Dear Friends of the Hamner Theater,

On Sat., March 1, don't miss Charlottesville Playback Theater in the cabaret. Come be audience only, or come with a story to tell and watch it play back. As always, tickets are $15.00 and include light fare; doors open at 6:30 for food and the show starts at 7:30. Call 434-361-1999 for reservations.

Also, there is still room in our Sunday Scene Study class - Sundays at 4 with Mary Coy - starting Sunday, March 2. Come stretch as an actor, learn some basic tools of the craft if you have always wanted to but didn't know where, work on a part you always wanted to play...details at 434-361-1999. $80.00/session of 4 classes.

I am very excited to announce the return of Poe and All That Jazz for a limited three performance run at Live Arts in Charlottesville. If you missed it at the Hamner, don't miss it in Charlottesville! Fri. and Sat., Feb. 22 and 23 at 8pm and Sun., Feb. 23 at 6pm. Seating is limited so reservations are suggested - call 434-361-1999. All tickets are $10.00. (The performance will be on the fourth floor in rehearsal room A.)

If anyone happens to be in Roanoke on Sat., Feb 23, check out the Dumas Festival and the reading of Clinton A. Johnston's play (soon to be viewed here) Am I Black Enough Yet?

(The Dumas Festival is a new event developing with the Dumas Drama Guild. Located, literally, on the other side of the tracks in Roanoke is the traditionally black neighborhood of Gainsboro; there is a street called Henry Street that was a kind of arts/jazz center in the day. There is a very small hotel there, called the Dumas Hotel, which is where the jazz musicians playing the Hotel Roanoke had to stay. The first black performer who was actually allowed to stay at the Hotel Roanoke was Josephine Baker, but that might just be local legend. The hotel was recently purchased by Total Action Against Poverty and converted into a performing arts space that is home to the Dumas Drama Guild, a predominantly black performing arts company that does some small scale plays, readings, and music performances by touring jazz groups.)

Am I Black Enough Yet? will be performed at Mill Mountain Theater March 12 - 16 before coming to The Hamner the following week. There will also be a limited number of performances at Live Arts in Charlottesville. Watch for details on the website - www.thehamnertheater.com - and in upcoming newsletters.

March is surely coming in like a lion and I hope we will see you down here!

Cheers,
Boomie