DavidsonNews.net Guide » Alex Gregor

Halloween events, ‘Dracula,’ ‘Pride & Prejudice ‘

Alex Gregor — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:58:38 +0000

Davidson students (from left) Paul DiFiore and Samantha Krusi play the lead roles in the Davidson College theater department's production of "Pride and Prejudice," which continues through Sunday in the Duke Family Performance Hall. (Photo by Bill Giduz)

This weekend in Davidson is full of events fun and spooky. The town’s Halloween march on Main Street happens Friday. Hough High’s theater department produces “Dracula,” opening Friday, while Davidson College opens a production of “Pride & Prejudice.” Local children have organized a Think Pink Dog Show and Halloween party on the Village Green Saturday. Halloween night (Sun.) will bring a screening of the silent film Nosferatu with organ accompaniment. It’s family weekend at the College, and the College’s athletics teams will be busy with games this weekend.

Our Town Cinemas co-sponsors a costume contest at the Carolina Renaissance Festival Saturday and Sunday. All kids under 12 in costume free. Prizes include free tickets to the cinema. Our Town Cinemas also offers free kids movies this Saturday at noon – “Beetlejuice” and “Casper.” And for Davidson College Family Weekend, parents get in for the student ticket price.

Details about those and other events below. And see our day-by-day calendar and local movie listings at right.

THURSDAY, OCT. 28

Tour of trees in fall color on campus, 1 p.m., in front of Davidson College Chambers Building – Members of the public are invited to take a 2-hour guided tour of fall colored trees on the Davidson College campus. College gardener Paul Pergiel will lead the tour. Free. For more information, contact Pergiel at papergiel@davidson.edu.

Public meeting on water rates, 6 p.m., Lee Dukes Water Treatment Plant, 7980 Babe Stillwell Road, Huntersville – Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities public meeting seeking input on proposed new water and sewer rate structure. Details in our Oct. 22 news report, “CMU seeks public input for water rates study”

Theater: “Dracula,” 7 p.m., William A. Hough High Auditorium, Bailey Road, Cornelius – Hough’s Theatre Department presents its first show, “Dracula” this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 pm in the new auditorium. Tickets $5 for students and $8 for adults, available at the door. Call the school for more information: 980-344-0514.

Theater: Pride & Prejudice, 7:30 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center, Davidson College – The Davidson Theater department presents Pride and Prejudice as part of the Mainstage series. The show will run from October 27 to 31. For tickets, call 704-894-2135 Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or visit www.davidson.edu/tickets

FRIDAY, OCT. 29

Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and nighttime flashlight maze, 6:30 till closing (last tickets sold at 8 p.m.), Rural Hill farm, 4431 Neck Road, off Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville – Rural Hill presents the annual Amazing Maize Maze, a 7-acre labyrinth with 2 1/2 miles of pathways cut into a cornfield. This year’s theme is the Conestoga Wagon that brought Major John Davidson from Pennsylvania to North Carolina in the 18th century. Admission $10 ages 13+ and $7 for ages 5-12. Children ages 4 and under free. Details: www.ruralhill.net

Downtown Halloween March, 5:15 p.m., line up in front of Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Annual Davidson town Halloween march. Kids and parents are invited to come in costume and stroll on Main Street collecting treats from downtown merchants. Free. More information: Davidson Parks & Recreation 704-892-3349. Read more in our Oct. 5 news article.

Prosperity Church fall festival, 6-8 p.m., Prosperity Presbyterian Church, 5533 Prosperity Church Road, Charlotte – Reformation/Fall Festival celebration. Wear your favorite costume, learn about the significance of Reformation Day in church history. Activities include hayrides, a puppet show, games, face painting, crafts, hot dogs, drinks and more. Free. No reservations or tickets required. 704-875-1182.

Field hockey vs. Radford, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Turf Field – Davidson Field Hockey vs. Radford. Details on the college website.

Davidson College Family Weekend Concerts, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Family weekend concert with Davidson College Chorale and Davidson College Symphony Orchestra. More info on on the college website. Also, 10 p.m., in the college union, Davidson Jazz ensemble family weekend concert. Info about the jazz concert on the college website.

Haunted Woods at Davidson, 8-11 p.m., Maple Way Drive, Davidson – Haunted Woods at Davidson, with kid-friendly hay rides, refreshments, free petting zoo. Continues every Friday to Sunday through Halloween. Open till midnight on Halloween weekend. Admission $12, hayride $5. Directions from downtown Davidson: East on Davidson-Concord Road, at the roundabout bear left onto East Rocky River Road. Left onto Shearers Road, then left on Maple Way Drive.

