Downtown dining guide ................................................................ 12 A guide to Sumter's arts scene

The creative arts keep us connected as a community

BY TRACI QUINN

Few things beyond economic stability contribute to the health of a community more than its quality of life. The arts are an important element in the overall well-being of its residents. They take us beyond what is necessary to survive to what helps us thrive.

Sumter is fortunate to have a vibrant and evolving arts community, offering everything from music and theater to dance and visual arts, from books and movies to festivals and history offerings that teach us more about our culture … and ourselves.

The arts help us understand who we are; they can challenge us, stretch our minds and our hearts, help us develop empathy and compassion, serve as a catalyst for social change. Art of all kinds can comfort us or take us out of our comfort zones, energize us or restore a sense of wonder in a busy world.

“The arts enhance the quality of life of our community,” said Karen Watson, director of the Sumter County Gallery of Art. “Sumter is isolated from the important art centers in the U.S. by economics and geography – most of our citizens are not able to travel to New York City, Chicago or even Atlanta to see important art. SCGA resolved long ago to bring such art to our city. And admission is always free, so everyone has access.”

Whether you want to witness it or take a more active role, there are plenty of ways to get involved in the arts in Sumter.

(803) 775-0543 SumterGallery.com

Since 1969, the gallery has promoted the visual arts by presenting culturally diverse, contemporary art that reflects the experiences of all in our community. SCGA features rotating shows of traditional and contemporary art by local, regional and nationally recognized artists. Its three formal galleries are considered to comprise one of the best exhibition spaces in the state. The gallery offers classes for young and old, and the SCGA staff also go off-site to provide creative opportunities to those who may have financial or transportation challenges. The HYPE (Helping Youth Pursue Excellence) after-school program and Seniors Making Art classes provide the gallery’s most significant outreach.

Get involved!

Take an art class. Attend an exhibition. Become a member. Volunteer. Help with a class or an opening reception.

Sumter Civic Chorale

(704) 492-4761 SingingHornet18@gmail.com

“Music is a gift to humanity!” said Herbert Johnson, director of the Sumter Civic Chorale, which is in its 40th season. “Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, music is a mysterious phenomenon that transcends all generations and all cultures and is a unifying tool – which is what we need more than ever today!” The chorale is a community-based choral ensemble that appeals to people of diverse cultures, races and ages. It is open to anyone who loves to sing and enjoys a variety of genres and styles of music. Members range in age from their 20s to their 80s; some have strong music reading backgrounds while others have almost none.

Want to join?

No audition is required; call Johnson for details at (704) 492-4761. Rehearsals are 7-8:30 p.m. on Mondays. (803) 775-2150 SumterLittleTheatre.com

“The return of live theater is an indication that life can get back to normal,” said Eric Bultman, SLT’s executive director. Theater is an important type of creative expression because it is intimate and immediate. With live theater, we share an experience unlike any other – and what we see and hear can promote conversation about difficult topics and provide opposing views in a safe space. SLT is a true community theater, offering children and adults the opportunity not only to see great plays and musical theater but to participate at just about any level.

Get involved!

Attend a performance. Audition for a show. Work at the box office. Design and construct costumes. Share your makeup and hairstyling skills. Build a set – or help design one! Learn: Theater School offers classes for students from elementary to high school.

Sumter Community Concert Band

SumterBand.org

The band – now in its 40th season – welcomes new members and draws musicians from Sumter, Shaw Air Force Base and beyond with varying backgrounds – from teachers, lawyers, farmers and pilots to homemakers, physicians, college students and retirees. Their common link is a desire to share their love of band music with the public. “Music transcends all cultures, all languages, all lifestyles,” said band publicist Rick Mitchum. “Music is good for the mind. There are no boundaries to music. It can create a mood or feeling you can’t create with words.”

Want to join?

