National Black Theatre Festival honors volunteers i
Special tribute
given to the late
Joyce Elem
|Y FELECIA P. MCMILLAN
COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT
? 'f
1 ? A powerful wave of purple and
black hit downtown last Thurs
day.
*" Hundreds of volunteers from
the National Black Theatre Festi
val, clad in the signature colors of
the festival, gathered at the
&dam's Mark Winston Plaza
Hotel for a special tribute for their
service during the festival.
? * Thousands of volunteers from
across the state worked during the
festival, which was held in August,
serving in a host of roles from
ushering theatergoers to -their
Seats to orchestrating the massive
transportation network that
nfoved actors and audiences to the
festival's far-flung venues.
'. ^ Men and women, boys and
girls gathered to be recognized for
their service to the festival. This
year's reception was dedicated to
the memory of Joyce Elem, a for
mer NBTF volunteer co-coordi
nator. Ms. Elem died recently after
a lengthy bout with cancer.
_* "I thank God for giving me the
vision for the North Carolina
Black Repertory Company," said
Larry Leon Hamlin,
fpunder/artistic director of the
NCBRC. "The recent pictorial
history of Winston-Salem is an
outstanding text. Through it, we
got a chance to see (what impact)
the North Carolina Black Reper
tory Company and the National
Black Theatre Festival is having.
,...This would not have been possi
ble without the support we
received from "Winston-Salem over
the years. ... Without God, with
out the blessings He has bestowed
upon us, it would not be possible."
Hamlin reminded the audience
about the next project, the
National Black Theatre Festival
Hall of Fame and Museum. He
appealed for the help of those who
have maintained memorabilia
regarding the company and the
festival over the years. Hamlin
also had two special people to
thank.
"I thank God for my wife," he
said. "And I also am thankful for
the elder in my life who 1 can con
fide in and go to for wisdom, W. T.
Jenkins, the president of the
board of directors. He has given
me wonderfol, logical advice when
1 wanted to go out on a limb."
During remarks. Mayor Jack
Cavanagh praised Hamlin and his
wife, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, for
bringing the festival to the city.
"It is truly a pleasure to be
with you. I have learned through
the CIAA and this International
Black Theatre Festival, art and
basketball - it is family in its very
essence...it is something special,"
Cavanagh said. ""We seek identity
for the entire community. We want
to focus on the center of our city
where the heart pump is. Our
essence is in art and culture. We
cannot afford do lose the North
Carolina Black Repertory Com
pany or the National Black The
atre Festival. We need to find
African American heritage and
develop it. Thank you for what
you are doing. May God bless
you."
Mistress of ceremonies Polan
da assistant coordinators who
served in various capacities.
Cleopatra Solomon and Cynthia
Mack of the Winston Salem
Urban League received recogni
tion as the founders of the
Youth/Celebrity Project. Cheryl
Harry and Willard Tanner
received accolades for their contri
butions to the youth project.
More than 3,200 youths par
ticipated in sessions -with the stars
Jhrough the Celebrity Youth
Event, which brought local youths
and celebrities together to discuss
opportunities both on and off
stage.
The event also included a mov
ing candle lighting ceremony in
memory of Ms. Elem. Gwendolyn
Williams read a touching tribute
as the Hamlins led in the lighting
of the candles.
Sprinkle-Hamlin praised
Elem's indomitable spirit.
"Joyce worked very hard.
Every morning during the festival,
she would call me at 7 a.m. to
make sure I would be across the
Photos by Feleeia McMillan
Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin lad tha volunteer* in a eandlalight ceremony in honor of the lata Joyce Clem, volunteer coordinator.
street by 9 a.m.," Sprinkle-Hamlin
said. "She was always there. We
really miss her, but we know she is
in a better place.
Sprinkle-Hamlin introduced
the Joyce Elem Volunteer Award.
The purpose of the award is to
honor individuals who exemplify
the spirit of Elem s selfless contri
butions. Rachel P. Jackson became
the first recipient of the award.
"Through the lean times,
Rachel stuck with us. When there
were only 30 and 40 people
attending the plays, she was right
there. She believed in supporting
the arts and getting her family
involved," Sprinkle-Hamlin said.
Cathy Elem Cumbie, Ms.
Elem's sister,, presented the plaque
to Jackson.
Cumbie and her husband were
given a memory book dedicated to
Elem which documented the life
of "one theatrical angel."
Groups that Elem was
involved in such as the Sassy
Ladies Book Club and the Triad
Diamond Ski Club contributed to
the memory book.
Another salute exhorted the
work of the volunteers. Gerry Pat
ton and Natalie Summers came
forward to present the NBTF
Rhyming Review. They honored
each group of volunteers.
From the questionnaire, the
audience learned several facts
about NBTF. The opening pro
duction for the festival in 1989
was "Don't Bother Me, I Can't
Cope." Lavon Williams designed
the NBTF logo. The two new
components that were added to
the 1999 festival were the Hip
Hop Theatre and the Collegiate
Theatre.
The first chairperson of the
festival was acclaimed poet Maya
Angelou.
The next festival will be held
July 30-Aug. 4, 2001.
Larry Loon Hamlin, founder/artistic dirattor of the National Block
Theatre Fmtttval, thanked the volunteers for their support.
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