GET OUT

Chandler singer combines country, gospel

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE

Staff Writer

Chandler country music artist, Rhonda Towns, has released her first inspirational Christian country gospel single after a 12-year-hiatus.

Towns said the single, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” on Dawn Records, shares a message of hope through experiencing life with the Lord by your side. Written by Teddy Hayes and produced by Billy Sherrill in collaboration with Towns, this single serves as a preview to her forthcoming six-track EP, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light.” “I hope that the song will help someone, that it will touch somebody’s spirit, their heart,” Rhonda said. Hayes wrote “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” 39 years ago, but the song seemed to be made for her, Towns said. Rhonda Towns said her recently released song, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” will be followed by a six-song EP.

(Special to the Arizonan) At the time, Hayes was living in New York. He told Rhonda that he had reached his ultimate low with only $2 in his pocket. During Hayes’ depression, the lyrics for “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” suddenly emerged in his mind. He told himself, “If I don’t write this song down then I’m going to lose it.” Hayes didn’t have a pen or piece of paper, so he got into a phone booth and called his home, singing it to his answering machine.

Flash forward nearly four decades and Rhonda describes “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” as her “resurrection song” that pulled her and Hayes out of tough times.

“I initially recorded the track more than seven years ago and then everything in my personal life fell apart,” she said. “It was a very hurtful, emotional, sad and isolating time in my life.

“Today is a different day! This track is my resurrection song. It is the promise of my Heavenly Father…that he would bring me back to my true love, and that is to perform and sing for Him. I learned to trust in Him, completely and totally, during the process of my healing while walking in HIS wonderful light. …and I’m ready to share the new music and my heart once again.”

Towns said she originally recorded “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” in 2012, tried to release it in 2014, then

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Chandler thespians go before live audiences

BY KATY SPRINGER

Contributor

It’s not often that “revolting” children get a standing ovation – but that’s exactly what will happen next week when nearly 40 Chandler and other East Valley kids charge the stage in “Matilda The Musical.”

The Tony Award-winning show inspired by Roald Dahl that has captivated audiences of all ages worldwide is being presented by Gilbert’s Actor’s Youth Theatre and the Zao Theatre in Apache Junction. The show will run June 1726 with evening shows on Thursdays through Saturdays as well as matinees on Saturdays.

“Matilda” tells the story of a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her The entire proscenium for “Matilda the Musical” is covered in Scrabble tiles that look like they’re falling right out of the bag. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor) completely smooth sailing: headmistress Miss Trunchbullhateschildren and loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’tabide by her rules.

While the story does have sad moments, Matilda proves triumphant in the end. With an outsize share of courage and cleverness, she saves her classmates and beloved teacher from the monstrous Miss Trunchbull while creating a new and happier world for herself. “I think Matilda is a role model because it’s really important to stand up for what you believe in and to stand up for other people,” added 11-year-old Belle Elle, who plays Matilda. It’s a theme that director Lucy Garner hopes to drive home. “I think the relevance of ‘Matilda’ in today’s society is especially poignant,” seeMATILDA page 27

stepped away from the music industry in 2015 when her 22-year marriage ended in divorce. Rhonda was in such a depressing place that she told a radio promoter in 2017 that she didn’t think she could go back to singing. After she had talked to the radio promoter, Rhonda wanted to try listening to music again, so she popped her CD player open and “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” was somehow still there after all those years. In part, she heard, “All of my hope was gone/but then you came and turned my world around/Then You came and helped me put my feet back on the ground.” Hearing that, Towns said, “the cleansing tears came.” Towns called her publicist, re-recorded the track with the accompaniment of Jim “Moose” Brown on keyboards at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville.

“I told Teddy, ‘You wrote this song for me even though we didn’t know each other 39 years ago,” Rhonda said. Towns got COVID-19 in January, but wouldn’t let that stop her. She said she promised God that she would spread inspirational messages through her music and that all of her future songs would be about Him. Towns’ “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” cover displays “Matthew 14: 25-33.” In that segment of the Bible, Jesus asks Peter to walk out to Him on water. Only after doubting Jesus, did he begin to sink. Like Peter, people sometimes let distractions get in the way, Towns said. “As long as we keep walking with Him and don’t get distracted and don’t let fear, doubt and unbelief get into our head, we can accomplish anything,” she said. He wants her music to help people in their struggles and remind them to “keep on walking” with God. The daughter of a pastor, Towns grew up in Alabama and was already singing in her father’s church at age 4.

She heard and sang old southern hymns and upbeat contemporary country Baptist songs, realizing how country and gospel music were intertwined.

Eventually, a local country music television show invited her to become a regular talent, but her family declined the offer, saying she was too young to begin her music career. In college, she was a valued member of the university gospel choir, according to her website. She made her television debut as a country music artist on Ed McMahon’s “Star Search.” Shortly after, Rhonda sent in a demo of cover tunes to the A&R Department of Mercury Records and gained the attention of producer Norro Wilson, who has worked with stars like Kenny Chesney, Reba, Sara Evans, and Shania Twain. Wilson produced her first four songs.

