
Peachtree Ridge High School’s robotics team last weekend finished second in the state out of 41 teams that competed in Athens. (Special Photo)
who works with the Robo Lions, said the group will go to St. Louis “with the best bot and drive team we have had in years, we fully expect to do well at worlds.” In order to cover the costs of transportation, boarding,
and registration fees, the team is looking for $21,000 in donations and sponsorships from the Gwinnett community as a registered 501(c)(3) organization. The group’s website is prhsrobotics.com.
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Jan Wilson’s daily goal is to transform the stereotype of a media specialist as someone who works quietly behind a circulation desk. Others have noticed. That’s why Wilson was honored this week with Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Library Media Specialist of the Year. Wilson, who has 19 years of experience, promotes reading, information technology and community involvement. Wilson serves also as the sponsor of Brookwood’s Reading Club and its Readers Rally team, a team that has won three county championships since 2012. “This is an active pro-
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Buford couple, high-school sweethearts, celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary By Alyssa McNerney
began to serve with the Senior Saints at Lumpkin Road Baptist Church. A Buford couple Bob became a Sunday recently celebrated their School teacher for over 71st wedding anniver30 years until the couple sary. moved to Buford to be Robert Stady was closer to family. born Sept. 22, 1922 in Today the Stadys are Olean, a small town active members of Ivy located in western New Creek Baptist Church. York. His wife Margaret They attribute their Cornish Stady was born successful marriage to Nov. 27, 1923. The high their great faith in God school sweethearts met and their devotion to at a roller skating party Robert and Cornish Stady each other. The Stadys at their Baptist church have a daily ritual of in 1941 and have been singing their favorite Production Control Man- love song to each other together since. The Stadys were marager at Dresser Industries “I love you, a bushel and ried March 16, 1945. in Olean until he retired a peck and a hug around After serving in the Navy in 1982 and the couple the neck!” as an aviation metalsmith moved to Augusta. The couple have four in Jacksonville, Florida, Newly residing in children: Ann McMahon Bob worked as the Plant Georgia, the Stadys of Monroe, Conn., Cyndi Staff Intern
Ring of Cuba, N.Y., Janet Jameson of Buford and Jim Stady of Dacula. They have 10 grandchildren: David McMahon, Melissa McMahon, Mark Ruggles, Matt Ruggles, Kevin Ruggles, Anne Connors, Jamie Mays, Ben Sutphin, Jordan Connell and Jameson Kameron Stady. The couple are also blessed with fourteen great-grandchildren: Giuliana McMahon, Brittany Ruggles, Kyle Ruggles, Kameron Ruggles, Elliott Wilber, Brayden Ruggles, Liam Ruggles, Corbin Connors, Ansley Connors, Logan Johnson, Emily Johnson, Bailey Johnson, Leighton Connell, and Rylen Connell.
Nell Foster, center, is pictured with Loganville Mayor Dan Curry and state Representative Tom Kirby. (Special Photo)
Loganville resident Foster celebrates 110th birthday By Alyssa McNerney Staff Intern
Loganville resident Nell Foster recently celebrated her 110th birthday making her the third oldest living resident of Georgia. Runell “Nell” Brooks Foster was born on March 27, 1906 to George B. and Emma Palmer Brooks. She was the youngest of 12 children. Her father ran the family farm of over 150 acres that spanned across what is now the intersection of U.S. Highway 78 and Rosebud Road. Foster attended Midway School and was later one of the first students to attend the original Grayson High School. After taking a teacher training course offered in high school, Foster acquired a position teaching first through third grades at Midway School. Nell married her childhood sweetheart, Clyde Foster, on Feb. 12, 1928. The couple lived in Atlanta until 1929 when they
moved into the rock house built by her father that still remains at the same intersection. There they raised 3 daughters — Mary, Pat and Sara. The Fosters were active members at the First Baptist Church in Grayson and in other school and community activities as well. Clyde Foster died April 29, 1978. “It is amazing to be with a person who has experienced so many dramatic changes during the course of her life,” Loganville Mayor Dan Curry said. “She is an inspiration to us all.” Foster enjoys gardening, sewing, crocheting and cooking, and is especially known for her caramel cakes. Last year the intersection of U.S. 78 and Rosebud Road was dedicated to Nell Foster. Additionally she has been recognized with proclamations and resolutions from local and state leaders as well as President Barack Obama.
