Up & Coming Weekly

November 24, 2020

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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12 UCW NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 1, 2020 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM EVENTS Gilbert eater keeps holiday doors open with "e Carols" by KEYURI PARAB Nov. 27. set during World War II, is a story about the three Carol sisters who run the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post and are struggling to put on their annual "A Christmas Carol" production while facing another dilemma — the lack of men in town due to the war. "So they decide they're going to cast all women, then put an audition notice out, nobody shows up but this surprise guest," Director Robyne Parrish quite right but he's all they've got, so they hire him on and they put together one of the most ridiculous 'Christmas Carols' of all time." She describes it as a sweet, feel-good movie about sisters struggling to put on their show with just four people, said cast member Evan Bridenstine. "It seems impossible for quite some time but then songs are great, none of them are those you've heard, most of them have that ear-worming quality that gets in your head and stays for a while." Bridenstine, who plays the character of Melvin, described the production as funny, yet having a seri- ousness to it, due to the times it's set in. Parrish said the themes for the hour and 45-min- ute show are family, 'there's no place like home,' and a kind of Christmas carol in disguise. - lisle, described the show as something on a lighter note that is needed during current times. Nov. 27- 29, Dec. 4-6 and Dec.18-20. Patrons can purchase tickets on the website. Tickets start at $16 - ciation day with tickets being $10, Carlisle said. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the theater, which usually holds about 100 people, has had to cut down patrons, a requirement for masks and contactless entry with use of electronic tickets. a masked performance where the actors will wear face shields to accommodate patrons who don't feel comfortable with mask-less actors, Parrish said. Despite continued concerns with the pandemic, the Gilbert continues to produce local entertainment even as it struggles, Carlisle said. Having to reduce audience capacity, buying additional cleaning sup- plies and rearranging how they do things has been interesting, he said. Parrish said the theater already operates on a small budget where about 50-75% of the annual budget comes from ticket sales. "It wasn't going to work for us to just go in the dark for a year, and wait for a vaccine," Carlisle said. "To not have any shows at all, you know, we would have just gone out of business." Since a lot of people can't be with family this holi- day season due to the pandemic, Parrish said attend- ing a show can be a way for them to feel like they're a part of something. "If you're looking forward to a little bit of joy dur- ing the holiday season and a little opportunity to escape and just smile … this show will allow people to escape, for a little while, from all that we are going through right now," she said. KEYURI PARAB, Editorial Assistant COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com 910-484-6200. Sweet Potatio Pie virtual concert scheduled for Nov. 26 a STAFF REPORT located in downtown Lumberton, continues to present virtual concerts that have been pre-taped on its stage while the theater is closed to in-person audiences due to CO- VID-19 social gathering restrictions. - grass group Sweet Potato Pie and premieres concert can be viewed on the theater's Face- book page. It is conducted in partnership with the Robeson County Arts Council as part of its annual Bluegrass on the Blackwater series. scheduled as part of its 2020-21 season, and continue the theater's commitment to pro- gramming during the ongoing pandemic and its related audience restrictions for perfor- mance centers. on the theater's Facebook page at "Carolina - quently are shared on its web site at www. carolinaciviccenter.com. Talent" Performance Series (eight install- ments) also can be viewed on its web site. by a grant from the Robeson County Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council. Sweet Potato Pie has been entertaining audiences for nearly two decades with their classy blend of Americana, bluegrass, country and gos- pel music mixed together in a style they call "sweetgrass." Radio and TV are well ac- quainted with their "angelic" vocals from appearances on PBS, the Food Network and worldwide radio broadcasts. Hailed as the "Lennon Sis- ters of Bluegrass," their show revolves around their beauti- ful three-part harmonies, hard driving instrumentals and down home humor. With clas- sic songs from Patsy Cline, Bill with their chart topping original songs, the audience is in for a sensational night of fam- ily entertainment. original member Sonya Stead, guitar; Crystal Richardson, banjo; Sandy Whitley, bass; Katie - eleine Baucom, guitar. All of the women are from North Carolina. For more information of the group visit www.sweet-potato-pie.com/ While the concert is free, a donation link will be available to help support artist fees and production costs. To view the concert visit www.facebook. - ater-166667200079609 season adapted in response to COVID-19 restrictions.

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