Theater: Pride & Prejudice, 8:15 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center, Davidson College – The Davidson Theater department presents Pride and Prejudice as part of the Mainstage series. The show will run from October 27 to 31. For tickets, call 704-894-2135 Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or visit www.davidson.edu/tickets

SATURDAY, OCT. 30

Davidson Farmers’ Market, 8 a.m. to noon, off Main Street next to Town Hall – Weekly Davidson Farmers Market, with local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items. Open every Saturday. For more information: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. DavidsonNews.net is pleased to be a sponsor of the Davidson Farmers Market.

Blood drive at St. Alban’s, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., St Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – Blood drive with Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. Walk-ins welcome. For appointments call Jeff at 704-975-2046.

Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Rural Hill farm, 4431 Neck Road, off Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville – Rural Hill presents the annual Amazing Maize Maze, a 7-acre labyrinth with 2 1/2 miles of pathways cut into a cornfield. This year’s theme is the Conestoga Wagon that brought Major John Davidson from Pennsylvania to North Carolina in the 18th century. Admission $10 ages 13+ and $7 for ages 5-12. Children ages 4 and under free.
Details: www.ruralhill.net

Carolina Renaissance Festival, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., east of Davidson, off Highway 73 on Poplar Tent Road (between I-77 and I-85), Huntersville – 17th annual Carolina Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace runs Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., through Nov. 21, rain or shine. The 22-acre village features artists, craftspeople, musicians, performance troupes and food vendors, as well as kids’ games and rides. Advance tickets available $18 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5-12; kids under 5 free. Also at the gate for $1 more. Print your own tickets online at RenFestInfo.com. Free parking. Information online at RenFestInfo.com, or by calling 704-896-5544, or toll-free 877-896-5544.

Think Pink Dog Show and Halloween party, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Davidson Village Green, Main Street and Concord Road – 2nd Annual Think Pink Dog Show & Halloween Party. Organized by local children to raise money for breast cancer research/Susan Komen Foundation. Includes the “Mutt Strutt” doggie parade, prizes for best costume and best family – families and their pets in costume. Co-hosted by NHRA driver Doug Herbert. Info: call Wanda Miller, 704-200-6270.

Davidson Gridiron Club Football Tailgate 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Faculty Drive, next to Richardson Stadium – Davidson College Gridiron Club annual tailgate party, and Davidson Wildcats Fan Zone, before this afternoon’s football game.

Davidson fall convocation, 10:30 a.m., Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College’s fall academic convocation, with an address by 1985 Davidson grad Dr. Greg Murphy, who will give an address titled “Countries without 911: Answering Their Call,” about his medical mission work, including in Haiti following the earthquake. Free and open to the public. Details on the college website. See also Bill Giduz’s feature story about Dr. Murphy on the college website, “Family Weekend will include convocation talk by alumnus about his medical mission to Haiti.”

Catawba Avenue Merchants “Boo Bash”, noon to 2 p.m., Catawba Avenue, Cornelius – Catawba Avenue merchants invite parents and kids to enjoy candy, crafts, goodies, special discounts, and a special visit by Cinderella. Merchants will be taking entries for prize baskets, filled with gift certificates worth of more than $500. Also, Cornelius Arts Center will offer a Spooky House Workshop from 2:00 – 3:15. Pre-register online at www.corneliusartscenter.org. More info in our Oct. 21 Biz Notes column.

Davidson football vs. Dayton, 1 p.m., Davidson College Richardson Stadium – Davidson football vs. Dayton. Details on DavidsonWildcats.com.

Men’s soccer vs. Presbyterian, 7 p.m., Davidson College Alumni Soccer Stadium – Davidson College men’s soccer plays Presbyterian. Tickets and other info on the college website.

Volleyball Dig It Pink night, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Davidson volleyball vs. Furman. It’s Dig Pink breast cancer awareness night.

Haunted Woods at Davidson, 8-11 p.m., Maple Way Drive, Davidson – Haunted Woods at Davidson, with kid-friendly hay rides, refreshments, free petting zoo. Continues this every Friday to Sunday through Halloween. Open till midnight on Halloween weekend. Admission $12, hayride $5. Directions from downtown Davidson: East on Davidson-Concord Road, at the roundabout bear left onto East Rocky River Road. Left onto Shearers Road, then left on Maple Way Drive.

