The Strand hopes that each of you had a very Happy Thanksgiving.    We have had events every weekend since the July 4th holiday, so we opted not to book anything this weekend.   That doesn’t mean the work doesn’t continue….hopefully by the end of the weekend our marquee will sprout its new poly-carbonate panels.   We are also working on wiring the 284 sockets for the chase lights.   2 cables each, stripped each end and terminals installed.  Good thing it isn’t tedious.

On Sunday Hopes Point Church will load their upcoming Christmas Musical into the Strand for rehearsals.   This FREE musical will take place December 4th & 5th at 7:00pm.   “A Baby Changes Everything” will be completely produced and staged by Hopes Point Church.   Please contact the church for tickets.

On December 6th, the Shelby Community Band will present its annual Holiday Concert.  It starts at 2:00pm.

We had a surprise this past week.  The Strand, built in 1916, has been asked to perform a civic duty.   The Indiana Army National Guard contacted us about doing a live feed from our Shelbyville Based troops currently stationed in Iraq.   We consider this quite an honor.   The Strand has all the equipment necessary to facilitate this except for one crucial item…an internet connection.   An internet connection is something that we could use often, but at this point in our young life we just can’t afford.   We went to our neighbors across the street at Comcast to see if they could help.   On Tuesday, Comcast will install our modem free of charge for the month of December.  The military is making the arrangements to we can see and talk to the troops just after the intermission during our Holiday Show “Stockings by the Fire”.  The producer of the show, Tim Spradlin, was equally enthusiastic to include the segment in his plans.   This will be something very special.   This will take place on December 11th & 12th.   We hope that you spend an evening at the Strand for a wonderful evening of holiday entertainment, and also a chance to show your support for our local soldiers serving in Iraq!

We are having a ball.   Our group of volunteers is always expanding.  Our variety of entertainment is always expanding.  Preparations are being made now for our “Month of Movies” in January 2010.   The Strand is fortunate to already have several events booked for next year.   As we enter the 2009 Holiday Season, we also look ahead to 2010.   Because of you we are able to go forward and do our mission.   The arts is for everyone.   Our community is full of talented and generous people.   The Strand helps bring into focus why we call Shelby County our home.

Have a great weekend and see you next week at the Musical!

Push/Play Rocks the Strand

One could literally feel the music of Push/Play everywhere in the Strand Theatre during Saturday’s night’s two-set show. From the first song to the climactic conclusion, this band’s full sounds filled the historic theater and repeatedly thrilled the crowd.

In short,  Saturday’s musical extravaganza was like having a live band playing in your living room. Physically the rhythm and energy of Push/ Play’s passionate playing tingled up one’s spine and reverberated in your very bones. It was very cool sensation to walk around the building and feel the music pulsing in the walls, up through the floor and into and through the balcony. The Strand Theatre actually vibrated and trembled with music as Push/Play repeatedly built walls and waves of sound from slow swoons to sonic screams and wails.

Musically, this band is very flexible, fluid and subtly flashy in its melodic vocal harmonies and in the sheer technical skill, bravura joy and the impassioned playing. About midway through the first set, a historic romp through rock history from Rhythm and Blues to the Beatles and beyond, I felt that this band should quit their day jobs, record some original music and go pro. The second set was even more splendid and phantasmagoric especially the ridiculously impressive play of lead guitarist Gary Shrader.

In fact, Push/Play are six very talented musicians who have been in 28 separate bands during their long local careers and have been playing together for about a year. Yet, after hearing their music I think this band should change its name to Plush/Play because of the incredibly rich, plush and fat sounds they coax from their instruments and voices.

Another surprise for me was the amazing vocal range of lead singer Don Williams, a giant of a man, who hit some surprisingly high tones throughout the night as he shared lead vocals with the band and frequently joined in the instrumental rhapsodies evoked and conjured up by this rather magical ensemble of musicians.

