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"Dial 'M' for Murder" at DDP

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OCTOBER 6, 2016 — Issue 133

GLORY

Gospelfest echoes Town Clock Church’s critical past

2 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 | SOIN EDITOR

Jason Thomas

DESIGN

Claire White

STORY

Jason Thomas

PHOTOGRAPHY Tyler Stewart

WHERE TO FIND SOIN:

• ON RACKS: We offer free copies of SoIn at numerous hotels and restaurants around Clark and Floyd counties.

• IN YOUR PAPER: Every Thursday in the News and Tribune • ONLINE: newsandtribune.com /soin • ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/YourSoInWeekly • ON TWITTER: @newsandtribune

Songs to echo church’s critical past

O

ne of Southern Indiana’s most important which you can read about inside. historic gems is returning to glory.

What a powerful educational tool. Over the By now most of you have heard of or past two years more than 800 schoolchildren seen the restoration efforts at the Town Clock have visited the building and walked in the Church, also known as Second Baptist Church, footsteps of those yearning for the most basic of in downtown New Albany. rights: freedom.

The circa-1852 building served as a critical In today’s centerpiece you’ll read about Gosstation in the Underground Railroad — its clock pelfest, featuring choirs from New Albany and JASON THOMAS tower a symbol of freedom for slaves attemptJeffersonville high schools performing at the SoIn Editor ing to escape bondage. (Side note: If you’ve church. So smitten with the church’s mystique never visited the Carnegie Center For Art and last year, the choirs asked to come back, and History’s excellent “Ordinary People, Extraordinary make the church the event’s permanent home.

Courage: Men & Women of the Underground Railroad” While free-will donations will be accepted Gospelfest permanent exhibit, make it a point to do so.) is not about raising money. It’s about shedding light on a The Town Clock Church is a visible reminder of our stark reminder that you can’t put a price on freedom. country’s painful past — and how we can heal. The building is being given new life through a multi-phase — Jason Thomas is the editor of SoIn. He can be reached by restoration project. So far $545,000 has been raised and phone at 812-206-2127 or email at jason.thomas@newsanda fundraising effort is underway for the next two phases, tribune.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopThomas.

ON THE COVER: The completed 56-foot steeple is pictured a top the Town Clock Church in New Albany. | STAFF PHOTO BY TYLER STEWART

NEXT SOIN:

More interesting stories around Southern Indiana.

Death by rotary telephone SOIN THE KNOW

• WHAT: ‘Dial ‘M’ for Murder’ • WHEN: Now through Nov. 13 • WHERE: Derby Dinner Playhouse, 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville • INFO: Call 812-288-8281 or visit www.derbydinner.com

CLARKSVILLE — Derby Dinner Playhouse will present the thriller “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” open now and running through Nov. 13. For ticket information call 812-288-8281 or visit www.derbydinner.com.

Tony’s plot to murder his cheating wife Margot for her money goes awry when Margot kills her would-be assailant in self-defense, a Derby Dinner news release stated.

Now Tony has to improvise his plan and schemes to frame his wife for premeditated murder.

Can Margot’s ex-lover Max solve the mystery and discover the truth before she is hanged for the crime? “Dial ‘M’ for Murder” is a thrilling and suspenseful murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last moment.

“Dial ‘M’ for Murder” was written

Pictured from left to right: Brian Bowman as Max, Cary Wiger as Tony (front), and Tina Jo Wallace as Margot. | SUBMITTED PHOTO

by Frederick Knott and was the basis for the 1954 American crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Grace Kelly. Derby Dinner’s production is under the direction of and produced by Bekki Jo Schneider. The cast will include Tina Jo Wallace, Brian Bowman, Cary Wiger, David Myers, and J.R. Stuart.

American Bus Association’s Destinations magazine recently chose Derby Dinner Playhouse as one of its “Best of the Best Travel Suppliers

in 2016.” The magazine’s editorial panel selected the Clarksville company from suppliers across the country Derby Dinner opened in 1974 under the general management of Carolyn Thomas. In 1985, Thomas opted to purchase the Indiana dinner theater with partner Bekki Jo Schneider, and in the last 30 years attendance has grown to over 200,000 patrons per year with over 9,000 season subscribers, according to its website.

