2006 - The First 6 Months
Feb 6
The Phase I renovation of Ruston's Dixie Theatre (now known as The Dixie Center For The Arts) has been completed. This phase was to totally upgrade all of the operating systems. That includes electrical, plumbing, lighting, sound, seating, heat and air conditioning systems, and such. The stage has been expanded. Beautiful new curtains are in place. The entire theatre has a fresh coat of paint. And many more small but important details have been addressed. All of these have made the historic Theatre a fresh and beautiful venue for all manner of performances.
There will be a wide range of interests served by the theatre. We have already had a Jazz Orchestra, the Shreveport Symphony, a tribute to Joe Woods and the Wildwood Express complete with a performance by Nashville recording artist Linda Davis who got her start with the wildwood Express, a children's Opera, several talent shows and a Broadway Musical Review. And that's just in our first month of operation.
We want everyone to come and enjoy being entertained in the comfort of the Dixie Center For The Arts in downtown Ruston. Come and shop the downtown stores, have lunch or dinner and attend the theatre. And to help you with your social calendar planning, we have added a web site where upcoming events will be presented. Please add this web site to your list of "favorites" so that you can visit and see what is going to be offered. Remember, it is being updated often, so check back to see if an event has been added that appeals to you are someone you know (such as children and grandchildren).
The web site is www.dixiecenter.org. Please click on the Dixie Center hyperlink and familiarize yourself with the site. There is already lots of information there including a seating diagram to help you in ordering tickets to events. Sign the guest book. But most importantly, please accept our invitation to become a regular attendee at Dixie performances. It was renovated for all of us to enjoy.
I look forward to seeing you at the Dixie.
John Sachs
Feb 10
Tommy Folk received the Community Service Award from the Ruston Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his tireless efforts on behalf of the renovation of the Dixie Center for the Arts. Congratulations Tommy! And thank you for your hard work and dedication!
"RCT Preps For Next Play"
Laura Sloan, Education Reporter
02-20-2006 The Ruston Daily Leader
Three area women are combining their wisdom to depict a trio of friends living through hard times in Texas in the mid 1970s.
Shannon Brewster, Random Kennedy and Salien Liles will make their debut performances in the Dixie Center for the Arts in March in Ruston Community’s Theater’s production of Laundry and Bourbon.
The comedy, written by James McLure, is the second of two plays which will be presented during “A Night of One Acts” — the first being Suddenly Last Summer, a drama written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Daniel Shockley.
RCT's The Foreigner
Shreveport Opera Xpress 10:00 am: Hansel and Gretel -- Pre-K through 5th grade $2.00 7:00 pm: SOX on Broadway -- 6th grade thru Adult $3.00 Kristin Piefer, Mezzo-Soprano Supported by a grant from the Louisiana State Arts Council, The Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council |
The North Central Louisiana Arts Council presents Puppet Arts Theater from Jackson, Mississippi
The Fisherman & His Wife
The Fisherman & His Wife, a well-known fairytale of the Brothers Grimm, is set to the music of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and performed with the puppeteers in the full view of the audience, manipulating very large hand puppets. The set consists of two large rotating towers constantly creating new performing spaces. Children from the audience join the professional cast on stage and perform with the puppets made by the company.
Puppet Arts Theatre is a professional touring company under the direction of Peter Zapletal, an award-winning puppetry producer and animator for Mississippi Educational Television. His television specials have been seen nationwide on PBS. Mr. Zapletal received his MA degree in puppetry from the Academy for Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic. He will be joined on stage by Jo Ann Robinson, professional actress and puppeteer, who has previously appeared at numerous professional regional theatres, commercials and on Mississippi ETV. Jarmila Zapletal, professional puppet maker and designer, created sets for the production.
Dixie Reborn Lights go up on Ruston theater
by Angelle Bergeron (from Louisiana Contractor, February 2006, p. 14-15)
Since the early 1990s the Dixie Theatre in downtown Ruston has been "dark," as they say in theater lingo.
The ghosts of acts from the Vaudeville era may have wandered the empty halls and strains of the long-gone pipe organ that once accompanied silent films may have floated on the still, dusty air.