Push/Play is practically an all-star ensemble of talent and each member’s skills and love of playing was showcased throughout the night as they repeatedly formed visual and aural walls of guitars across the stage. These nuanced, rich waves of inspired play echoed and ricocheted into the theatre via Shrader’s Claptonesque guitar work, the rhythm guitars of Steve Mathies and Williams, the thumping bass of Bobby Toon, through the haunting keyboard style of Dave Rasche and the smooth, rhythmic drumming of Jim Whitacre. Each musician made his instrument sing throughout the jam-filled evening.

Equally, impressive was the musically challenging array of tunes performed during the 36-songs Push/Play chose for their two-sets. These songs ranged from the heartland rock ballads of Bob Seger, John Mellencamp and Kid Rock to more funk -inspired tunes like “Superlove” and included complex instrumental works by Grand Funk Railroad and The Alan Parsons Project.

Musically, the band built to an impressive crescendo as the evening wore on, which reached an apex with Shrader’s extended solo in “Still Got the Blues.” I’ve seen Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert Collins and other blues masters play live and Shrader can and does evoke just as much raw, primal energy and passion by bending strings. His animated, virtuoso solo was mentally orgasmic and ridiculously impressive and left the crowd standing and applauding in shock and awe.

The audience remained standing during the almost baroque final rush of songs and demanded an encore from this entertaining, emotionally satisfying and exceptionally talented group of inspired musicians. In conclusion, I shall repeat an earlier refrain: if these dudes aren’t professional musicians by choice, they damn well should be.

Submitted by:  Terrance Aldridge

This review does not express the opinion of the Strand Theatre.

Push/Play performed on the Strand Stage on November 21, 2009.   This outstanding band was formed with veteran Strand performers.  They put on an energetic and popular 2 set show.   They brought in a large audience and did a great job in raising funds for our theatre project!

• Dave Rasche
• Bobby Toon
• Jim Whitacre
• Gary Shrader
• Don Williams

The concert was produced by Strand Board Member and chief sound technician Ron Bush.  Ron talked to the audience about the Strand project and his hopes that to expand our volunteers.   He said “if you want to learn to run sound, volunteer….I’ll teach you!”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

The Strand had a first on Saturday November 21, 2009.   Before the headline band on Saturday night we had a local comedian instead of another band.   Art takes many forms.  On Saturday night it took the form of Robert Lewis, dressed in his stylish orange prison uniform.

Robert did the pre show and post intermission warm-up for Push/Play.   This was his first time on stage doing comedy.   When (if) he hits the big time, he can say he got his start at the Strand in Shelbyville.   Until then, we don’t think he is leaving his day job!

Work continues on the rebuild of our Marquee.    All the new aluminum panels have been installed.  Soon the new poly-carbonate inserts will be in place.   The Strand volunteers are in the process of wiring 284 chase lights!

The Strand hosted a FREE showing of the season’s favorite “Holiday Inn” starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.  This movie was presented through the generosity of Shelby County Bank.

Before the film, Cindy Houpt, Kim Wallace and Willandra Macklin performed.  The trio did a short skit and ended with the singing of  “White Christmas” in glorious three part harmony.

Many patrons that night had not been to the Strand since its transformation into a performing arts center.   The live entertainment added the the special quality of the evening.

The Strand hopes to make this an annual Holiday Tradition!

The Strand once again marched in the Shelbyville Holiday Parade.   This annual event is something special in our community.   The public square is transformed into a holiday treasure, with lights, houses, presents and even a Santa hat for Balsar, Tom and Jerry.

Thursday November 18, 2010 at 7:00pm.

Your friends at Freeman Family Funeral Homes recognize the loss you may be feeling this Holiday Season.   Please join us for an evening of reflection and inspiration during this special holiday season as we remember those who were so special to each of us.   It is important to share with others at this time of year.

We invite you to share this invitation with your family and friends.  It is a lovely memorial program to help heal the heart.   This program is open to the public at no cost.

Provide us with the name of your loved one and a photo (if you wish) to be included in the service.   (We will be using the Memory Portrait photo for those of you who provided a photo to us at the time of service.)

– Refreshments will follow –

Sponsored by Freeman Family Funeral Homes