Sunday, June 5, 2011

Adopt an Actor

The St. Marys Little Theatre needs 24 people to adopt an actor for the upcoming production, "Man of La Mancha." From Don Quixote and his devoted sidekick, Sancho, to the sultry Aldonza, the padre, and the rough muleteers, every actor playing a role needs funding for costumes and props. Here's what you get in return for your generous donation of just $60 per character:

-Invitation to Exclusive Cast Party

-Your photo with your adopted actor to be featured in St. Marys Magazine -Sneak preview of production during rehearsal process -Free admission to one of the five showings of Man of La Mancha--Sept. 9, 10, 16, 17 or 18.

-A "behind the curtain" tour of the production -The reward that comes with knowing you've enabled a talented individual to make a contribution to the culture of our community.

We have a fabulous costume designer who has already designed the costumes. (Also looking for volunteer seamstresses to assist our designer if you know anyone.) The St. Marys Little Theatre is a 501c3 organization, and donations are tax-deductible. Here's all you need to do to help make a difference. Tell us if you have a preference for a specific actor to adopt (cast list is below). We will reserve requested names in the order they come in. Write your check to: St. Marys Little Theatre, and mail to St. Marys Little Theatre, 711 Mildred St., St. Marys, GA 31558. If you have any questions, please call us at 912-729-1103. And thank you so very much for supporting the arts in our community. The actor adoption countdown begins now!

 

MAN OF LA MANCHA CAST:

DON QUIXOTE: Bill Raser

ALDONZA: Whitney Sanzero

SANCHO: T.J. Sofflet

THE GOVERNOR: Barry King

THE DUKE: Steve Parrott

 

 

 

Saturday, May 28, 2011

900 Thumbs Up for Eye of Hurricane

450 people who attended the two previews of Eye of the Hurricane in St. Marys gave the locally-filmed production a resounding “Thumbs Up.” Writer and Director Jesse Wolfe attended both showings May 21 and 28. Gregory Cruz, who plays the Seminole in the movie, flew in from L.A. to surprise the audience on the 21st. Ben Sabet, who played Willis, came in from Charlotte with his family as well. Hundreds of locals who worked as extras were able to see, for the first time, how they contributed to the movie. Several locals had speaking parts including Film Alliance board member L. J. Williams. The movie got great reviews, and everyone  is looking forward to seeing it again when it is formally released later in the year. In the meantime, Wolfe and Producer Susan Johnson will be taking the film to several renowned film festivals including the Toronto Film Festival where more than 60 countries are represented.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

correction re eye of hurricane tickets

You can purchase tickets at the times and days indicated in the previous post through May 15 (not April 15). Sorry.

 

 

Barbara Ryan, Vice Chair

Coastal Georgia Film Alliance

www.coastalgeorgiafilm.org

Barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org

912-729-1103

 

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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Man of La Mancha Auditions

OPEN AUDITIONS FOR MAN OF LA MANCHA TO BE HELD BY ST. MARYS LITTLE THEATRE

AUDITIONS ON SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2:30-6:00 PM

AT J’S RESTAURANT, 711 OSBORNE ST., ST. MARYS, GA

 

ST. MARYS, GA—The recently organized community group, St. Marys Little Theatre (SMLT), will be holding open auditions for their first production, Man of La Mancha on May 1st in downtown St. Marys. According to Theatre founder, Barbara Ryan, the group is seeking individuals who can sing and act to be a part of the cast for this—in Ryan’s words—rather ambitious undertaking.

 

Man of La Mancha is one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals,” Ryan said. “As a first production, it will be a challenge, but its success will be a testament to the great local talent that abounds in our area.”

 

Ryan and fellow SMLT board members have already discovered some impressive talents, and are looking forward to meeting others who seek an opportunity to showcase their gifts through community theatre.

 

Man of La Mancha tells the story of a ‘mad’ knight, Don Quixote, as a play within a play, performed by Miguel de Cervantes and his fellow prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. Ryan said that the musical serves up a timeless message of hope and redemption relevant to today’s difficult times.

