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ARTbhéatv 1 cadlineks .~ A A . 3 4 € Ao £ -4 % The STATLERS: (L-R) Jimmy, Phil, Harlod and Don. The Statler Bros. to appear here in advance of their Showtime release The Statler Brothers will be performingat the William Bell Auditorium on Sunday, March 25, at 3 p.m. Longconsidered to be one of country music’s most popular and legendary groups, The Statler Brothers are set to re lease their firstalbumrecorded fortheir newrecordlabel, Music Box Records. Showtimeisthe name of the new project that will be distributed by Pamplin Distribution and released to music stores nationwide on April 10, 2001. Showtime brings fresh lus ter to the classic Statler sound featuringbrothers Harold and Don Reid, Phil Balsey, and Jimmy Fortuneand their time less harmonies on 12 new songs; seven of which were written or co-written by the group members themselves. TheStatler Brothersgottheir start in Staunton, Virginia, where they reside to this day. Harold and Don Reid, baritone Phil Balsley and tenor Lew DeWitt were previously known int eh early ‘6os as the Kingsmen before choosing a Paine College presents The Voices of Franklin performing “The Quest” The Paine College Lyceum Program will proudly present Alvin Franklin and The Voices of Franklin performing “The Quest.” The Voices of Franklin is headed by one of Paine College’s own, Alvin Franklin, and his wife Barbara. Alvin’sreal work began when he entered Paine College. Under thedirection of Dr. Phyllis Anderson, Dr. Isaac Holmes, Mr. Ellis Johnson and Dr. Sandra Cannon Scott, Alvin learned that his voice is truly an instrument. The Etheridge Arts Ensemble performs Livin’ Fat The Paine College Lyceum Program will present The Etheridge Arts Ensemble in “Livin’ Fat” in the Paine Col lege Odeum on Druid Park Avenue on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 27 and 28, at 7 p.m. nightly. The play, written by Judi Ann Mason and directed by Paine College graduates Jonavon Harris and Evelyn Etheridge, re volvesaround adisadvantaged BThe Statler Bros. will appear in concert on Sunday, March 25, 2001 at 3:00 p.m. newnamefromabox oftissues in a hotel room. They applied tight gospel harmonies to country lyrics and found a sound that resonated with a wideaudience. Amutualfriend introduced them to Johnny Cash in 1964, and they began opening his shows and also provided background vocals with him onstageand onrecord for the better partef a decade. TheStatler Brothersarenow entering the 21* century hav ing sold more than 15 million records and have become the most awarded act in country music history. They havewon three Grammys, nine CMA Awards, 48 Music City news Awards, 32 songwriting awards and 20 gold, platinum, double platinum, and triple platinumalbums,amongtheir more than 500 honors. “The Quest” is a powerful, soul stirring infusion of mu sic, drama and dance. This collaboration tells the story of a Bambara warrior from sla very to freedom. This program will take place in the Paine College Gilbert- Lambuth Memorial Chapel at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 22,2001. Itisfreeand opento the publicand promises topro vide arich and memorable ex perience not only for Paine College, but for all of the com munity. black family whose son David Lee witnesses a bank rob bery. The hilarious cast of charactersinclude Steen, the Bible-quoting revivalist mother; Candy, the teenaged daughter who loves rock mu sic; and 800, the fun-loving friend of David Lee. Admission is free and open to the public. For group seat ing and other information, call 706.821.8324 or 821.8205. Where shopping isa pleasure g. SUPER MARKETS Media MOVERS Charles MeNeil: Augusta’s “Wac Daddy” of Spords By Timothy Cox AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer AUGUSTA On the radio, he’s known as the “Mac