Theater at Lime Kiln Announces 2010/2011 Season, Including Punch Brothers on 9/24

Theater at Lime Kiln today announced its 2010 season, including music, theatre, an expandEd StoneWALL COUNTRY run and partnerships with other area organizations.

Executive Director Kim Renz said 2009 showed a marked increase in attendance, and he believes 2010 will bring even more visitors to Lexington and Rockbridge County. "Last year we grew by almost 40%, thanks to astute programming decisions and marketing choices. And bringing back Stonewall Country didn't hurt. This year we have more events, Stonewall Country has 7 performances instead of 4, and we are working with more local groups."

When asked about the local connections, Renz explained, "The last year has been really tough on a lot of individuals and groups. The not-for-profit world has suffered in fundraising, sponsorships and grants. I have spoken to several colleagues whose programs were either cut or greatly reduced. And the immediate future does not look much better. By sharing programs and expenses and weathering the storm, we hope to build even stronger relationships."

"The days of standing alone and prospering are long gone," said Renz. "If we want to be viable in this market, we need to embrace each other's missions and work together."

Lime Kiln's season opens on Saturday, April 17th with Charlie Zahm, who performs Celtic, Maritime and Early American music. Zahm will be joined by fiddler Tad Marks, with special guests Dave Eakin and Steve Hoke from Rockbridge County. On Saturday, May 1st up-and-comers The Belleville Outfit performs, thanks to sponsor TMG Virginia Inn Brokers. Belleville Outfit performs its own signature style of gypsy swing, jazz, big band, country and Americana roots music.

Bluegrass Legend J. D. Crowe and the New South return to Lime Kiln on Saturday, May 8th after an absence of many years. Crowe received national exposure in the early '70s when he formed the New South, whose debut caused an instant sensation and marked a genuine turning point in the sound of the genre.

Mindbending Productions, the student theatre group of Washington and Lee University, will co-produce The Fantasticks with Lime Kiln on May 20th-23rd. Director Jenna Worsham, a senior at Washington and Lee, held first auditions in mid-March. Music rehearsals commence on April 12th. "I am really glad about this collaboration," said Renz. "The colleges and Universities here are such an important part of the cultural life of this community, and having the chance for students to create theatre alongside community members is exactly what Lime Kiln should be doing." Josh Harvey is the music director. Kendal at Lexington is sponsoring the event, which celebrates the show's 50th anniversary on May 3rd.

Memorial Day, May 31st, Fine Arts In Rockbridge, will present A Celebration of Arts and Culture, at Lime Kiln. This event, which replaces Lime Kiln's MusicFest on the schedule, features music by the FAIR ensembles, including: the Rockbridge Symphony, conducted by Southern Virginia University Professor Mark Taylor; Rockbridge Choral Society, directed by William McCorkle; Rockbridge Youth Chorale, with Artistic Director Susan Harvey. Area writers will read selections of their work, and area visual artists will display and create new pieces on site.

On Saturday, June 5th, Fatty Lumpkin and the Love Hogs perform their own brand of classic rock and roll. The group, once a Lexington staple, has performed to enthusiastic crowds at Lime Kiln the last two years. Local band Honest Scoundrels will open the evening. Then on Friday, June 11, Lime Kiln hosts a Southern Rock night with Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band Second Helping.

Nothin' Fancy will perform at Lime Kiln on Sunday, June 27th to benefit Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity. Habitat will hold a fundraising dinner with the band before the performance, prepared and served by The Southern Inn. Those interested in attending the dinner are invited to call the Habitat office at 540-463-3770.

On July 1st -3rd and 8th-11th Robin and Linda Williams star in Stonewall Country. Tom Conway, who directed Dracula, or How's Your Blood Count? last season, will direct area actors in the production. "We'll build on last year's production and its success," said Conway, who also performed in the show in 2009. "We returned to what made Lime Kiln and Stonewall special," he continued. "Lime Kiln was built on the oral tradition. If we are going to regain Lime Kiln's audiences, we need to reconnect to our storytelling roots."

Summer FAIR comes to Lime Kiln in July. Kiln Kamp, the Lime Kiln summer program for children, has merged into Summer FAIR programming. Students from 1st through 5th grades will spend one week in July preparing a one-act play written by a local playwright. The Summer FAIR musical, for students 6th grad and up, will rehearse from July 5th through 22nd, under director Rob Smith, theatre professor at SVU who directed Good Ol' Girls for Lime Kiln last year. July 23rd and 24th Summer FAIR will hold a two-day festival at Lime Kiln to display or to perform the work the students create in their classes or rehearsals.

Friday and Saturday, July 29th-30th, Traveling Players Ensemble returns to Lime Kiln with Shakespeare's Love's Labours Lost. TPE is youth theatre summer training camp near Washington, DC, where the students learn about acting classics in outdoor settings. The advanced students then tour Virginia and West Virginia in July and August and perform in outdoor theatre settings. Renz hopes this kind of company will inspire area students to take up the call to create their own youth company. "With funding in the arts being cut from the schools, we need to lead the initiative to fill the gap, with FAIR, the Universities and private help."

August features three very different kinds of event. Last season author/actor Peter Neofotis returned to Lexington and presented several excerpts from his book, Concord, Virginia. The response to Stonewall Country and to that event reminded Lime Kiln that storytelling is in its blood. On Saturday, August 7th award-winning actress Barbara Bates Smith will perform her show B. Smith Does Lee Smith, featuring several characters by the Virginia native. "Lee's work is important, and we are proud to have produced several of her stories in the past." Said Renz. This event showcases a talented actress portraying several of Lee's women."

On Saturday, August 21st Eddie From Ohio comes to Lime Kiln, and on Sunday, August 29th, The Seldom Scene return. Last year these Lime Kiln favorites produced sellout crowds that Renz hopes return.

2009 also marked the return of the Labor Day concert tradition with Blues, Bluegrass and Barbeque. Over 400 gathered to enjoy the fellowship over good food and great entertainment. This year Lime Kiln will throw two Labor Day parties. On Friday, September 3rd Key West Band from Roanoke will perform island music. The concert is sponsored by The Palms on Nelson Street in Lexington. On Saturday, September 4th, Walker's Run will be joined by Brennan Gilmore's other band, Borden Grant, named for the initiative that created Lexington. Gilmore will be a busy musician that night! On September 24th, Punch Brothers make an encore appearance. Last year, mandolin "phenom" Chris Thile's newest creation packed the house, drawing young and old alike with their "newgrass" style.

October is dance month at Lime Kiln, with Halestone Dance Studio performing their fall concert on Saturday, October 2nd. Community Dance Connection (and Halestone) Director Nancy Saylor will conduct the Moving Arts Initiative on October 4th-6th, bringing dance education to public schools, with on-site workshops & lecture demonstrations. Then on Saturday, October 9th CDCT will present their fall dance concert at Lime Kiln.

The 2010 Season concludes with two special events: the 3rd Annual Dinner Dance at Evans Dining Hall at Washing and Lee University on Saturday, November 13th, featuring Charlotte Jazz Orchestra; and Robin and Linda Williams Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 17th at the Lenfest Center for the Arts at W&L.

For more information about the season, performance times and ticket pricing, go to theateratlimekiln.com. Tickets are on sale at the Lexington Visitors Center at 106 East Washington Street, online or by calling the Lime Kiln Office at 540-463-7088. To receive a printed brochure to an upcoming event, call Lime Kiln.

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