Submitted by Tina Kaufman;  Photo by Pam Brown

    Two Local Central Middle School 6th Graders will be featured in the Louisiana Arts & Entertainment journey on movie making in the World Premier of Little Town. Both students were cast in lead roles and spent a month during the summer training for the project.

    Both actors are 6th grade honor students at Central Middle School. Brock Kaufman cast as Sheriff Pride and Rain Scott Catoire known as the Vegetarian will walk the red carpet this Sunday, Aug. 28th at the Rave Theatre at the Mall of Louisiana at 4:00 movie immediately following. For ticket information visit: wwwlaartsent.com

Photo by Dave Freneaux

    The Central Bloomers Gardening Club was thrilled to welcome world renowned photographer C.C. Lockwood last Tuesday night to their August meeting.  After a tour of Hostess Jerri Nicholson’s beautiful garden, Mr. Lockwood shared many fascinating stories behind his photography as he narrated a slide show of his most famous works, including native plants and wildlife, sunsets and storms, and some of the many interesting people he has met in his favorite place on earth – the Achafalaya.  The award winning photographer is the author of 13 books and has been published in National Geographic and Smithsonian Magazine,among many other noteworthy journals.  After the slide show, he then autographed books and photographs for members.

Pictured above are Jerri Nicholson, hostess, and Central Bloomers Officers Pam Wilson, Mary Legendre, Debra Dixon, and Brenda Thevenet with Mr. Lockwood.

Shane and Shane, will be in Concert at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church on Monday August 29th at 6:00pm.  Bethany Dillion and Freely will open. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Advance purchase at www.itickets.com/events/25817.html .  There will be an Ipad giveaway during the concert.

The Art League of Central held its Progressive Dinner Party/Studio Hop Saturday, July 31. 5 members opened their homes and studios to the group, which enjoyed the fun while eating dinner courses at each stop. The Art League is also displaying their "In The Footsteps of the Masters" Show at the Joor Road branch of the public library through August. The closing reception will be held at the library on July 28 at 3:00. They will also be meeting at the Shaw Center on August 14th at 2:00 to see the George Rodrigue retrospective. The public is welcomed to both events. After hanging work at Ochsner Hospital last month, they will have a rotating display at both Central Stat Care and Bone Marketing. Meetings are at 6:00 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of each month. Come join us!

Micaela Coner and Stephanie Faucette, both Central natives, are pleased to announce the opening of The Coda dance studio at 13517 Hooper Road. The Coda offers a variety of dance classes for children, ages three and up, including ballet, modern, contemporary jazz, tap, and hip-hop.

So what sets The Coda apart from other dance opportunities in Central? The Coda’s owners and faculty members perform, teach, and study professionally at the regional, national, and even international level. As current dance professionals, The Coda’s teachers continually expand their dance experiences and bring this knowledge home to their students. Thus, The Coda promises quality dance training right in the heart of Central. Students will learn self-discipline, poise, and teamwork in a positive, constructive, and, most importantly, fun learning environment.

The owners invite you to their Open House and Registration which will be held Saturday, August 20th, from 9:00AM to 2:00PM and Sunday, August 21st, from 2:00PM to 5:00PM. The first week of classes will begin on August 22nd. Also, auditions for The Coda’s Competition Team will be Saturday, August 27th, at the following times: dancers ages 7-11, 9:00AM-10:00AM; dancers ages 12-14, 10:00AM-11:00AM; and dancers ages 15-18, 11:00AM-12:00PM.

If you have any questions or comments, please write to codadance@gmail.com. Also, check out codadance.blogspot.com to see pictures, faculty biographies, class lists, pricing, and more!

    The Central Community Chorus is here! Our purpose is to bring a fulfilling choral experience to the citizens of Central through the preparation and performance of music in the Central area. We are a volunteer adult chorus for Central citizens. High school singers are also invited. Everyone is welcome, regardless of musical experience. We will be performing at the Central Christmas Tree Lighting on December 2, 2011. The commitment includes 4 rehearsals, 1 dress rehearsal, and 1 performance. If you are interested, please contact Michelle Freneaux at (225) 485–1674 or Michelle.Freneaux@gmail.com, and you will be added to the contact list. Our first Organizational Meeting will be on September 6, 2011, location TBA. If you are an accompanist, and you are interested in volunteering your time to the Central Community Chorus, please contact Michelle Freneaux (information above). Keep an eye out for more information in Central Speaks!

The Art League of Central cordially invites the public to their exhibit entitled "In the Footsteps of the Masters". The exhibit will be held at the Joor Road Branch of the public library from August 1 through 31. It will feature works by local artists as influenced by masters of the past. Biographies of the masters with descriptions of their distinctive style will be included in the show with each piece. A Closing Reception will be held on Sunday, August 28, from 2-3 p.m. at the library. All are welcome!