Daddy” of Augusta sports. Charles McNeil isthe proverbial MACK of all trades, when it comes to knowing his games. Don’t believe it? Just listen to “Sports Wrap with the Mac Daddy” on 1340-AM (WBBQ), Monday through Friday from 4 p.m.to 7p.m. Considered one of Augusta’s premier sports authorities, McNeil smartly intertwines conservatism with flair. Forinstance, he may interject Kurtis Blow’s “Basketball” rap melody to set-up NCAA hoop tournament talk, twist the topic to perhaps, girls high school soccer and provide updates on everythingelsein the world of sportsdom. When it comesto his success as a sports personality, McNeil remains humble. Therefore, many of his listeners fail to realize that “Mac Daddy” is nationally connected. He’scurrently contracted with ESPN to produce update segments on high school and black college sports. Be fore that, he worked with the Mizlou Sports News Network (forerunner to ESPN) and worked for BET for twoyears. He was also requested by retired Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson to serve as the Hoyas’ play-by play announcer. Amongthe many person alities he has interviewed, McNeil calls Michael Jordan a “first-rate guy” and said talkingwiththelate NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt was “memorable.” Aformerathlete, Mac Daddy has walked thewalk hetalks. He’s played Little League and Babe Ruth League baseball; was se lected to basketball, bowling and baseball teams at The Bergen School, a private highschoolin hishometown. “I've always liked all sports,” said McNeil, who recalls sitting behind announcer Marv Albert at a Knicks game. “My cousin, Mel Bennett, played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and got us great seats. I was only 12, but I told Marv and (color announcer) Cal Ramsay that someday, I'd like to sit in their chair. Marveven gave mesome pointers,” McNeil reflected. At Rutgers, he was a deejay, play-by-play broadcaster for the basket ball and baseball teams and a three-year Aiken Community Playhouse¢ presents Bang, Bang, You're Do The Youth wing of the Aiken CommunityPlayhouseandthe Governor’s Council on Youth havejoined togetherto present the powerful one-act drama Bang, Bang, You're Dead at the Playhouse on March 23, 24 and 25, 2001. The play, written by award winning playwright William Mastrosimone and directed by Thurmond Whatley, is a grip pingdramatization ofthe after math of a school shooting. Us ing flashbacks, a Greek-like chorus of “rumors” and the victims themselves, the author reveals the devastating conse quences of violence; conse quences tragic for the shooter as well as the victims. This joint venture is a first for the Youth Wing and the Governor’s Council. “We be lieve the message of this play is Charles McNeil is the “Mac Daddy” of Augusta sports talk. Photo by Timothy Cox g y - : R B ¥ o e FF G # i S T ’{ &5d T S e WAy ST e i i AR oy W ‘l’.\,.‘;‘{X;f e'e e T : iy : e —_— 3 o eOt i it ey N f '*‘#:".{'?{}3 -tik ’3:.27&'*:37 mam o, il so e g i e ol B i eyt i - e e D R R AR S A o e Y i L - Seße ’“ENM% Lo B L & W e - L B R e T : s:e W e p 8 L} BRI ficH it ke : B R N Ry SisdeEl | s N p ; e W -.;!vir::;x;}EEhL s 0 ) E Tl e L 8 i h‘ia""fiz!‘iffi g ! i b e A il i FiE S SRR divs o Rk iR eER A »,}‘i'“‘mt ...:—'..,.. P B e " "‘%!']“:Jlf’i',fij[fifi ?‘:?%{s’,' f ¢ e 5 ]! T gt qu ”’"’1"’»,;";12 S =~' b ! A :Re ‘ i = - Nodews R e s - e R i W o ;-.%-,x::zi!‘»if»lz*;nia‘:iflfli{-m: ‘&’&3’*l 4 e | PR . i R ;:J‘x.:i‘dzsifrl‘y'tfl'fi"flz E el . @ Rl e | s L el bl G, ;. T i G | 5 ;,*‘ . g‘%;fif(#' oi, P WA F | S ; ‘r%w“ setar i vy ! R RS A L #eie o S e N R [ L .:’:j'i‘i}.i%fig:fi,?cd Y o :"t P N T e “[1,4.4,?.? .‘?