college notes
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Robyn K. Mack of Sugar Hill was recently named to the Dean’s List at Grand Valley State University. Aekta Patel of Duluth recently received her Master of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Annabelle Cook of Suwanee and Su Yeon Kim of Duluth were recently named to the Presiedent’s List at Pratt Institute. Juan Carlos Lopez of Duluth and Tamieka Perkins of Snellville were recently named to the Provost’s List at Troy University. Amelia Sullivan of Duluth was recently named to the Chancellor’s List at Troy University. Ane Wanliss of Berkeley Lake recently received the Dean’s Award at Colgate University. Victor Speight of Lawrenceville recently graduated from Illinois Central College. Annika Olsen of John’s Creek and Kesedria Carter of Lithonia were recently named to the Dean’s List at the University of Iowa. Khyati Sehgal of Lilburn was recently named to the Dean’s List at Merson College. Sung-Min Yoo of Suwanee was recently named to the Dean’s List at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Muralitharan Srinivasan of John’s Creek and Li Zeng of Duluth were recently named to the Dean’s List at Rochester Institute of Technology. Diana Thampalakattu of Lilburn was recently named to the Dean’s List at University of the Sciences. The following local students were recently named to the Dean’s list at Clemson University: Sarah Michele Boyd of Braselton, Arjun Aggarwal of Dacula, Nathanial S. Hinton of Dacula, Kelby J. Jordan of Dacula, Carolyn T. Bigger of Duluth, Alicia Bates Bostic of Duluth, Hannah Diane Casey of Duluth, Julianne Ciaramello of Duluth, Tyler McRae Martin of Duluth, Nicholas Austin Schuessler Grayson, Michael A. Creighton of Hoschton, Diana L. Davidson of John’s Creek, Jacob T. Erickson of John’s Creek, Hunter Christian Sanders Seiders of John’s Creek, Steven Patrick Jeanfreau of Lawrenceville, Frederick Thornton Lipscomb II of Lawrenceville, Trent James Scates of Lawrenceville, Erin Paige Taylor of Lawrenceville, Paige C. Bailey of Norcross, Chase Francis Bailey of PEachtree Corners, James E. Cusick Jr. of Peachtree Corners, Ian B. Robinson of Peachtree Corners, William Patrick Freeman of Smoke Rise, Hannah R. Grice of Snellville, Alexandra Q. Mesler of Snellville, Anna D. Scott of Snellville, Christian James Sharpe of Snellville, Eric Warren Robbins of Stone Mountain, Nicholas C. Andryusky of Sugar Hill, Brodie Tyler Davila of Suwanee, Sarah C. Dameria of Suwanee, Clare M. Kelley of Suwanee, Lydia Darrington Melin of Suwanee, Grace E. Pattee of Suwanee, Michelle Kathryn Schleicher of Suwanee.
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your community: city by city
City by City is a weekly look at the happenings in the places you call home MORE FROM GRAYSON
AUBURN Library hosting money management class Anyone interested in learning some basic techniques for handling money can pick up some tips at the Auburn Public Library this week. The library will host a “Basic Money Skills” class from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday. The class is sponsored by Community and Southern Bank and is being held in recognition of Money Smart Week. The library is located at 24 Fifth St., in Auburn. BARROW COUNTY Prescription disposal box now at Winder Police Department The city of Winder’s police department now has a prescription disposal box located inside of the lobby at 25 Midland Ave. The box accepts anything but syringes including prescription medication, non-prescription medication, expired medication, vitamins, cold medicine, liquid or pill form medication and inhalers. Utilities Director Roger Wilhelm said he is pleased that the city has taken the initiative to help prevent medications being sent down the drain and into the environment. “The city of Winder understands the value in being environmentally conscious, and we are committed to operating our utilities responsibly and efficiently,” he said. “I greatly appreciate support and partnership with our citizens and customers, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of this new program in our community.” Pharmaceuticals may be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call the non-emergency police line 770-867-2156. BERKELEY LAKE Concert series coming to Chapel Atlanta Plays It Forward and All About Developmental Disabilities is putting on a concert series at the Berkeley Lake Chapel. The first date is on May 15 and its called “Atlanta Dance Party: Big Dance Hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s. There are other performances on Sept. 11 with Classic Recall: Timeless Classic Rock Hits and on Oct. 16 with Up On The Roof: A Magnificent Carole King Tribute. Concerts are outdoors and attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic and other refreshments. Alcohol is permitted. Restrooms are available. Tickets are $10 to $140, including boats and tables that seat up to eight. The series takes place rain or shine. BRASELTON ‘Beach Bash’ planned There’s a “Beach Bash” planned in Braselton from 1 to 9 p.m. on May 7 at Braselton Park on Harrison Street. The event is to feature live music, giveaways for kids, vendors, food trailers, bounce houses, face-painting and 18 tons of sand. “Bring lawn chairs and enjoy a day at Braselton’s beach!” an advertisement said. For more information, visit downtownbraselton. com.