SOIN | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

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3 TO GO

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Where to go and be seen in Southern Indiana

PAINT A PUMPKIN • WHAT: Family Fun Workshop; miniature pumpkin painting

• WHEN: noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 • WHERE: Harvest Homecoming Kids’ Tent

The air is crisp, the leaves are just starting to change colors, and Halloween is just around the corner. And we all know what that means: time for Harvest Homecoming. Participants will be painting their own real miniature pumpkins to take home. No pre-registration is necessary.

Many other Kentuckiana organizations will have activities in the Kids’ Tent as well, so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to visit so many fun attractions all in one place. Admission to the Kids’ Tent is free.

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ANIMALS ON THE LOOSE • WHAT: Movies in the Park: “Zootopia” • WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 • WHERE: Gateway Park, 500 Little League Blvd.,

Clarksville • INFO: clarksvilleparks.com From the largest elephant to the smallest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a mammal metropolis where animals live and thrive. When Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) becomes the first rabbit to join the police force, she quickly learns how tough it is to enforce the law. Determined to prove herself, Judy jumps at the opportunity to solve a mysterious case. Unfortunately, that means working with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a wily fox who makes her job even harder.

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WISH UPON A STAR • WHAT: Charlestown Under the Stars • WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 • Where: Charlestown State Park, 12500 Ind. 62,

Charlestown Hosted by the Louisville Astronomical Society, this event is fun and educational for everyone.

Come out to the Oak Shelter to see stars, constellations, and learn about the night sky. Got a telescope that you can’t seem to use properly?

Bring it with you so the experts can help guide you. Be sure to bring a blanket with you as you spend the evening star gazing. Free with regular park admission.

GOTTA GO: Interested in seeing your event in our 3 To Go? Email SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com

Spirit Past the

of the

Songs of annual Gospelfest reawaken Town Clock Church’s history

BY JASON THOMAS jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com

O

nce a symbol of hope in a time of despair, the Town Clock Church in New Albany is again lifting spirits, this time on the wings of a restoration.

Spirituals during the 17th annual Gospelfest on Oct. 19 and 20 will echo the church’s history as a critical station of the Underground Railroad, and inspire future generations sitting in the refracted light of newly restored stained glass windows and under an ether-piercing new steeple.

New Albany High School’s A Cappella Singers and Camerata Singers and Jeffersonville High’s Chamber Singers — guided by festival resident-artist Roosevelt Escalante Jr. — will perform traditional and original gospel works, paying homage to the bonded souls that pushed forward in the darkness as the church’s clock tower whispered freedom.

Events like Gospelfest draw attention to the church, also known as Second Baptist Church, which is entering the fourth and fifth phases of a restoration project to return the historical gem to its original luster. While free-will donations will be collected during the free event, the real value of Gospelfest is shedding light on one of Southern Indiana’s most indelible landmarks.

“It’s more about getting to know the history of this build-

SOIN THE KNOW

• WHAT: 17th annual Gospelfest • WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, Thursday, Oct. 20 • WHERE: Town Clock Church, also known as Second Baptist Church, 300 E. Main St., New Albany

• COST: Free • INFO: Call 812-981-7648; for information about Town

Clock Church visit townclockchurch.org About: Gospelfest presents Jeffersonville’s Chamber Singers and the NAHS A Cappella Singers and Camerata Singers performing traditional and original gospel works, several composed by festival resident-artist Roosevelt Escalante Jr.

ing than it is about fundraising,” said Jerry Finn, volunteer fundraiser for the Friends of the Town Clock Church and executive director of the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County, which is sponsoring the two concerts. “For so many years the community has not been invited in. That’s two generations that basically don’t know the story of Floyd County’s involvement in the Underground Railroad.

