By Barbara Stagg, Producer
Historic Rugby announces open auditions for the world premiere of an original production titled “Emmy & Granny: The Hughes Women at Uffington House, 1881–1887” written by Brandon Daughtry Slocum. Auditions will be March 21 from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern at the Rebecca Johnson Theater at Historic Rugby. No preparation, resumes or headshots are required. There will be cold readings from the script with 10-12 parts to be selected.
Roles Needed: Romantic leading male 25 - 40; Female antagonist 18 - 30; Married couple 30-65; Comic female 18-30; Leading male 18-35; Leading lady female 18-26; Four males 40-100+ ; Non-gender narrator 18 +
Rehearsals will be two nights each week beginning April 26. Not all characters must be present at every rehearsal. Stage experience is desirable but not required. Call Barbara Stagg at 423-628-2441 or 423-628-2449 for more details or questions.
This is a commissioned work funded in part by a Rural Arts Project Support Grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and sponsorship by First National Bank of Scott County. The play is scheduled for June 18 in preview, playing June 19, closing with a matinee on June 20.
SNOW GONE, BUT ICE REMAINS
Rugby has enjoyed spring-like temperatures the last few days. While the snow is mostly gone, Saturday's hike to the bluffs above the White Oak showed that substantial amounts of ice remain in those shaded areas.
BOOK CLUB MEETS SATURDAY
The Rugby Book Club’s next selection is Kathryn Sackett's The Help, which has been on The New York Times’ best seller list for 45 weeks. The meeting will be at the home of Lavonne and Charles Gibbs in Beacon Hill (137 Luton St.) this coming Saturday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The Help is a fascinating book about African American maids in Mississippi in the early 1960s and is a perfect selection for Black History Month. Lavonne may be able to help you locate a copy of the book. It is a quick read. You can contact her at 628-5678 or clgibbs@highland.net
RUGBY CRAFT ARTISTS’ ESTATE SALE
By Steve and Annie Bell
In an effort to downsize, we are having an Estate Sale February 26 and 27, featuring antiques, primitives, glass, furniture, display pieces, natural materials, art supplies, framed prints, books, brooms, collectible dolls, birdhouses, garden items and much more. Come see us at 7434 Northampton Blvd., Knoxville 37931. This is in Karns, off W. Emory. 947-7440.
LUCK OF THE IRISH TEA
By Linda Brooks Jones
Wednesday March 3, 2010, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern, Grey Gables Bed ’n Breakfast Inn will hold an Irish Tea. “May you always have tea beside the fire.” A little “Blarney” is an added spice to life’s conversation and pleasure. MENU - Dubliner Tea Sandwiches, Emerald Isle Quiche, Leprechauns with Bacon Vinaigrette, Potato Poundies, Tipsy Squire Trifles, Blarney Scones with Cherry Walnut Spread and Assorted Teas. $10.00 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call Linda Brooks Jones at 423-628-5252.
Editors Note: We would love a photo of Leprechauns with Bacon Vinaigrette.
HRI BOARD NOMINATION PROCESS
By Jane Logan, HRI Nominating Committee Chair
All HRI members should have been contacted by e-mail and or regular mail regarding the nomination process for new Board members.
If you did not receive notice of the nomination process, please contact Jane Logan at jlo328@comcast.net or Cheryl Cribbet at historicrugby@highland.net and we will send you a copy. All nominations should be sent in by March 30, 2010. The Nominating Committee thanks everyone for their interest in this matter.
THE LOGAN-LETNER-GILES PLACE
By George Zepp
Little known now in Rugby is the name of the former Letner estate on a bend in the White Oak River here. It was called "Riverside" back in the early days after it was established by the Solomon Giles family. An article in the old "Rugby Gazette" newspaper tells part of its story.
This name is particularly interesting because the 14-acre tract of "good bottom land" across the river from it was called "Sunnyside," accessible by a swinging bridge. That was the Ernest V. Alexander farm (with its 2,250 raspberry plants). The old Sunnyside house, in ruin by the late 1970s, has now reportedly collapsed and probably been partially sucked into the earth.
