2006 - The First 6 Months Feb 6 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
"RCT
Preps For Next Play" RCT's The
Foreigner
The North Central Louisiana Arts Council presents Puppet Arts Theater from Jackson, Mississippi The Fisherman & His Wife
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 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."
Tasters' treat delights crowd
- Annual fund-raiser for Dixie a huge success
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),
Ruston Civic Symphony Society
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
Entertainment for the evening was
donated by
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!
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!
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
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.
Squire Creek Sponsored by Ruston Community Theatre
Special Thanks!
Philip Cardwell for
serving as Executive Director,
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 1/2 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 !!!
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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.
Sandra
and Charles Hart, Chairmen of the 
We
have a new DVD Projection system and screen installed!
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.