No audition is required, but members must have played in a concert band in high school or college. Call Mitchum at (803) 775-9265. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. 122 N. Washington St. (803) 775-0908 SumterCountyMuseum.org

The museum interprets the history of Old Sumter District through exhibits, living history events and special programming. It includes the Jewish History Center, where visitors can explore Sumter’s connections to survivors and liberators of the Holocaust. Get involved by attending events at the Carolina Backcountry Homestead, take a Living History class in cooking, sewing or woodworking, attend author readings, children’s story time, book signings and lectures. Want a guided tour? Call (803) 775-0908.

Sumter Opera House

21 N. Main St. (803) 436-2616

The Sumter Opera House is an iconic venue with a rich history, offering a wide variety of music (including appearances by Grammy winners!), nationally known comedians and local entertainment in its 550-seat auditorium. There’s something for everyone: The Main Stage series with national talent, a Matinee and Cinema series, as well as the less formal Stage Door schedule of concerts designed to introduce artists in an intimate setting. Visit SumterOperaHouse.com for a complete schedule of events.

There are lots of other cultural offerings in Sumter, from dance performances to art exhibits at the local colleges, an art sale by the Historic Sumter Neighborhood Association and music presented by the Woman’s Afternoon Music Club or First Presbyterian Church with its renowned Service of Lessons and Carols and Spring Sacred Music Service. For resources and useful websites to find out more about what’s going on in Sumter, find the resource page list in this magazine.

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BY ALAYSHA MAPLE

Listed on the National Register of Historical Places, the Sumter Opera House, located at 21 N. Main St., was initially built in 1872. After a fi re broke out during Chick Company’s performance in December 1892, the structure was rebuilt and reopened in May 1936 as a movie theater. Its $120,000 renovation created 300 jobs for Depression-era workers, and the fi rst fi lm shown was “Earthworm Tractors.” Tickets were $0.35 for adults and $0.10 for children. The Opera House served as a movie theater for 46 years until its doors closed in 1982. The City of Sumter purchased the building in 1984 for more offi ce space and to attract more visitors to downtown. Renovations began in September 1985, and the building reopened in 1987.

The Opera House currently hosts several city departments and offi ces, including City Hall and Sumter City Council chambers, and regularly hosts local, regional and national talent. Past performers include comedians Chonda Pierce and James Gregory and Grammy Award winners John Berry and CeCe Winans. Local groups like the Sumter High School Jazz Band, Sumter-Shaw Community Concert Band, Sumter Civic Chorale and Sumter Community Jazz Band also perform on its stage.

The Opera House hosts several series: Matinee series, Stage Door series, Cinema series and Main Stage series. While schedules for the Matinee, Stage Door and Cinema series are announced throughout the year on its website, the Opera House released its lineup for its Main Stage series for January-April 2022. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www. sumteroperahouse.com.

The 5th Dimension

Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Come experience one of the most prolifi c soul, R&B groups in musical history with Florence LaRue, of The 5th Dimension, as she and company continue to deliver dynamic performances after their 1967 hit, "Up, Up and Away.”

Henry Cho

March 5 at 7:30 p.m. American stand-up comedian Henry Cho, a.k.a. ‘Mr. Clean,’ has been on the Tonight Show, Young Comedians Specials, NBC's Friday Night Videos, The Henry Cho Show on GAC, numerous sitcoms and Hallmark movies, and now he’s here to make you laugh!

Tokyo Joe Performs ROCKETMAN

March 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tokyo Joe, a rock band from Columbia, replicate an Elton John concert experience, complete with costumes and lighting, sure to give every Elton John fan a tribute performance worthy of the original.

The Duke Ellington Orchestra

April 23 at 7:30 p.m. For the past 88 years, The Duke Ellington Orchestra has continued the Duke's tradition of touring and sharing his high-intensity, hard-driving jazz with the world, and Howard University professor Charlie Young, a talented alto sax player and arranger, will be leading the orchestra when their big band sounds the stage.