"Riverside" was known in 1885 for its 4,000 raspberry "trees," as the Gazette editor called them. Mr. Giles "manured" most of them with cotton seed oil, but left some without it as a test. He also had a peach crop that failed only once between 1880 and 1885.
Photos of Riverside taken about a week ago by Rick Murphy
The 2010 owners, Steve and Jane Logan, will have some planting to do this year if they want to equal Mr. Giles. A tip for them: he put the raspberry plants 6 feet apart and planted corn and potatoes between the rows. We'll look forward to seeing Steve and Jane at the Rugby Farmers' Market with a bountiful crop of historically appropriate peaches, raspberries, corn and potatoes one of these days!
QUOTE FROM RUGBY’S PAST
By George Zepp
There is an interesting quote from "The Rugbeian" on June 3, 1882, in an article titled "Rugby As It Is" :
"The present is the golden egg we have to incubate."
Of course, today's Rugby draws to a large measure for its present from its past. But the editor's thought from that date is still profound.
BIRTHDAYS
February 24 - Laura Martin
February 27 - Lynn Takacs
CALENDAR
February 27 – Book Club meeting at Lavonne Gibbs home in Beacon Hill (137 Luton Street) - 7:00 p.m. The book is Kathryn Sackett's The Help
February 28 – HRI Board Meeting 1:30 p.m. Eastern
March 3 - Irish Tea at Grey Gables Bed ‘n Breakfast Inn. 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern. May you always have tea beside the fire. A little “Blarney” is an added spice to life’s conversation and pleasure. MENU -Dubliner Tea Sandwiches, Emerald Isle Quiche, Leprechauns with Bacon Vinaigrette, Potato Poundies, Tipsy Squire Trifles, Blarney Scones with Cherry Walnut Spread and Assorted Teas. $10.00 plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call Linda Brooks Jones at 423-628-5252.
March 6 - Southern Arts Federation’s 3rd Annual Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival at Rebecca Johnson Theatre in Rugby 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Film festival tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Call Historic Rugby at 888-214-3400 to purchase tickets by phone. After-festival dinner at Rugby’s Harrow Road Café and lodging in historic buildings can also be reserved.
March 6 – Community Potluck 7:00 p.m. Eastern
March 12 – History Club 7:00 p.m. Eastern – Mike Harris will discuss the planned Cemetery Tour, reviving a few historical Rugby figures for today’s visitors and residents
March 20 - The Wild Thyme Players and The Silver Stage Players present an original production of “The Way the Story Goes” a collection of true stories written and performed by artists ranging in age from 10 to 85. 7:30 p.m. Eastern, Historic Rugby’s Rebecca Johnson Theatre. Contact Historic Rugby for more information or reservations at 888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441. Admission is free, but donations to Historic Rugby and the Players will be appreciated.
March 21 – Open Auditions New Play - “Emmy & Granny: The Hughes Women at Uffington House, 1881 – 1887” written by Brandon Daughtry Slocum from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern at the Rebecca Johnson Theater at Historic Rugby. No preparation, resumes or headshots are required. There will be cold readings from the script with 10-12 parts to be selected.
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2-4 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
WORKSHOP CALENDAR
For Workshop Registration contact Historic Rugby at 888-214-3400 - rugbylegacy@highland.net
Pastel Easter Basket - Saturday, March 27, 10:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. Instructor: Veronica Ludlow Fee: $54
A perfect workshop for beginner basket makers. This class makes basket making simple and you will create a colorful Easter basket to use year after year.
Spring Wildflower Walk & Image Show - Saturday, April 10, 10:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. Instructor: Jack Carmen Fee: $25. The Rugby region abounds with spring wildflowers, including several rare species. Jack Carman, whose book Wildflowers of Tennessee is a definitive guide, will lead us, by carpool and then hike, to a very special Cumberland Plateau location for wildflower viewing and photographing. Attendees will learn and see at least 30-35 species and attend an afternoon film presentation and book signing. Rugby's rare heirloom gladiolus bulbs will be for sale from Rugby’s Heirloom Nursery & Greenhouse.