Grayson Day celebration set for April 30 By Zach Miles Staff Intern
The 37th annual Grayson Day will honor the Grayson community’s most phenomenal festivals, individuals and businesses on April 30. The Grayson Day Parade and Festival will feature over 200 vendors who will display their variety of arts, crafts, food, music, enterprises and more in the Grayson Community Park. According to event coordinators City Administrator Laura Cone and Mayor Allen Wilkerson, they are expecting an even bigger turnout than last year’s attendance of more than 5,000 people. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. with this year’s theme being “Simply the Best.” The parade will include floats from the recognized businesses along with tractors, beauty queens, little league teams, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, marching bands and the Grayson High School’s athletic teams. Although the festival ends at 4 p.m., Grayson Day will continue into the night. Lanier Jazz will kick off the evening at 6 p.m. by providing live music to the park, and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and dinner to enjoy the first ever family movie at the park as “The Good Dinosaur” will be shown. Vendors also will be on hand selling their wares. The Grayson Day Road Race is to be held before The event is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The library is at 2100 Buford Highway. DACULA Business license renewals due by June 30 Businesses that need to file paperwork to renew their business licenses in Dacula have a little over two months to do so. The city recently announced that the renewal deadline is June 30. Paperwork, such as the business, occupational tax application and the home office affidavit, can be found on daculaga.gov. City staff will calculate a business’ license fee after copies of the paperwork is emailed to daculacityhall@ daculaga.gov. After the fee is calculated, the original paperwork and a check for the fee, to officials. Officials said there is a $25 late fee for any paperwork submitted after June 30. Any questions about submitting the application can be answered by calling city hall at 770-963-7451.
DULUTH Touch A Truck event coming next month The city of Duluth and Notre Dame Academy are partnering on May 21 for a “Touch A Truck” event from 10 a.m. to noon at Notre Dame Academy. Attendees could touch BUFORD and explore vehicles of Credit counseling offered all shapes and sizes and at library take pictures with Elsa The Buford-Sugar Hill and Anna from Disney’s branch of the public library “Frozen.” This event is free is hosting an April 25 credit to the community and to counseling event. RSVP visit ndacademy. Beatriz Mauersberg of org. Notre Dame Academy ClearPoint Credit Counis located at 4635 River seling Solutions will help Green Parkway. attendees learn how to create a “priority spending GRAYSON plan” to save money and Farmers Market set to meet goals. start June 1 ClearPoint Credit The city is preparing for Counseling Solutions is its annual Famers Market, a nonprofit that has been which will begin on June 1 providing consumers with and occur every Wednesbudget, debt and housing day during the summer advice for 50 years.
and last from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. The market is located at 475 Grayson Parkway. The market runs from June 1 through the end of September. LAWRENCEVILLE Sheriff’s Office hosts Virgin Islands corrections officials The Gwinnett County jail in Lawrenceville received some visitors from the Caribbean who were interested in learning how officials in Gwinnett County run their corrections facilities. The Sheriff’s Office hosted the visit by the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections, led by former Gwinnett Deputy Rick Mullgray, who left the office last year to take on the post in his homeland. Mullgray is working on bringing the bureau up to the level of the American Correctional Standards, according to Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, Deputy Shannon Volkodav. Volkodav added that the Virgin Islands group was trained by Gwinnett deputies in a variety of jail operations, including booking procedures, handling of contraband, searches, a prisoner’s constitutional rights, use of force, prisoner transport, inmate visitation, jail security, suicide screening, sexual harassment, mental health, food service, prisoner correspondence, hostage situations, defensive tactics, prisoner activities, emergency procedures, prisoner discipline, handling of disruptive prisoners, staff liability, staff-prisoner relations and communicable diseases. “I consider it a compliment that a former staff member who is now in a position of even greater responsibility thinks highly enough of our operations to implement our procedures in the US Virgin Islands prison system,”
planned Town Center with the Forum shopping center. Adam Jones-Keeley, President of Conway, Inc. said: “As the president of an international company headquartered in Peachtree Corners and a resident of the city, I’m a strong advocate for the construction of an iconic symbol for our community. We need a landmark structure so that we can be remembered, known for something more than that new city that used to be Norcross.” SNELLVILLE New assistant chief gets training Newly-appointed Snellville Assistant Police Chief Greg Perry recently received training. He attended the Chief Executive Training Class for new chiefs of police and heads of law enforcement agencies at the Dr. Curtis E. McClung Training Center in Duluth, according to a news release. The 60-hour course, administered and provided by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, is required by state law. Perry was among 50 law enforcement administrators who attended the course.