Submitted by Karen Clinkingbeard

Central Community Theatre is kicking off its 2011-2012 year with their production of Singin’ in the Rain from August 4-7 at the Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts.  Tickets can be purchased at www.manshiptheatre.org .  Singin’ in the Rain is the stage adaptation of the beloved MGM musical starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds.  Starring in the Central Community Theatre production is Dillon Chustz as Don Lockwood, Sarah Talbot as Kathy Seldon, Grant Clinkingbeard as Cosmo Brown, and Addie Dean as Lina Lamont.  This show is appropriate for all ages and will entertain the audience with large tap dance numbers, hysterical dialogue and beautiful singing.  This program is made possible in part by a Local Project Assistance Grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the Mayor-President and Baton Rouge Metro Council.

Registration for CCT’s 2011-2012 musical theatre classes is now open.  CCT offers musical theatre classes for all ages and levels including three levels of Elite Teams.  The newly formed Mini Elite Team is a select group of 4-6 year olds who will perform two shows during the school year.   The Jr. Elite Team will perform Madeline’s Christmas in December and the Sr. Elite Team will perform Beauty and the Beast, Jr. in March, 2012.  CCT will be taking the Elite Jr. & Elite Sr. Teams to the Jr. Theater Festival in Atlanta, GA for the third year.  This festival gives students the opportunity to learn from master directors and choreographers as well as audition to go to New York City to perform on the choreography DVD for new MTI musicals.  Last year the following students were selected to go to NYC:  Parker Wilson (second year), Ashton Denham, Chaislyn King, and Zachary Lejeune.  CCT students held 4 of 28 spots on the coveted DVD performer team.

CCT will also be offering dance classes for all ages.  CCT’s dance instructor will be Samantha Vicknair.  Samantha has been teaching dance for the past 7 years and is a former dance instructor at the Center Of Performing Arts.  She has danced competitively for 6 years, and has worked as a Staff Member of American All-Star Dance Camps in LA, MS and AL.  Samantha’s musical theatre background includes roles as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Annie in Annie, and Tuptim in The King & I.

New students interested in participating in either Madeline’s Christmas or Beauty and the Beast, Jr. should call 938-7433 to set up an audition for the Elite Jr. or Elite Sr. team.

 Submitted by Bren Truett

            McDonald's on Hooper Road definitely has the “wow” factor the Central Bloomers Garden Club is looking for in “curb appeal” plantings.  The “backbone” plants are beautiful in their own right; heavily blooming crape myrtles, lush grasses, must-have cypress trees, stately sago palms and manicured Indian Hawthornes.  To these add a layer of multi-colored daylilies, gardenias with their heavenly scent and the thick green leaves of crinum lilies.  Vibrant reds and yellows of the caladiums,hibiscus and rudbeckia are complimented by the shades of lavender in the ruella, vinca and penta.  Watch it closely, as the landscaping is continually changing with the seasons.  The Central Bloomers Garden Club beautification committee is proud to present the Jackie Brewer Memorial to the McDonald's on Hooper Road, as this month's “featured landscape.”        Special note:  This presentation is our sixth in the City of Central.  We are proud of our past recipients and their continuing effort to help Central “grow beautifully.” As a business establishment, please consider your own “curb appeal,” your visitors DO notice.  Coming soon will be a pilot program introduced to further enhance our city.  Keep watching for future developments!

Pictured above: Chris Valuzzo, owner of McDonald's on Hooper Road is presented the Jackie Brewer Memorial by Central Bloomers club officers Pam Wilson and Brenda Thevenet.

Submitted by Tina Kaufman

  Ashleigh Martin, Brock Kaufman and Rain Catoire traveled to Celtic Media Center for the month of June to the Motion Picture Film Camp hosted by Casting Director Aaron Williams.

    The three students learned pre-production, script writing, story development, video recording on set and landed lead roles in the movie Little Town. The film camp taught everything Hollywood style. Ashleigh Martin cast as Betty the best singer in town, Brock Kaufman as Sheriff Pride trying to keep law & order in the town and Rain Catoire as Vegetarian also known as The Veg! 

    All three young actors are Central residents. Brock and Rain will attend Central Middle School in the fall and both are Talented Drama students. Ashleigh attends Northwestern Middle school and is a Talented Drama student.

    The film will premier in August and you can visit the site and catch clips from the inside, dates and ticket information at MPDFILMCAMP.ORG.  The film is a western, so get ready for some action!!