Photo by Kevin Walker Thea Chaplin stands in front of his club, Thea's Rhythm and Blues. The club is located in an increas ingly popular section of Lib erty Street. Thea's is city's blues headquarters BYT. KEVIN WALKER IHE CHRONIC! I The long hallway that leads to the heart of Thea's Rhythm and Blues sets the mood for the live music that the club offers most nights. The hallway is plastered with framed pictures of those who made the type of music that Thea's specializes in great. The eyes of Ella Fitzgerald, Robert Johnson and Johnny Taylor stare down at visitors as they make their way into the club, which has all the tell-tale signs of a traditional blues club, from dimmed lights to an unassum ing decor. "Blues and jazz is the heart and soul of the music world," Thea Chaplin said. "This is some thing 1 am trying to keep alive." Chaplin is quickly approaching his four-year anniversary as owner of the club. The Asheville native had owned other clubs in other towns when he decided to try his luck by opening Thea's. At the time, he was an innovator: down town clubs barely existed and none offered live entertainment other Thea's. "Most people's lifestyle right now is putting on a CD and hitting a button and playing music. Live entertainment is where all the music origi nated from," Chaplin said. Musicians from far and nOar have jammed on the Thea's stage. The club's schedule effortlessly blends a Variety of R&B genres and a diverse group of acts that have included local performers and blues legends such as Shirley King (BB's daughter) and Clarence Gatemouth Brown. Thea's even has a popular spoken-word poetry event, But even though Thea's is the only place in the city where the blues still lives, Chaplin is the first to admit that business has not been through the roof. He used to open every night but has Location: 521 N. Liberty Street Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cover: There is a cover charge (must be 21 years or older; must be 18 or older on spoken-word nights) Phone number: 722-4195 o reduced his schedule to Wednesday through Sat urday. Chaplin partly blames the club's location. Thea's is located along d section of Liberty Street that is still trying to find its character, and unlike Fourth Street, millions of dollars of city money is not being invested to help the area cre ate a niche. But the area is starting to take shape. A new bicycle shop, which hawks high-end bikes, has opened aTew buildings down from the club and soon several swanky, and pricey, lofts will open above the bike shop. Chaplin's love of music sustains him during times when business is light. He wants people to once again take hold of the blues and protect it like the jewel that it is, because, as Chaplin said, "it is dying." "Keeping live entertainment alive should ... make people (want to) come out," he said. "If you love music, if you love a good clean whole some atmosphere, then this is the place." Life of Paul Robeson comes to the stage CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT Junious Leak brings Paul Robeson to life in "A Prisoner of Passion: The Paul Robeson Story." Written by Phillip Hayes Dean and direeted by and starring Leak, this musical biography pays tribute to the famous athlete, singer actor and civil rights activist who was a staunch supporter of racial equality. This son of a former slave, who earned an undergraduate degree from Rutgers Univer sity and a law degree from Columbia Uni versity, became known the world over for his work on the professional theater circuit. His performances in "Othello," "Emperqr Jones" and "All God's ChUlun Got Wings'" gUfncfed i- tit*. praise I I around the country I and over- I Robe- I son pub- I his autobiog r a p h y , "Here I Stand," during the eight years it took him to resecure his passport, which was revoked by the United States. "A Prisoner of Passion" is among the NBTF Fringe performances, which highlight the most professional productions from the academic arena ? iViV/ V ?V V* *?! ?****?? * * ? % Over 20 stores - almost 700 major brand lines. The look. The price. Its ^B what you are looking for, all^B at the Atrium Furniture Mall. ^^^^B | 430 South Main Si&et - Downtown High Point, NC - 336.882.5599 www.atriumfurniture.com j

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