 

The original 1965 Broadway production of Man of La Mancha ran for 2,328 performances and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The musical has been revived four times on Broadway, becoming one of the most enduring works of musical theatre. The story of Don Quixote was reprised in a movie starring Sophia Loren and Peter O’Toole in 1972. The signature song in the play, The Impossible Dream, has become a standard, and Ryan said its rendition in the showstopping anthem at the end of the play will touch the hearts of everyone.

 

“I don’t expect a dry eye in the audience,” Ryan said. “I feel the words of that song will reverberate around the audience long after they’ve left the performance venue.”

 

Anyone interested in auditioning should research Man of La Mancha on the internet, decide which role they’d like to perform, and prepare accordingly. For suggestions on audition content, call 912-729-1103.

 

The St. Marys Little Theatre is a nonprofit organization with a mission to “enrich lives and enhance the cultural composition of the arts in Camden County, Georgia, through community participation in theater education, live performances, workshops, and other outreach programs associated with theater arts.” Visit www.stmaryslittletheatre.com for more information about the organization.

 

 

 

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Film Museum Opens April 16

Film Museum to Open in St. Marys

Public Invited to Open House April 16,

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

St. Marys, GA—Where does one go to find a skull from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” or a mummy leg from Universal Pictures’ “The Mummy.”? One could go to a Hollywood studio’s bone yard or, perhaps, a major prop warehouse. Or for those who live in or visit the Coastal Georgia area, they can simply go to the new St. Marys Film Museum at 300 Osborne Street in Downtown St. Marys, Georgia.

 

The St. Marys Film Museum, a new addition to the line-up of attractions in St. Marys, will open April 16 and continue to be open, thereafter,  every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

The St. Marys Museum is a project of the Coastal Georgia Film Alliance (CGFA), the organization responsible for bringing the recent filming of “Eye of the Hurricane” and two TV pilot projects to the area. According to CGFA Co-founder and Chair, Doug Vaught, the museum exemplifies part of the organization’s mission to “encourage education and appreciation of the film industry.”

 

“The Film Museum is a project we’ve been working on since the inception of the Film Alliance in 2010,” Vaught said. “And now, thanks to the support and contributions by local citizens and the hard work of the Film Alliance board of directors, the museum has come to life.” Vaught cited Joe and Terra Lucent as one example of the many people who came forward to bring the attraction to the city. The Lucents donate the space where the Film Museum is housed.

 

Displays such as the skull and the mummy’s leg, along with others that include boots worn in “Armageddon” and memorabilia from blockbusters like “Sea Biscuit” and “Angels and Demons,” were purchased with funds raised at last fall’s Hollywood Nights Film Gala. Other items including a Mary Pickford display and circa 1920s theater architectural elements were contributed by local supporters of the museum.

 

Barbara Ryan, Film Alliance Co-founder and Vice Chair, said kudos should go to all those who have stepped forward to help create such an interesting attraction that both visitors and residents can enjoy.

 

“It’s a little sliver of Hollywood right here in the Low Country,” Ryan said. “Our plans are to have revolving exhibits so that residents will have a reason to visit the museum several times a year. Ryan (who is also Chair of the St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau) said that the museum will enhance an already impressive collection of museum experiences for a town the size of St. Marys.

 

“We already have the Submarine Museum, the Orange Hall House Museum, and the Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum,” Ryan said. “Add to that the museum-like experiences that visitors can enjoy at the Cumberland Island Visitors Center and the new St. Marys Welcome Center, and you’ve got more museum attractions than many towns four times the size of St. Marys.”

 

Ryan said the new museum will help St. Marys compete with other destinations for the treasured tourism dollars that help fuel the local economy. St. Marys Tourism Director Angel Wigger agreed.

 

“Visitor numbers to our welcome center have skyrocketed since we set up our new location near the waterfront,” Wigger said. “Having the Film Museum will give our visitors one more reason to explore our city and discover all our great shops and restaurants.”