But the heart of the Dixie had stopped beating years ago and the flesh was slowly deteriorating until some local citizens decided to pump new life into the old landmark.
In December, Lincoln Builders of Ruston completed the $1.6 million renovation/restoration of what was once and likely again will be the cultural/community center for north central Louisiana.
Members of the Dixie Center for the Arts Inc. obtained non-profit status, raised money and renovated the theatre to bring the arts back to the people.
"The organization was put together in an effort to save the old theater," said Tommy Folk, owner's representative on the project. The city of Ruston was a model for other old-town restoration efforts made possible by Louisiana's Main Street Program, Folk said.
"A lady named Linda Graham, the Main Street coordinator for Ruston, put together a group to buy the old theater with the intent of restoring it to make a home for the arts in Southwest Louisiana."
Boy D. Entertainment 2nd Annual Talent Show Doors open at 6pm. Tickets $7 & $3 for children under 12. $5 for students or military with picture ID |
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Tasters’ treat delights crowd - Annual fund-raiser for Dixie a huge success
Mary Margaret van Diest, Ruston Daily Leader,
03-12-2006
The Ruston Civic Center was filled Friday night for the 5th Annual Downtown Delights presented by The Russ Town Society.
The tasters’ treat which featured samples from area restaurants was complemented by music from the Ain’t Misbehavin’ Band, a silent auction and door prizes. While most of those in attendance stayed only a portion of the three-hour event, many voiced the intention to stay the entire evening.
Downtown Delights chairman Beth Craig said the opportunity to sample offerings from so many restaurants at the same time and in the same location with the added attraction of a repeat performance by the Ain’t Misbehavin’ Band kept with the tradition of the event from last year.
“We are so pleased that the community has supported this event in the past and did so again this year,” Craig said. “This helps us in our continuing efforts to preserve Ruston’s Heritage.”
The Russ Town Society is a Diamond Benefactor for the Dixie with $25,000 already used toward renovation efforts for the Dixie. This year’s funds will go toward more planned remodeling for the Dixie Center for the Arts.
Director of the Dixie Center for the Arts Marlen Waters said a wish list is in the stages for Phase 2 of the renovations, but some projects will be undertaken immediately.
Possible additions include a DVD Projection System and a screen which would be used to show patriotic, historical and other types of films. In addition, other projects include painting the north side of the building, finishing the dance floor and putting more work into Intermission Park.
“We are thinking about some type of involvement with our downtown restaurants, too,” she said. “A lot of people would enjoy a combination dinner and movie arrangement, and we will be looking at that in the future.”
Dixie Center for the Arts Acquires Annex Property
Dixie Center for the Arts Board of Directors President Tommy Folk signs the deed acquiring the former Central American Life Insurance building owned by the Kilpatrick family that is adjacent to the Dixie. The Dixie Center for the Arts appreciates the support of Community Trust Bank, Robert Dawkins, the Kilpatrick family, and Central American Life for helping make this expansion possible. The building will be known as the Dixie Center for the Arts Annex.
Photo: DCA president Tommy Folk signing as Brian Smith (Community Trust Bank),
Mary Fran Crook (DCA Artistic Director), John Sachs (DCA board member), Robert
Dawkins (attorney), and Travis DeFreese (DCA board member) look on.
Ruston Civic Symphony Society
Presents
Shreveport Symphony Orchestra
Spring Pops Concert
Friday, April 21, 2006
Memorial Day 2006 Kilpatrick Funeral Homes presents "Lest They Be Forgotten" A Special "Thanks" to: Jodie Williams ~ Bruce Spalding ~ Bill Cox |
An Evening for Celebrating our Sustaining Benefactors
Friday May 12 was an evening of fun and entertainment for benefactors for the Dixie Center for the Arts.
Bill Cox fried catfish for everyone's enjoyment.
The weather cooperated, and Intermission Park served well for gathering, visiting, and laughing with friends.
Food was provided by Bill Cox, The Russtown Society, and Candee Anderson. Beer and wine supplied by The Keg.
