The wait is finally over. The TV series Lovetown, USA, is finally filming. The big kick off event is a “Love Rally” at Howard Gilman Waterfront Park in downtown St. Marys, GA, taking place on Sunday, February 11, 2012 starting at 2 pm. This is going to be the first official event for the TV series. As you probably know, the series is a co-production between the BBC and Opray Winfrey’s Network, and the series is schedule to start broadcast in the summer. The crew is already in town, and you might see them around. If you are interested in getting seen on the Opray Winfrey Network, don’t miss the big Love Rally in downtown St. Marys. We want to make a big impression, so help spread the word by sharing this post on facebook and social networks.

Due to an early sellout of The Drifters Star Spectacular Show in St. Marys, a second performance has been added. Tickets are now available for a 6:00 pm performance on February 4 and can be purchased at the St. Marys Welcome Center, 111 Osborne Street in St. Marys.

The legendary music that inspired Rolling Stone Magazine to name The Drifters #81 on their list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Times” is coming to St. Marys February 4, 2012.

Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters will be bringing back some of baby boomers’ greatest memories with hits like “Under the Boardwalk”, “This Magic Moment”, “Up on the Roof”, “On Broadway”, and “Save the Last Dance for Me” at the Theatre by the Trax.

The Drifters originally formed in 1953 and achieved 13 chart hits during their career, writing and performing doo-wop and blues all over the world.

Star Spectaculars

Doug and Jeanne Vaught, proprietors of Theatre by the Trax, are planning a series of “Star Spectaculars” that will feature some of the music industry’s most beloved performers. They felt that launching the series with The Drifters would set the perfect tone for future concerts.

“The Drifters are legendary,” said Doug Vaught. “Their music is a blend of nostalgic magic and on-stage excitement that few new artists can lay claim to.”
Vaught was referring to the showmanship for which groups like The Drifters are famous.

Dr. Roy’z Magical Musical Time Machine is the opening act for the February 4th concert, a great choice to get the audience thinking “oldies but goodies,” Vaught said.

200 Tickets

Only 200 tickets will be sold for The Drifters concert and Vaught said that tickets were going fast. Tickets can be purchased in Kingsland at Kingsland City Hall, and in St. Marys at On the Green Salon and Day Spa, Once Upon a Bookseller, Cedar Oak Café, and St. Marys Seafood & More. Vaught said if people outside the area could not get into town
to purchase the tickets, they can call 912-552-5559 and arrange to have them mailed.

For more information, about the Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters concert or Theatre by the Trax, call 912-552-5559.

The Drifters 1955

The St. Marys Little Theatre will be holding auditions for its upcoming production, “River of Life,” on January 28, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at the Theatre by the Trax, 1100 Osborne Road, in St. Marys.

“River of Life” is an original musical written by local citizens and is based on the history of St. Marys. Performances will be March 30, 31, April 6, 7, and 8 at Theatre by the Trax.

Theatre Director Barbara Ryan encourages all who are interested in performing or supporting the production as a volunteer to show up at the audition.

“If you go into the St. Marys Welcome Center near the waterfront and see the 30-foot historical mural on the wall there, you’ll know exactly what the play is about,” Ryan said. “River of Life is that mural come to life.”

Parts that need to be filled include: Timucuan Indians, St. Marys founding fathers, tall ship workers, Acadians, Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, choir members, Major Admiral Cockburn, War of 1812 troops, Civil War soldiers, children ages 5 and up, paper mill workers, three women to play the sisters who owned the Riverview Hotel, and sailors.

Ryan said though all parts include singing, you don’t have to have a great voice to sing some of the original songs.

The Theatre also needs volunteers for costumes, house managements, stage assistance, tech support, sound and lights.

Interested parties should come to Theatre by the Trax at 1100 Osborne Road on Saturday, January 28, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., and be prepared to sing any song of their choice.

For more information, call 912-729-1103 or email Barbara@coastalgeorgiafilm.org.

The movie “About Fifty” is screening at Kings Bay Cinema on January 18, 2012. The two stars of the film,  Martin Grey and Drew Pillsbury, will be in attendance and there will be a Q & A with the actors after the movie.

