A Little Music To Help You Through The Day

StillWaters Jazz Band will be playing at Dixie's TOMORROW from 12:00 Noon to 2:00. I hope you can make it out. It should be a good time.

We had a great rehearsal last night, so I am hopeful for a really good outing on Saturday. We're even having another one tonight!

Tomorrow will be the public debut for my first jazz song, Dog Days Of Dixie, written in memory and as a tribute to the namesake of Dixie's, Dixie the bloodhound.

According to the reports that I have seen it looks like it could rain tomorrow, so that will give you a good excuse to come on out and hang around at the coffee house. The coffee is good, the atmosphere is pleasant, the prices are reasonable, and there will be jazz! What more could you want?

We look forward to playing for you. See you there!

Oasis Cancelled Tomorrow

Due to sickness, Oasis Diner will be canceled this week.

SJB Concert Coming...

StillWaters Jazz Band has a gig on Saturday, February 16, 2008. We'll be playing at Dixie's coffee house on Main Street in China Grove. The time isn't certain yet, but it looks like we'll be there around 1:00 in the afternoon and will probably play for at least an hour. I'll post more details here when I have them. Come on out and check it out if you can. It will be a great opportunity to meet some folks, hear some decent music, and drink coffee. What more could you want?

Don't Miss Beautiful Star If You Can Help It

The following announcement is not sponsored by StillWaters in any way. We are in no way affiliated with this production, but I have seen it twice and can heartily recommend it!

- Jonathan



In this return of last season's sold out holiday hit, Reverend Roy Ledbetter and his congregation are back to bring the Christmas story to life in an Appalachian setting with down home laughter, toe-tapping music and a tug at the heart. This new holiday tradition is a musical and storytelling journey from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus. In the tradition of the medieval mystery plays of Old England, Beautiful Star weaves music, humor and awe together, re-telling great stories from the Bible in a festive gathering of family, friends and faith.

Beautiful Star is set on a cold winter evening, high in the mountains of North Carolina, where the members of a small Open Heart Community Fellowship gather to tell the story of the first Christmas. But this is no ordinary Christmas pageant. As this fellowship brings these glorious stories to life, their simple mountain church is transformed by the power of music, the telling of tales and pure faith into a world of magic and wonder.

See what critics called, "the best show I've seen in this or any holiday season" (The Charlotte Observer) and "perfect family fare...[that] will lighten your heart and put a lump in your throat." (Greensboro's News & Record)

TICKET INFORMATION

What A Night!

Wow. The StillWaters family pulled off two very successful Christmas parties last night. Unfortunately I don't have all of the details to give you numbers, but at the party I attended the first guests showed up right at 4:30 and the last one left around 7:45. There was an abundance of food, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Hopefully, I will be able to entice the hosts of these parties to give us the full details here in the coming days.

Last night was also the debut of the StillWaters Jazz Band (SJB). By all accounts it was a successful outing. If you are bummed that you missed the debut you will have another opportunity to see SJB in action on Tuesday, December 11th from 7:00 to 7:30. They will be playing at South Rowan High School as part of a fund raiser for The SRHS Drama Club called The Coffee House. Come on out if you can!

There are also opportunities to continue serving our neighbors THIS WEEK. Lunch With Lois is planned for this Saturday, December 8th at 12:00 Noon at the Kirkers'. Lois is a sister in the Lord who is in the midst of a financial struggle right now. The plan is to enjoy lunch together and visit with her and then provide her with a monetary gift and wrapped Christmas gifts for her two grandchildren (a boy 10 years old and a girl 12 years old.) If you can help with this outreach and/or would like to attend let Carol know. (If you are not from this area and would like to help, church contact information is located at the bottom of the blog!)

Also be looking for information about an upcoming Servant Evangelism project that we are trying to pull together for Saturday, December 15th. The plan is to assist customers at the Salisbury Mall in getting their packages to their cars. The entire event including travel shouldn't take more than 2 hours (unless you want to fellowship some afterwards!) As I firm up the details I will post them here on the blog.

Man, who would have thought that serving our neighbors could be more fun than riding in a one horse open sleigh?

The Best Play I Have Seen In A Long Time

If you can, you would be incredibly blessed to see this play that is being performed at the Triad Stage in Greensboro. I saw it last year and enjoyed it so much that I took my parents back a week later. It was absolutely wonderful. If I had the money I would take each of you.

