Last Thursday, May 27th, the Louisa Rotary Club was honored to welcome special guest speaker, Kim Willard. Willard is currently the Artistic Director of the Mountain Movers Theatre Company and part of the ARC initiative. Before moving to Louisa, Willard earned a Grammy award for the “outstanding” chorus and drama curriculum she developed in a high school based in South Carolina.
Willard came to the Rotary meeting to discuss the up and coming theater season, along with kid camps that will be offered to the citizens of Louisa. Willard expressed her love of theater and for the City of Louisa by detailing how she wants to give back to the place she, “feel(s) is home now.”
Willard is bringing back the Garden Theatre in Louisa, starting with camps for children in the summer. The day camps will be two weeks and will teach the children a play, that they will perform at the end of the camp. The first play the kids will be doing this year is Mary Poppins Jr. Willard also looks to make the performance of A Christmas Carol an annual event, as last year they were able to perform it, even during the COVID outbreak. Louisa citizens can attend these performances for just $8.00 per adult and $5.00 per child.
This year marks the inaugural season for the professional shows here in Louisa, with actors from all around the country coming to perform. The first of these shows Pump Boys and Dinettes, with a ticket price set at $15.00 for Adult, $12.00 for Seniors, and $9.00 for kids. However, if a party has four or more, the set price is only $25.00.
Mayor, Harold Slone was in attendance and expressed his enthusiasm for the events, “Towns our size don’t get this opportunity. We are blessed beyond to have this opportunity.”
For further information about the kid camps or professional shows, go to mtnmoverstheatre.com. For tickets, visit eventbrite.com
In other Rotary news, Superintendent, Dr. Robbie Fletcher expressed his thanks to the Rotary as the high school graduation was a full success. “People didn’t want to leave.” Fletcher said. He added how the graduation allowed for a gathering that the town hadn’t been able to have since COVID hit. Fletcher said the LC girls won regionals in tennis, and track and field will be starting up again in the near future. Fletcher ended with explaining that for students who may be food insecure can still pick up lunch at the school from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Mayor Slone would also like to show his gratitude for the grant the city was able to get for the new street signs. These durable signs are not only pleasing to the eye, but are sturdy and made to last for years, Slone said.
The Louisa Rotary Club would like to recognize and congratulate Dr. Cassandra Webb on her retirement from the Lawrence Co. School System.
If we can just get the county to chip in some money for roads
Here that Mr. Blackburn election right around the corner