Theatre In Style

The new Highlands Performing Arts Center brings a dynamic upgrade to the Plateau’s musical and dramatic offerings. For more information about what’s on tap, visit highlandsperformingarts.com.

The Plateau has a new theater as of mid-September. The almost five-year, $14.8 million building Highlands Performing Arts Center project resulted in a 298-seat, 16,000-square-foot facility. A performance by the musical group Bravo Amici, which combines the essential elements of classical crossover - pop, Broadway, the West End, and opera – celebrated the building’s opening on September 17. The construction management team was composed of project manager JLL, architect Lord Aeck Sargent, and contractor Choate Construction. The new Highlands Performing Arts Center sports high technology throughout. This includes a video wall in the lobby comprised of four two-foot by threefoot video displays that can present one show covering all screens – or four different presentations on the four individual screens Plus, the new facility lobby has conference meeting capabilities with network services, video conferencing, live streaming, and much more. And in the dressing rooms are video displays of stage activity for performers. The entire building is also Wi-Fi accessible. According to Executive Director Mary Adair Trumbly, “The original theater, now called the Martin Lipscomb Theater, seats 200, and it will still be utilized for various events and concerts. With the opening of the new, larger theatre, we hope to offer even more events that visitors and residents alike can enjoy.” The “one arts community” of the Highlands Performing Arts Center supplies something for every interest and age, including live concerts, streamed Metropolitan Opera (New York) and National Theatre Live (London’s West End) productions, the annual Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, Highlands Cashiers Players, movies, youth theater

Mary Adair Trumbly

performances and workshops. In October, the new Center hosts an Allman Brothers’ tribute concert (October 2) as well as the bluegrass group Sideline (October 29). Both concerts are scheduled for 7:30 P.M.

During the two-and-a-half-hour A Brother’s Revival, beloved Allman Brothers songs performed include Jessica, One Way Out, Statesboro Blues, Midnight Rider, Melissa, Ramblin’ Man, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Soulshine, and Whipping Post, as well as a few jam surprises to pay homage to the improvisational spirit of the original band. And Sideline delivers high-energy, innovative, music that is award-winning; in fact, Sideline’s Thunder Dan won the 2019 Song of the Year Award with the International Bluegrass Music Association.

by Deena Bouknight / photos by Susan Renfro

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A Healing Theater

At its heart, Invocative Fine Art, 521 N. 4th Street in Highlands, is a transformative experience. It’s open 10:00 to 6:00 P.M. Thursday through Monday.

Dr. Steve Hinkey and Beata Gola

The Plateau is a destination hub for fine art and galleries. But what if there were an art gallery that changed you when you visited? I’m not talking about educational and enrichment moments. I am suggesting meaningful changes in your physical and emotional self through ‘invocative’ fine art. Before you squint your eyes, tilt your head, and say, “Really?” consider a cutting edge art gallery in the heart of Highlands that not only exhibits fine art and sculpture, but helps you picture a better existence.

Dr. Steve Hinkey and Beata Gola are creators of Highlands’ newest art gallery, Invocative Fine Art, at 521 N. 4th Street. Why did they choose Highlands for their unique gallery? It was a quest to find the perfect place for Beata after 30 great years managing top salon spas in Connecticut. They bought a camper, traveled 42,000 miles in 42 states, when Beata said, “I’m home!” at Lake Sequoyah. Steve is a chiropractor whose life mission is to serve those at the end of their health-care rope. “My specialty is helping the most written-off people, who’ve been told by specialists there is no help. I also created a unique drawing technique that reveals issues pathology testing can’t. People get well. I once showed it as inspirational art, was given a 3500-square-foot show – then another show – and another. Now it bares meaning in both diagnostic and creative realms. Professionals, patients, and the public are fascinated with the process and the beautiful drawings inspired by internal transformation and healing.” The gallery displays positive images by top artists, taken from life, healing, and love. No fighting or violence. No negative calligraphy. Only bright and contemporary work, most of it thought-provoking, if not soul-stirring. Beata says, “We met profoundly aware artists making great art we’ve curated for you. Plus, Steve draws live, during groups of one to 100-plus people, called Healing Theatre, capturing breakthroughs as they unfold. His images function as talismans, keys to seeing internally. When you experience this, it opens your visual spectrum. Every piece of art in the room opens with the same key. You go home and your collection is more alive. Life is more alive.”

Many interior walls in Highlands’ beautiful homes await a wide variety of drawings, paintings, and sculptures devoted to enriching transformational impressions and reflections. Invocative Fine Art is staging its grand opening throughout October – featuring in-person and online artist meet-and-greets, demonstrations, discussions, and live drawings.

photo by Susan Renfro