Newspaper Page Text
4B
June 28, 2007
[happenings| i focus
Auditions are now being
scheduled for new members
for the Augusta Choral
Society for the 2007-2008
concert season. Anyone high
school age and older is invit
ed to audition. For informa
tion, or to schedule an audi
tion time, please call 706-
826-4713 or send an email
to info@augustachoralsoci
ety.org.
Augusta State University
Professor of Art Brian Rust
will have his artwork on dis
play in a solo exhibition,
Rock, Paper, Scissors: Brian
Rust, at the Sumter County
Gallery of Art in Sumter,
S.C. The exhibition, which
runs from June 28-August
4, is presented in conjunc
tion with the Mary Pauline
Gallery. For more informa
tion, call ASU’s Department
of Art at 706-667-4888
Artrageous Sunday July 1
at the Morris Museum of
Art Featuring the creation of
a memory painting with
artist Willie Lynn. Free admis
sion. www.themorris.org
4th of July Celebration
Columbia County Commu
nity Events and University
Health Care Systems present
the 13th Annual 4th of July
Celebration at Patriots Park.
The park opens to the pub
lic at 4pm with the opening
ceremony at Gpm. Musical
entertainment begins at
7pm. Admission is free. For
more info, please visit
www.columbiacountyga.gov
or call (706) 312-7191
Columbia County Cham
ber of Commerce Business
Expo July 12 Featuring Dr.
Charles Petty, "How to
Judgement : ‘Victory stood out
Continued from page 18
became interested in
writing when he was very
young. “l don't remem
ber when I exactly start
ed writing, but I do
know that [ used to write
Power Rangers stories.
My friends and I would
play Power Rangers after
church, and then, when |
came home, I would
write about the ‘fights’
and ‘adventures’ we had.
It was fun! I loved it!
Ever since then, I just
knew that writing was
my passion and my call
ing. I write because it’s a
form a release and
expression. | write
because it is who I am.
It’s the gift that God has
given me,” he revealed.
“I first considered
myself a writer when |
wrote my first full-length
play Leukemia & Me,
which serves as my testi
monial play about my
dealing with family and
cancer,” Clay stated. He
disclosed that he was
diagnosed with
lcuEemia, “bur was
healed by God after two
months of the diagno
sis.” Clay shares a most
poignant testimony. “It
was a total shock to me
that I had this disease. At
first, it kind of went in
one ear and out the
other. So I was sitting in
the hospital bed still
writing and laughing, I
was working on a story,
and God just gave me
this. I felt Him telling
Climb the Ladder of Success
and Take your Family with
You" www.columbiacounty
chamber.
Stupendous! Sarurday:
July 21. 10:30-12:30am.
This Stupendous! Saturday
encompasses art , nature,
music and more. Create
nature collages with Augusta
artist Ethan Brock: think,
write, draw like narturalist
with Phinizy Swamp Nature
Park staff member: and
enjoy fiddle, guitar, and
mandolin with Carl Purdy.
Light refreshments. Regular
admission fee: free for mem
bers. Morris Museum of Art
The Augusta Fencers
Club is now taking registra
tion for their Summer class
es in beginning foil fencing.
The ten-week course meets
once a week for an hour, cost
is $l5O with all competitive
gear provided. Adult class
(ages 13 and up meets
Thursdays at 6:00 beginning
on June 28. Classes meet at
the Fencers Club at 134
Ninth Street (downtown).
Contact the club at (706)
722-8878 or online at
www.augustafencers.com to
register or for more informa
tion.
July - September 2007
Georgia Mountain Fair: July
18 - 29 The Georgia Moun
tain Fair, now in its 57th
vear, is a landmark event for
the mountain community of
Hiawassee. This 12-day
event is perfect for the entire
family and has become an
annual tradition for many
people. From carnival rides,
pony rides and educational
demonstrations in the Pio
neer Village to entertaining
me that | have the victo
ry over the leukemia.
The word Victory stood
out to me. My view was
limited to just writing
and working for other
production companies,
etc. But my “territory”
was enlarged through
this sickness. Why limit
myself to working for
somebody? [ can do all
things through Christ
who strengthens me.
God has given me the
strength and the victory
to overcome any obstacle
that comes my way. So |
said from that point on
that | wanted to open up
my own production
company. Thus, Victory
Productions was born. It
is definitely true what
the Word says, “What
the devil meant for evil,
God turned it around for
my good.” We attended
Christian City of Praise
(where Kenneth Gainous
is the pastor) a litte
while before NCCC
began its ministry. I told
Pastor Gainous my idea
of directing Anicla Grif
fin’s play Speak to My
Heart. He fully gave me
the go ahead and support
I needed. This was a
shock to me because usu
ally in churches youth
aren’t encouraged to “be
in charge of adults” or
take leadership positions.
So this excited me. So
this was the first play
that Victory Productions
produced and the first
play I directed. Doing
AUGUSTA FOCUS
musical performances, agri
cultural and antique shows,
and the ever-popular Miss
Georgia Mountain Fair pag
eant, there is truly some
thing for everyone. Admis
sion is $8 per person ($2
parking) and children under
10 are admitted for free.
