Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Nov. 10, 1983, edition 1 / Page 6
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I ? ^ -i.. **+ >5^' "? Il-f > l^n"Lr n.?>r^= - - .- ^ - .._Pi?t A6-Th Chronicle, Thursday, November 10, people I Close-up \ 5 A i rcauicis ?/\ V ? 4 \ By AUDREY L. WILLIAMS Staff Writer "Contrary to popular belief, we are the first dinner theatre in Winston-Salem," says Nell Britton^_ Britton, founder, producer and director of Nell Lite Productions Dinner Theatre, is currently playing host to Winston audiences through Nov. 13 at the VIP Catering Room on Robin Hood Circle. The production, "Hope Is A Thing With Feathers, is an award-winning broadway play by Richard Harrity. The story takes place in a park in any city audience members would desire it to be. The all-male cast of nine portrays derelicts and transients who spend the night together in a park include local community tdftnt that range from a social worker to a city alderman. "The Yeason 1 wanted to have a community dinner theatre was to give the people in the community a chance to act as a family," says Britton. "Dinner is the one meal the whole family eats together and people seem to be more receptive afterwards." Britton, who has been teaching drama herself for 20 years, says that what* makes her dinner theatre so different from the resti* that the actors are involved with the audience. "The actors really participate in the audience," she says. "When they're finished, fhey step right off the stage with their costumes and mingle." And indeed they do. Even before the production hecins. artnr* ar? minolino u/itki 0 T ? w. v w " nil HIV VI w?u. Ill l(IVI| unless you know the actors, it's hard to determine who's an actor or a patron, until, of course, the house lights are dimmed and the production gets underway. The whole atmosphere of the dinner theatre is quaint and cozy. For patrons who desire wine and cheese before j the main course, an entree is theirs for the tasting. But Britton says that because of the somewhat sophisticated air of a dinner theatre, many blacks in the community tend to shy away from such productions. , uWe do dress it up with linen table cloths and stem ware," she says. "A lot of blacks are scared off by that, but if you get them in here the first time, it's easy to gel them back." With the exception of the lamp post, the wooden benches and leaves, the stage is relatively bare. Most of the props in the production are left to the audience's im| Social Notes ' National Council i Winston-Salem Section of ther by dressing in native the National Council of costumes. ^ Negro Women recently held A surprise treat during its annual International Tea. the tea was the appearance at the Sawtooth Center for of Mrs. Sarah Ephraim, a Visual Arts. retired teacher. Mrs. Members of the council Ephraim's husband was an displayed tables represen- African chief and she ting varying cultures of the shared her experiences United States, Sweden, about life in Africa with the China, Spain,. Mexico and audience. Nigeria while competing for The judges for the occathe honor of having the sion were Barbara Hayes, mnct Proof i \ia ?oUln T nln w ? ' -r' ' vivhhtv mmt umq jcnMin, Lena jennes tation and attendance! and Gertrude Murchinson. The tables were Nigeria won the award for decorated with interesting the most outstanding table, articles, many of which with China taking second were authentic relics of the place. countries as weTT as their Captains and co-captains traditional foods. of the tables were Minnie Council members Mabel Webb and Mildred Shouse, Johnson and Louise Davis United States;Louise Davis represented China, while and Mabel Johnson, China; Roxanna Pitts and Alice Sue Porter and Willie Reynolds, representing Lowe, Spain; Roxanna Nigeria, went one step fur- Pitts and Alice Reynolds, I IP JF ^ jk? ' ^^t. ,v f ^^ Hig^F ^w&9 flEfayi Jennifer Coley Dumas ? I 1983 Social Notes, Service Comedy That Has !?# ga Cast members from the Nell-Lite Production Co. With Feathers/* Clifton Graves and J.W. Smith. T by Richard Harrlty, will run through Nov. 13 (pho ? ' ^ wm i^h ft ^k. I B * mti B ?*>^i^ffl Wm* \ B V ? x \ 1PBPP1 \ :\ --if IB * \ St^f |,. wi | 3 -^- m3\v JLmaM. mi JBH ^HfcL^^jkv ^ ' BL: Hram. -_\5 .. js^f^^^^^Hj^22yBBa N<|| Brltton, founder, producer and director of Nell-Lite Productions. >w,** Of Negro Women Ht Nigeria. Patricia Stanley, Mistress of Ceremonies Linda Jordon, Ellen Davis, was Martha Gillis, first Mary Muldrow. ElizabetlT"vice-president of the covinTilley, Dr. Manderline ciU~ Dr7 Scales; president Scales and Theldora Smalls- emeritus, brought the Scippio, all advisors to the greetings from the general Youth Group, helped with membership of the council, the table* representing along with Miss NCNW, Sweden, which was spon- Mrs. Mabel Johnson and sored by the youth. The Mrs. Thelma SmallYouth Group received the Scippio, winner of the most