Features Editor

Sept. 16, 2000 10 PM

The Troy Council on the Arts and Humanities and Troy State University are once again collaborating to bring a full season of fine arts productions to Pike County.

More than 20 events are scheduled featuring a variety of performances, including "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline" and the Chorovaya Akademia Russian Men’s Chorus.

"We have an outstanding slate of events and something to attract many different interests in the arts," said Don Crapps, president of the Troy Council on the Arts and Humanities.

Crapps said the council will hold its season kickoff event from 6 until 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at Hunter’s Mountain Clubhouse with music by the "Fabulous Shades.

"The public is invited to this special event and we invite everyone who is interested in the fine arts to join us," Crapps said. "We are seeking to expand our area of service from Troy and Pike County to the surrounding area with programs that offer something for all – concerts, plays, dance revues and art exhibitions. Our kickoff celebration should set the tone for the year. We are excited about what is available through our collaborative efforts with Troy State."

The kickoff event will be an opportunity for supporters of the arts to also become supporters of the Troy Council on the Arts and Humanities.

Crapps said bringing high quality performances to Troy is a costly venture and memberships are one way the council has of financing the events.

"Not only does the Arts Council bring a schedule of events to Troy and Pike County each year, we also support the fine arts in our community," Crapps said. "We support the Troy Music Study Club, the Troy Music Teachers Association, drama and art programs in the city and county schools and we want to do our part to make the old Troy Post Office a center for the visual arts."

Different levels of support are available to patrons. The highest level is the Benefactor which is a donation of $250 or more. Benefactors receive four tickets to each performance. Grand Patrons contribute between $150 and $249 and receive two tickets; Patron donations are between $85 and $149 and receive 1 ticket and Promoters who donate between $75 and $84 also receive one ticket. Friends are those who donate less than $85.

Crapps said advance tickets are always available and at the door for most performances.

"We welcome patrons of the arts to the individual performances but we would like to involved as many people as possible as patrons on some level," Crapps said. "We would like to see support for the Arts Council grow each year. The more involvement we have in the council, the more we are able to do in the community."

Through patrons’ subscriptions the Arts Council raised $14,000 last year and Crapps said he would like to see that dollar amount climb to more than $15,000 this year.

This season promises to offer the strongest and most varied lineup of fine arts productions and those who attend the kickoff event will have an opportunity to experience the excitement of the coming season.

"Anyone who enjoys fine arts productions will not want to miss this season’s events," Crapps said. "We encourage everyone to not wait until someone tells you about the wonderful programs. Come and see for yourself what we have to offer."