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Listen to the Diane William’s conversation with MTA President Stacy Howell and MTA Playwriting Competition Vice-Chair Beth Kander. 

Each week, members of MAC’s staff host “The Mississippi Arts Hour,” a radio program broadcast on Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s FM and digital radio networks. The show is also re-broadcast by WLEZ in Jackson and WUSM in Hattiesburg. The “Arts Hour” features interviews with Mississippi artists, musicians, craftspeople, and others involved in arts and culture from around the state.

MTA on MS Arts Hour

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I wanted to share this story with the MTA family.  Mackenzie Westmoreland who has attended MTA many times and co-wrote The Katrina Project that Hattiesburg High School brought to MTA and ultimately toured it around the county now.  In this article he talks about living in New York and his passion for directing. He goes on to talk about how his life suddenly changed last August when he lost his eyesite.  Now he is living in Tupelo and attending the REACH Center for the Blind to learn how to live his life and eventually return to theatre. 

Take a few minutes to read this incredible story.

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The Mississippi Writers Guild is hosting their annual Writers Conference in August in Vicksburg, MS.  For more information visit their conference website at http://www.mississippiwritersguild.com/2010_MWG_Conference.html

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Mississippi Theatre Association and Mississippi Arts Commission Hold Town Hall Meeting in Meridian

As part of a statewide effort to bring theatres, performers and arts supporters together, the Mississippi Theatre Association (MTA) and the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is hosting a town hall meeting in Meridian, MS on July 24, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at Meridian Little Theatre.  We invite the arts community from the region to join us for an afternoon of conversation. 

“We invite all theatre and arts enthusiasts from all types of theatres including community theatres, schools, college and universities, and home school programs to attend the meeting to learn more about the services offered by the two organizations,” said Stephen Cunetto, Executive Director, Mississippi Theatre Association. “We also want to hear how we are doing and how we can better serve your community, schools and organizations,” added Diane Williams, Arts Industry Director & Accessibility Coordinator, Mississippi Arts Commission. 

The mission of MTA is to foster appreciation of and participation in youth, college, community, high school, professional, and university theatre in Mississippi by sponsoring festivals, workshops, and retreats; communicating with members and the public; acting as an advocate to government agencies, business, and the public; recognizing excellence in performance and production; and sanctioning representatives to regional festivals. The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency, funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Wallace Foundation, Donna & Jim Barksdale, The Phil Hardin Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation and other private sources.  MAC is the official grants-making and service agency for the arts in Mississippi. The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and in arts education.

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We are looking for an old Leaf Table. Sturdy enough someone could lie down on it. Contact us at trp2007@hotmail.com.

Thanks

Barbara

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We have a new Beauty and the Beast set used for the performance at St. Joseph in Madison last weekend.  The set includes a 2-story castle that comes apart in 2 sections for movement off the stage, a fountain for the village square, a dungeon which turns around into the library, a cart costume for Chip, a poster bed for Belle and the castle gate. The castle has several candleabras and chandeliers that light up. It also has a a pedestal for the rose with internal lighting and pull cords to allow the petals to fall off.

Dads and kids spent a lot of time on this but, as usual, we need to make room for the next show.   Photos are available on request.

Tom Riley  601-953-1100

tom.riley@sos.ms.gov

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I have a set for Charlie Brown. It includes Snoopy’s dog house, Schroeder’s piano, and Lucy’s Psychiatric booth. If you are interested please contact me.
ethomas@mpsd.k12.ms.us

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Theatre Oxford, in cooperation with the UM Theatre Arts Department, kicks off its new Workshop Series on July 17th from 9:30 to 12:30 at Meek Auditorium on the UM campus. SCENE PAINTING MADE EASY will offer easy techniques for creating brick, marble and wood grain effects with paint. This is a great opportunity for people who are interested in creating sets or who would like to be more creative in their decorating pursuits. The class will be taught by Felipe Macias, Professor of Theatre at Eastern New Mexico University. Mr. Macias has over 200 design credits and most recently designed the sets for Oxford Shakespeare Festival’s Royal Season. The workshop is open to anyone over the age of 13. Enrollment fee is $30.00; scholarships available for UM Theatre majors. Visit www.theatreoxford.org or go by The Powerhouse in Oxford for an application.

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It is with great pleasure that the MTA Board of Directors announce the location of the 2011 Festival.    The MSU Riley Center in Meridian, MS will serve as the location for the 2011 Festival being held over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend – January 13-16, 2011.  The Riley Center will provide a wonderful opportunity for our theatres to showcase their works.  This historic theatre often referred to as the Grand Opera House is simply breath taking.  It offers an exquisite location and facility for a large portion of the MTA Festival.  For more information about the Riley Center visit  http://www.msurileycenter.com/

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