Keep the momentum going

Town Cryer

by ALLISON CRYER

The community of Jennings is going in the right direction by investing in the arts with big upgrades in the works at the Strand Theatre.

The Jeff Davis Arts Council, A Block Off Broadway Community Theatre (ABOB) and the Strand Theatre are teaming up to help bring a bit of Jennings’ past back for the next generation with hopes to purchase a digital movie projector.

In the past, there have been many times when the Strand had to pass on musical acts or other touring shows because it couldn’t meet their visual needs. Digital projection could open up the roster of acts coming into our community. Also, the enhancement would take ABOB plays to a whole new level, with multimedia sets that would draw the entire community out to get a glimpse of a unique and entirely local theatre scene.

ABOB has already sketched out plans for possible film festival as part of their 19th season. In addition to the two plays they put on each year, ABOB would fill the months in between plays with related films. Also, the Jeff Davis Arts Council would like to team up with the Jennings Carnegie Library for a summer reading program that would allow children to compare works of literature with the movies they inspired.

The new projection system would also create a niche in the tourism market for Jennings. Where else in our area can you see your favorite film light up the silver screen, or the characters in your favorite book come to life before your eyes? This is an experience you won’t find in Crowley or Lake Charles, where many Jennings residents have to travel to find a movie theater.

While the projection system could bring in new revenues sources for the Strand Theatre, more importantly, the upgrade would significantly increase the life and enhance the quality of our town’s historic theatre.

I have been pleasantly surprised at the amount of excitement this project has generated in the community of Jennings. Everyone is talking about bringing movies back to Jennings – it’s the talk of the town.

We all love movies, no matter what age we are or what culture we come from. Many may remember watching movies on the big screen as a child at the Strand Theatre, and bringing movies back to our community would generations for years to come the opportunity to share in that same experience.

That is why it is important to keep the momentum going on this project, staying committed to enhancing the lives of the citizens in our community through a renewed focus on the arts. With all of the divisive topics on our tongues like the presidential election or the Chick-Fil-a war of 2012, it is inspiring to see Jennings citizens coming together for something that could benefit the core of our community for years to come.

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Posted by Graphic Designer 2 on Aug 24 2012. Filed under Editorial Columns. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.