She then had several more television appearances and was the first Black female country recording artist to appear on the “Live From L.A. Show” on the BET Network.

Two other major country western producers worked on five more songs with her. They were, Jim Cotton, who has produced songs by Billy Ray Cyrus, Alabama, Montgomery Gentry, and Harold Shedd, who produced for Alabama, Toby Keith, Billy Ray Cyrus and Shania Twain. Despite accolades and her renowned producers, Towns said she struggled to get signed. So, Towns formed her own independent label, Dawn Records, in 2006 from her home in Arizona and released her debut album, “I Wanna Be Loved By You.” She followed with a series of single releases to radio including “I Wanna Be Loved By You,” “Something Better” and “Slow Rain.” “I’m a Black female country music artist and there’s been no other woman of color since Ruby Falls to come out and get radio airplay on country music radio stations,” Rhonda said. “I thought, if they’re not going to sign me to a major label then I’m going to start my own.” Towns’ professional history includes working as a model and appearing in television commercials. Community has always been an important aspect of Rhonda’s life, she said. Her mother would make meals for their elderly neighbors and Rhonda and her brother would help deliver those meals. Now, Towns continues to help others by supporting the nonprofit organizations Make-A-Wish Arizona, MakeA-Wish Foundation, Save the Family Foundation of Arizona, and Military Assistance Mission, according to her website. Towns expects to re-launch her radio show and podcast, “Rhonda Towns- ‘Plenty More Love’” in the coming months, which is anticipated to release later this year. Her newly released song is available now via all digital retail outlets and streaming platforms.

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said Garner. “My goal is for the audience to feel the opposition between good vs. evil, acceptance vs. rejection, youth vs. age, and intelligence vs. ignorance. “Through the eyes of a gifted and spunky 5-year-old, we learn that with a little moral courage, good can triumph over evil, and we can be the authors of our own life stories.”

“Matilda” delivers these lessons through high-energy dance numbers and more than a dozen songs including beloved favorites like “Revolting Children,” “When I Grow Up” and “Quiet.” But along with the life lessons is a healthy dose of fun – and this is especially true in the set design, which came together over the course of six weeks and hundreds of production hours. “The show is written from the perspective of the children, so a lot of theelements are larger than life,” said Stephen Hohendorf, artistic director of Actor’s Youth Theatre. “Matilda’s world consists of oversized books that seamlesslyopen and close to reveal different settings. “The entire proscenium is covered in Scrabble tiles that look like they’re falling right out of the bag.” “‘Matilda’ is one of my favorite musicals,” said 12-year-old Hailey Klatt of Chandler. “I saw it at Gammage a few years ago and loved the set! Our set is so cool and I’m excited to perform on it.” Since the first rehearsal on April 27, the cast has worked diligently to bring their characters to life – whether they’re funny, loud, fierce or crazy. “It was imperative that we found actorswho could bring these over-the-top characters to life, and we’ve done just that,” said Hohendorf. “I often forget these are youth performers because their dedication to and delivery oftheir roles is unmatched. It’s so joyful to see them having so much fun up on that stage.” Hailey Klatt, 12, of Chandler, plays dual roles as a nurse and an older school pupil. “I’m a snarky big kid and I’m having fun with my character,” she said. AYT’s production features two casts – Telly and Book – that will take turns performing over the three-week run. Not only does this provide stage opportunities for more kids, double-casting is a special accommodation amid COVID-19. As for the kids, they’re thrilled to be back on stage after a long hiatus, which, for many, put an abrupt stop to the thing they loved most. “This is my first show with AYT in over a year and I’m so glad to be performing again on stage,” said Hailey. The kids’ hard work hasn’t dampened their energy: It’s time spent doing what they love most – with friends who have become more like family – to bring to life a show that resonates deeply with audiences worldwide.

Indeed, “Matilda” has won 99 international awards – including 24 for Best Musical. “I think the reason this show has been so successful since its inception is that there’s a bit of Matilda in all of us,” said Hohendorf. “She represents anyone who doesn’t quite fit in, whether that’s in your family, at school, or in society.With determination and a little love and encouragement from Miss Honey, she realizes that she just needs to be herself for amazing things to happen.” “Matilda” is directed by Lucy Garner with artistic direction from Stephen Hohendorf, choreography by Jessi Rodriguez, music direction by Michael Snyder, set design by Mickey Bryce and Tanja Bauerle, costume design by Laura Wanstreet, stage management by Stephanie Coffelt. The show will be performed at Zao Theatre, 550 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays with an additional 2 p.m. show on Saturdays. Tickets are $20 in advance/$22 dayof and are available at aytaz.org/tickets or by calling 480-907-7050. Group discounts are available. Performances are expected to sell out quickly.