SEE EVENT, PAGE 8

Students and alumni from the Morehead State University School of Music Theater and Dance perform during the 16th annual Gospelfest last year. This year’s event is Oct. 19 ad 20. | FILE PHOTO

6 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 | SoIn

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES: OCT. 7

é “The Girl on the Train”

“Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life”

Do the Monster Mash NEW ALBANY — The Arts Council of Southern Indiana is hosting a Halloween party from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at the Masonic Lodge, 805 E. Market St., New Albany.

People ages 11 to 18 are invited.

Tickets are $5. The price of admission includes: music, refreshments, and artful activities.

Everyone is encouraged to wear an appropriate costume, so they can participate in a costume contest, a news release stated.

The party is a fundraiser designed, and implemented by Arts Council interns. This Halloween party means a lot to the interns because all of the proceeds are going toward a paid internship program at the Arts Council, the release stated.

The majority of the interns are in high school and college, but the council also has an intern that is in middle school.

The Arts Council does not have a paid internship program, but through your sponsorship and hard work, it can soon create one.

The Arts Council helps the arts thrive in the community by hosting art exhibits, festivals,

SOIN THE KNOW

• WHAT: Halloween Jam,

to benefit Arts Council of Southern Indiana internship program • WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. friday, Oct. 14 • WHERE: Masonic Lodge, 805 E. Market St., New Albany art classes, internships, educational opportunities and much more.

The 2016 interns decided to create a Halloween Event for teenagers as a way to raise funds for future paid internships and as a way to give back to our community. The 2016 interns will serve as an example to future interns, and will serve on a panel to select the recipients of the 2017 internships.

The hope is to create a paid internship program, so the interns can focus on their career path. The majority of jobs available to high and middle school students are low paying, menial and do not further their career goals.

This week's entertainment releases

T.V. PREMIERES: OCT. 9

é “Divorce” (HBO)

OCT. 11 “American Housewife” (ABC)

BOOKS: OCT. 11 é “Hungry Heart” by Jennifer Weiner “Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult

Blowing your house down SOIN THE KNOW

• WHAT: “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs”

• WHEN: Oct. 8, 15, 22, 24, 29, Nov. 5 and 12

• WHERE: Derby Dinner

Playhouse, 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville • INFO: call 812-288-8281 or visit www.derbydinner.com

Derby Dinner Playhouse will open its 2016-17 Children’s Musical Theatre Series with “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” on Saturday.

Public performances run Oct. 8, 15, 22, 24, 29, Nov. 5 and 12. For ticket information call 812-288-8281 or visit www.derbydinner.com.

“The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” allows the audience to be the jury as the Big Bad Wolf is put on trial for his “supposed” crimes against the three pigs. This is a hilarious rock musical led by Lillian Magill, a top pig reporter who is covering the courtroom drama. The audience gets to hear both sides and then decides whether the Wolf is guilty or innocent, thereby determin-

ing how the play will end. As the playwright says, it is “a thrilling courtroom dram-edy…with music!

And ham!”

The musical version of “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” was adapted from the popular children’s book written by Joe Scieszka and Lane Smith. The book and lyrics were written by Robert Kauzlaric and the music was composed by Paul Gilvary and William Rush. Musical numbers featured are “Piggsylvanian National Anthem,” “Cheeseburgers

Ain’t Cute,” “Piggy World,” “Al’s Side Of The Story,” and more.

“The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” is under the direction of Jim Hesselman and the cast will include Bill Hanna as Alexander T. Wolf, Sandra Rivera, Megan Massie, Kristin Gilbert, and Kiersten Vorheis.

All public performances of “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” feature a kid friendly menu and are one hour in length. This production is most suitable for ages 3 to 12.

