"Arts Council presents ‘Steel Magnolias’ this week" Stokes County News

by  Meghann Evans and Erik Spencer Hill 
Stokes County News

Submitted photo

Steel Magnolias will be performed this week at King Central Park.

Erik Spencer Hill | The Stokes News

Justin Bulla, center, gives last-minute instructions to cast and crew before dress rehearsal for Steel Magnolias.

     The Stokes County Arts Council will host a theatrical production of “Steel Magnolias” on May 24, 25 and 26 at King Central Park.

     The Stokes County production is directed by Justin Bulla. He said of the play, “It’s something everyone can relate to. Everyone knows the movie and can identify with it.”

     A movie with the same title starred Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, and a host of other popular actresses and actors. This movie version stemmed from the play that was written by Robert Harling.

     Bulla’s cast and crew have been rehearsing three to four times a week since late February in preparation for the production. The set at the King Central Park amphitheatre took 22 hours to build one weekend with the help of volunteers.

     A production like this takes a lot of work. Bulla said, “People don’t realize that unless they are part of it.”

     Bulla continued, “Everyone has to pull their own weight … At the end of the day, we have this fabulous show. It can only come off if everyone is working together.”

     Harling wrote the play in the mid-1980s as a memorial to his sister, who is represented in the play by the character Shelby. It was written after his sister died from complications with a kidney transplant. But Bulla says the play is not just a memorial to Harling’s sister. It is a story about every woman.

     Bulla said, “These characters are lovable … We’re emotionally invested in these characters.”

As the director said, the women are actually as tough as steel and as delicate as Magnolias.

      All of the actors in the Stokes County production are really great, Bulla said.

“These ladies bring their own traits to make these characters work for them,” he remarked. “They do an absolutely amazing job.”

     Steel Magnolias will be the 20th play Bulla has directed and the 40th he has participated in. Last year, Bulla put on “Beauty and the Beast” at South Stokes.

     Bulla said of Steel Magnolias, “This show is going to be the precipice of community theater in Stokes County and where we want to go. From here on out, it’s only going to get better.”

      King Central Park is located at 302 Kirby Road in King. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. on May 24 and 25 and 3 p.m. on May 26. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students ages 6-18. Please bring your lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Concessions will be available for purchase.

     The performance is sponsored by the Stokes County Arts Council, Flow Chevrolet, Mayor Jack Warren, Dr. Mark Johnson, Ty and Arden Browder, Kenny and Linda Lane, Richard and Nancy Markle, Stokes County Economic Development, Town & Country Grille’ and 93.1 The Wolf.

     For additional information or advance tickets, contact the Stokes County Arts Council at 336-593-8159 or visit www.StokesArts.org.

Snappy Tappers Perform at Centennial Luncheon!

The Snappy Tappers performed "By Heck", "Ain't She Sweet", and "Chattanooga" as the entertainment for the Centenarian Luncheon Friday, May 10, at the Benton Convention Center as part of the Winston-Salem Centennial Celebration. It was an honor to be a part of the program for Winston-Salem residents who are or will be 100 years old in 2013.  

I had fun dancing at my first official performance with this dance group and look forward to dancing at the Second Spring Arts Festival at the Hanesbrand Theatre in downtown Winston-Salem next week.

Snappy Tappers with Fox 8 newscaster at Centenarian Luncheon

SOS Spring Safari Parade 2013 - "Shaggin' in the Rain"

This was my second time participating in the ACSC/SOS Spring Safari Parade at Ocean Drive in North Myrtle Beach on April 20th!  The theme for the Winston-Salem Shag Club float was "Shagging in the Rain". 

The Winston-Salem Shag Club proudly presents “Shaggin’ in the Rain”

I’m shaggin in the rain
Just shaggin in the rain

 I’m laughing at the clouds
So dark up above

 Beach music’s in my heart

And I’m ready for fun

Let the stormy clouds chase

Everyone from the place

 Come on with the rain

I’ve a smile on my face

 I walk down Ocean Drive

Thanking God I’m alive

 Just singin’, and

Shaggin’ the rain

Apiary Day

Apiary Day is the time when beekeeper associations conduct regular maintenance and demonstration of the colonies they keep.  Observers will see how beekeepers inspect a colony and how maintenance of the colonies changes with the seasons. Apiary Days are an unstructured learning unity for people new to beekeeping to get up close and personal with bees.  

The Davie County Bee Association had an Apiary Day on Saturday, April 6th. During this day, participants in the Davie County Beekeeping course spent time in a local bee yard to gain hands-on experience in working with bees. Here are some things we learned:

1. Key items to wear when interacting with bees - a veil for your face and clothing that will protect you from stings. Some beekeepers forgo gloves in order to manipulate the inside of the hive better.
2. Demonstration and use of a bee smoker - a tool used by beekeepers to blow smoke into a beehive before inspecting, manipulating or handling the hive.
3. We learned how to hold and inspect an individual frame the proper way by standing with your back to the sun, with the light shining over your shoulder and onto the frame. The sun illuminates details deep in the cells and helps you to better see eggs and small larvae. 
4. An easy way to inspect both sides of the frame is to hold the frame firmly by the tabs at either end of the top bar and turn the frame vertically. Then turn the frame like a page of a book. Now smoothly return it to the horizontal position, and you’ll be viewing the opposite side of the frame.
5. We then looked for brood: capped and uncapped larvae and eggs and also checked to see how many frames are drawn out.
6. Students identified the types of bees - drone, worker, and Queen. We tried to find the queen  - it is easier if she's marked, but still possible. We were successful.

The bees were busy on this beautiful day bringing pollen into the hive. The pollen was very sweet when I tasted it. I had fun at Apiary day and felt confident and comfortable being around the bees and handling the hive. It was a great day and learned a lot about bees and beekeeping!

Steel Magnolias Poster