Mick Souter

PRESS RELEASE FOR MICK SOUTER’S TOURING MUSICAL THEATER “CELEBRATE WEST VIRGINIA” ARTS, in cooperation with Jackson County Schools, will present a free performance by West Virginia’s “Bard of Education”, Mick Souter in his one-man show, “Celebrate West Virginia” on Oct. 20th at 7pm at Ripley High School auditorium. Mick Souter will perform a variety of songs and stories that celebrate the people, the history, and the culture of West Virginia. Souter is an energetic multi-instrumentalist who accompanies himself on banjo, guitar, harmonica, auto harp, dulcimer, fiddle, recorder and piano as he encourages the audience to sing-a-long on a variety of songs, some of which are Mick Souter originals. Students from Evans Elementary School, under the direction of music teacher Susan Matheny, will join Souter on stage to perform some of the songs during the concert. This program is funded in part through a grant from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Over the past twenty years, Mick Souter’s Touring Musical Theater has performed full-time for hundreds of thousands of people in schools, state parks, festivals, theaters and venues such as Tamarack, Snowshoe, and The Cultural Center in Charleston. Souter’s shows are designed to both entertain and educate, providing family programming that offers something enjoyable for audiences of all ages. In addition to “Celebrate West Virginia”, his other shows include “A Visit With Stephen Foster”, “The Roads and Rails of Woody Guthrie”, and “All Aboard the Iron Horse” all of which are done in costume and character. Souter was recently featured in a PBS special report that focused on his newest school program, “Healthy Bodies/Healthy Lives”, in which he uses his art as a folk singer and storyteller to address the critical problem of childhood obesity and diabetes. “My ‘Healthy Bodies’ program is one that is extremely important because it impacts directly on the health and well being of students and adults”, said Souter. This program was hosted by most of the Randolph County elementary schools in 2005 and it ties in with the Governor’s initiative on improving the overall health of West Virginia children. “There is an important mission with ‘Celebrate West Virginia’ as well”, states Souter, “This is a West Virginia pride program designed to focus on the many things we have to be proud of as West Virginians. I make sure everyone gets involved in what I call “Singin’ Mountain Pride” and that when they leave, everyone will know the words to the state song, the ‘West Virginia Hills’ and feel proud of our beautiful state”.

Musical March Returns for 2011!!!

Parents come explore music and movement with your child at the Ripley Library. Feb. 19 and 26th, March 12th and 19th.

9am-9:45am 2-3 year olds

10am-10:45am 4-5 year olds

Register now at the Ripley Library

ET has phoned Ripley AGAIN!!!

E.T. to return to the Alpine

Arts at the Alpine and Main Street Ripley are excited to announce the return of E.T. to Alpine Theater. Twenty-five years after its original showing, E.T. The Extraterrestrial will return to the theater for a one day only special presentation. On November 20, 2010 the film will be shown on the big screen at 2pm and 7pm.

When asked what film people cherish from their childhood, E.T. is frequently mentioned. Both Arts and Main St. hope the re-showing will give an opportunity for people who saw the movie in 1982, to bring their children as they did at the recent showing of The Wizard of Oz. They also encourage parents who originally brought their children, now to bring their grandchildren. E.T. is one of the few films that truly transports you in the theater, the bicycle scene just isn’t the same when viewed on a television. Plus not many people have a popcorn machine or a bag of Reese’s Pieces in their living room. A little known fact is that E.T.’s director wanted to use M&Ms in the film, but was turned down by the Mars candy company. This became Hersheys gain and Reese’s became a favorite candy among children in the 80’s.

The film not only launched the career of Drew Barrymore, but firmly established Steven Spielberg as a visionary director. In 1983 the film was nominated for nine Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director; it went on to win four Oscars. E.T. has been voted the 24^th greatest film of all time, the 44^th most thrilling, and the sixth most uplifting by the American Film Institute. AFI also ranked the line “E.T. phone home,” in the top 15 movie quotes of all time.

Tickets can be purchased at the door before the showings or by calling 304-532-3497.

Wizard of Oz

Arts at the Alpine and Main Street Ripley are pleased to announce the showing of The Wizard of Oz at the Alpine Theater on September 4, 2010. The movie will be showing at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at the Ripley library. There will also be special appearances from some Wizard of Oz characters!

The Norris Brothers Band

The Norris Brothers Band to perform in Ripley, WV.

Arts at the Alpine is pleased to announce an upcoming concert by The Norris Brothers Band on August 28th. The concert will be held at the Ripley High School Auditorium at 7 p.m.

The Norris Brothers Band plays a refreshing mix of original music and high energy, good time Classic Rock-n-Roll. Band members include music industry veterans and award winning song writers who have opened for and recorded with artists such as Eddie Money, Kathy Mattea, Restless Heart and Waylong Jennings. The band is currently touring in support of their new album, "Under the Radar", which is available on the band's website and on iTunes and Amazon.com.

You will Feel Good when you see a Norris Brothers Band show.

The Norris Brothers Band is comprised of Kevin Norris on drums and vocals, Mitch Norris on guitar and vocals, Dean Hensley on guitar and vocals, Dale White on keyboards and vocals, J.B. Butcher on bass guitar and vocals and Hannah Hensley on keyboards and vocals.

This concert is a part of the Arts at the Alpine's continued effort to provide entertainment locally. All proceeds will be used for future events presents by Arts at the Alpine. Tickets are currently available at the Ripley Library or by calling (304) 532-3497. Individual tickets are $15.00 or two for $20.00.

GONE WITH THE WIND

Arts at the Alpine and the Jackson County Library are pleased to announce we will be showing Gone with the Wind at the Alpine Theater. The movie will be shown Saturday May 22 at 2pm. Tickets will be $3 for adults and $1 for children under 12.

Debra Conner as Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell

Press Release for Margaret Mitchell Event

ARTS at the Alpine and the Jackson County Library are proud to announce a living history portrayal of Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind. This event will take place at the Ripley Library on Tuesday May 18th, 2010 at 7pm and is free to the public.

The presentation will be given by scholar/performer Debra Conner of Parkersburg, West Virginia, who has portrayed Mitchell and other characters for audiences from Maine to Arkansas. In 2008 and 2009, Conner toured as Margaret Mitchell with Missouri Chautauqua, and in the summer of 2010, she will be part of Ohio Chautauqua in four locations around the state. Conner’s portrayal of Margaret Mitchell entails an in-character monologue, followed by a question and answer session, both in and out of character.

Conner’s rendering of Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949) reveals the author as sassy and spirited as Scarlett herself. Mitchell describes how her fascination with stories of the Old South led her to write Gone with the Wind and how its popularity turned her world upside down. In addition, she offers fascinating details about the making of the movie, a movie so popular that even today, with ticket sales adjusted for inflation; it remains one of the highest grossing movies ever made. The film will be shown at the Alpine Theater later this month.

For more information on the Margaret Mitchell event please contact the Ripley library or (304) 532-3497.