Aquila Theatre Company, one of the foremost producers of touring classical theater in the United States, is bringing its production of Romeo & Juliet to the Chastain Theatre at The Prizery.

The company will present a sold-out performance for students attending HCHS, GW, and Carlbrook on Thursday morning, October 8th. At 7:30pm that evening, they will present a public performance. Tickets are $25 adult, $23 Senior, $10 student.

Sponsors for this event are Gravitt & Gravitt, John & Linda Martin, Martin Beekman & Dorothy Tarleton, Mid-Atlantic Broadband Corporation, Powell Funeral Home, and Tri-County Gastroenterology-Dr. Richard Allen.

10th Anniversary Season Sponsors include: Town of South Boston, Town of Halifax, County of Halifax, Comfort Systems USA-Midatlantic, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Ryan & Jill Garrett, Ann Chesley Edmunds, Thomas & Jayne Elliott, Paul & Debbie Edmunds, The Chastain Home Foundation, Virginia Tourism Corporation, National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Melinda Doolittle and her trio will take the stage at the Chastain Theatre at The Prizery on Sunday, September 27th at 2:30pm.

She was told as a child that she was tone deaf, but her love of music and her grit and determination would not let Melinda Doolittle give up on her dream of being a singer. After lots of work, she entered and won a singing competition as a teen, and she never looked back. Doolittle received a degree in music from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she honed her musical skills and developed a love of singing back-up. Singing back-up comes naturally to Doolittle, and she has done it with some of the best, including Aretha Franklin, BeBe and CeCe Winans and Aaron Neville.

But, what really set Doolittle on the road to a successful singing career was her appearance on American Idol in 2007 where she came in third place in the voting. One of her best memories of that experience was Simon Cowell who called her his “personal favorite.” Simon did not understand why the voting public did not name her the winner, because she was the winner in his eyes.

Since then, Melinda has played the White House, Carnegie Hall and appeared with the Air Force Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra for their most recent 4th of July Celebration. Doolittle is currently touring throughout the country and will make a stop at The Prizery on Sunday at 2:30. She will be joined by her trio, piano, bass and drums.

Melinda Doolittle is sponsored in part by H and M Logging, Inc. Additional support for The Prizery’s 10th Anniversary Season comes from Comfort Systems USA, Fairfield Inns and Suites by Marriott, the Town of South Boston, the Town of Halifax, the County of Halifax, Ryan and Jill Garrett, Ann Chesley Edmunds, Thomas and Jayne Elliott, Paul and Debbie Edmunds, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts and The Chastain Home Foundation.

On Saturday, September 26^th, The Prizery kicks off its 10^th Anniversary celebration during the South Boston Harvest Festival with several exciting events, free and open to the public. Come explore YOUR Community Arts Center!

Pre-K Art Parade: any current or former pre-k arts academy students with pieces of pre-k art, framed or unframed, are invited to participate in the Pre-K Art Parade! We’ll meet at The Prizery at 9:30am, the parade will begin in Constitution Square at 10:00am, and the event will conclude by 10:30am.

Theatre Games: Halifax County Little Theatre will be hosting theatre games in the Chastain Theatre at The Prizery from 10:00am – 1:00pm.

Leaf Printing: Parsons-Bruce Art Association and South Boston-Halifax Junior Woman’s Club will be hosting a leaf printing art project in the Art Classroom at The Prizery from 10:00am – 1:00pm.

Historical Tours & Information: Halifax County Historical Society will have representatives at The Prizery from 10:00am – 1:00pm to provide information about The Crossing of the Dan and its permanent exhibits. *Note: the 3^rd floor exhibit will be closed due to a private event.

Music Demonstrations: Mark Weems will provide banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer, and ukulele demonstrations at The Prizery from 10:00am – 1:00pm.

The Prizery is organizing a Pre-K Art Parade during Harvest Festival to kick off its 10^th Anniversary Celebration Week. The parade will begin at 10:00am on Saturday, September 26^th at Constitution Square in South Boston.

Ten years prior, on September 25, 2005, the ribbon was cut at The Prizery during the South Boston Harvest Festival and the Pre-K Arts Academy began. Approximately 3,000 students have attended the academy, in partnership with Halifax County Public Schools, since its inception. Each student has received instruction in art, music, and creative movement.

Pre-K Art Instructor, Susi Robbins, reports that “people come up to me all the time, telling me about their student’s artwork and how they have saved pieces since Pre-K.” This feedback sparked an idea for Robbins – create an art parade during Harvest Festival in conjunction with The Prizery’s 10^th Anniversary.

