OK, that was fun!

This past weekend it was just plain ‘ol fun at the Strand.  On Friday Hoosier Dylan performed:   22 musicians, 1 poet laureate, 50 songs and over 4 hours!   Wow.    On Saturday for our very first Dinner and a Movie:  Tables for 64, tickets for 76…..it was interesting, but still fun.

Learning is something we always do at the Strand.  The past week we learned a tremendous amount from both shows.   The Friday night Hoosier Dylan didn’t use any of our sound equipment.   To bring in equipment, the Strand had to have the appropriate power, space and facilities to handle it.   We passed with flying colors.   The biggest winners were Ron B., Gordon H. and Cody V. who didn’t have to move or set up anything!

On Dinner and a Movie, we didn’t quite know what to expect.   John from Grandma’s Pancake House had a great menu.   Overall things went really well.  We took notes and will tweak a few things for next month.  Everyone had a great time.   The film looked great on the big screen.  It is a great movie!

Let it snow, let it snow let it snow.  The weather outside is frightful, but my dear the Strand’s delightful….   Snow again.   We are checking every day to make sure our roof vent problem doesn’t reoccur.   So far so good, but this is something we have to remain vigilant.    The sidewalks are going to be cleared by the downtown contract, so that will be a little help to our volunteers.   We have been shoveling the snow from our theatre all the way to Hendricks Street.  It is a greater distance than you might think.

We had volunteers check out our motor generators in the attic.  They are making their plans and preparing to get them out.   They don’t think that the units will be as heavy as we think, but they are disassembling as much as possible just to make sure.   While their at it, we are going to remove the old neon transformers.  This will be done with the advise and guidance from the Shelby County Waste Management District.  We don’t want to take any chances.

The Strand is getting new bookings every day.  The interest in our theatre is very rewarding and humbling.  These requests come from near and far.  Gary N. juggles the schedule and keeps things on track.   We just booked a Jazz concert, a film premiere and a rock concert!

This weekend, on Saturday night at 7:00pm, the Strand is hosting “Band Together for Haiti”.  This is the creation of community leader Sara Chappela.  She was moved by the tragic events from the earthquake in Haiti.  She is producing this event will proceeds going to Haitian Relief with the American Red Cross.   This is the first time that Sara has attempted anything like this.  It will be a great show for a worthwhile cause.  The Strand is proud to participate in our own small way to help those whose lives have been devastated by this natural disaster.

On Sunday, Shelby County Reads hosts a very interesting program at the Strand.   The American Indian Cultural Forum will take the stage at 2:00pm.  This forum presented by the American Indian Center of Indiana, Inc. will feature drumming, dancing, flute playing, a power-point presentation, and informational tables.   This event is free.
Even with the snow, we have continued installing the sockets for the chase lights on the marquee.  We are almost finished with the north half of the marquee.  Soon it will be time to screw in 300 light bulbs… lefty loosy, righty tighty.    That is a day to which we are looking forward!

Thanks for your support.  The great audiences this past weekend help energize everyone connected with the Strand.  It should energize you too, since you are the most vital part of the Strand project.   Thanks for the support.