THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701220095
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Frank Roberts
LENGTH: 75 lines
More than 300 children have attended the Fine Arts Center of Suffolk since it opened in 1991.
The numbers stop there. The Center is shuttered.
That means one less opportunity for youngsters to learn and enjoy drama, dancing; no more music lessons and, no more, the thrill of performing.
It is a loss for Suffolk where, as far as arts and entertainment is concerned, there is so little, anyway.
There are clubs, with a variety of music - and that's about it. You have to go out of town for a movie, for a night of bowling or skating.
The closing of the Fine Arts Center is also a loss for Franklin, Windsor, Zuni, Smithfield and Gates County, N.C. Students came from those areas to take advantage of the professionals who taught there.
``The training was all done in a professional manner,'' said Virginia Chambers, founder-director.
Instructors represented the Governor's Magnet School of the Arts, Virginia Ballet Theatre; Marilyn Danitz, an internationally known choreographer taught there, as did Chris Van Cleave, known for his work on the musical stage, including the Founders Inn Dinner Theater, and as a country singer and composer.
The Fine Arts Center gained a reputation as a regional facility. Many of its young people fared very well in area theater productions.
The group had its own successful production units - FEATS, a dance company and FACES, a musical review company.
The latter group went out with a bang, performing in front of the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg in December, entertaining the thousands of visitors there.
``The kids didn't miss a beat, they sang their hearts out - blew the crowd away,'' Chambers said. ``They were invited back next year.''
Obviously, they cannot return. The children of Suffolk and vicinity will not have the opportunity to represent us so proudly.
Chambers argues that more people needed to get involved at the Center - volunteers who would work with the children.
That turned into a Catch-22. On the one hand, potential volunteers may have found it difficult to work with a for-profit organization; on the other hand, it was the only way the Fine Arts Center could have continued putting Suffolk on the entertainment map.
``My problem was - I needed more people to get involved. Another problem was the downtown parking,'' Chambers said. The group was headquartered in Suffolk Towers. ``Suffolk doesn't support itself business-wise, or otherwise.
``Dunkin' Donuts couldn't even make it here,'' she said, referring to the place they used to have on Main Street.
Even when the Center was ``making it'' - offering its classes and entertainment, support from the community was not good.
One of the happiest times I had on stage - I've been performing with theater groups since kidhood - was with the Fine Arts Center.
During the 1994 Christmas season they offered a handsome, professional version of ``Babes in Toyland.''
I portrayed Barnaby, the villain of the piece. Cleave's direction, and the children and adults in the play, were first-rate - the production, excellent.
The public support - was not.
Here's hoping that will improve.
The Fine Arts Center has folded, but the Peanut Players have been rejuvenated after 18 years.
I was a member of the original group, portraying slobby Oscar Madison in ``The Odd Couple'' - a play so successful, we had added performances.
The new group offered its first production last year - a good play but poor attendance.
But, the Peanut Players are not giving up. Another comedy will be presented this spring and, later, a musical.
These are night-out-on-the-town productions.
Public support is needed, of course - but, more important, as far as you are concerned is the fact that there is nothing to equal the enjoyment of live theater.
As far as the Fine Arts Center is concerned, ``nothing is ever final,'' Chambers said. ``But, we need the community to want to see it happen.''