“We are issuing a call to action,” says Robbins. “Parents, grandparents, students, or anyone else who has Pre-K art, framed or unframed, can participate.” Participants will meet at The Prizery on Saturday, September 26^th. The parade will start at Constitution Square at 10:00am and is expected to end by 10:30am. Contact Alison Streeter, Managing Director of The Prizery, at (434) 572-8339 or alison@prizery.com to register.

After the art parade, there will be theatre games, leaf printing, historical tours, and other demonstrations free and open to the public at The Prizery until 1:00pm. Streeter explains, “People hear a lot about what happens in the theatre at The Prizery, but our community arts center is home to many other activities. What better way to kick off our 10^th Anniversary than to invite the community to experience these activities first-hand?”

Other anniversary celebration activities include:

• Melinda Doolittle & her Trio – Sunday, September 27^th at 2:30pm in the Chastain Theatre. An American Idol finalist in 2007, Melinda has established herself as a brilliant singer with powerhouse vocals and personal charm. Don’t miss this afternoon of Gospel, R&B, and vocal standards. Tickets are $25 adult, $23 senior, $15 student.
• Sharon Saseen art exhibit in the Robert F. Cage Art Gallery – starting September 13^th. Renowned artist, illustrator, and author from Savannah, Georgia, Ms. Saseen will present a lecture in the banquet hall of The Prizery on Sunday, September 13^th at 2:30pm, followed by a reception in the art gallery lobby. Her exhibit will continue through October 29^th. The lecture, reception, and exhibit are free and open to the public.
• 10^th Anniversary Gala – Saturday, October 3^rd at 6:00pm. Libations, dinner, and entertainment abound as we toast to the next ten years! Tickets are $100 per person or tables can be reserved for $1,000.

Come join the celebration of your community arts center! For more information, visit www.prizery.com or call (434) 572-8339. 10^th Anniversary Season sponsors include the Town of South Boston, the Town of Halifax, the County of Halifax, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Comfort Systems USA, Ryan and Jill Garrett, Ann Chesley Edmunds, Thomas and Jayne Elliott, Paul and Debbie Edmunds, The Chastain Home Foundation, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Mark your calendar and save the date. Tickets are now on sale for “Here’s to the Next Ten Years” a gala celebrating the tenth anniversary of The Prizery set for Saturday, October 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Banquet Hall at The Prizery. The eventful evening includes libations, a seated dinner, dancing and an array of surprising entertainment promising to please.

Tickets to the black tie optional event are $100 per person and may be purchased in person or by telephone, cash or credit card, at The Prizery or the Visitors’ Center. Tables for 10 may be reserved for $1000.

“We encourage everyone to purchase tickets early, as seating is limited,” states event chairman and president of the board of directors of the Community Arts Center Foundation Marie Ketchersid. “The gala committee has planned an extraordinary evening to both celebrate the success of the past ten years and raise a glass to the next ten.”

The evening will kick off with hors d’oeuvres and drinks, including wine, beer and a signature cocktail, followed by a seated three course dinner catered by Chef Seasons, and capped off with dancing to the music of 6^th N Main – with some special surprises tossed in now and then. The event is a fundraiser for The Prizery and another opportunity for the community to show its support for the continued success of the work of the Community Arts Center Foundation in brining quality arts, education and performances to the community.

“The explosion of the arts in Southern Virginia has been led by The Prizery over the last ten years,” states Chris Jones, artistic director. “The Prizery flourishes because of the varied arts education experiences offered to young people in our region. The Prizery’s future is in their hands and it’s our job to prepare them well so the arts will continue to flourish.”

“I have long said that Carlbrook recruited me to South Boston almost thirteen years ago,” says Alison Streeter, managing director of The Prizery, “but the people I have met through The Prizery have kept me here. I’m thrilled to celebrate The Prizery’s first decade and to help usher in the next decade in style during the 10^th Year Anniversary Gala. This will certainly be an evening to remember and a chance to celebrate what you, our community, has created.”

“When you look at what has happened at The Prizery since 2005, you can’t help but be impressed,” Ketchersid states. The transformation of the building itself was amazing enough, but to look back and really think about the performances, the classes, the exhibits – the quality as well as quantity – is remarkable. So many individuals have worked so hard to make it all happen. It is an honor for me to be a part of it.”

You can be a part of it, too. Call or visit The Prizery, 700 Bruce Street in South Boston, 434-572-8339, to purchase tickets for this special event or call or visit the Halifax County Visitor’s Center, 1180 Bill Tuck Highway, 434-572-2543. Tickets purchased by phone at The Prizery may be held at the box office until the evening of the event. Tickets purchased at the Visitor’s Center must be picked up in person.