SUGAR HILL Next Stop donates handmade birdhouses The Next Stop Foundation, a local organization that centers around adults with special needs, has donated 25 hand-crafted birdhouses built by their the festival begins with a 1-mile fun run at 7:30 members. The birdhouses a.m. and a 5K race at 8 a.m. The registration fee is will be on display at Gary $25 for the fun run and $30 for the 5K. The race Pirkle Park to be viewed benefits the Grayson High School cross country and enjoyed by the public, team. and also provide shelter for Additional information about the festival can be the city’s bird population. found at cityofgrayson.org while additional informaThe Next Stop Foundation about the road race can be found at graysondaytion started in 2007 when roadrace.com. they began serving adults with special needs with the Grayson Day will take place at the Grayson intention of providing them Community Park, which is located at 475 Grayson meaningful and productive Parkway in Grayson. For more information, visit experiences after they age cityofgrayson.org. out of the traditional school system at 22 years old. One of the most imporSheriff Butch Conway said There will also be live tant goals of the organizain a statement. “We’re music, a 50/50 raffle, food tion is to ensure that their happy to support Direcand drinks and door prizes. members understand tor Mullgrav in his effort they are a part of our to bring excellence to his NORCROSS community. To help them agency.” ‘Movie Monday’ to understand the value of Mullgrav added, “We’re feature ‘Steve Jobs’ community and to truly very excited about the opThe next edition of feel it themselves, “service portunity to work with the “Movie Monday” in Norprojects” were established. Gwinnett County Sheriff’s cross will feature the Aaron Through these projOffice. This is a major Sorkin film “Steve Jobs.” ects, they have collected step forward in achieving The biographical drama for organizations such ASC compliance for our “explores the genius and as Samaritan’s Purse, prison system. As a former shortcomings of computing the Rescue Ranch and deputy, I know firsthand guru Steve Jobs…through the Shepherd School how efficient operations the lens of three product in Haiti. In a recent and are at the Gwinnett County launches.” more hands-on project, 20 Jail and I hope to bring There are two showings, percent of the members their standard of operations one at 1:30 p.m. and one and their families particito the US Virgin Islands at 6:30 p.m., on May 9 at pated in the local “Feed My Bureau of Corrections.” the Norcross Cultural Arts Starving Children” food & Community Center. packing event. LILBURN The center is located at Grant to fund street 10 College St. SUWANEE repairs Citizens Police Academy Thanks to a $75,000 PEACHTREE CORNERS coming this summer Georgia Department of Big crowd for bridge The latest class of Transportation grant, road design meeting Suwanee’s Citizens Police safety projects will be comMore than 200 people Academy is accepting appleted in Lilburn this year. attended a recent meeting plications to provide area The city is planning in Peachtree Corners to residents with a hands-on striping and sidewalk review design options for glimpse behind the badge repairs, according to a the proposed Peachtree and a better understanding news release. The city is Parkway Pedestrian of the risks and responsiresponsible for 30 percent Bridge, according to a bilities of Suwanee police of the cost. news release. officers. The 10-week The striping locations Community Developprogram will next be ofare: Poplar Street, First ment Director Diana fered on Monday evenings, Avenue, Wynne-Russell Wheeler explained the June 6 through Aug. 15, Drive, West Johns, Pop safety and economic defrom 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Johnson, John Carroll, velopment benefits of the Classes will be at the SuHillcrest, Church and Pine bridge and then presented wanee Police Substation/ streets. five designs. The designs Training Center at 2966 The sidewalk repairs are ranged from a traditional Lawrenceville-Suwanee on Terry Lane at Young stone bridge with bell Road. Street, Norman Drive, towers to a contemporary The academy offers Velva Court, Velva Way cable-suspension strucclassroom training and exand Elizabeth Way. ture. periences in crime scene Attendees were then processing, traffic stops, LOGANVILLE invited to share comments building searches, crime Car show set for May 14 and preferences. prevention and narcotics The Master’s Car Club “We’re delighted by the identification and provides along with the city of Lolarge turnout and excited an understanding of the ganville will host the 12th to see so many people day-to-day responsibilities annual benefit car show interested in providing of officers. from 9:30 a.m. to noon with their input on this landmark Notarized applications an awards ceremony at 2 project,” said Mayor Mike are due by June 2 at 5 p.m. Registration is $20 Mason. p.m. Classes are free per car or $15 when regisIn the next 10 years, and open to the public, tering two or more cars. traffic on Peachtree but space is limited. For Awards will be given for Parkway is anticipated additional information, Best of Show, People’s to increase to more than contact Richard Pope at Choice, Mayor’s Choice, 50,000 vehicles per day. rpope@suwanee.com or Kid’s Choice and the top The bridge will con770-904-7 25. nect Peachtree Corner’s