Theater: Pride & Prejudice, 8 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center, Davidson College – The Davidson Theater department presents Pride and Prejudice as part of the Mainstage series. The show will run from October 27 to 31. For tickets, call 704-894-2135 Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or visit www.davidson.edu/tickets

SUNDAY, OCT. 31

‘The Chinese Cosmos’, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Dr. Hun Lye, Assistant Professor of Religion at Davidson College, gives the third week of three-week program on “The Chinese Cosmos of Heaven, Earth and Humanity.” This program will present an overview of the Chinese cosmos as it is understood, experienced and lived in by most Chinese from the 15th century on. It will examine the religious and philosophical underpinnings of Chinese family, politics and foodways. Free.

Theater: Pride & Prejudice, 2 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center, Davidson College – The Davidson Theater department presents Pride and Prejudice as part of the Mainstage series. The show will run from October 27 to 31. For tickets, call 704-894-2135 Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or visit www.davidson.edu/tickets

Silent film with organ: “Nosferatu”, 7:30 and 11 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, North Main Street and Concord Road – Organ at Davidson presents a screening of the classic 1922 silent film “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror,” with organ accompaniment by Henry Lebedinsky. Free, donations accepted. Details and directions, www.dcpc.org or call 704-892-5641.

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Sports, lectures, music, Discovery Place Kids debut

Alex Gregor — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 09:45:55 +0000

Seasonal events, fund-raisers, and concerts stand out among the many events going on this weekend in and around Davidson. Davidson College lectures and seminars focus on mathematics, chemistry, and masculinity in Baroque Rome. Davidson’s women’s volleyball will play Georgia Southern on Thursday, while women’s soccer faces Chattanooga at home on Sunday.

On Thursday, Davidson Parks & Rec and the developer of Davidson Bay will host a forum to hear public comments about a proposed waterfront park at the west end of Armour Street. Charlotte Symphony trombonist Tom Burge will give a recital Thursday night at Sloan Music Center’s Tyler-Tallman Hall, while a student piano recital happens on Saturday night. And there’s a classical Indian music concert Sunday afternoon.

Saturday marks the grand opening of the Discovery Place Kids museum in downtown Huntersville, as well as free performances of a “Shakespeare Unplugged” at Davidson Community Players’ Armour Street Theater. Annual events, such as the Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze, Renaissance Festival, and Haunted Woods at Davidson will be going on throughout the weekend. Autumfest 2010 happens Saturday afternoon.

At Our Town Cinemas, they’ll have a special premiere showing of “Paranormal Activity 2″ Thursday night at 10 p.m. Also opening this week, “Secretariat,” the story of the horse-racing long-shot that won the Triple Crown in 1973. And back again this week are “Red” and “The Social Network.” See showtimes on this page at right.

Details about those and other events this week are listed below, or in our clickable day-by-day calendar at right.

THURSDAY

Design Workshop for new park on Lake Davidson, noon to 8 p.m., on site and at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Parks & Rec and the developer of Davidson Bay invite residents to see and comment on a proposal for a waterfront park at the west end of Armour Street, on Lake Davidson. The public design workshop begins with a site visit at noon and continues in the afternoon with a presentation and drop-in planning session. More info in our Oct. 18 article “Workshop to help plan Armour St. waterfront park”

Volleyball vs. Georgia Southern, 6 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Davidson women’s volleyball vs. Georgia Southern. Details: www.davidsonwildcats.com

Mime and mathematics, 5:30 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Hall, Hance Auditorium – Davidson College hosts one of many Celebration of Mind events worldwide, honoring the birthday of the late Martin Gardner. Local performers Tim and Tanya Chartier will present their explorations of mathematical ideas through mime. (Tim is an associate professor of math at the college.) Read more in the Oct. 18 article “Remembering math’s ambassador with mime.”

Classical trombone recital, 7:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall, Davidson College – Charlotte Symphony Orchestra trombonist and Davidson adjunct instructor Tom Burge, accompanied on piano by Cynthia Lawing, presents a recital of classical trombone literature highlighting numerous composers, including a U.S. premiere of “Eclectus,” by Brendan Collins. General admission is $12; Faculty/Staff/Senior Citizens: $8; $Youth 18 and under: $5; Davidson Students: free with ID. Info on the college website.