SoIn | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

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LOCAL SOIN HAPPENINGS Feeling left out? Send your establishment’s and/or organization’s upcoming events/new features/entertainment information to SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@ newsandtribune.com

LIVE MUSIC

• WHERE: Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards • WHEN/WHO: 2 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7: Brian Elmore,

1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 8: The Hamilton Brothers; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9: The Hickbillies; 2 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14: Brian Elmore; 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15: Blues & Greys; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16: Olivia and Lyndsey Henken; 2 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct 21: Josh Glauber; 1 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 22: The Fiasco Brothers; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23: Corey & Stacey; 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29: South Upland; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30: Me and You

LIVE MUSIC AT WICK’S

• WHAT: Live on State • WHERE: Wick’s, 225 State St., New Albany

Friday, Oct. 7: Harvest Homecoming with The Juicebox Heroes; ; Saturday, Oct. 8: Harvest Homecoming with Napoleon and the Beats; Friday, Oct. 28: Beatles Takeover Halloween Party; Saturday, Oct. 29: Halloween with 8 Inch Elvis

BANK STREET BREWHOUSE

• WHAT: Live music • WHERE: Bank Street Brewhouse, 415 Bank St., New

Albany All shows 7 to 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 7: 5 p.m.: Sam Clancy; 7 p.m.: Los Luddites; 9 to 11 p.m.: Your News Vehicles; Saturday, Oct. 8: 4 p.m. Tim Johnson, 6 p.m.: Bourbonites; 8 to 11 p.m.: Subourbons; Friday, Oct. 14, 7 to 9 p.m.: Leigh Ann Yost; Saturday, Oct. 15, 7 to 9 p.m.: Emme and the Sound; Friday, Oct. 28, 7 to 9 p.m.: Gavin Caster

ENJOY SOME TUNES

• WHAT: Live music • WHERE: Pastime Grill & Pub, 424 E. Market Street, New Albany

• WHEN/WHO: Thursday, Oct. 6, 7 to 10 p.m.: Steve Price

and The River Rats; Friday, Oct. 7: The Mojos, 3 to 7 p.m., King’s Cave, 8 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, Oct. 8: The Mojos, 3 to 7 p.m., King’s Cave, 8 p.m. to midnight

JAM ON AT THE LEGION

• WHAT: Entertainment at the American Legion • WHERE: Bonnie Sloan American Legion, 1930 McDonald Lane, New Albany

• WHEN/WHO: 7 to 10 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Oct. 6:

Karaoke, hosted by Bob and Charlene Wilkerson; 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 8: Third Degree Band • OTHER EVENTS: Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7:15 to 10:15 p.m., Bingo

CORYDON LIVE

• WHAT: Live country music • WHERE: 220 Hurst Lane, Corydon

• INFO: Admission, adults $12; children 6-12, $7; under 6,

free. For tickets call 812-734-6288.

Saturday, Oct. 8: Amber Martin, Marc Masingo, Greg Perkins, Natalie Berry; Saturday, Oct. 15: Natalie Berry, Tiffany Puckett and more; Friday, Oct. 21: The KING, The KILLER and The MAN IN BLACK: Tribute to Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash, featuring: Brad McCrady, Rockin’ Terry Lee, Frank Hamilton; Saturday, Oct. 22: Ricky Howsare, Jaclyn Shields, Tim Johnson, Natalie Berry; Saturday, Oct. 29: Tiffany Puckett, Jeremy Puckett, Donnie Lee Strickland, Natalie Berry

FRESH OFF THE FARM

• WHAT: Jeffersonville Farmers Market • WHEN/WHERE: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon at Big Four

Station park; Tuesdays, 3 to 6 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, 2014 Allison Lane More info from Jeffersonville Main Street www.JeffMainStreet.org.

EVENTS AT THE PARK

• WHAT: Clarksville Parks and Recreation events • WHERE: Gateway Park, 500 Little League Blvd., Clarksville

Movies in the Park Friday, Oct. 7, dusk: “Zootopia”

HOWL AT THE MOON

• WHAT: Full Moon Hike • WHEN: 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15 • WHERE: Charlestown State Park, 12500 Ind. 62, Charlestown.

Wear good hiking shoes and comfortable clothing, and bring a red lens flashlight and walking stick. The event is free.