‘s‘%“"&%3'}:'; § g By o Ao AR T “ bt R A NTR SRR, B i eel R ey L W . : e Clo A former Rutgers catcher, McNeil provides real-life aome o 0 ’ 3 by Timothy Cox catcher on thebaseball squad beforerealiz ing he’d never play on the next level. After college graduation, McNeil landed agigwitha TV stationin Asheville,N.C. as a weekend sports reporter/videographer. In ‘93, he came to Augusta as WIBF-TV’s weekend sports anchor. At WRDW radio, he was sports director for the all-sports formatted stdtion which featured “The Fabulous Sports Babe” and “One on One Sports.” He produced a show for The Babe at the ‘96 Olympics in Atianta and started his own company, CK Productions. Along with wife Zina, are the couple’s two children, 8-year-old Charles II aka “C.K.”, and daughter, Zana, 3. “My wife is from'N 2w Orleans, but we’ve pretty much adopted Augustaas our second home,” said McNeil, 39. In describing his daily show, “Mac Daddy” says, “We try to provide a comprehensive coverage of local and na- On Stage, Under the Lightst e P e so important, and the experi ence of it so powerfully deliv ered that wewanted all thehelp we could get in spreading the word, says Nancy Hansen, co chair of the Playhouse’s Youth Wing. “Itisbeingperformed by teenagers, for teenagers, and now with the help of the Youth Council, is being promoted by teenagers.” “The Governor’s Youth Council is a growing group of high school students from all the Aiken County high schools, banding together to work to werd solutions for the prob lems facing our young people. Certainly, school violence is a huge issue, and our Council was eager to take on promoting theplayasaproject,” said David Nieves, Community Youth Af fairs officer and sponsor of the Youth Council. ST R g Tk 1 EEEEE T i pi e R s B T Re e L e ’,_g;'"" Eoo N e i . 9 FL P R e e e R R z eAR e g S i RGO G THEREER R el O o e fil’u"&“gj%}x—} :5.:5?'::: = i S "qn." ,:JZ’* i T Sey £ jf&"‘, Hi i U R G 8 it R io I e R G SN R i - L g io o e T SRR S = 5 PRy i AR PR e ii s R e s T SR R B "-—-J’FL‘:' A frar el The performances will be free and the two groups are hoping that the community will come together to encourage young people to attend. “Both DHEC and the Aiken Center have of fered their support and we wel comethehelpofanyotheragen- cies. We'rehoping that coaches will encourage their teams to come, churches will bring their youthgroups, teachers will sup port student attendance, par ents will not only bring their own teenagers but their teen’s friendsand all will go home and talkabout theissuesraised. We even havediscussion questions to help open up the dialogue,” says Officer Chico. The play will be followed by a brief presentation by students involved in local Peer Media tion groups. “Peer Mediation provides a MARCH 22, 2001 tional sports.” A CNN-radio affili showoffersinterviews with moion eolivges in the CSRA and gives play to high «ohonl and even middle school teams 110 0l targetsareaproteams{rom Atlants Uh lotte; colleges in Georgia mid Sont! ) lina; the CSRA (foothall) Class I city’s pra teamns; Augusta Pvny (haohoo Angusta, §alliong orens oo Augusta Greenjackets (hosehali bheahing will allows listeners to cail in thic 0l And, with the first weel of Apeid | approaching, McNeil iz ngain ooy 10 cover the world’s most prectigicos o event, TheMasters Fournamont, Foaoioy ago, he did an international bhroadenst | the Augusta-based everd and participsts inanational feed for CBS. Acomanitiadi; of the 1969 New York Jots Supey Hoowh] team, McNeil says for 1 gt place to be. vitalmeansofteschin resolution wittioh ron violence. Thecnti o of a schoo! can be altos effective, trained cin diators,” says Kathi Peer Mediation = South Aiken Hig “W(t’(} !i“.'; to hoogi presencein cvery hioh “Theater is fir tainment; it's on powerfulexperionti: we have,” savs I “Our slogan for thi hour that could o life...or saveit.’ j | true; I believe v difference.” For more infoin! helping to sponsor th inquire about bring to your community, < Chico Nieves at & Nancy Hansen at 640 1B