Wet on Wet Iris Painting - Saturday, April 24, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern. “Iris" oil painting class in the Jenkins wet-on-wet technique by certified art instructor Mara Trumbo. Step-by-step instructions will ensure you will complete the painting in one day. Cost of $60.00 includes the use of all studio materials and a 16"x20" stretched canvas. Please bring a packed lunch with drinks and a sunny disposition for a fun day!
By Linda Konig
What a glorious spring we've had! Yes, I know it isn't officially springtime yet, and I know we'll probably have more bad weather. But I'll take spring if and whenever I find it. Why let what may come next week interfere with our enjoyment of today? Yesterday I was looking in the usual yards where we find Snowdrops (Uffington, Newbury, The Lindens, Kingstone Lisle, and even my own). Not only were they up and budded, but blooming! Rugby's honeybees were having a feast. They, too, believe in taking spring if and as it comes.
I found one purple English Primrose at Kingstone Lisle, and Rick Murphy has a few flowering at Walton Court. They usually start to bloom in February. In fact, the very first time I came to visit Rugby was on a spring-like Saturday in February, 1976, and there in one of the beds at Kingstone Lisle were a couple of bright pink and purple flowers. I never forgot them, and later learned they were English Primroses. So forgive me if I wax a little sentimental over these first flowers of spring.
I looked for a couple of other possible kinds of flowers yesterday but didn't find them. Yet any day now they'll show up. One was the humble Henbit. I know some people call it a weed, but it's in some of the wildflower books. I've always loved them, if for no other reason than that they have the courage to show up so early. Though their tiny pinkish-purple flowers hardly show up on a single plant, it's quite an eyeful to see a whole field of them from a certain angle on a sunny day. The whole field will appear solid purple. Look for them on drives in the country – or around the post office box kiosk in Rugby.
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
Full Film Festival Listing
“Falling to the Top” Narrative Short. Directed by Wes Edwards. Produced by Brittany Hailes. Nashville, TN. Shot in an artfully directed, gothic comic book style, this is a uniquely crafted, funny short film about Bob, a hapless twenty-something trying to pull his life together.
“Faster Pastor” Documentary Short. Directed by Adam Farrell, Savannah, GA. As the sun sets on a humid August evening, local preachers, pastors, and ministers end their sermons and start up their stock cars. There can be only one Faster Pastor.
“Flight Lessons” Animated Short. Produced and Directed by Neil Helm, Savannah, GA. An airline captain and aviation enthusiast relates to an unexpected audience the wonder and intricacy of modern jet aviation.
“Monster Movie” Animated Short. Produced and Directed by Stephen Hammond, Savannah, GA. A cute, pigtailed little girl sits silently in front of the TV flipping through channels. Out of the darkness, a monster leaps forward, but the little girl remains unmoved.
“My Deer Friend” Narrative Short. Produced and Directed by Andrew Cherry, Savannah, GA. Glen, an energetic pre-teen, is faced with the pressure to kill a deer in order to win his father’s respect. Richard, a white tail deer, offers to lay down his life for his friend.
“Pollenating” Experimental Short. Directed by David Montgomery, Fernandina Beach, FL. An ode to Georgia O'Keeffe, “Pollenating” features imagery derived directly from nature. The motion is a result of the diversity of nearly everything in existence.
“Raised on Rice and Gravy” Documentary Short. Co-Directed by Conni Castille and Allison Bohl. Breaux Bridge, LA and Lafayette, LA. More than anywhere else in the South, folks in the food-conscious town of Lafayette stubbornly cling to their traditions of home cooking and a shared midday meal.
“Si Tú No Estás” Narrative Short. Directed by Noé Santillán-López, Savannah, GA. A bolero guitar player, Julian struggles with music and life after the death of his wife. His grief breeds indifference to his son. Taken aback by a revelation, Julian opens his eyes to the reality in front of him.
“Sunlight & Babies” Documentary Short. Produced and Directed by Kimberly Craig, Savannah, GA. This documentary ventures into the nightlife of truck stop culture, as told through the voices of several anonymous truckers via CB radio interviews.
“The Farm Team” Documentary Short. Produced and Directed by Scott Balzer, Marietta, GA. This short doc is a first-hand look at the challenges of being on the grounds crew of a minor league baseball team in Mobile, Alabama, the rainiest city in the United States.