In this modern comedy, we meet two long-time golf-buddies, Adam, going through a trial separation from his wife of 15 years, and Jon, who is not only losing work to the “young guy,” but also dealing with a “generous” prostate. They decide to take off on a weekend journey to let loose and re-live the Palm Springs get-a-ways of their younger days but meet with unexpected results. Struggling to fit in with the younger crowd, they find surprising comfort through encounters with women nearer their own age. As the weekend progresses, both are forced to come to a truce with middle life’s predicaments.
“About Fifty” was an official selection of the 2011 Atlanta Film Festival and the Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale and Amelia Island international film festivals.

The screening of “About Fifty” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 18, at Kingsbay Cinema followed by a Q&A session with the film’s stars, Martin Grey and Drew Pillsbury. Grey and Pillsbury will offer insights into how this charming film got made on an extremely low budget.
Grey has worked regularly for more than 20 years in film and television, with directors such as Terry Zwigoff, Barry Levinson, and Howard Deutsch. Most recently he recurred in NBC’s “Life” as Mark Conover and has guest starred on shows such as “Cold Case,” “CSI: Miami,” “Desperate Housewives” and “ER.” Pillsbury has worked for more than 25 years as an actor, getting his start opposite Griffin Dunne and Madonna in “Who’s That Girl.” He also starred in “Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon.” “About Fifty” marks his third produced film as a screenwriter.

The event is organized by the Coastal Georgia Film Alliance.

Tickets for “About Fifty” are $12.50 and are available at Once Upon a Bookseller, Jerry Lee’s Music, Bulldog Discount Liquors and The Cedar Oak Cafe in Saint Marys. For more information about the screening, call (904) 410-1075

Recently we visited Cumberland Island to for the TV show “I Know Jax” broadcast on CW 17 in the greater Jacksonville area. The story about Cumberland Island is going to air in the Hit the Road Jax segment of the TV show on Saturday November 19 at 11 pm.

The episode is showcasing the beautiful nature of Cumberland Island with its live oaks and vast, sandy beaches.  The island is also an important stopover point for migrating birds on the transatlantic migratory flyway, but maybe it’s most known for its wild horses.

Joe visits Cumberland Island - I Know Jax on CW17

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is the name of St. Marys Little Theatre’s holiday production that will be performed at Theatre by the Trax on December 16, 17 and 18. Auditions for all parts will be held on November 1 at 6 pm at Theatre by the Trax, 1000 Osborne Road in St. Marys. Roles that need to be filled include:

Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, 6-8 year old girl and boy, mom and dad (25-40 years old), other children to be elves, adult carolers, and more.

All roles (except mom and dad) are singing parts. Families are encouraged to audition together if interested.

According to St. Marys Little Theatre Chair, Barbara Ryan, the group’s first holiday production will be an enchanting musical that will appeal to all ages.

“It begins with little Susie Anderson who lives in St. Marys and has lost her belief in Santa,” Ryan said. “But before the show is over, she is inspired to believe, as will the entire audience.”

Audiences can expect special effects at the same level of quality as they enjoyed in Man of La Mancha, the Theatre’s premiere production. Joe and Terra Lucent, producers of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, wanted to give the community an opportunity to share the joy of the holiday with a message of hope and love.

“We’ve mixed traditional songs with contemporary music and threaded it all with a story that will stir the hearts of everyone,” Terra said. “My husband and I love Christmas. It really is the most wonderful time of the year, and it will be even more special this year as we endeavor to enrich the community’s experience of the holidays with this beautiful production.”

The play’s script was written by Barbara Ryan and is anchored by the beloved poem that is carried by the play’s name. Tickets can be purchased at the St. Marys Welcome Center, Bulldog Liquors, or Cedar Oak Café. Prices are $10 for adults, and $6 for children under 12. Call 912-729-1103 for more information or visit www.stmaryslittletheatre.com.

The St. Marys Little Theatre is hosting a “Picnic by the Trax” on Saturday, October 8 from 11 am to 2 pm, and the public is invited. Hotdogs and fixins will be served to guests, and no admission will be charged (although the theatre would appreciate any donations and memberships).

Picnic organizers, including Chuck Lanham who is underwriting the event, say that this is an excellent opportunity for the public to come and see what the theatre is all about.

“We’ve had a lot of curiosity from the public since the theatre opened up,” said Doug Vaught who, along with his wife, Jeanne, is providing the venue for the event. “People stop by all the time and want to know how they can get involved or just want to see what’s going on. We thought it would be good to invite everyone in and let them see just what we’re doing.”