Visit www.GeorgiaMoun
tainFairgrounds.com for a
complete list of activities and
event performers.
Book Signing Author
Sandra Cunningham will
have a book signing for her
work "It Will Work the Way
God Says It Will Work" on
July 7, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. at
Barnes and Noble located at
1336 Augusta West Parkway
in Augusta. She will also
appear on Rejoice Radio
94.7 "Sisters Let's Talk
About It" broadcast on the
same date from 10:00-11:00
a.m. For more information,
please contact itwill
work 1 @comcast.net.
The Lucy Craft Laney
Museum of Black History
will sponsor a trip to Savan
nah, Georgia, on Saturday,
September 29th, 2007. The
bus will leave the museum at
7:30 and arrive back in
Augusta at 7:00 that
evening. Join us for a fun
filled day in Georgia's oldest
city. Cost
is SBO.OO (can be paid in
installments). For further
information, please contact
706-724-3576 or 706-724-
2866. All payments must be
made in full by August
22nd, 2007.
Tickets on Sale for Mur
der Mystery Dinner The
ater : Tickets for the second
annual Murder Mystery
that gave me the courage
I needed to direct the
plays the Lord gave me
to write,” he shared
Clay affirmed it is the
Holy Spirit that gives
him the inspiration to
write his material.
“I wasn't going to write
another Judgement Day
play. Originally, it was
supposed to stop at the
first play. But my sister
Kendra (who has por
trayed Latoya Hart in all
three plays) influenced
me by saying, ‘Maybe
you should do the after
math of the two girls
who had family members
die.” In the first Judge
ment Day production, it
was actually about dying
and facing the judgment
seat of God. So then, the
Holy Spirit inspired me
to write Judgement Day
2: Temptation Island,”
he explained. Clay had
decided to end with the
second play.
“Then, Kendra said,
“You left us with too
many cliffhangers. Is the
character Dub -who is
Latoya Hart’s brother
who supposedly “killed”-
really dead? What hap
pens with Tommy and
Pamela?” The characters
Pamela and Tommy have
to deal with the tempta
tion of premarital sex in
the storyline. So then, I
was like Okay! This is it!
Judgement Day 3,” he
excfiimed. Wiile Clay
insisted this is definitely
the last play in this
Dinner Theater are on sale at
the Aiken Downtown
Development Association
office in The Alley. Thur
mond Watley will direct
"Mayhem in Mayville," a
first-class 'who-dunit' in two
hilarious acts, in two per
formances, July 19-20 at St.
Angela's Hall. The Murder
Mystery Dinner Theater is
the primary fund raising
activiry for the Aiken Down
town Development Associa
tion. A year ago the ADDA
presented a one-night dinner
theater performance of Mur
der, Stage Right, as well as a
stage performance. There
will be two dinner perform
ances, but no stage perform
ance this year. Admission
will be SSO per person and
there will be a cash bar.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
and dinner is served at
7p.m.Ticket and sponsor
information is available from
the ADDA Office at 803-
649-2221. Tickets will also
be available at locations
throughout Aiken beginning
in June.
The Community Founda
tion for the Central Savan
nah River Area is currently
accepting applications for
the 2007 Unrestricted
Grants Program. All
501(c)(3) organizations serv
ing any of the following six
counties: Columbia, Burke,
Richmond and McDuffie
counties in Georgia; Aiken
and Edgefield counties in
South Carolina are invited
to apply for a 2007 Unre
stricted Grant. Grant Appli
cants must submit their
applications to The Com
munity Foundation at 1450
Greene Street, Suite 228,
Augusta, Georgia before 11
series, he has not written
his last play.
The actors are Kendra
Clay, Brian Hatcher,
Brittany Snell, Semone
Reynolds, Simone Wil
son, Malcolm Burts,
LaKesha Butler, Dwain
Greene, Candice Hill
man, Margie Burch,
Alexandra Wilson, Pel
lom Burts, IV, Cheryle
Safford, and starring
spoken word artist PAS
SIONATE as Christina
Lions. There is also a
special appearance by
Christian rapper
PROPHET as Alexander
“Dub” Hart.
Clay’s ingenuity has
also created an internet
drama entitled College
Daze which is available at
www.collegedazesite.com
where it has completed its
first season. His skill has
spawned his first published
book, titled As the Earth
Spins: The Drama Begins
which is available at
www.expandknowledge. net
/karlton.
Clay emphasized that
attendees do not have to
see the first two Judge
ment Day plays to see
the current one. “It has a
personality within itself.
So please come out! You
won't want 'to miss this!”
For more information,
please call 706-627-
3436.
a.m., July 31, 2007. For more
information, visit The
Community Foundation's
website, www.cfcsra.org or
call 706-724-1314.