Director Wrenn Goodrum with "Shakespeare Unplugged" actors Aanand Shah, Alex McCutcheon, Emily Dyckman and Meagan Ong. They'll perform free this weekend.

FRIDAY

Free technology seminar, 9 to 10:30 a.m., The Business Center @ South Main Square, 442 S. Main St. – Project for Innovation, Energy & Sustainability of Davidson presents a seminar on “Is the Future of Lighting Solid State?” by Dr. Ian Ferguson, professor at UNC Charlotte Lee College of Engineering. He’ll talk about the historical and contemporary contributions of light emitting diodes in lighting and future developments. Free. For more information, or to register, contact Kathleen Rose, 704-896-0094, or krose@roseassociates.com

Chemistry Colloquium, 2:30 p.m., Davidson College Martin Chemical Laboratory, Room B25 – Chemistry colloquium with X. Nancy Xu, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Old Dominion University, on “New Frontiers in Nanobiotechnology: Multidrug Membrane Transporters in Single Living Cells Using Single Nanoparticle Optics.” Free. For information call 704-894-2307.

Carolina Art Garden ribbon-cutting and LKN Art opening, 6-10 p.m., Carolina Art Garden, Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius – Ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the Carolina Art Garden gallery and opening reception for The Lake Norman Art League (www.lknart.org) fall show. Live music, refreshments, artists. More information: www.carolinaartgarden.com

Women’s soccer vs. Samford, 7 p.m., Davidson College Alumni Soccer Stadium – Davidson women’s soccer vs. Samford.

Shakespeare Unplugged, 7 p.m., Armour Street Theater, 307 Armour St. – Davidson Community Players Connie Co. youth theater presents “Shakespeare Unplugged,” a production of the Bard’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Young actors in the group’s Shakespeare Workshop will give free performances Friday and Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 2 p.m. Donations accepted to help support future Connie Co. programming. Info: 704-892-7953.

Mooresville Movies on Main, 8 p.m., Bellingham Park, 1600 Bellingham Drive, Mooresville – Mooresville Movies on Main presents an outdoor screening of “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” (PG). Rain location: Charles Mack Citizens Center, 215 N. Main St. Free. 704-662-3334 or www.cmccmooresville.com.

SATURDAY

Trail work at Lake Davidson Nature Preserve, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Davidson Day School – Davidson Lands Conservancy hosts a work day at the site of the planned Lake Davidson Nature Preserve. The conservancy has received a grant from REI for trail work. Bring a water bottle, work gloves and wear appropriate clothing. Children welcome, those under 16 must be with an adult. Advance registration requested. Details at www.davidsonlands.org.

Discovery Place Kids grand opening, 9 a.m., Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville, 105 Gilead Road, downtown Huntersville – Grand opening for the new Discovery Place Kids museum, with ribbon cutting at 8:45 a.m. Half-price admission this Saturday and Sunday. Hours are 9-5 Saturday, noon to 5 Sunday. Read more about the new museum in our Monday preview, “Discovery Place Kids opens its doors Saturday.”

Baby Fair, 9 a.m. to noon, Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, I-77 Exit 33, Mooresville – The hospital’s Stork’s Landing Maternity Center hosts its annual Baby Fair in Community Rooms A and B. It’s a free event for families and potential parents, with activities and information about childbirth and caring for newborns, tours of The Stork’s Landing Maternity Center, free car seat checks, and vendors’ displays. Also, children’s activities, drawings for prizes, and refreshments. Info: 704-660-4374.

Davidson football at Drake, 1 p.m. CST, Des Moines, Iowa – Davidson football at Drake University. Listen online, for details, CLICK HERE>

Autumnfest fund-raiser for A Giving Spirit foundation, 4-8 p.m., 12806 Westmoreland Farm Road, Davidson – annual Autumnfest fund-raiser for the nonprofit A Giving Spirit foundation. A Giving Spirit Foundation is guided by the vision of Laura Woodall and her family, of Davidson, and support families of mothers experiencing adversity in the face of an unforeseen health challenge, as well as the Muscular Dystrophy Association and ALS research. Event includes music by Sunday Union and Billy Jones, bounce houses, face painting, arts & crafts, games, Dottie the Clown. Tickets $150/family, $50 individual. www.agivingspirit.org

Student piano recital, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Sloan Music Center, Tyler-Tallman Hall – piano recital by students of Cynthia Lawing and Ruskin Cooper. Free. Info: 704-894-2848.

