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THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 8 - 14, 2024 • PAGE 6
Smoke Rise students win national film award
Students from Smoke Rise Academy for Arts won the school’s second Freddie G. Excellence in Music
award. Photo by Marcus Woollen
BY JAY PHILLIPS
JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
Students from Smoke
Rise Academy of Arts in
Tucker won a Freddie G.
Excellence in Music award
and were recognized for
other accomplishments at
the 2024 Junior Theater
Festival Atlanta (JTF Atlanta)
in January.
The students attended
the festival from Jan.
12 through 14 at Cobb
Convention Center in
Atlanta.
Students Jacob Kim and
Eliza Schloss were named
Junior Theater Festival All-
Stars, which a news release
states recognizes a group of
outstanding performers.
Cierra Thomas and
Erin Moore joined Kim
and Schloss as Smoke Rise
students honored at the
event. The news release
states that the two made
it to the call-back for a yet-
to-be announced project
promoting musical theater
in schools.
The Smoke Rise students
all earned their awards
and recognitions based on
a 15-minute performance
they put on at the theater
festival.
Smoke Rise students
presented Disney's
Aladdin JR. to a judges'
panel consisting of Shay
Rodgers—a choreographer
for educational videos
produced by Theatrics and
Creator of the Academy for
Theatre Under the Stars—
and Robert Hindsman, an
adult programs manager
with Alliance Theatre
Education.
Rodgers had high praise
for the DeKalb students
from Smoke Rise, calling
their production the most
amazing production Rodgers
has ever seen at the event.
"This piece was
Broadway caliber," said
Rodgers. "The world that
was created right in front
of our eyes was magical
and unforgettable. I
have truly never seen a
production this amazing
at JTF. I look forward to
seeing what else they
create in the future. The
group trust is amazing.
The lifts that were created
show so much trust within
each individual."
"I can't imagine
how many hours of
rehearsal went into this
SEE AWARDS ON PAGE 7
MARDI GRAS
Continued From Page 1
From 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.
on Feb. 10, revelers can enjoy live
music, dancing, food, and drinks.
Masquerade masks and costumes
are encouraged.
Admission is $35 per person.
Visit rbgentertainment.com for more
information and to purchase tickets.
BROOKHAVEN
C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar,
located at 3930 Peachtree Road
NE, is celebrating Mardi Gras with
its annual Fat Tuesday party on
Feb. 13. Starting at 11 a.m., the
restaurant will be offering traditional
Fat Tuesday dishes such as BBQ
shrimp and beignets, as well as drink
specials. Guests will also receive
Mardi Gras beads and other swag.
Visit http://www.candsoysterbar.
com/brookhaven/home/index.html
for more information.
STONECREST
A party bus will be taking
participants right into the heart of
the Mardi Gras action during a trip
from Stonecrest to New Orleans,
Louisiana. According to organizers,
the party bus will be jam-packed
with non-stop music, snacks, soft
drinks, and Jello shots. Guides
will be along for the ride to share
the history of Mardi Gras, stated
organizers.
The bus will load passengers at
Stonecrest Mall, located at 2929
Turner Hill Road in Stonecrest on
Feb. 10, 2024, beginning at 1:30 a.m.
near the JCPenney parking lot. It will
depart from New Orleans to return
to Stonecrest on Feb. 11 at 2 a.m.
with stops for food along the way.
Tickets for the party bus are $150
per person. Participants must be 21
and older.
Visit https://www.eventbrite.
com/e/mardi-gras-day-party-bus-
trip-15000-tickets-788761114727 for
more information and to purchase
tickets.
STONE MOUNTAIN
Come out for a Mardi Gras
parade featuring colorfully decorated
floats, cars and umbrellas during the
Stone Mountain Village Mardi Gras
Dance and Umbrella Parade.
The parade is set to begin at 2
p.m. Feb. 10 in downtown Stone
Mountain located at 5384 Manor
Drive. From 1 to 5 p.m., there will be
live music, arts and crafts and food
trucks. Those coming to observe the
parade can bring folding chairs.
Visit stonemountaincity.org for
more information.
DEKALB
Continued From Page 1
Tools such as tax allocation
districts (also known as tax
increment financing), which
governments use to help generate
new economic development in
underdeveloped or distressed
areas according to Decide DeKalb's
website, will be an important part
of drawing businesses to South
DeKalb, said DeBarr.
An example of how
tax allocation districts can
attract businesses is Eden's
redevelopment of North DeKalb
Mall, which is currently ongoing,
said DeBarr. "That tax allocation
district served as a signal to the
private sector that we're serious
about seeing the redevelopment of
this mall," he said. "Eden stepped
in and they're doing a robust
redevelopment project. Now, we
want to replicate that in other
malls in DeKalb County, like the
Gallery at South DeKalb. That's part
of the reason we created the South
DeKalb Tax Allocation District."
The challenges throughout the
county, such as access to public
transportation and affordable
housing, are nothing new and the
approach to tackling these issues
"requires thoughtful strategy,"
according to DeBarr.
"This year, my hope is that
we are launching, executing, and
implementing a strategic South
DeKalb plan which will include
solutions to housing concerns,"
said DeBarr. "What we're looking
to do, when we're talking about
driving economic prosperity into
South DeKalb beyond Memorial
Drive is not an easy feat."
DeBarr pointed to what he
called a recent economic success
for the area with the opening of
Shadowbox Studios (formerly
known as Blackhall Studios) which
is located at 1415 Constitution
Road in unincorporated DeKalb
County. Currently, the studio spans
more than 100 acres and features
nine soundstages totaling 200,000
square feet with 650,000 square
feet of support space, including
warehouse, mill and office space,
according to Shadowbox Studios'
website.
"Through our efforts, we
were able to attract and recruit
Shadowbox Studios here and we
need to do more of that," DeBarr
said. "We need companies to know
that we have staff dedicated to
helping them grow this region."
For more information, visit
decidedekalb.com.