award for the largest atten- outstanding table for lastdance. year's Tea and former vice Security Forum Held The Clyde Boiling Post Martha F. Gillis, auxiliary No. 55 hosted a National president, Mary Thomas, Security Forum recently at Doris^loble, Naomia Lone^ the Post Home. Alice James, Lillie Hardy, Guest speaker was LTC Aither Neely, Almeana LitJames Miller, deputy com- tie, Henry Wilson, W.L. mander, 317 Combat Sup- Wright, commander, port Group of Pope Air Robert Smith, Southern Force Base in Fort Bragg. Prysock, H.B. Jones and Members attending were Todd Samuels. Coley-Dumas Jannifer Sheryl Coley in Lumberton, Miss., and is and Everett E. Dumas were a U.S. Army staff sergeant united in marriage Oct. 29 at Fort Meade, Md. at a high noon c^emony at The bride was given in Fort Meade Chapel Center marriage by her father, in Fort Meade, Md., with Mrs. Clarence J. Hart Major C. Cooper of- served as her sister's matron ficiating. of honor. Bridesmaids were Coley is the daughter of Miss Melissa Taylor, Mrs. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Henry Washington and Wesley Gray Sr. and Mrs. Michael Thomspon. Dumas is the son of Ms. The bride's daughter, Y*ti* i 1 cu ? :t-- vr ^? ? nanv i^umas ui L-umucr- oiitiiiiKtt i (tnva vjray, servton, Miss. ed as flower girl. The bride is a graduate of SFC Floyd C. Ivory, Parkland Sr. High School served as the groom's best and attended North man. Ushers were Eugene Carolina Central University Aube and Carlton Campand Winston-Salem State bell. Groomsmen were University. She is presently Joseph R. Nicholson, attending the University of David Beanregard and Maryland and is employed Willie Mickens. by the U.S. Govememnt. The groom is a graduate The couple will live in of Lumberton High School Fort Meade, Md. > 4 ! News, Club News II Meaning For All I fl Dinner Theatre V rendition off "Hope Is A Thing he award-winning broadway production, written >to by James Parker) agination. "Feathers" is a comedy that has a meaning for all, says Britton. "With blacks, we tend to feel that we always have to have a serious message," she says. "This play is about derelicts, who all represent different backgrounds. "People, not just black or white, can identify with these characters and you don't have to be a bum to relate to them." An accomplished actor herself, Britton says she urges 9 community participation in her seasonal productions. 1 "This dinner theatre gives the young and old an opportunity to get into, be it acting or set design," she says. Members of the cast include George Johnson, Cor- fl nelious Flood, Rickey Baskett, Clifton Graves, Hal Tise, Marty PennTJ.W. Smitlv, Don Garner and Larry Worn7" "i ble. Tickets for the dinner theatre are $12.50 and may be 1 purchased by calling 767-6064. 1 |l |- V*t J ; K 1 I osts Annual Tea -J president of the council. Giles, Mary Walker, JaThe program also includ- queline Young, Doris Noed installation of new of- ble^Joan Car dwell, Willie ficers.? ? Lowe, Hattie Ruff__ and The International Tea Theldora Small-Scippio. Committee consisted of The Rev. Otis Donaldson Martha Gillis, chairperson, presided over the installaSue Porter, Alice Reynolds tion of officers ceremony, and Patricia Stanley. and the Rev. David Hedgley gave the benediction. Hostess were Sandra Hoi man, Sue Porter-, Savannah Jones is presi- I Patricia Stanley, Lillie dent of the local section. ^v i ^PPJ :v . J^HpF j^i&."v?. HI ,.>%? fCWW^v Sd Alma S. Keen ^ Keen Elected To Board | Alma S. Keen, a retired retired R.J. Reynolds In- I teacher, was recently dustries official and 1 elected chairperson of the stockbroker; Clark S. I Board of Commissioners of Brown, funeral home directhe City of Winston-Salem tor, and Dr. David H. Burr, 1 Housing Authority. pastor of First Presbyterian g Keen has been a member Church. of the Board since 1975. Housing Authority cornShe serves in various com- missioners have policy mak- I munity and religious ing responsibilities in two 9 organizations and has been vital areas, administrative | active in politics for many policy affecting the | years. organaization and the con- 1 She succeeds Dalton D. duct of the agency or the Ruffin, a Wachovia b^nk authority and to monitor executive, whose term ex- the pertinent program n pired this year. policies used as guidelines Other members of the to carry out the local hosing I board are Carl A Dull Jr., and renewal programs in corporate executive at In- conjunction with the Hous- I tegon; G. Hobart Johnson, ing Authority staff. Ul ?' ^ fpatpr rVAiunlAimi^ Acc/vftttiAnfi flrji downtown stofc today can take 50 cents off the ad/ ' * " wupw tW lit IllyV" I W * _..^vT ,^>*'? V w*y :\?". jhv^jajjV*#"Si - V* ^ m? . ^ . . '+ **r * * * \jy *c S^ri0K^ Pit 1 y 1 ^t* f% Mi ^rar, # h# fiidn# C4 f , , - ttfl -, tV -frtkI '/W
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Nov. 10, 1983, edition 1
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