In this return of last season's sold out holiday hit, Reverend Roy Ledbetter and his congregation are back to bring the Christmas story to life in an Appalachian setting with down home laughter, toe-tapping music and a tug at the heart. Developed by Triad Stage Artistic Director Preston Lane and Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek, the same creative team behind Brother Wolf and the upcoming Bloody Blackbeard, this new holiday tradition is a musical and storytelling journey from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus. In the tradition of the medieval mystery plays of Old England, Beautiful Star weaves music, humor and awe together, re-telling great stories from the Bible in a festive gathering of family, friends and faith.

Beautiful Star is set on a cold winter evening, high in the mountains of North Carolina, where the members of a small Open Heart Community Fellowship gather to tell the story of the first Christmas. But this is no ordinary Christmas pageant. As this fellowship brings these glorious stories to life, their simple mountain church is transformed by the power of music, the telling of tales and pure faith into a world of magic and wonder.

See what critics called, "the best show I've seen in this or any holiday season" (The Charlotte Observer) and "perfect family fare...[that] will lighten your heart and put a lump in your throat." (Greensboro's News & Record)

Click HERE to buy tickets.

Groups of 10 - 49 persons save 15%. For more information and to reserve your group's seats, call Sherry Barr, Director of Audience Services, at 336.274.0067 ext. 218 or email groupsales@triadstage.org.

And click HERE to download the podcast.

I was impressed by the insight into the stories of the Old Testament that Preston Lane showed as he wrote this play. I was especially impressed by his understanding of the significance of the story of Abraham and Isaak on Mt. Moriah. (This was also the most poignant moment of the play.) The fellow that played the enemy was especially good too. I would consider his performance last year the strongest. The music is fabulous too. It well worth every penny that you will pay for a ticket.

Our Very Own Caitlin Springs...

Sadly, she's not in this picture!

What happens when a rollicking band of pirates meets a family of beautiful maidens and a model of a modern Major-General? Disguise, intrigue, honor, love, humor, music — it's all a part of Catawba College's upcoming production, "Pirates of Penzance," which will be performed at 6:55 p.m. Wednesday, November 14 and at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, November 15-17, in Keppel Auditorium.

And our very own Caitlin Springs will be right there in the middle of all of the action!

Catawba Theatre Arts Professor, Dr. Beth Homan, who directs the production, seeks to question similar fundamental tenets of the American ideology, such as freedom and democracy, through the melodic mayhem of the convoluted "Pirates" plot.

In addition to Homan, David Hagy, conductor of the Salisbury Symphony, serves as music director, while Scott McLeod is the vocal coach and pianist Laurie Klaus is the rehearsal accompanist. Crew members include Jared Kenish of Glassboro, N.J., stage manager; Sara Scronce of Newton and Christine Shuster of Jackson, N.J., assistant stage managers; and Claire Alston of Kernersville, dramaturge.

Cast members include Justin Lewis of Knoxville, Tenn., as the Pirate King; Daniel Hines of Yorktown, Va., as Frederick; Jessica Taige of Wauwatosa, Wis., as Mabel; Brianna Smith of Austin, Texas, as Ruth; Michael Lasris of Seaford, Va., as the Major-General; and Paul Saylor of Isle of Palms, S.C., as the Sergeant.The Pirates include Matt Patrick of Trinity, Fla., as Sam; along with Sheldon Rogers of Waxhaw; Luke Robinson of Monroe; and Gracie Greenbaum of Tolland, Conn.; Sonny Kong of Matthews; Andy McCain of Mequon, Wis.; Mike Matthias of Georgetown, Del.; and Jordan Ellis of Shelby will double as a Pirate and a Cop. The Daughters include Guerin Piercy of Swannanoa as Kate; Caitlin Becka of Wilmington as Edith; Caitlin Springs of Santa Clara, Calif., as Isabel; Betsy Foster of Baltimore, Md.; Devon Currie of Jamestown; Nicole Bowles of Monroe; and Cecilia Runge of Milford, N.J.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for non-Catawba students and for senior citizens. For more information, please call the Catawba College Box Office at 704-637-4481. Group rates are available.

Interested in going? I have spoken with a couple folks who plan to go on Thursday night. Let's get out there and support Caitlin!

(Quotes are from THIS article at the Salisbury Post.)