In order to operate the Strand, many little items have to be accomplished on an ongoing basis.  One such item is changing the marquee.   This task is currently accomplished by hauling out the ladder and going up and changing the sign.  Soon this will be done from below with a pole that will grasp the letters….but for now Strand Board Member Gordon H. is on the ladder, while Gary N. watches.   Note that Gary doesn’t even help hold the ladder.  And so it goes….

Steve Talbert
NEWS Correspondent

Friday, December 19, 2008

Thanks to the efforts of Adam Cranfill, locals can escape from the holiday hustle and bustle by listening to soft rock and easy-listening "dinner music" at The Strand Theatre on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Ryan Fischer Foundation, a nonprofit organization that will help other leukemia patients.

The doors open at 7 p.m., and admission is $5. Performers include Michele Cole, Wes Leeper, Trent Sturgill, Nick Coulston and Cranfill.

A junior at University of Indianapolis, Cranfill is pursuing a major in marketing with a minor in supply chain management. The benefit concert was a class project on a nonprofit endeavor, and Cranfill received an "A" for his research, plan and analysis. Some of Cranfill’s classmates organized food drives for the needy, but Cranfill was the only one to organize a concert.

"My goal is to raise $1,000," Cranfill said.

Cranfill never met the late Ryan Fischer, who died of cancer at age 23 on Aug. 25 – but Cranfill he was familiar with Fischer’s battle with leukemia. Both lived in Waldron, and both graduated from Waldron High School (Fischer in 2003, and Cranfill in 2006). Originally, Cranfill wanted to help Fischer’s family with expenses, but the family wants all donations to go to other leukemia patients in Fischer’s name.

Shelbyville vocalist Cole looks forward to performing again onstage at the Strand. Cole, a 1983 Shelbyville High School graduate, sang there for the first time during the "ShelbyIdol" talent competition in August. For the benefit, Cole will sing several easy-listening selections – including "At Seventeen," "Autumn Leaves" and "Summertime."

"The Strand has a neat atmosphere," Cole said. "We’ll be performing several old classics."

The Strand board of directors donated use of the theater to the benefit organizers to help raise funds and reduce costs.

"This will make the fourth time in our short history that the Strand has given back," David M. Finkel, director of the Strand Theatre of Shelbyville Inc. executive board, said. "So far, we have helped raise over $4,000 for others and collected more than 200 pounds of food that we donated to Human Services. We are very proud that we are helping to give back to our community."

After the concert, attendees are invited to watch The Flying Toasters perform at Occasions at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, with $3 going to the Strand Renovation Fund.

The Strand is proud to announce that we have received permission from the Shelbyville News to post their articles about the Strand on our web site.   This will provide an excellent research tool in the future about the ongoing operation of our theatre.   Thank you to the Shelbyville News for being such a wonderful friend and partner to our project.   You can visit them at www.shelbynews.com

NEWS staff report

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Occasions Banquet Hall, 415 E. Hendricks St., will hold its second dance featuring the Flying Toasters at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday as a fundraiser for the Strand Theatre. Martin Zinser, owner of Occasions, said that the first fundraiser on Nov. 22 was well attended, and he expects another big crowd for Saturday night.

Tickets are $10, and $3 from each ticket is donated to the Strand to help with renovations to the former cinema.

Tables for 10 are available for $150, and this includes hors d’oeuvres for the entire table. Tickets are available at Occasions, or customers may call (317) 421-0820 for reservations. Only cash and checks will be accepted. Occasions is a nonsmoking venue.

What a month!   We are pooped.  First we had Hope’s Point Baptist Church with their wonderful musical "That’s the Good News!".   We followed it with a Community Band Concert that Sunday.   The theatre had to have everything associated with the musical removed and the concert setup within 16 hours of each performance!   We had the Chamber of Commerce Network Luncheon on Wednesday.  That was lunch for 72 in the Cabaret Area and the SHS Jazz Band on the stage.   We finished the week with 2 performances of "Our Crazy Family Christmas".   We certainly pushed every volunteer a bit too much…but it was fun.

The Strand hosted a Holiday Variety Show on December 13 & 14, 2008.   Our "Crazy" Family Christmas was a variety and comedy production that showcased some of the finest talent in Shelby County!!   A clever story entwined the journey of 2 "sisters" as they had visits from their "family".   The Addams Family, complete with Cousin It and Thing made a spooky appearance.   Their "mother" was an Elvis impersonator….expertly played by Willandra Macklin.   Many others helped to provide an excellent and entertaining show for our Shelby County audience.   The Strand is thrilled and grateful to these performers for lending their talent to our cause.  They have certainly set the bar, and we look forward to what is in store for next year!

Cindy Houpt and Kim Wallace, writers & directors of the show:

Thank you to the following performers and stage crew:

Kim Wallace, Cindy Houpt, Debbie Stafford, Randy Whitaker, Patti Walker, Logan Ramp, Erich Davies, Sandy Learned, Lindy Meyer, Tiffany D. Wilson, Mike Evans, Chloe Sandman, Dr. Roger Ewing, Jeff Wilson, Bill Eiler, Sarah Houpt, John Conn, Willandra C. Macklin, Hitch Learned, Chris Davies, Jill Evans, Peggy Clements, Cecilia Ortiz, Angie Davies, Ron Bush, Gordon Hood, Floyd Neeb, Russell Smith, Mary McQueen, Cristy Matlock, Cody Veerkamp, Ira Ramp, Fernetta Ramp, Peggy Clements and Bud Nugent.  Wonderful assistance was received from Blue River Printing, Reid My Yard Card, Knauf Fiberglass, Miss Jill’s School of Dance, The Shelbyville News, Jonas Productions, Steve Dennis Electric and our friends at the Shelby County Players.

On December 10, 2008 the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce held it’s monthly network luncheon at the Strand Theatre.   The Strand is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was thrilled to host this event.   The cabaret area was set with 9 tables and we seated 72 members for lunch.   The buffet was catered by Annie’s and was in our lobby.   The entertainment was the Shelbyville High School Holiday Jazz Band under the direction of Russell Smith. 

 The lobby buffet

 The Cabaret Area filled with attendees

 The SHS Holiday Jazz Band

The Shelby Community Band performed their Holiday Concert at the Strand on Sunday December 7th at 2:00pm.   This concert showcased all your favorite holiday tunes.   Cindy Houpt was the featured vocalist.

The band gets ready for the concert:

One band member even had her own cheering section!:

The Strand has been informed on good authority that the signs refer to Community Band Percussionist (and Strand Volunteer)  Weedie Smith.

The audience enjoyed the Free Holiday Event.