Gardening at Lunch
Series 2007 Seminars July
11 Venomous Creatures in
our Gardens Augusta 8
“Planting in Clay", Sep
tember 5 "Composting,
October 3 "The Best Win
ter Annuals”, November 7
"Bulbs” December 5 "Care
of House Plants" These
Lunch seminars will take
place in the Columbia
County Library, 7022
Evans Towne Center
Boulevard, Evans, Georgia,
Tyler : ‘A lictle improvement
Continued from page 3B
tors,” Perry says.
“The comedy's not as broad,
its toned down a licde bit,” he
adds in his soft-spoken but
decisive manner. “I've made
some changes because | know
that I'm speaking to more than
one race of people, more than
one group of people. Anybody
who gives the show a chance,
no matter who you are, can
relate to it.”
Except critics.
“That’s been my entire jour
ney: Theyve hated everything
I've done,” he observes mildly.
Once again, Perry is proved
right. The New York Times
Ginia Bellafante slams “House
of Payne” for its “narrative aim
lessness and languorous pac
ing,” while 7The Washington
Posts Tom Shales writes, “Every
thing about it needs a litde
improvement — except for the
things that need a lot of it.”
Not that critics hold sway
with Perry. He is famously
immune to their influence, or
that of anyone other than the
audience he serves.
“Nobodys looking over my
shoulder, nobody’s breathing
down my neck,” is how he
describes his relationship with
TBS, which, in a deal surely
unique for a new TV series,
turned him loose with an order
for 100 episodes.
The series is shot at Perrys
75,000-square-foot studio in
Adanta. Production began last
January and should wrap by
December, he says, with three
to four episodes polished off
each week.
Liberty : ‘Freedom to be who you are
Continued from page 1B
that he is the lord of all lords,
the king of all kings, the
author and finisher of life.
Sure, those things may look
bad to you but he can wipe all
of that away. The crack repre
sents your wisdom, your hard
ships, your accomplishments,
and your obstacles. If you will
allow God to use you, the
crack can be your ministry the
very purpose that you were
placed here. No one crack
looks the same even though it
may sound similar. There is
no reason to go around hurt
ing others because you are
hurting. He says cast all of
your burdens on me... He
tells you that no weapon
per... When will you let it go
and fulfill your purpose?
The liberty bell sits on dis
with all of its bumps and
g:yhu and it still represents
freedom. The freedom to be
who you are, the freedom to
from 12:10 p.m. to 12:45
p.m. Please contact the
Library, at 706-863-1946.
Broadway Baptist
Church celebrates 125
Years following Jesus
Christ Anniversary
Revival, 7p.m. nighdy our
Guest Revivalists July 12 -
Elder Mark Walden and Old
Time Way COGIG July 13 -
Rev. Gordon A. Thomas and
Ross Grove Baptst Church,
July 14 - Anniversary Musical
Op.m. July 15 3:30 p.m. -
125th Church Anniversary
Celebration the speaker of the
event is Dr. Hardie Davis
Abundant Life worship
Center.
“People in Hollywood would
scream about this schedule,
theyd think ics insane,” he
laughs. “But I hired theater
actors, who understand this
sort of work ethic.” (Cast mem
bers include Allen Payne as C]J;
Demetria McKinney as Janine;
LaVan Davis as Pops; Cassi
Davis as Ella; and Lance Gross
as Calvin,)
While Perry takes no writing
credit, he is supplying all the
stories to his 20-member writ
ing team. And he directs every
episode.
Besides House of Payne, Perry
has another series (“Meet the
Browns,” based on one of his
plays) plus three more films in
the pipeline. He talks of mov
ing to new, larger facilities as
soon as this fall.
And beyond that? “I see
myself owning an entire net
work,” he says, “where the
shows are all inspirational, all
positive and empowering,”
But there’s yet another itch
that, for now, Perry won't be
scratching: A role as a bad guy.
“Id like to play a bank robber
or a serial killer,” he confides.
“That would be intriguing and
fun. But I know my audience
wouldnt appreciate it.
“There are a lot of people
proud of me, a lot of people
depending on me to do the
right thing” both on- and off
screen, Perry says. “So | feel the
pressure. | absolutely feel the
pressure.”
Not that he shows it, of
course. Or that anyone would
notice.
fulfill your purpose, the free
dom t 0... just be. You may
not function as you use tw but
you still have a purpose, you
may not live like you use to
but you still have a purpose,
you may not look like you use
to but you still have a purpose.
The Liberty bell has not rung
since 1846 but it still has a
purpose and that it to symbol
ize freedom. When are you
going to realize that the things
that you are dealing with or
have dealt with are just prepa
ration for your destiny... It
may be hard and hurtful but
joyful in the end if you would
just endure. Weeping endures
for a night but joy comes in
the morning. Freedom is rep
resented in a variety of ways so
what will be your replica of lib
erty..... Replicate joy, peace,
opportunity, forgiveness, and
servant hood. Have a safe and
wonderful Holiday!
AND THAT IS LIFE
ACCORDING TO AISHIA
LEVERETT.