SUNDAY

‘The Chinese Cosmos’, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Dr. Hun Lye, Assistant Professor of Religion at Davidson College, gives the second week of three-week program on “The Chinese Cosmos of Heaven, Earth and Humanity.” This program will present an overview of the Chinese cosmos as it is understood, experienced and lived in by most Chinese from the 15th century on. It will examine the religious and philosophical underpinnings of Chinese family, politics and foodways. Free. Starts Oct. 17, continues Oct. 31.

Opening weekend at Discovery Place Kids, noon to 5 p.m., Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville, 105 Gilead Road, downtown Huntersville – The new kids museum is open with half-price admission this weekend. Read more about the new museum in our Monday preview, “Discovery Place Kids opens its doors Saturday.”

Women’s soccer vs. Chattanooga, 2 p.m., Davidson College Alumni Soccer Stadium – Davidson women’s soccer vs. UT-Chattanooga.

Shakespeare Unplugged, 2 p.m., Armour Street Theater, 307 Armour St. – Davidson Community Players Connie Co. youth theater presents “Shakespeare Unplugged,” a production of the Bard’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Young actors in the group’s Shakespeare Workshop will give free performances Friday and Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 2 p.m. Donations accepted to help support future Connie Co. programming. Info: 704-892-7953.

Indian classical music concert, 3:30 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall, Davidson College – Classical Indian music concert with carnatic vocalist Dr. Pantula Rama will be accompanied by violinist M.S.N. Murthy and T.K. Murugabhoopathi on mridangam. Tickets $25 general admission, free for students and members of the Classical Music Association of Charlotte. Info: 704-894-2848.

Lecture: “Violence & Masculinity in Rome”, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union, 900 Room – Laurie Nussdorfer, professor of history and letters at Wesleyan University, will deliver the fall Kendrick Kelley Lecture in Historical Studies on “Violence and Masculinity in Baroque Rome.” Free. Info: 704-894-2074.

Haunted Woods at Davidson, Haunted Woods at Davidson, 8-11 p.m., Maple Way Drive, Davidson – Haunted Woods at Davidson, with kid-friendly hay rides, refreshments, free petting zoo. Continues every Friday to Sunday through Halloween. Open till midnight on Halloween weekend. Admission $12, hayride $5. Directions from downtown Davidson: East on Davidson-Concord Road, at the roundabout bear left onto East Rocky River Road. Left onto Shearers Road, then left on Maple Way Drive.

LOOKING AHEAD: Monday, Oct. 25

Planning workshop for Griffith Street project, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Planning Board meeting, including public session on Davidson Commons East. Developers Robert Tremblay and Martin Kerr are requesting a change in the original master plan to allow commercial instead of residential use on Parcel II of the 6.4-acre site, off Griffith Street at Davidson Gateway Drive, near Community School of Davidson. Details on the Town website.

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Come out to Autumnfest at Westmoreland Farm Sat.

Alex Gregor — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:03:43 +0000

Laura Woodall and her daughters.

Autumnfest – a family-oriented gathering with music, food and games – will raise money for the local nonprofit A Giving Spirit Foundation this Saturday, Oct. 23. The event is from 4-8 p.m. at Westmoreland Farms, 12806 Westmoreland Farm Road in Davidson.

A Giving Spirit Foundation is guided by the vision of Davidson residents Laura Woodall and her family. Ms. Woodall was diagnosed in 2006 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

The foundation supports the families of mothers experiencing adversity in the face of an unforeseen health challenge, as well as the Muscular Dystrophy Association and ALS research. All proceeds from Saturday’s event will support A Giving Foundation and other organizations such as Project ALS.

Autumnfest will feature food, games, and family entertainment. Sunday Union and Billy Jones will take the stage to provide musical entertainment. There will also be bouncy houses and slides, face painting, arts and crafts activities, games, and a clown for the kids.

Dinner will be provided by Outback Steakhouse. There will also be a silent auction. Attendees will have the chance to win a weekend at a cabin near the Virginia Creeper Trail, artwork, meals prepared by Betsy Verhy, closet organizing, interior decorating consultation, a week of summer camp at Woodlawn School, Davidson Wildcats and Carolina Panthers tickets, and a “night out” basket with area restaurant gift cards and babysitting coupons.

