ABCC gets away with “Murder.” What’s next? | Local News | Summerville Journal Scene

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ABCC gets away with “Murder.” What’s next?

Published Tuesday, August 31, 2010 4:54 PM

By Barbara Lynch Hill
Summerville Journal Scene ®

photo provided

A gun battle gets the attention of the audience who participated as diners at “Cafe Noir.”

photo provided

The audience showed their appreciation as “Muder at Cafe Noir” concludes.

SHOWCASE

Cultural Arts, Business & Civic Related News

When a future president of the Arts, Business and Civic Coalition Board steps up to the stage to welcome Summervillians to their new civic center, that person can rightly intone: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve done murder to get here!” Last month’s Interactive Dinner Theater to benefit the ABCC’s effort to get a civic center for our town was a smash hit! The Coalition’s first fund raiser sold out both Saturday and Sunday night performances of “Murder at Café Noir” at Atlanta Bread on North Main Street.

“Congratulations on a truly entertaining evening,” said one attendee. “What a triumph!” said another. “It was the social event of the season!” declared a third.

Monica Shows, director, confessed to a fitful night’s sleep after the first performance, “reeling from success,” but also thinking of ways to tweak Sunday’s play to make things run even smoother. She shared e-mail from theater audiences as well as word-of-mouth comments.

“We loved having something to do that ended at a reasonable hour on a Sunday night,” said one couple, adding “My wife and I had a great time (even if we guessed wrong on the ‘who dun nit?’” This duo called the food “simple and good.” There were 226 people served over the two nights.

“Served” was the operative word for the event, which happened because of the huge volunteer effort. ABCC board and committee members, (and in some cases) their spouses, and children helped plan, wait, serve, cube cheese and arrange grapes. They got out the word, sold tickets, planned the table seatings and were generally “on hand” to do whatever needing doing.

Special thanks also go Atlanta Bread for the interactive “stage;” DA Architect, financial sponsorship; The Flowertown Players, the playbill, costumes, props and audition space, and without whom none of this could have happened; Mr. Sign and Azalea Magazine, banner; Ms. Jonea Crider-Adams and Mr. and Mrs. Ned Shows, piano skills and music room rehearsal space, respectively.

In addition, kudos to Catie Shows, who spent innumerable hours working on the production’s technical aspects as well as helping with all of the costumes, props and attending all the crazy rehearsals. Speaking of which, some of these were held under the pavilion at Doty Park the first week and then, says Monica, “Jim Brantley (of Atlanta Bread) let us rehearse there after closing. We started at 9 pm running often till midnight.”

What about a repeat performance? Probably the most feedback came on this question. “I’m there, whenever,” said one. “When is the next one?” asked another. “Sign me up,” declared a third. And so it went.

“I’m game,” said Monica. “The weekend was truly magical! And I truly believe we will have a follow up show in January. My goal is to use "Noir Suspicions" as I really feel we can capitalize on the success of "Murder at Cafe Noir". You don't have to have seen the first show to enjoy the second as this has about 29 references to "Casa Blanca.” For those of us who like a good Humphrey Bogart film, it will be a great calling card.” There is also talk of having additional performances so more people can share in both the fun and the fund-raising.

The arts horizon is already glowing with events for this fall. Watch these pages for upcoming calendar announcements, but in the meantime, pencil these in:

Friday, November 12, 7 pm, St. John the Beloved Catholic Church; Summerville Community Orchestra, Family Favorites, First Federal Friday Evening Series, e-mail, office@summervilleorchestra.com

Sunday, November 14, 1-5 pm, Wine in the Pines, a Food and Wine pairing at Woodlands, with local art, sponsored by the ABCC;

Thursday, November 18, Opening Night for the first Art Show at Town Hall, sponsored by the Cultural Arts Alliance;

Third Thursday, the same evening, November 18, featuring more art, food and music just around the corner; sponsored by DREAM.

Getting a civic center for the whole Summerville community will be a whole community effort. To have an input with comments or suggestions on the dinner theater – or any other aspect of this goal, contact the ABCC at info@abcsummerville.org. The ABCC has an open forum meeting on the second Wednesday of each month in Town Hall Meeting Room A, at 3:30 pm. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

If you’d like more information on the Cultural Arts Alliance and/or to have your cultural arts organization and activities featured in Showcase, contact Barbara Hill at hill2227@bellsouth.net. Deadline for submissions to Showcase is the last Wednesday of each month. Please be sure to include contact information.

Remember to submit cultural arts calendar events to Sandra.Baden@gmail.com by the 20th of the month before publication.

Helping get the word out helps get the deed done.

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