Published Sunday, October 05, 2008

Arts & Entertainment

LSO opens concert series

LaGrange Symphony Orchestra opens its 2008-2009 concert series, "Classical Sounds from Near and Far," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Callaway Auditorium.

The program for this All Mendelssohn concert includes Hebrides Overture in B minor, Violin Concerto in E minor, and Symphony No. 4 in A Major. Sergiu Schwartz, professor of violin holding The William B. and Sue Marie Turner Distinguished Chair in Violin at the Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University, will be featured as violin soloist for this performance.

Sergiu Schwartz's international concert appearances have taken him to major music centers around the globe as a soloist with orchestras, in recitals and in chamber music concerts.

Immediately following this concert there will be a free reception at the LaGrange Art Museum, located at 112 Lafayette Square in downtown LaGrange.

Tickets may be purchased in advance from the symphony office by calling 706-882-0662 prior to the day of the concert. Tickets will also be sold at the Callaway Auditorium box office beginning at 7 p.m. the night of the concert. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early.

Adult tickets are $25 for Mezzanine seating and $15 for seats in the Orchestra and Gallery. Tickets for students sixth grade and older are $5. Children fifth grade and younger are admitted free with an adult.

For tickets or more information, contact the LSO office at 706-882-0662 or e-mail info@lagrangesymphony.org, or visit online at www.lagrangesymphony.org.

NCTC auditions set

Newnan Community Theatre Company will hold auditions for A Christmas Carol on Oct. 6 and 7 at 7 p.m. Roles for ages 9 to adult are available. Auditions will be held at the theatre at 24 First Ave. in Newnan.

Auditions for M*A*S*H will be held on Dec. 1 and 2. Roles for adult men and women available. Auditions begin at 7 p.m., also at the theatre.

The N.I.T.W.I.T.S. Improv Comedy Troupe will perform at 8 p.m. on Oct. 11. Tickets are $5 at the door. Rated PG-13.

A Night of Mayhem - a murder mystery by Jeff Allen will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. The dinner will be catered by A Chef To Go. Tickets are $25 in advance. Halloween costumes are highly encouraged!

Tim Wright's The Pied Piper of Hamelin will be performed on Oct. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26. Friday and Saturday evening shows begin at 8 p.m. Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $10 for children. The show will be in the black box and seating is limited. Call the theatre for reservations.

Newnan Community Theatre Company has been providing live entertainment in downtown Newnan for over 30 years. For reservations, call us at 770-683-6282 or e-mail nctc@numail.org . Visit online at newnantheatre.com .

'Odd Couple' continues

For the last two weekends, Newnan Community Theater Company has been thoroughly entertaining audiences with Neil Simon's classic comedy The Odd Couple.

There are two remaining show dates, tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. each night.

Tony Daniel makes his long overdue return to the Newnan stage as the sarcastic and slovenly Oscar Madison. Lamar Payne delivers one of his finest and funniest performances to date as the annoyingly anal neat-freak Felix Unger.

These two actors have such amazing chemistry on stage, audiences are captivated by their roller coaster ride through Felix's impending divorce. When the two men decide to become roommates, their friendship is put to the test as their polar opposite personalities clash inside an eight room apartment in New York City.

These two characters are surrounded by an equally talented supporting cast. Their Friday night poker buddies provide a perfect backdrop from which the story can unfold. Murray (Trey Stephens), Roy (Scott Pollak), Vinnie (Sam Gentry) and Speed (JohnPaul Phillips) complete the group of six friends that Neil Simon envisioned. And to complete Mr. Simon's vision, add in Gwendolyn (Susan Patterson) and Cecily (Leslie Ray), the British sisters that live upstairs and provide one of the most unforgettable date scenes in all of theater history.

The Odd Couple won multiple Tony Awards when it debuted on Broadway in 1965 and has since been adapted into a movie, a television series, a role-reversed version and even an animated series. The crew at the Newnan Theater has very artfully recreated the period in every detail from the set to the costumes to the hairstyles. Directors Sarah Jordan and Jeff Allen paid attention to the details to make this as entertaining of an evening as possible.

For reservations call 770683-6282 or go online at www.newnantheatre.com . Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $12 for students (of any age with a valid school ID) and senior citizens (age 55 and above), and $10 for children under 12.