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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STAFF bbowman@upandcomingweekly.com editor@upandcomingweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Janice Burton Joy Crowe stephanie@upandcomingweekly.com hal@upandcomingweekly.com Linda McAlister Brown ltmcmd01@aol.com OFFICE MANAGER Laurel Handforth officemanager@ upandcomingweekly.com ACCOUNTING Mary Catherine White accounting@upandcomingweekly.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alicia Miller art@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D.G. Mar tin, Pitt Dick ey, Margaret Dickson, John Hood, Jhana Lewis, Erinn Crider, Karen Poppele, Heath- er Griffi ths, Beth Solzsmon-Carpenter–––––––––––– Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan Street P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: (910) 484-6200 FAX: (910) 484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and infor- mation on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Up & Coming Weekly is published weekly on Wednesdays. Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for publication consideration, but assumes no responsibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distributed at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per per- son. Subscriptions can be purchased for $30 for six months or $60 for 12 months, delivered weekly by first class mail. ©2007 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. MARKETING/SALES Hal Nunn ASSOCIATE EDITOR Stephanie Crider PUBLISHER Bill Bowman INSIDE PUBLISHER'S PEN by JANICE BURTON I wasn't here for the founding of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre 50 years ago (I, in fact, was not even alive then) but I have been around the theatre enough to know that what started out small has had a huge impact on our community not only from a cultural standpoint, but from a people standpoint. Actors are a unique group of people. They make the smallest things seem extraordinary. And if you look at it from that viewpoint, then what the CFRT is actually celebrating is 50 years of extraordinary lives and extraordinary people. Having known some of the people who make up that history, I believe that to be true. When I moved to Fayetteville, one of the fi rst people I met at Up & Coming Weekly was Leonard McLeod. Leonard, who was a banker in his real life, was a paper boy for Up & Coming Weekly in his retirment. He was actually more than that. If we needed something done, Leonard was Johnny-on-the-spot to help us out. He was also an incredibly talented man, and was among the small group that helped form the nucleus of the theatre. It is to Leonard that Grady Bowman, Broadway performer and son of publisher Bill Bowman, owes his passion for performing. When you saw Leonard, you would usually see Grady following close behind. Leonard was the stage parent that Bill and Merrilyn, who were busy working, could not be. He took Grady to auditions. He helped him develop his craft. And he was never prouder than when he was talking about Grady's successes. The same can be said about Grady. During a recent interview, Grady spent much of his time talking about his godfather. He spoke fondly of the plays they did together and of the lessons that Leonard taught him over the years, and of the passion he instilled in him for theatre. "I always tell people that they can blame Leonard for who I am today," said Grady. I think that would make Leonard smile. Theatre people embrace you, and, when you are talking to them, you feel like you are the most important person in the world. I have many friends who currently perform at the CFRT, but no one can make you feel as special or as important as Nicki Hart. Hart, the company manager, is a talented actress, singer and dancer. She is also an awesome mom and a great friend. Fayetteville's Weather Forecast January 27 Fayetteville's Weather Forecast Friday Thursday January 26 Saturday January 28 If you ever have the chance, ask Nicki to tell you a story. The commonplace becomes magical as she breathes life into the story. Sitting on the veranda at my house, I fi nd myself on the edge of my seat listening to Nicki tell a story about going to the grocery store. There's drama, there's intrigue, there's humor. And it's all about a grocery store. Children in the theatre are also a unique band of people. They may not see each other for months, but let them all gather in one place, and you will think they are the best of friends, and they are. The CFRT promotes a feeling of family within its ranks. I am happy that my son has taken a shine to theatre. He's done three shows at the CFRT, and has found each one to be magical. He comes alive during the rehearsals and the performances. He is passionate about a lot of things, but the theatre brings a new life into him. It does to all of the children involved. Of all the magical and special people who call the theatre home, none is more so than Bo Thorp. I have said many times that I would like to be Bo when I grow up. And I mean that sincerely. Bo has a grace and a poise about her that most of us will never achieve. Don't get me wrong. She is a hard taskmaster, as anyone who has ever performed with her can attest. But people don't seem to mind. She wants them to give their best, and they want to give it to her. I go back, once more to children, because while she has a stellar legacy in the theatre itself, I believe her greatest legacy will be the love for performing that she has put into the children of our community. When Thorp talks to children something magical happens. I had the privilege of watching her direct Peter Pan, a cast replete with Lost Boys and Indian maidens. Each of the children involved hung on her every word, and she on theirs. There is magic at the CFRT and now is the time to celebrate it! JANICE BURTON, Associate Publisher. COMMENTS? editor@ upandcomingweekly.com CalCall 910.354.1679l 910.354.1679 Sunday January 29 Monday January 30 Calendar ........................................... 14 Concert Connection ........................ 19 TV ..................................................... 20 Movie Review .................................. 21 Free Wheelin' Feelin' ....................... 22 Horoscopes/Advice Goddess ......... 23 Classifieds ........................................ 24 Games .............................................. 26 Cape Fear Regional Theatre — A Magical Place Tuesday January 31 High 71° Low 57° Showers High 62° Low 35° Scattered Thunderstorms 4 UCW JANUARY 25-31, 2012 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM High 64° Low 50° Partly Cloudy Forecast available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. High 60° Low 33° Sunny High 61º Low 41º Cloudy High 60º Low 41º Showers 24 24 / 7