Rosemary and Randy Ewing were introduced as
Honorary Chairmen for this fundraising effort by 
Sandra and Charles Hart, Chairmen of the
Sustaining Benefactor Celebration.
Allison Ambrose, President of the RussTown Society presented the first Sustaining Benefactor check for $10,000 to Sandra Hart. These
funds were from the proceeds of the highly successful RussTown's Downtown Delights fundraising event! |
Entertainment for the evening was donated by
Hank Staples and ThunderCreek, an excellent
C&W band from Ruston, one of the hardest
working bands around! [okay, Roy wrote this].
It didn't take long for Ronnie and Judy Graham...
...along with Jim and Minnie Mize...
...to be the first to cut a rug on the brand new dance floor!
We have a new DVD Projection System!
We have a new DVD Projection system and screen installed!
The first opportunity to see this wonderful feature in action will be Monday, May 29, when Kilpatrick's Funeral Home will screen Memorial Day movies in honor of all our people serving in the armed forces.
Admission is free, and there'll be free hot dogs cooked up by Bill Cox! Come join friends and neighbors for fun and a movie!
 Tommy Folk, Mary Fran Crook, and Tommy Estes test the new DVD system |
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Characters |
Cast |
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Lenny McGrath |
Brenda Mitchell |
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Chick Boyle |
Geri Taylor |
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Doc Porter |
Daniel Shockley |
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Meg McGrath |
Cindi Woods |
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Babe Botrelle |
Brittany Gail Lane |
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Barnette Lloyd |
Trey Lane |
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Director |
Ronald Lane Coffey |
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Written by |
Beth Henley |
RCT's Laundry and Bourbon
The three McGrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. Their troubles, which are grave and yet, somehow, hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helpless not to fall in love with her. In the end the play is the story of how its young characters escape the past to seize the future – but the telling is so true and touching and consistently hilarious that it will linger in the mind long after the curtain has descended.
Peach Festival 2006 RussTown Band
On Saturday, June 24 during the Peach Festival over 300 people attended an afternoon performance by Ruston’s own 47 piece community band, The RussTown Band.
Conducted by Lawrence Gibbs, members included many local professionals & business people as well as Louisiana Tech students. The group included amateurs as well as professional musicians.
This was the 12th anniversary of the concert playing songs of America such as America the Beautiful, Star Spangled Banner, Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever and a medley of Gershwin tunes.
Squire Creek
Louisiana Peach FestivalTalent Show
Sponsored by Ruston Community Theatre
Division |
1st Place |
2nd Place |
3rd Place |
Youth |
Justine Ker |
Anna Fuller |
Anne Marie Richardson |
Teen |
Rebecca Harris |
Natalie McGehee |
Shannon Stahl |
Adult |
Kristin Morris |
Kenneth Hale |
Lincoln & Nikki Hall |
Special Thanks!
Dixie Center for the Arts, Ruston Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, The Radio Center,
The Ruston Daily Leader, The Minden Press Herald, The News Star,
The Jackson Independent, The Bienville Democrat, KNOE, KTVE, KXKZ,
C. J. Matlock, Laura Sloan, Marlen Waters, Mary Fran Crook, Doug Postel,
Delores Williams, Hubert Estes, RCT Board of Directors
Additional Thanks To...
Philip Cardwell for serving as Executive Director,
Doug Postell for helping coordinate the show (they did a GREAT JOB), and
Ruston Community Theatre for sponsoring the the Talent show as a fund raiser for the Dixie!
Trey Merrill Presents
with special guest Kenny Bill Stinson and Susan Cowsill
The Dixie’s Latest Star !!!
Dixie Artistic Director, Mary Fran Crook and husband, Paul, welcomed their new son, Bryant Ford Crook, to the world Wednesday morning, August 30, 2006 at Lincoln General Hospital. He weighed in at 7 pounds and was 18 ½ inches long. As you can see by the photo his sister CeCe and brother George are excited to have him here. Proud Dad was taking the picture. All are doing well and will be arriving home Friday. Congratulations, Mary Fran and Paul !!!