The Arts
A publication of
The Times-Herald
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The Arts [The Arts]
Coweta’s vibrant arts scene offers something for everyone By Elizabeth Richardson
ewcomers to Coweta County will find themselves in a community that values and celebrates the arts with a variety of programs, exhibits and artistic offerings year-round. The Newnan Community Theatre Company has been providing Newnan with live theater for over 30 years. NCTC is the city’s only live theater, according to Managing Director Dave Dorrell. The theater presents an average of 12 productions a year, and of those approximately eight are major productions. The company puts on at least one big musical annually. “Our Christmas show is generally a big, community-friendly event requiring a larger cast and more volunteers,” said Dorrell. Auditions are held about 10 weeks prior to the opening of a show.
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East Coweta student Sophia Santos performs for Charles Wadsworth, who accompanies her at the spring 2010 Master Class at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.
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[The Arts]
Kelsi Adams practices her song during rehearsals for a past STAR production at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.
The audition process, according to Dorrell, is “pretty relaxed” and intended to welcome people of all ages – depending on the production. “We try to do shows for all ages,” said Dorrell. NCTC does some productions that dictate all-adult or all-children casts. Actors auditioning for a play are generally asked to prepare oneminute dramatic and comedic
NCTC’s production of Lee Blessing's Down the Road, above, included Sarah Jordan, Trey Stephens and Scott Pollak. At right, George Bailey (Chad Davis) explains to the people of Bedford Falls that their money is not really in the bank in NCTC’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life.
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[The Arts] monologues. They will likely also read from the script. When
Wadsworth Auditorium. “The Wadsworth Auditorium, on
auditioning for a musical, the person
Jefferson Street in historic downtown
will be asked to sing a number.
Newnan, features a 625-seat
Every summer, NCTC offers a Drama Boot Camp for kids. Younger
dance recitals and the like to be held within the walls of the Art Deco building, according to Snider. “The auditorium may be
auditorium, renovated dressing
reserved for civic gatherings,
rooms, and excellent acoustics,” said
concerts, visual performances and
kids are separated
community shows,” said
from the older kids as
Snider.
they meet Monday
The Newnan
through Saturday.
Cultural Arts
“During the week,
Commission is planning
participants learn all
to offer a series of
aspects of theater and
concerts of different
put on a show on
musical genres to the
Saturday,” said Dorrell.
public in the future. The
Kids get to write
addition is sure to
scripts, practice
anchor the auditorium’s
memorization, work
status as a vital part of
on sets, learn about
the arts scene and a
stage makeup, practice
favorite performance
improvisation, learn
venue for the
choreography and then
Charles Wadsworth
act out short skits at the week’s culmination. Dorrell said the company hopes to offer additional camps during school breaks. For the person who wants to get
community. For more
Newnan Public Information Officer
information or to rent Wadsworth
Gina Snider.
Auditorium, contact the Community
The auditorium is located in the 1939 Newnan Municipal Building
Development Department at 770254-2358, ext. 228.
shared by the Newnan Police
There is no better place to meet
involved with NCTC but doesn’t
Department. It was renamed
other artists or share your own work
want to be on stage, Dorrell says
Wadsworth Auditorium in 1998 to
than the Newnan-Coweta Art
there’s always plenty of work to be
honor Charles Wadsworth, a world-
Association (NCAA).
done backstage with costumes, set
renowned classical pianist who grew
construction and lighting. Interested
up in Newnan.
volunteers don’t have to have
Wadsworth founded the
experience, because the company is
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln
happy to offer training.
Center and has directed Spoleto
“We are always looking for
Festival USA’s chamber music series
volunteers,” said Dorrell. “For people
for more than 30 years. Since 1990,
who enjoy going to the theater, this
Wadsworth has performed annual
is the perfect opportunity to
concerts in Newnan.
volunteer to be an usher or work the
In addition to the city-
concessions area and then come see
sponsored, annual Wadsworth
the show for free.”
Concert, the building is rented an
For more information about the
average of seven or eight times a
The non-profit local group has
NEWNAN-COWETA ART ASSOCIATION, INC. INCORPORATED 1968
MEETS THE THIRD THURSDAY EACH MONTH EXCEPT JUNE, JULY & AUGUST 7PM REFRESHMENTS 7:30PM MEETING
MEETINGS INCLUDE AN ART DEMONSTRATION
HARRIET ALEXANDER ART CENTER
Newnan Community Theatre
year by outside groups. Schools and
31 HOSPITAL ROAD, NEWNAN
Company, visit
churches most frequently make use
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ON THE WEBSITE
www.newnantheatre.org.
of the facility, with the busiest rental
Another popular venue for performances in Coweta County is
months being May and June. It’s not uncommon for concerts,
www.newcaa.com E-MAIL: info@newcaa.com
President Barbara Kelly ~ 770-251-0873
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[The Arts]
Newnan-Coweta Art Association member Eunice Nichols was among the artists participating in this spring’s Courthouse Show in Newnan. been in existence for over 40 years and continues to “encourage and aid artists to produce original works of art of every type and character” and to “furnish the auspices for the display of such works in Coweta County and elsewhere.” The association supports the arts in Coweta schools through annual donations and scholarships to high school students pursuing the arts in college. Membership packages are available. NCAA holds monthly membership meetings throughout the year at the Harriet Alexander Art Center on Hospital Road, and at least two art workshops are
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Newnan High student Katie Turner exhibited her creative sculptures at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts this spring.
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[The Arts] scheduled each year. There is a
Visual Arts.
paintings and sculpture.
weekly “paint in” at the Harriet
Since its opening in 2004, the
Alexander Art Center. Members
48,000-square-foot arts center on
stage is equipped with lighting and
regularly exhibit their work at
Lower Fayetteville Road in Newnan
sound that are controlled from
venues throughout the county,
has provided many opportunities for
booths at the rear of the theater.
including Newnan City Hall and
local students to see and experience
There are also lecture halls at the
Espresso Lane coffee
The theater will seat 999. The
facility.
shop in downtown Newnan. The NCAA hosts an annual juried member show featuring paintings, sculptures, carvings, turned wood and other artwork, nearly all of it for sale to the public. The group also maintains a directory of
Student dressing
There is no better place
rooms include restrooms,
to meet other artists or
to hang costumes and
share your own work than the NewnanCoweta Art Association.
showers and ample space clothes, as well as rows of dressing tables with lighted mirrors. There is a “star” dressing room for a visiting performer. The facility also has a “green room” – with
members who offer art
real green walls – where
classes. NCAA
performers can wait for
memberships are available for
their time to go on stage, visit with
students, families and individuals.
the arts, and it has also provided an
friends or be interviewed by
For more information or to join, visit
increased focus on the arts in the
reporters.
newcaa.com.
community.
Supporters of the arts know one
For more information on
The front lobby area at the main
upcoming events or renting the
of Coweta’s finest cultural resources
entrance is an art gallery. Several
venue, call 770-254-2787, or visit the
is the Coweta County School
other spaces in the building also
school system’s Web site at
System’s Centre for Performing and
lend themselves to the display of
www.coweta.k12.ga.us.
The works of nationally known Plein Air artist W. Perry Austin are among those which have been exhibited at the Centre in Newnan.
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