This week we had a great time at the Strand.  Band Together for Haiti was a great success.   The Strand sent a check to the American Red Cross for $965.  Sara Chappela who put the show together did a great job.  In one small way we, here in Shelby County, are able to help those in need in Haiti.   Thank you to everyone who came out to the concert.

The American Indian Cultural Forum hosted by Shelby County Reads, was this past Sunday.  The Strand is a better place because of their visit.  Since part of their presentation was religious in nature, they had to bless the Strand before they started.   We need all the help we can get, and to have a Native American blessing is a good thing!   The ceremony is called “smudging”.   They did it in private, so we cannot tell you about the details.

We had new volunteers this weekend.  On Saturday night one new volunteer Pam D. was handing out programs.  The theatre phone rang.   This is the same theatre phone (with an excellent phone number 421-ARTS ) that we have had since we have opened.  In the entire time, NO ONE has ever received a phone call at the Strand.  We have plenty of calls asking questions about schedules, bookings, events….but none asking for someone specific.   There is Pam, at the doors to the auditorium, when someone from the concession area says “Pam… you have a phone call”.   She is popular.   Yet again another new thing for the Strand!

Before the concert on Saturday night our volunteers started to get the theatre ready.  The snow in front of the theatre had melted into a solid ice hump.  This ice stretched the entire length of the loading area.   We picked and shoveled all to no avail.  That ice was too solid.  Just then Kevin Black drove by in his pickup truck with a snow blade.  3 minutes later our walk was clear.  Next time you see Kevin at Grandma’s having lunch, tell him thank you from the Strand.

Is everyone busy, or is it just us?   Seems like the more we do, the more we have to do.   This goes for our volunteers as well.  This week our newsletter editor, Cindy Leahy, came to a point she was just too busy.  Cindy is the one who came up with the idea and name for our monthly newsletter.  Many of you have enjoyed your hard copy or electronic copy of the SRO for the past two years.   Cindy also produced the Strand Shorts which is mailed to all Chamber of Commerce members every month.  A big Strand Thank You to Cindy Leahy for these past two years of stewardship with the SRO.    We wish her the best and remind her the Strand stage is ready for her next production!

Speaking of the Strand stage, we are preparing for our next Dinner and a Movie.  Grease will show on March 12th.   We learned quite a bit from Casablanca, and will put some of the ideas into practice for Grease.  One of the biggest changes is that we will seat people on the stage for dinner as well as the Cabaret Area.  This will expand our capacity.  One of the several items that need to be done is changing our stage floor box covers.  Those covers have slots for electrical and sound cables.  We realized those slots would also fit a chair leg quite nicely.  Can’t have that.   We are replacing the covers with solid covers for the dinner event.  Bob S. is also going to make a removable railing for around the stage.   It will be a good addition.

The last dinner and a movie, the Strand was bailed out by our friends at the Parks Department who lent us chairs and another local not-for-profit, who lent us tables.   Anyone out there that would be interested, we could use 8) 60″ round and 4) 96″ rectangle new tables.   We need the plastic variety.  The cost is $100 each for the round tables and $75 each for the rectangle tables.   Just let the Foundation know if you want to help.

This weekend the Strand hosts the Shelby Community Band’s Mid-Winter Concert on Sunday at 2:00pm.   This concert is FREE.   If you haven’t been to a SCB concert, this would be a good time to start.  Music will range from marches, to show tunes.  The band even has a guest singer doing a few Gershwin tunes.

Thank you for all your support.  The Strand is a fun place.   Thank you for making it that way.   See you on Sunday.