Our Community is Alive with The Sound of Music

Music. It is everywhere in our community. Sometimes it is very out front, like a concert at the Fred, with a well-known national act drawing a full house. Other times, though, the talent might come from friends, coworkers, or the kid across the street who are practicing long hours and enthusiastically performing a benefit choral concert or a community musical theater production staged at a local high school. Our community is alive with the sound of music, and it is only becoming louder and more and more inspiring.

The rehearsal room is filled with groups practicing their parts. The director runs thru a scene with a small group of actors. Down the hall, singers practice their solos and duets around a piano. Elsewhere, the choreographer teaches a song and dance routine with members of the ensemble as the stage manager blocks their positions.

The Georgia Singers Theater Company’s summer camp is in full swing. The musical is “Mean Girls, Jr.” It is the Company’s 24th production. Fifty plus kids ages 6th grade to 22 years old (with exceptions); acting, music, and dance teachers; and parent volunteers are working tirelessly to produce a high level production in a couple of weeks.

Founded by producer D Knudsen, Rachel Green, JoBeth Braddy, and Annie Hale, the Georgia Singers Theater Company is an arm of the Georgia Singers, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) started by Peachtree City residents and retired music educators Dr. Franklin and Rachel Green.

Developing a working relationship ever since teacher JoBeth directed eighth grader Annie in her first play, the two women—who are the company’s drama director and stage director respectively—are also best friends, supporting and inspiring each other every day. “She cracks me up,” says JoBeth of Annie. “She is always by my side, encouraging me,” responds Annie.

The woman support each other through what is a very energetic schedule for this after school youth theater program. The Company, produces three musical productions a year—fall, spring, and a summer camp. Standards are high. It is intended that the productions build character in the youth that participate and that the production itself reflects the highest of standards in a professional Broadway-style musical that is appropriate for families.

“This is not a kid’s theater group,” says Annie. “We don’t dumb this down. This is community theater— youth to adult.”

Kids from about eight area schools participate in the musicals and take the leads in all productions.

“We don’t make cuts,” says JoBeth. “We find a place for everyone. If they sign up, they will perform. If they don’t get a lead or a solo, they will perform in the ensemble—singing, dancing, and acting in the background for the show.

Since its first production of Aladdin in 2014, Georgia Singers Theater Company has staged about three shows per year, including “Guys and Dolls,” “High School Musical 2,” “The Lion King, Jr.,” “Singing in the Rain,

Jr.," “Shrek the Musical,” and “Matilda.”

Because the Company does not own facilities for rehearsals and productions, the organization rents rehearsal and performance space from local churches, schools, and theaters in the Fayette County community— an expensive but necessary cost.

“We are like a traveling Shakespearian troupe,” says Annie, “always looking for practice and performance space.”

The women agree that one of their goals is to locate a building that would work as a black box theater for the group and be their home. That takes a lot of financial support from the community, however, and to date it is still a wish. “The old SteinMart building would be wonderful!” says Annie with a sigh.

“At the end of the day, though, we wish we could be a true community theater and not charge fees and keep our production at the quality it is,” says JoBeth. “But be assured every penny you put into this, you will see the results in the show.”

One of JoBeth’s favorite moments was at the last performance of “Mean Girls” when the music suddenly stopped during the big ensemble number right before intermission.

“There was a split-second pause where everyone was stunned that the music had stopped,” says JoBeth.

“But then, the entire ensemble picked right up singing and dancing until the music came back. They really never missed a beat. I almost wished the music hadn’t come back on! It was really gratifying to see them carrying on. As they say, the show must go on!”

Creatively costumed, colorfully staged, artfully choreographed, and expertly directed acting and singing, Georgia Singers productions are enjoyable and inspiring. This is community musical theater at its finest— productions that will long be remembered by young musical thespians and audiences alike.

The Company’s 2023-24 season includes “The Addams Family.” Practice is every Friday evening and Saturday until the show dates—November 3 - 4. For more information on shows, volunteer opportunities, sponsorships, and donations, visit georgiasingerscompany. org.

The dimly lit sanctuary of the Fayetteville Methodist Church is quiet except for the low conversation of two people—Janice Folsom at the piano and a single auditionee standing nervously. The audition is friendly but serious: “My Country Tis of Thee” sung quickly and in three different keys, various scales, a tonal memory exercise, and sight- reading from a hymn.

Janice Folsom, founder, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Southern Crescent Choral (SCC), has been conducting auditions such as this for the past 21 years. Hundreds of people from around the Fayette County area have participated, eager for a chance to perform a variety of challenging choral literature with high performance standards for their community.

A few years before her retirement from a 34-year career of teaching music in the Atlanta area, including 29 years as Choral Director at Fayette County High School, Janice started thinking about what she could do to keep music in her life.

“I love music,” says Janice. “I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I wanted something in music to continue after teaching. At that time there was nothing consistent in the community as far as choral opportunities for people.”

So, Janice decided to start a choir, thinking it would serve the community as well as give her an outlet for the music she loved. In 2002, she established a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and a Board made up of business leaders who met monthly for eight months before auditions even began. The guidance of that board as well as loyal sponsors and donors have kept the Chorale on a sound fiscal course while allowing Janice to create professional, creative, and entertaining concert experiences for audiences while keeping ticket prices low.

“Our first year I had 80 people try out for the Chorale,” she says “About 65 made it. With the exception of the pandemic years, that number of performers has held pretty steady.”

Today the Chorale boasts members who have been participating since its inception along with new members. Singers come from six metro Atlanta counties. Ages range from the 20s to 85, with the average age between 50 and 60. The Chorale has established a reputation for excellence and achievement in the south metro area arts community, but it takes a lot of work: six-hour workshops, two and a half-hour Monday night rehearsals, dress rehearsals, dance workshops, and performances.

The group performs major choral works, as well as Opera, Spirituals, Pop, and Broadway favorites—from Beethoven to the Beach Boys. It has performed before tens of thousands in notable venues in the community. The Chorale’s Spivey Hall performances have been featured on WABE 90.1 radio on many occasions. It received accolades during its 20-year celebration with a commendation from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

The Chorale has also earned accolades from around the world. It made its European debut in 2007 during a summer tour of Italy and has since performed in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, France, Scandinavia, Scotland and England with its latest trip last spring being to Andalusia, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal.

“I had no idea when I started the Chorale that we would do this well,” says Janice. “The Chorale has helped me grow. I never conducted an orchestra before the Chorale. It has been a challenge but wonderful growth for me. I just wanted a little choir that I could turn into a ensemble that would make beautiful music. This was never expected.”

Janice says she never sits back. She is always looking for something new and fresh for herself as well as the Chorale members.

“I’m looking forward to this next season,” she says. “I love planning these things. I love the moment of the concert, but I adore the learning process, bringing it all together. I love to plan. I love the rehearsals. I just want the Chorale to keep on making great music and having more new and wonderful people join us. That’s what the Chorale is. Nice people. Wonderful. Sweet. Caring. People who love to joyously sing.”

For information on performances, tickets, volunteering, auditions, donations, and sponsors, visit southerncrescentchorale.org.

For fall and winter performance dates for both Georgia Singers Theater Company and Southern Crescent Chorale, see our Calendar of Events on pages 20-26.