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A country store makes me remember, smile There is a country store that sits in the middle of hundreds of acres of farm land embedded with hardwoods and pines that have grown, untended, for a century or two. In this little rural community live people who mostly work with their hands, raise much of what they eat and pray for any extra help they can get from any place that they can get it. It seems to be with some kind of regularity that we, these days, drive past it on our way to somewhere else. People always seem to be driving past it, going somewhere besides there. Perhaps for that reason among others, it is long abandoned. Its gray painted cinder blocks are dusty with neglect; a screen door dangles at an angle,
barely hanging on; the front door, shielded by a small porch and three columns as in the style of those old stores, is boarded up while weeds spring up through cracked asphalt. Though Tink never knew it when it bustled with commerce, when old men in worn overalls stopped by to pick up a jar of snuff, when a can of baking soda
was needed for a last minute cake, and when kids like me poured a pack of peanuts into an ice cold bottle of Coca-Cola pulled from the glass topped cooler where the drinks were stacked on top of each other, he taps his horn to both pay homage and to say, “Hey y’all.” I always smile, for I remember when. I can see my cousins and me clattering, barefooted, into the store, armed with handfuls of change that our parents had dropped coin by coin into our hands. The floor was old and wooden, cleaned and darkened with oil. The small room was lighted only from the sunlight that streamed in with varying amounts, depending on the amount of sunshine or clouds, from the
six windows. The air was sweetened with the smell of candy with the spice of tobacco cutting boldly through the sugary smell. The woman, weary and gray, rarely smiled when she took our money. I think we were too boisterous for her liking. That store represents more than cold Cokes, salty peanuts and Baby Ruth candy bars to me. Whenever I see it, I think back to the days when everyone I loved was still alive and how it was the imagination of children that entertained us all. We built playhouses that were outlined with rocks we gathered, then we settled into our “houses” and made mud pies and had teas with invisibles cups and saucers. One of my cousins had seen on televi-
sion that proper people stuck their pinky fingers out whenever holding a teacup, so we poor country kids pretended to be rich and pompous. When we tired of that, we sauntered to the barn, sometimes stopping to swing in the old black tire that hung from a tree or to chase the chickens that pecked at the dirt. We’d climb the old ladder to the barn loft, plop down in a circle in the midst of the hay-strewn floor, then lean in close as we each took turns trying to tell a bigger ghost story than the last. At the end of those Sunday afternoons, we’d pile into the backseat of our family sedans after saying goodbye to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Before Daddy was three miles down
the road, I pushed my good Sunday clothes to the side, laid down, tucked my red dirt-covered feet under me and slept soundly until we arrived home 45 minutes later. It was dark and late of hour when we passed the little store the other night. Tink tapped his horn and this time I did more than smile. I blew a kiss toward it then settled back in my seat to think back on those happy days. It was better than a cold Coke with peanuts. Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of “What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should)”. Visit www.rondarich.com to sign up for her free weekly newsletter.
Faithful readers of this column are always telling me how funny I am. I appreciate that, and I happen to agree. I think I’m pretty funny, too. There are, however, people who do NOT think I’m funny. They’re called Rob my children. To them, I’m Jenkins just “Dad,” and my jokes are nothing more than “dad On one level, I underjokes” — which of course is the least humorous form of stand. I’m also a son, and as such have been subjected humor there is.