FALL INTO FALL

• WHAT: Annual Fall Festival and Haunted Woods Hayride • WHEN: Friday, Oct. 7 • WHERE: Westminster Village Kentuckiana (WVK), 2200

Greentree North, Clarksville, A Flea Market will be open from noon to 5 p.m. in the health care parking lot. The Food Court will be open from noon to 11 p.m. Old fashioned cake walks for $1 will be held from 5-7 p.m. or while supplies last. There will be a free costume contest for children age 12 and under at 5:30 p.m. Adult costume contest will be at 6 p.m. Prizes of a $25 Wal-Mart gift card will be awarded in each age category for scariest/ugliest, funniest and most original. The highlight of the event is the Haunted Woods Hayride from 6-11 p.m. Adults $3; children 12 and under $2. All proceeds from this event will be used for WVK Christmas 2016 Fund.

CREATE A MONSTER

• WHAT: Kids Create Club • WHEN: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 • WHERE: The Clarksville Branch Library, 1312 Eastern Blvd.,

Clarksville The library will sponsor Kids Create Club, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 8. Gear up for Halloween and make your yarn monster. Club for grades K-5. Children K-2 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information call the library at 812-285-5640.

8 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016 | SOIN

EVENT: Gospelfest to be at Town Clock Church for second year CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 “Having different events and activities at the church gets people in there and begins to tell the story and provide a nice place for community events.”

To date, $545,000 has been raised for the first three phases of the church’s renovation project, which included restoring 15 stained glass windows and replacing 23 storm windows — that work is expected to wrap up by Thanksgiving — and stabilizing and repairing the roof and clock tower, painting cornice and woodwork and topping the church with a newly fabricated steeple, which was positioned in May to great fanfare.

“The first three phases have been so successful that we have moved into phase four and five,” Finn said.

Those phases involve restoring the sanctuary to how it looked in 1852 and creating an outdoor classroom and garden plaza behind the church to be used for a staging area for school tours and other church visits.

Fundraising is underway to pay for the next two phases of construction, which Finn roughly estimated would cost about $90,000, of which $30,000 has been raised.

“It will be kind of like a parklet,” Finn said. “We’re going to get NAHS art students to do art pieces that help tell the story of the freedom seekers and Underground Railroad. Also from that area we’ll have access to the undercroft of the church where we take kids to see the tunnel.”

Last year 320 schoolchildren visited the church, and already 512 students have passed through the building this year.

This is the second year Gospelfest will be held at Town Clock Church — now the permanent home for the festival.

“The choirs that are going to be singing enjoyed it last year so much that they wanted to figure out a way to raise some funds to help with the restoration,” Finn said.

Both concerts will be led by Escalante, Morehead State University’s assistant director of choral activities, with New Albany choirs prepared by the school’s director of choral activities, Linda DeRungs, and Jeffersonville’s Chamber Singers prepared by Leslie Rajchel, a news release stated.

Gospelfest has presented traditional, contemporary and premiere works during its 17-year history. Founded by DeRungs, the festival has featured choirs from Kentucky and Indiana churches, and has presented original works by Escalante, who is an active composer, conductor and choral clinician.

“This event is one of my favorite as a teacher and musician,” DeRungs said in the release. “It is designed to inspire, and it provides an opportunity for our students to work with renown instructors that provide a unique experience that few young singers get.”

Friends of the Town Clock Church is a charitable partnership with nonprofit status.

“Having these two talented choirs perform together at this event is very exciting,” Alice Miles, chairperson of the group, said in the release. “This is a great example of our young people and our community coming together to inspire us as we commemorate our community’s history.”

History is coming to life at the church. Work is underway to recruit volunteers to facilitate tours with the possibility of eventually having regular hours in which the public can walk the same path as those that broke the bondage of slavery.

“We want the community to realize,” Finn said, “what an incredible gem there is in this historical structure.”

Campbellsville Industries, Inc. and Padgett, Inc. crewmen work to fasten the new 56-foot steeple to the clock tower at Second Baptist Church in New Albany in this file photo. | FILE PHOTO

Members of the New Albany High School A Cappella Singers and Camerata Singers perform with members of the Jeffersonville High School Chamber Singers during the 16th annual Gospelfest last year.