Tickets are $150 for families, $50 for individuals. For more information, visit A Giving Spirit’s website.

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Combined auditions; honors for Max Polley

Alex Gregor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:13:17 +0000

Max Polley (center) with his AACT award. With him are Harv Thompson and Linda Miller. (Stephen Bird photo)

Longtime local theater volunteer Max Polley, former board chair of Davidson Community Players, has been recognized for his work by American Association of Community Theatre.

Also below, news about Metrolina Theatre Association’s unified audition on July 18 with representatives of 20 area theater companies. The one-day event will link actors, stage managers, technicians and others with productions planned across the region during the 2009-10 season.

MANY SHOWS, ONE AUDITION

Metrolina Theater Association, including representatives from 20 area theater companies, will conduct its third annual unified auditions for actors, stage managers, technicians and designers Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at ImaginOn in downtown Charlotte, home of Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.

Last year more than 120 people participated in the audition, which is free for actors and technicians.

If you’re interested, prepare a 90-second audition which you’ll do in front of representatives from more than 20 regional theatre companies, including Actors Theatre of Charlotte, Davidson Community Players, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, as well as directors, casting directors, and producers.

Deadline for mail in registration is Friday, July 3, and is preferred. Walk-up registrants will also be taken the day of the event. Participation in the auditions for companies, directors and producers is $35.

For details, go to www.metrolinatheatre.org or send e-mail to: mtaunifiedauditions@gmail.com

NATIONAL HONORS FOR MAX

Max Polley, long-time volunteer and former board chair for the Davidson Community Players, has received the Robert E. Gard Superior Volunteer Award from the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT). The award is presented to those above the age of 65 who have faithfully served community theater on an unpaid basis for more than 25 years.

Max Polley

Mr. Polley is a presbyterian minister and professor emeritus at Davidson College. He retired in 1993, but he has never retired from his non-paid work with the Davidson Community Players.

For more than 30 years he has worked tirelessly managing the box office, raising money, building sets, and serving on the board of directors. He first became involved with Davidson Community Players in 1975 when his son convinced him to try out for a production of “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Once on stage, he was hooked for life and appeared in an additional 21 productions.

Although founded in 1965, Davidson Community Players formed its first board in the mid-1980s, with Mr. Polley as chair. Under his direction the board hired its first executive director. He returned to the board in 1985 and served another 12 years.

At age 81, Mr. Polley is still eager to volunteer and he and his wife Jackie continue to be generous financial donors. Mr. Polley was flown out to Tacoma, Wash., with his daughter Lynn to receive his award in person at AACTFest ’09 June 23-27.

AFTER ‘WEST SIDE,’ ‘BAREFOOT’ ON THE WAY

Davidson Community Players sold out all but one show in their recent production of “West Side Story at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall, and they’ve already got another production in the works.

Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park,” directed by Alan Poindexter, runs July 23 to Aug. 2, also at Duke Family Performance Hall. Ticket info below.

THEATER CALENDAR

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 7 p.m., Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave. – Cornelius PARC and Davidson Community Players’ Connie Co. present “The Connie Company Dives In!” It’s a fast-paced kid-friendly production of poems, stories, legends and lore “under the sea,” and is the culmination of this summer’s Rupert T. Barber Summer Workshop Series. Free. In lieu of admission, bring a donation of school, health and beauty or first aid supplies for Lake Norman Children’s Relief Suitcase Project. Details: 704-892-7953 or www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., ImaginOn, Charlotte – Metrolina Theatre Association combined audition for next season’s local theatrical productions. Open for actors, designers, technicians, and others. Details: www.metrolinatheatre.org or e-mail to: mtaunifiedauditions@gmail.com

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 4 p.m., Armour Street Theater, 307 Armour St. – Davidson Community Players’ Connie Co. presents “The Connie Company Dives In!” It’s a fast-paced kid-friendly production of poems, stories, legends and lore “under the sea,” and is the culmination of this summer’s Rupert T. Barber Summer Workshop Series. Admission is $3 for adults and children. Proceeds benefit Davidson Community Players’ Connie Company youth programming. Details: 704-892-7953 or www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

JULY 23-AUG. 2, Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park,” directed by Alan Poindexter. July 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m., Aug. 2, 2 p.m. Info and tickets: www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org or 704-892-7918.

OCT. 8-25, Davidson Community Players’ Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour St. – “Almost Maine,” directed by Melissa Ohlman-Roberge. www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org