to dad jokes all my life. There’s just one important difference: My dad is not funny. I am. That my kids can’t grasp this obvious truth is probably due to the bad rap dad jokes often get. Dads in the media are usually portrayed as un-funny goofballs oblivious to their own lack of comedic talent. On the contrary, they seem to think they’re ready for the Improv, much to the disgust of their
long-suffering offspring. Good thing that doesn’t describe me. I believe such stereotypes are unfair. In reality, dad jokes are among the most subtle and sophisticated on the planet. Ample support for this assertion lies in the fact that only dads, it seems, get dad jokes. Dad humor basically comes in three types: puns, comic exaggerations and mild bathroom humor (sometimes complete with sound effects). What all three have in common is that they serve not only to amuse but — in keeping with the true purpose of fatherhood — to teach children important lessons about linguistic and behavioral norms. In that sense, dad humor is the modern equivalent of the “Trickster” tales in
Native American culture. Those outlandish and often uproarious stories, passed from father to son around many an ancient campfire, did more than just entertain. They also helped preserve tribal customs and mores. (Google “The Winnebago Trickster Cycle” to see what I’m talking about.) For example, here’s one (non-scatological) joke I love to tell, much to my kids’ dismay: For his birthday, an archeologist’s wife bakes him a special cake, covered in Egyptian hieroglyphics and other ancient runes. He thanks her warmly and is about to cut himself a piece when his wife stops him. “What are you doing?” she asks. “You know we can’t have archaic and eat it, too.” If you’re not a dad, you might think that’s pretty
corny. But as any dad can see, it’s actually a clever pun, which is not only funny but contains a stealth vocabulary lesson. My kids have known what “archaic” means since they were 5 or 6 years old. The best part is, they didn’t even realize they were learning something. They just rolled their eyes and silently vowed never to tell their kids dumb jokes. But of course they will. And while they may never admit that my jokes were funny, they will certainly be convinced theirs are — even if they’re the same jokes. Rob Jenkins is a local freelance writer and the author of “Family Man: The Art of Surviving Domestic Tranquility,” available at Books for Less in Buford and on Amazon. Email Rob at rjenkinsgdp@yahoo.com.
Ronda Rich
In defense of subtle and sophisticated ‘dad jokes’
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Why your enthusiasm may be off-putting “I’m not sure he really believes in this.” The project manager was frustrated because he felt like his boss was just giving lip service to his initiative. Have you ever been in a situation where you’re passionate about something, yet you wonder if the people around you are just going through the motions? You’re diligent about the project management system, but your boss refers to it only occasionally. Perhaps you’re totally committed to clean healthy eating, yet your spouse continually brings up the cost of organic. When you’re zealous about something, it’s frustrating when other people don’t share your passion.
Forget Perfect
the day, I think he’s more focused on the money.” It’s a common scenario. People are excited to learn that organizations with a noble purpose bigger than money — companies that focus on customer impact — create more engaged and profitable businesses than organizations that Lisa McLeod focus on internal financial metrics. “What? We don’t Recently, I was working have to be a slave to these with a group of executives monthly financials?” they to identify their organisay. zational customer-driven But it’s only a matter Noble Purpose and create a of time before the purists strategy behind it. Mememerge. They’re the ones bers of the team were who believe that any talk concerned that their boss of financial goals detracts wasn’t totally on board. from the nobility of their One said, “Our boss says cause. Someone brings he believes in this — he out a spreadsheet, and seems to care about custhey shout, “We’re not tomers — but at the end of about profits, we’re about
customers!” At which point the CEO’s head starts to spin around, and so does mine, as I remind them, “It’s both/and, people; purpose; and profit are linked.” The problem with being a purist (about anything) is that blinds you to the holistic nature of things. And it often causes you to ignore the very valid goals and agendas of others. When you find yourself descending into the zealot role (Believe me, I’ve been there myself, and will surely visit that territory again) it’s helpful to remember these three truisms about human nature: 1. People can care about more than one thing Just because the other
person doesn’t care as much as you do about the subject, doesn’t mean that they don’t care at all. The spouse who doesn’t share your zeal for organic may be trying to juggle financial priorities. Not everyone has the luxury of being all in for one thing. 2. If they care enough to start, they care enough If your boss isn’t super excited about your new system, but is willing to try it, that’s enough. Many of the people who supported the civil rights movement weren’t willing to risk their lives marching or sitting at lunch counters. But they supported it enough to make it happen. If that level of support was good enough for MLK and his team to change the world,
it’s good enough for you to ignite your own change. 3. You don’t know what’s in someone’s heart unless they tell you The team who wasn’t sure their boss believed in Noble Purpose had actually misinterpreted their boss’s quiet, engineering, spreadsheet-oriented methodical nature as an absence of passion. They were wrong. If you want to get things done, you have to meet people where they are. Purists may be filled with passion, but if you want to change the world, it takes all kinds. Lisa McLeod is the creator of the popular business concept Noble Purpose and author of the bestseller “Selling with Noble Purpose.”
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