The recent success of St. Marys Little Theatre’s production of Man of La Mancha at the Theatre by the Trax has generated much interest in the building as well as the theatre group. According to Barbara Ryan, chair of St. Marys Little Theatre, Picnic by the Trax will enable guests to see how a building formerly used to work on locomotives has been transformed into a theatre.

“Anyone attending the picnic will also get a chance to see what potential the theatre has for other community events,” Ryan said. “The stage is enormous and opens up a whole new arena for local productions including concerts.”

Don Quixote, played by Bill Raser, takes to his bed after a showdown with the Great Enchanter.

Ryan hopes to brand the area surrounding Theatre by the Trax as a regional destination and form an “arts and entertainment” district.

“We have I-Live Center of the Performing Arts right across the street, Jerry Lee’s Music Emporium just around the corner, and now Theatre by the Trax,” Ryan said. “We would love it if someone would purchase the old antique mall building and put something arts-oriented there. That would give us four strong arts and entertainment attractions and open up a great opportunity to brand the area accordingly.”

Events now onboard for Theatre by the Trax include a Christmas special, “T’was the Night Before Christmas,” to be produced over the holidays by Terra Lucent; “River of Life,” an original musical about the history of St. Marys, scheduled for after the first of the year, and “The Fantasticks,” the longest running musical in history, slated for springtime.

The public is encouraged to attend Picnic by the Trax to see for themselves the renaissance of community theatre in downtown St. Marys. For more information, call 912-729-1103, or visit www.stmaryslittletheatre.com.

Many kids love the month of October. The big attraction is of course Halloween, the scarecrows, haunted tours and the collecting as well as eating candy. During the month of October, the city of St. Mary, dresses up to entertain both young and old. Beside pumpkin and scarecrows, some of the best seafood and best BBQ around is going to be available for sampling in the downtown area. That is enough to get us excited and love the month of October.

Rock Shrimp Festival

October 1, 2011

This festival has been going on for years. It is definitely considered a classic – and if you have never tasted rock shrimp – this is your chance to do so. Watch our video about the Rock Shrimp Festival and get all the details on our special events page. Rock Shrimp Festival.

Hay Days

October 8 – 31, 2011

Businesses and organizations compete for bragging rights when it comes to creating the most fun and creative display downtown. Make sure to take a trip downtown to take a look. Besides a Scarecrow Stroll, you also get the opportunity to come downtown to build your own scarecrow. Read more about Hay Days here.

Sand Gnat Challenge

October 15, 2011

Television is full of cooking shows and cooking competitions from Hell’s Kitchen, to Iron Chef and beyond. Everyone knows how much we love our barbeque here in the South, and in Camden we have combined the excitement of competition with good BBQ.  If you love good food and good fun, don’t miss this one. You can get more details about the Sand Gnat Challenge right here.

Taste of Camden

October 20, 2011

This is another popular food event happening in the month of October. Taste of Camden takes place at Camden County Rec. Center every year. Many restaurants from Camden County participate and it’s a great way to get a taste of delicious food available in Camden County today. Find out more on our special events page for Taste in Camden.

Haunted History Tour

October 28, 2011

One of the most anticipated events for October is the haunted history tour, Camden County’s own version of Haunted House. Mark your calendars. More details about the Haunted History Tour here.

Kingsland Fall Festival

On Monday, October 31, 2011, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM both young and old can join the fun at the Kingsland Fall Festival. Visit the “Pirates of the Royal District” for treats and safety tips and be sure to bring your camera for fun photos with the Pirate Cut-Outs.

The organizers promise fun activities for all ages, FREE hot dogs, popcorn, drinks, bouncy houses, cake walks, train & hay rides and of course lots of candy at this great Kingsland festival.
The winner of the “People’s Choice” award for Best Scarecrow in downtown Kingsland will also be announced at this event.

The Kingsland Fall Festival is hosted by the Kingsland First Baptist Church, Kingsland United Methodist Church and Kingsland Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

Kids are back in school and fall season is just about to start. The weather is still hot and humid, so in many way in Camden County it feels as if fall is still far away.

We hope you too had a long and relaxing Labor Day weekend and that you had an opportunity to visit the Kingsland Catfish festival. But now, it’s time to look ahead.

Here is what’s happening in our area for the remaining part of September.

