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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AUGUST 6-12, 2014 UCW 11 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Like many of us, Julionne Johnson is captivated by fairytales. Something about the combination of familiar childhood characters and fantastic worlds full of impossible things is endlessly entertaining, and theatre can bring it to life like no other medium. Johnson's love for fairytale themes stories began with playing the part of a fairy in Into the Woods. Since then it has blossomed into writing and directing the fairytale-themed plays Para- dox of Tales and Paradox of Tales 2. On Aug. 9, the Crown Ballroom will play host to this portal into the world of fairytales for just two performances of Para- dox of Tales 2: The Royal Wedding. When familiar storybook characters begin to "take matters into their own hands" in an epic battle between good and evil, things are bound to get interesting. Paradox of Tales 2 combines all of the drama and favorites of the pervious Paradox of Tales with some exciting new challenges and characters. "Paradox of Tales 2 is similar to the first one in a few ways. We have some returning actors from the first one. I wrote the second one in a way that it does pick up from where the first one leaves off, but you do not have to see the first one to enjoy Paradox of Tales 2: The Royal Wedding," explained Johnson. "It is more detailing in the lives of our favorite fairy tales. Of course, we have a lot of twist just like the first one and we have some of everyone's favorite fairytale characters as well," The very first Paradox of Tales was born from a series of mini plays per- formed last year intended to help Johnson raise money to attend the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. After the success of the first show, this year's sequel is even bigger, and so are the rewards. "There are a total of seven casts in the play: Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, Minions and Fairies. The seven different casts equal a total of 70 plus cast members, " Johnson says, "Last year we had a casting call, rehearsals and performed the show all within two and a half months. This time we have had almost a year to prepare for this show. When I get to watch my actors perform not only am I proud of them; but also I am proud of myself just knowing I accomplished something [of] this magnitude. [Also], being able to provide a setting not only for myself to showcase my talent but other local actors to do the same and show that we have great talent in our community." Paradox of Tales 2: The Royal Wedding is on stage Aug. 9 at the Crown Ballroom located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. The two show times are 1 and 6 p.m. and it is a dinner theatre performance. Tickets are $20. Lunch pack- age tickets are $35 and dinner package tickets are $45. Tickets are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com or at the Crown Center Box Office. For more information visit http://crowncomplexnc.com/ events/paradox-of-tales-2-the- royal-wedding/ or https://www. facebook.com/paradoxoftales2/ timeline. Royal Wedding: A New Take on Classic Fairytales by ERINN CRIDER ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer. COM- MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200. This year to both celebrate his birthday and as a fundraiser for his campaign, Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey is throwing a huge celebration called an Evening at the Cotton Club. The entire community is invited to come enjoy the night out, have some great food, and enjoy an evening of jazz. The theme for the evening is Cotton Club. The Cotton Club is a famous Harlem club that opened in 1920 and was owned by the boxing champion Jack Johnson. At first it was called Club Deluxe, before changing the name to Cotton Club in 1923, when it came under new ownership. While it was open the club was known for it's incredible music scene. It brought the greatest musicians of the era to the stage and even started the careers of legends such as Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson. The passion of the vibrant Jazz scene in the Cotton Club is what the event will capturea. The event will be at Ambiance Entertainment Center. "The venue already has a jazz feel and they have a lot of jazz events there already, so that helps us to create the atmosphere," Rey explaind. Entertainment for this evening includes four fantastic performers. "These artists all play and perform jazz, old school jazz. We are trying to recreate the atmosphere of the Cotton Club in the Duke Ellington era. We really just want people to come here and have a good time. Pam Saulsby will be hosting and performing. We will also have a big band section," says Rey. This event is far more than a campaign fundraiser. It is a community event full of entertainment and opportunities to connect. "It's going to be amazing. We have a great team and they are working hard to put this together. We really want this to be incredible — especially for folks who don't have the opportunity to go to something like this in our region. There are some non-profits that host annual fundraiser events but there isn't just one thing that's like 'wow I have to go to that.' I'm hoping that my annual birthday celebration will be that wow event. We want everyone to come an enjoy the talent, meet the high profile politicians from around the state and have a good time, especially if they haven't had a chance to get out much this summer," Rey explained. The evening at the Cotton Club celebrating Mayor Rey's birthday will be held on August 15, at the Ambiance Entertainment Venue located at 2510 Legion Rd. Admission is $100 per guest, but there are packages available for sponsors. Cocktail hour for VIP guests begin at 6:30 p.m. and the doors officially open at 7 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets visit http://www.chrisrey.com. Mayor Rey Celebrates with the Community: Enjoy an Evening of Jazz by ERINN CRIDER ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer. COM- MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200.