 

St. Marys Film Museum Curator Kelly Davis said a cadre of volunteers helped set up the museum. “I even drafted my husband,” Davis said.

Scott Davis built the display stands that showcase the Hollywood props.

 

The public is invited to an open house at the St. Marys Film Museum at 300 Osborne Street on April 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting presented by the Camden Chamber of Commerce will be held at noon.

 

Anyone who would like to volunteer to staff the Film Museum should call Kelly Davis at 912-674-4052. For more information about the Coastal Georgia Film Alliance, visit www.coastalgeorgiafilm.org.

####

 

 

 

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Camden Is Officially Camera-Ready

Camden County Named Camera Ready Community

Economic impact of the entertainment industry in Georgia was $1.4 billion in 2010

 

ATLANTA (March 21, 2011)— Governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), designated Camden and 72 other Georgia counties Camera Ready at the Georgia State Capitol on Monday. The state’s Camera Ready Community Program was launched as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to bolster Georgia’s growing film and television industry.

 

Camden County Administrator Steve Howard accepted the designation on behalf of Camden County. Howard stated, “With the recent filming of a feature film and two TV pilots in Camden County, we have entered the film arena and will continue to compete for valuable film dollars that contribute to our local economy.”

 

Howard praised the Coastal Georgia Film Alliance for their diligence in marketing Camden County to filmmakers across the nation. Doug Vaught, Coastal Georgia Film Alliance chair said, “We are aggressively marketing our area to location scouts and film producers and educating them about the attractive tax incentives that the State of Georgia offers. Given our beautiful landscapes, film-friendly business environment, and access to good talent and tech staff, we anticipate a growing interest by the film industry in Coastal Georgia.”

 

Camera Ready is a designation put in place by the state to offer film and television production companies easier, faster and better access to local resources and information.  A Camera Ready Community must designate a liaison who can assist film and television production companies on a local level.

 

The 2008 Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act helped the state’s entertainment industry achieve record numbers. The economic impact of production activity increased 440 percent between fiscal years 2007 and 2010, surging to $1.4 billion. Georgia is now among the top five states in the nation for film and TV production with more than 335 productions shot in Georgia in FY2010 bringing in more than $759.3 million in investment to Georgia.

 

To learn more about Georgia’s Camera Ready Community Program, please visit www.georgia.org/cameraready. For information about filming

locally, visit www.coastalgeorgiafilm.org

 

                                                                                                                                      

 

Barbara Ryan, Vice Chair

Coastal Georgia Film Alliance

www.coastalgeorgiafilm.org

Barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org

912-729-1103

 

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Friday, February 4, 2011

St. Marys Film Projects in the Press

The St. Marys Magazine has just been released and features two articles about filming in and around St. Marys. You can pick up a free copy at the St. Marys Welcome Center at 410 Osborne Street to see the articles on Eye of the Hurricane and Mr. Bags. Enjoy!

 

 

Barbara Ryan, Vice Chair

Coastal Georgia Film Alliance

www.coastalgeorgiafilm.org

Barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org

912-729-1103

 

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Friday, January 28, 2011

Filmmakers Campaign

Shanice Simms, the Coastal Georgia Film Alliance’s wonderful intern, has launched an aggressive marketing campaign to draw filmmakers to St. Marys and the surrounding area. A great big thank you goes out to Shanice for her dedication and fine work.

 

 

Barbara Ryan, Vice Chair

Coastal Georgia Film Alliance

www.coastalgeorgiafilm.org

Barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org

912-729-1103

 

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St. Marys Film Museum

At the recent meeting of the Coastal Georgia Film Alliance, board members voted to purchase several items for display at the film museum. We’re looking to open the museum to the public in the next couple of months. Stay tuned for more news on what will be on display.

 

 

Barbara Ryan, Vice Chair

Coastal Georgia Film Alliance

www.coastalgeorgiafilm.org

Barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org

912-729-1103

 

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