Starry Nights with Michael Hulett

Howard Gilman Waterfront Park
Saturday, September 10, 2011
7:00 pm-9:00 pm

This is the final performance of the 2011 Starry Nights free concert series for the year. Enjoy the heartfelt soulful vocals and sax tunes of musician Michael Hulett who will be performing on stage. Michael Hulett offers a mix of classic and modern jazz, R&B, soul and rock/pop tunes. Bring a chair or a blanket, some snacks, and your friends to enjoy a relaxing evening on the river.

Don Quixote, played by Bill Raser, takes to his bed after a showdown with the Great Enchanter.

Man of La Mancha at the Theatre by the Trax

The Man of La Mancha is performed by St. Marys Little Theatre at the Theatre by the Trax (the old railroad building).

Friday, September 9 at 7 pm
Saturday, September 10 at 7 pm
Friday, September 16 at 7 pm
Saturday, September 17 at 7 pm – SOLD OUT
Sunday, September 18 at 2 pm – just a few tickets left
Theatre by the Trax, 1000 Osborne Road, St. Marys

Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased at St. Marys Welcome Center, 111 Osborne Street.

Read our previous post about the performance here.

Annual Ralph J. Bunche Classic

Edward Waters College vs. Virginia University of Lynchburg. Benefits firefighting organizations and the USO.
Read more about this football game here.

Pooch Plunge

Give your dog a special treat and a way to escape the heat and cool off. Come to St. Marys Aquatic Center for the Pooch Plunge — a day of fun for both dogs and owners. On Sunday, September 11 from 3:00-5:30 PM your dogs can come and play at the St. Marys Aquatic Center. Dogs who want to participate and play can’t be aggressive — we are sure the rule applies to owners as well. They also need to be kept on a leash, the dogs that is. Dogs are free – but owners pay $3.20, or vice versa. Why the odd admission fee? That mystery remains. Call 912-673-8118 for more information.

Wildcat Football – September 16

Wildcat Football vs. Windsor Forest at Chris Gilman Stadium, 7:30pm (Recreation Night)

St Marys Community Market

Sept 11, 18, 25

This market takes place at the waterfront in downtown St Marys on Saturdays from 9 am – 1 pm.  Find local produce, home made bread, arts and crafts items, flowers and much more.

St. Marys Little Theatre is getting ready for the premier of its first production – the musical Man of La Mancha.

Tickets for St. Marys Little Theatre’s premiere production, Man of La Mancha, are going fast as area residents get into the spirit of one of the nation’s most endearing musicals. According to Barbara Ryan, St. Marys Little Theatre chair and producer/director of the play, two of the showings are already sold out.

“We offered Fernandina residents a special ferry and dinner package that has proven to be very popular,” said Ryan. “Eighty Floridians will be coming over to St. Marys to dine and shop before the September 17th performance, and the remaining 40 seats for that evening were snapped up the first day of ticket sales.”

Ryan said that the Sunday (September 18) afternoon matinee has also proven popular and was virtually sold out at press time.

Man of La Mancha will be performed at the Theatre by the Trax which is the old St. Marys railroad building that (saved from demolition) has been transformed into a community theater.

Don Quixote, played by Bill Raser, takes to his bed after a showdown with the Great Enchanter.

Diana Ewen, Stage Manager for the production, said that the play is an ambitious undertaking but one that is sure to resonate with people of all ages.

“Man of La Mancha is inspiring. It’s funny. And the music is spectacular,” Ewen said, “which is one of the reasons that the show earned the coveted ‘Best Musical’ Tony award on Broadway.

“I believe people will be stunned by the amazing voices that comprise the cast of La Mancha,” Ewen continued. “The show is an extraordinary combination of drama, fantasy, romance, and fun.”

Special dinners created in tribute to Man of La Mancha and its setting in Spain are being offered by local restaurants during the two weeks of the show. In keeping with the spirit of the show, citizens are asked to report incidences of kindness, valor, or nobility to the local press .

Man of La Mancha Performances are:

Friday, September 9 at 7 pm
Saturday, September 10 at 7 pm
Friday, September 16 at 7 pm
Saturday, September 17 at 7 pm
Sunday, September 18 at 2 pm
Theatre by the Trax, 1000 Osborne Road, St. Marys

Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased at St. Marys Welcome Center, 111 Osborne Street in St. Marys or at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach.