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YES! Writers JOHN BATCHELOR MARK BURGER KATEI CRANFORD LYNN FELDER JIM LONGWORTH IAN MCDOWELL
PRODUCTION
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DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT ANDREW WOMACK
We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we are dedicated to informing and entertaining with thought-provoking, debate-spurring, in-depth investigative news stories and features of local, national and international scope, and opinion grounded in reason, as well as providing the most comprehensive entertainment and
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This is SPINAL TAP 41st Anniversary will be screened at Golden Ticket Ale House, Regal Greensboro Grande, Regal Palladium. . The film is rated R. For tickets or more information, visit https:// www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/this-is-spinal-tap/.
4 THE UNHOLY TRINITY aspires to be Western in the classic tradition, although it falls short of classic status. Nevertheless, for those with a fondness for the genre, the well-staged gunfights, rugged locations, a zesty score in the Ennio Morricone tradition...
5 Over 80 TELEVISION SERIES premiered in 1975, and that’s a lot considering there were only three TV networks at the time. Back then there was no internet, no streaming, and very few cable offerings.
7 MILNER’S AMERICAN SOUTHERN is a family enterprise. Brothers John and Buddy Milner, Winston-Salem natives, started out working in area restaurants as teenagers, then went to the Culinary Institute of America.
9 On Wednesday, June 11, the City of High Point announced its upcoming 50TH ANNIVERSARY season, which includes internationally known musical acts, acrobats, and an illusionist, billing it as a “yearlong celebration to showcase iconic artists, cultural diversity and community partnerships.”
12 “‘THE HAIR JOURNEY’ is a culmination of my professional and artistic career and just really thinking about the hardships I’ve experienced as a Black dancer, choreographer, and artist,” said Princess Johnson, founding director of Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet.
BY MARK BURGER
MNever mind fireworks, rock your independence with Spinal Tap!
ore years than I care to remember, this aspiring film critic was taking tickets at the late, lamented Rutgers Plaza Sixplex in Somerset, N.J., resplendent in powder-blue jacket and clip-on bowtie, when two Asian teenagers walked out of a matinee screening of This is Spinal Tap (1984) asking for their money back. Having seen (and loved) the film — and having fallen out of my seat convulsed in laughter during the Stonehenge number — I asked why they didn’t like it. “We thought it was real.” At the time, a lot of people did. They thought Spinal Tap was a real heavy metal rock band. They weren’t aware that the concept had been conceived by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and director Rob Reiner. The film was filmed as if it were an actual behindthe-scenes music documentary, and it succeeded — perhaps too well? — into fooling a lot of people. To promote the film, Spinal Tap actually opened for real heavy metal bands, thereby furthering the friendly ruse. It’s because of This is Spinal Tap that the term “mockumentary” entered the lexicon. The film, which launched Reiner’s directing career, became an instant cult classic and an enduring favorite among fans. Although only a moderate box-o ce success, its popularity skyrocketed on videocassette (and beyond), and in 2002 This is Spinal Tap was entered into the National Film Registry. It’s probably among my top 10 favorite comedies of all time. This marks the 41st anniversary of the original release of This is Spinal Tap, and with the long-gestating sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues due for release in September, Fathom Entertainment and Bleecker Street are paying bigscreen homage to the classic comedy by releasing the remastered, remixed, and definitive 4K restoration of This is Spinal Tap to hundreds of theaters nationwide this July, including three in the Piedmont Triad: The Golden Ticket Ale House + Elite (2101 New Garden Road, Greensboro), the Regal Greensboro Grande Stadium 16 (3205 Northline Ave., Greensboro), and the Regal Palladium Stadium
14 (5830 Samet Drive, High Point).
This is Spinal Tap 41st Anniversary will be screened at Golden Ticket Ale House at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 5; 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, July 6; and 7 p.m. Monday, July 7. Tickets are $13.34. At Regal Greensboro Grande, the film will be shown at 4 p.m., July 5; 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., July 6; and 7 p.m., July 7. Tickets are $14.95 (general admission) and $12.81 (children under 12). At Regal Palladium, the film will be shown at 4 p.m., July 5: 4 p.m. and 7:10 p.m., July 6; and 7:10 p.m., July 7. Tickets are $16.01 (general admission) and $13.34 (children under 12). The film is rated R. For tickets or more information, visit https://www. fathomentertainment.com/releases/thisis-spinal-tap/.
The fast-paced, free-wheeling comedy follows the veteran British rock group Spinal Tap — renowned as “England’s loudest band” (as well as one of its most punctual) — on its North American tour in conjunction with its latest album, “Smell the Glove,” which has already aroused controversy due to its sexist cover and sexist lyrics, so much so that Kmart and Sears have threatened to ban the album from their shelves.
Accompanied by tireless manager Ian Faith (Tony Hendra) and the camera crew of documentary filmmaker Marty DiBergi (Reiner, whose resemblance here to Last Waltz director Martin Scorsese is surely no coincidence), we glimpse the inner workings of a rock tour that goes hilariously wrong at every turn, leaving longtime bandmates Nigel Tufnel (Guest), David St. Hubbins (McKean), and Derek Smalls (Shearer) scrambling to pick up the pieces in lovably clueless fashion.
The cast is peppered with a bevy of
familiar faces: Billy Crystal (as Morty the Mime), Paul Sha er (as Artie Fufkin), Patrick Macnee, Ed Begley Jr., Bruno Kirby, Howard Hesseman, Paul Benedict, Dana Carvey, June Chadwick, Gloria Gi ord, the immortal Fred Willard, Anjelica Huston (as the designer of the infamous Stonehenge monument), and Fran Drescher
as Bobbi Flekman (“the hostess with the mostest”). Both Drescher and Sha er will reprise their roles in the upcoming sequel.
Of course, everyone has his or her favorite line or scene from This is Spinal Tap, and yours truly has several, including getting lost in Cleveland (“Hello, Cleveland! Hello, Cleveland!”), Jazz Odyssey, Nigel’s trademark guitar solos, Derek’s cucumber … but one that always sticks out Nigel’s Stonehenge intro, regarding the Druids: “No one knows who they were or what they were doing, but their legacy remains …”
If no one knows who they were or what they were doing, how could the Druids have a legacy? Then again, does it really matter? Or, to quote another line: “Scotland Yard said ‘Best left unsolved.’”
The o cial Fathom Events website is https://www.fathomevents.com/. !
The Sportscenter Athletic Club is a private membership club dedicated to providing the ultimate athletic and recreational facilities for our members of all ages. Conveniently located in High Point, we provide a wide variety of activities for our members. We’re designed to incorporate the total fitness concept for maximum benefits and total enjoyment. We cordially invite all of you to be a part of our athletic facility, while enjoying the membership savings we offer our established corporate accounts.
NCDOT TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO REPLACE THE BRIDGE ON TUSCALOOSA STREET OVER SOUTH O’HENRY BOULEVARD IN GUILFORD COUNTY
STIP Project BR-0079
GREENSBORO - The N.C. Department of Transportation is hosting a public meeting on its proposed plan to replace the bridge on Tuscaloosa Street over South O’Henry Boulevard in Greensboro. The purpose of the project is to replace the existing bridge with a new, sturdier structure that accommodates wider sidewalks and bicycle lanes, and provides a greater vertical clearance for vehicles traveling below the structure on South O’Henry Boulevard.
Project details and maps can be found on the NCDOT project web page publicinput.com/tuscaloosa-st-greensboro. The information will be available at the meeting allowing for one-on-one discussions with engineers, but there will be no formal presentation.
The meeting will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on June 24 at Bluford STEM Academy, 1901 Tuscaloosa Street, in Greensboro.
People may also submit comments by phone at 984-205-6615 project code 11204, email tuscaloosa-st-greensboro@publicinput.com, or mail at the address shown below by July 8, 2025
By Mail: Samira Jasim
NCDOT Project Management Unit – Project Manager 1582 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 287699
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled people who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Tony Gallagher, Environmental Analysis Unit, at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1598, 919-707-6069 or magallagher@ncdot.gov as early as possible so arrangements can be made.
Those who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior by calling 1-800-481-6494.
Aquellas personas no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan llamando al 1-800-481-6494.
The Unholy Trinity: Mayhem in Montana
For a large part of the 20th century, the Westerns were perhaps the predominant screen genre, but in the 1970s — thanks in large part to saturation on both the large and small screens, Westerns began to fall out of favor. There have been periodic attempts to resurrect the genre, but they’ve tended to be shortlived.
The Unholy Trinity aspires to be Western in the classic tradition, although it falls short of classic status. Nevertheless, for those with a fondness for the genre, the well-staged gunfights, rugged locations, a zesty score in the Ennio Morricone tradition by the father/son duo Marco and Tristan Betrami, and a solid cast o er worthy enticements.
a former slave with ties to Isaac Broadway and a vested interest in Henry’s activities. It seems there’s a hidden stash of gold somewhere in Trinity, and St. Christopher wants his share. Is he a guardian angel or a devil in disguise? No fair telling, but Jackson tackles the role with great zest and relish, stealing every scene he’s in. It’s unfortunate, however, that Jackson and Brosnan have only a few brief scenes together. Still, it’s nice having them onboard, because their collective charisma — and experience — gives The Unholy Trinity considerable heft.
FETCH
We’re in Wyoming Territory, circa 1888, as young greenhorn Henry Broadway (producer Brandon Lessard) arrives in the titular town of Trinity, seeking revenge upon the sheri , who supposedly betrayed his father Isaac (an unrecognizable Tim Daly) years before. Isaac is hanged after a lengthy prison stint, but Henry is convinced that he was innocent. “Aren’t they all?” mutters cynical clergyman David Arquette, who’s not what he seems to be.
Nor, for that matter, was Isaac. Henry is told by Trinity’s current sheri , Irish expatriate Gabriel Dove (Pierce Brosnan), that the man he seeks has been dead for some time, and suggests he mosey out of town at his earliest convenience. Naturally, circumstances intervene, and plenty of blood will be shed as longsuppressed secrets come to the surface, leading to that inevitable day of reckoning for the principals.
If Henry and Dove are two parts of the film’s “unholy trinity,” the third — and most unpredictable — is Samuel L. Jackson’s canny, crafty St. Christopher,
The screenplay, by Lee Zachariah (his first), is occasionally convoluted and encompasses too many characters, but at least it’s ambitious. It’s a cut above the standard-issue, shoot-‘em-up horse opera, and boasts some appropriately flinty exchanges. Lessard handles the role of Henry Broadway capably, and there’s good work from Veronica Ferres, Q’orianka Kilcher, Katrina Bowden, and Ethan Peck in supporting roles. When Brosnan’s sons Paris and Dylan visited the set, they were gifted roles, marking each sibling’s feature debut. !
Over 80 television series premiered in 1975, and that’s a lot considering there were only three TV networks at the time. Back then there was no internet, no streaming, and very few cable o erings. But of the many sitcoms and dramas that bowed 50 years ago, only a few had a significant impact on the industry and pop culture. Here, in alphabetical order, are eight of the more memorable ones.
Baretta
Robert Blake starred as Detective Tony Baretta whose best pal was a cockatoo named Fred. The series ran for three seasons on ABC and could have gone longer had Blake not made the decision to leave. The show featured some memorable catchphrases, like when Baretta would say to a criminal, “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.” It was a prophetic and ironic warning because Blake himself would later be accused of murdering his wife, and spent a year in jail while awaiting trial. He was eventually acquitted.
Barney Miller
In the annals of broadcasting, there have only been a few sitcoms set in a police station and this was the best. Hal Linden played the titular role in this ABC series, where he was in charge of a diverse detective squad set in The Big Apple. The series launched on January 23 and aired its last episode in May 1978, but has been in reruns ever since. I once asked Linden why the show had held up so well for so long. “It was a brilliantly written show. It didn’t settle for cheap jokes. Instead, it was all about the frailties and humor of human behavior. We were also ahead of our time in presenting topics that are still relevant today.”
The Je ersons
Created by Norman Lear as a spin-o from All in the Family, The Je ersons starred Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford as George and Louise, next-door neighbors to Archie and Edith Bunker. George found success in creating a chain of dry cleaning stores, allowing the couple to move on up to “a penthouse in the sky.” It was also the first prime-time series to depict a prosperous African American family.
I met Isabel and Sherman in the summer of 1977 and found them to be delightful individuals. Their groundbreaking series ran for 11 seasons on CBS.
One Day at a Time
This Norman Lear creation was a hybrid sitcom, meaning that it was full of laughs, but also covered serious and controversial topics. It starred Bonnie
Franklin as a recently divorced mom with two teenage daughters. I first met Bonnie at a CBS junket two years after the show premiered, but we were reunited for a TV Moms event that I produced in 2008 which also featured Family Ties star Meredith Baxter. That evening the audience learned the back story of One Day at a Time. Meredith’s real-life mom, Whitney Blake had pitched a show to Lear titled 38/13 based on her experiences as a 38-year-old single mom raising 18-year-old Meredith. Lear bought the show and retitled it One Day at a Time which lasted for nine years on the Ti any network.
Starsky and Hutch
While police dramas have been a staple of prime-time television since 1949, the buddy cop genre came late to the game. I Spy (1965) was about two secret agents and Adam 12 (1968) featured a pair of uniformed cops riding around Los Angeles. But Starsky and Hutch was the first buddy cop drama series about two plain clothes detectives. The series which aired for four seasons on ABC starred Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul in the title roles. The show also made it cool to drive a two-toned Ford Gran Torino.
Switch
This CBS series only lasted three seasons, but it was memorable for two reasons. First, it paired two established stars, Eddie Albert and Robert Wagner, as private detectives, and second, after being cancelled, it propelled Wagner into his most famous role as Jonathan Hart in the long-running hit show Hart to Hart for ABC. I first met Wagner when he was promoting Switch, but we reunited 30 years later when RJ was in WinstonSalem to help raise money for the Humane Society, and we have stayed in touch ever since.
Welcome Back Kotter
It is rare for a hit show to be created by its star (Jack Webb did it with Dragnet) and even more rare for a stand-up comedian to create a sitcom in which he is the series lead, but that’s what Gabe Kaplan did in bring-
ing Welcome Back Kotter to ABC. Kaplan played Gabe Kotter a teacher at the fictional James Buchanan High School in Brooklyn. In the series, Kotter, an alum of Buchanan, teaches a class of rag-tag academic underperformers who call themselves Sweathogs. The leader of the gang was a young John Travolta in his break-out role as Vinnie Barbarino. Kotter which faded after four seasons, launched Travolta’s film career which began with Carrie in 1976.
Wonder Woman
There are lots of ways to judge how successful a TV show is. Some achieve high ratings. Some are hailed by the critics. But very few series can boast that its main character is still one of the most popular Halloween costumes nearly a half-century after the show went o the air. Wonder Woman, starring Lynda Carter (as superhero Diana Prince), ran for three seasons on ABC, the first of which was set during World War II, and the final two seasons were set in present day. There was never any explanation for why the show jumped 30 years ahead, but hey, Wonder Woman was an Amazon who never ages so we all bought into the time warp. It was fun to watch Wonder Woman deflect bullets with her magic bracelet and throw her lasso on bad guys to make them confess their crimes. It was also fun for us males in the audience to stare at Carter’s iconic, low-cut costume, and fantasize about visiting Paradise Island where women are in charge, kind of like at my house. 1975 certainly wasn’t the greatest year for launching prime-time television shows, but it wasn’t without some bright spots, like the eight series that I’ve just mentioned. And, thanks to a myriad of nostalgia TV channels and streaming platforms, you can go through a time warp of your own to enjoy most all of these classic series. !
JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15) and streaming on WFMY+.
Jim Longworth
Longworth at Large
Jim Longworth with Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley of The Je ersons.
Jim with the cast of One Day At A Time, Pat Harrington, Bonnie Franklin and Valerie Bertinelli and Academy President John Sha ner on the right.
ACROSS
1 Magic’s org.
4 — about (close to)
8 Wounded by a bee
13 Tennis player Stefan
19 Loc. of Las Vegas
20 — Reader (eclectic digest)
21 Tinfoil maker
22 Cat helping with extermination
23 Start of a riddle 27 Di cult duty
28 Syrup source
29 “Is it —?” (“Are we on?”)
30 Karmann — (classic Volkswagen)
31 Riddle, part 2 35 Antipollution org.
36 Looks keenly 37 Preceding night
38 Ended a fast 39 Flower part 41 Hepburn of Sabrina
42 Town crier’s cry
44 Exits quickly, informally
46 Seniors’ gp.
48 Riddle, part 3 55 Process unit 58 Android rival 59 On the briny 60 Tiny amount 61 Riddle, part 4 67 Certain male physique, informally
69 Month, in Madrid
70 Cheers for a torero
71 Lofty poem
72 Former Swedish car 74 Shiba — (dog breed)
75 Clever
77 Riddle, part 5
80 Actress and singer Falana
Formerly, old-style
Candyman director DaCosta
“Ah, OK”
Riddle, part 6
Liability
“— a Preacher Man”
Alou who played in the 1997 World Series
Power to evoke pity
Mexican of old
Neither Rep. nor Dem.
B&B, e.g.
Computer printer brand
Citi Field stat
End of the riddle
Kin of Kong
Like the flesh of an
sketch, in brief
Riddle’s answer
Cinematic swordsman
Two squared
Shapiro of NPR
Unearth, with “up”
Sabers’ relatives
Cries noisily
IRS digits
Wichita-to-Bismarck dir.
Be an advantage to
Street in Manhattan’s Alphabet City
Lingers past, as the welcoming time
Utmost
Infant’s garment 7 A daughter of King Lear
Pronounce
Dr. Pimple Popper
Chow Down at Milner’s American Southern
BY JOHN BATCHELOR
Milner’s American Southern is a family enterprise. Brothers John and Buddy Milner, Winston-Salem natives, started out working in area restaurants as teenagers, then went to the Culinary Institute of America. They honed their chops cooking in the Charleston area, focusing on Southern regional style, then came back home and opened their own restaurant in August 2005. Wendy Milner learned table service at the acclaimed Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles, N.Y. She also spent time in Charleston before taking over the service team and managing catering at Milner’s.
From entry, you pass by a welcome station. A large U-shaped bar area occupies center stage. Several dining rooms are separated from each other, allowing a fairly low noise level, permitting conversation in normal tones.
Bar service earns special commendation. The wine list, like many these days, is constructed around mostly unfamiliar selections, but tastes are provided on request to help you make an informed decision. Moreover, servers were able to provide accurate descriptions in winespeak as well as making informed recommendations. Jerry and Anna, who prefer cocktails, praised the Whiskey Smash and Rum Punch.
The cuisine incorporates local ingredients whenever feasible, and as the name of the restaurant implies, preparations follow a southern theme.
The Fried Calamari here deserves praise for crisp texture as well as flavor. The menu enhancement is pepper sauce — a spicy-sweet concoction. My wife asked if there was an alternative, in case we didn’t like it. Our astute server immedi-
ately suggested the kitchen’s remoulade sauce, and when our serving arrived, it magically included both sauces. And they are both quite tasty, indeed.
I was even more impressed with Fried Green Tomatoes. Tart slices are cut thin, lightly battered, and fried to a crisp crust that still allows the tomatoes to retain a firm texture. Solid skill in the kitchen. And the accompanying tomato chutney is a knockout — blended with soft-cooked onions, sweetish in flavor, an excellent complement to the principal flavor of this dish. A scoop of basil — inflected Boursin cheese is placed on the side, adding another taste aspect.
Crab Cakes are available in several configurations — as a standalone starter, an add-on to a salad, or as an entrée. We tried the former. It’s an ample portion delivering good crab flavor from within a softish construction, enhanced with a mild beurre blanc sauce.
Fried Chicken is marinated in buttermilk. The crust is crisp and flavorful in its own right, the fowl benefitting from the marinade, further enhanced with a mild tomato gravy. Carolina Gold rice and fresh collard greens are the well-chosen vegetables.
Camel City Frogmore Stew is a southern variation on cioppino, here hosting shrimp, oysters, mussels, and sausage, plus hominy and corn, simmered in brown ale. Grilled bread is provided for dipping. This is wonderful!
Gnocchi — potato dumplings — are soft, tender, and delicious. I could make a meal o these alone. They are joined in Milner’s preparation with large, sauteed shrimp, further enhanced with cherry tomato, sweet onion, zucchini, arugula, lemon butter, and basil, yielding another major league winner.
Salmon gets a coating of crushed
Moravian cookies. This treatment honors Winston-Salem’s heritage and adds a flavor somewhat akin to crushed pecans. This is decorated with mild beurre blanc sauce and plated over a heritage Carolina Gold rice and sauteed spinach. The vegetables could have used a little something to perk them up, but they are high quality.
Pot Roast, on the other hand, is robustly flavored, a function of long, slow cooking. The menu entitles it “overnight,” and I believe it. A scoop of mashed potatoes alongside gain flavor when blended with the braising jus and tender strips of meat. Roasted broccoli and carrots complete the presentation.
Top Sirloin steak can be ordered in two sizes — 8 or 16 ounces. A half pound of red meat is more than enough for me or any of my acquaintances. The taste is solid, although a strip of firm, white gristle eroded an otherwise pleasant experience. Fries are enhanced with black garlic and tru e oil. The kitchen makes its own steak sauce, which I think they could bottle and sell.
I think my favorite entrée turned out to be the Pork Chop — large, thick, tender and juicy, dusted with mild blackening spices, decorated with that tomato chutney. It is presented over a potato pancake with fresh collard greens on the side. A large portion, abundantly flavored.
We tried two desserts, both commendable — Bread Pudding with caramel sauce and Coconut Buttercream Cake. The cake was noteworthy for the creamy texture of the cake itself, in addition to excellent flavor, extended with raspberry sauce.
Any restaurant that is able to sustain itself for 20 years deserves recognition. Here’s hoping for another 20! Check the website for specials and music. Milner’s is one of my favorites. !
JOHN BATCHELOR has been writing about eating and drinking since 1981. Over a thousand of his articles have been published. He is also author of two travel/cookbooks: Chefs of the Coast: Restaurants and Recipes from the North Carolina Coast, and Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants and Recipes from Western North Carolina. Contact him at john.e.batchelor@gmail. com or see his blog, johnbatchelordiningandtravel. blogspot.com.
WANNA go?
Milner’s American Southern 630 S. Stratford Road Winston-Salem 336-768-2221 gotomilners.com
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Pork Chop Gnocci with Shrimp
Fried Chicken Frogmore Stew
Iconic: Local Theatre celebrates 50 years
The High Point Theatre has reached a milestone that many artistic organizations and venues rarely achieve.
On Wednesday, June 11, the City of High Point announced its upcoming 50th anniversary season, which includes internationally known musical acts, acrobats, and an illusionist, billing it as a “yearlong celebration to showcase iconic artists, cultural diversity and community partnerships.”
“When they first built this place, this was like the bee’s knees of Triad venues. I grew up watching a lot of Shakespeare Festival plays. I remember seeing Don McLean here. That was very cool,” said Councilman Patrick Harmon. “Lots of times, I was here watching private plays, and other things. So, it’s a space for the whole community to be together.”
The High Point native led the toast to 50 years more.
“We’re raising a toast in honor of the treasure of the High Point Theatre that’s been in our community for half a century. For 50 years, this has been a place not just for performances, but inspiration, creativity, and connection. It’s a virtue of talent, sparked imaginations, and brought us together across generations and backgrounds to laugh, cry, reflect, and dream. It’s in the heart of High Point as a culture of the cornerstone of our city, elevating the hearts, enriching lives, and reminding us of the beauty of storytelling,” Harmon said. “To the visionaries who built it, to the performances who have raised this stage all these years, dedicated staff. Here’s to 50 more glorious years of the High Point Theatre.”
“The history of this venue is 50 years old, but now we start a new chapter. We’re bringing some young
talent and some great old talent,” said Dave Briggs, former director of the theatre.
The 937-seat theatre opened its doors in October 1975.
“The theatre started with quite a splash with performances from legends like Dave Brubeck, Victor Borge, Dizzy Gillespie, Carlos Montoya, and Dottie West — all within its first six weeks,” said Dan Barnard, director of High Point Theatre. “For five decades, the theatre has served as a gathering place for worldclass entertainment, community collaboration, and artistic inspiration.”
To celebrate its anniversary, the theatre is “hoping to honor the theatre’s rich history while embracing the vibrant diversity of the High Point community.”
The season will open with Grammy Award-winner Ledisi on Sept. 18, with award-winning country group Diamond Rio following up on Sept. 26. Charlottebased artist Rocky Lynn will open up for Diamond Rio.
On Nov. 7, clarinetist Anat Cohen and her band Quartetinho will perform, bringing their signature blend of lyrical improvisation and global flair. On Jan. 17, piano and organ prodigy Matthew Whitaker takes to the stage. Whitaker, a musical phenom since childhood, has performed for legends like Stevie Wonder, and was featured on 60 Minutes at the age of 17.
“He’s a true child prodigy. He played for Stevie Wonder’s Induction into the Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame when he was 10 years old,” Barnard told the crowd.
On Nov. 21, Los Lonely Boys, make their High Point debut with a soulful fusion of rock, blues, and Latin roots. Holiday spirit fills the theatre in December with two festive performances: Danú’s “An Emerald Isle Christmas” on Nov. 30, and the beloved annual tradition of High Point Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” from Dec. 19-21.
On Feb. 21, the theatre hosts its first-ever cirque performance: Cirque Flip Fabrique’s Blizzard — a visually stunning spectacle of acrobatics and artistry. On March 5, the theatre will host Noche Flamenca’s
emotionally charged production, “Searching for Goya,” offering a night of fiery Spanish dance and music.
“Blizzard is a cirque show. They really will do all those aerial things as high as they can go inside here. It’s a fabulous group from Montreal,” Bernard said. Comedy, magic, and mischief take center stage on April 18 with fan favorite Piff the Magic Dragon, the hilariously straight-faced magician who stole the show on America’s Got Talent and became a Las Vegas sensation. The season wraps on May 2 with a smooth, soulful finale by Kandace Springs, a Nashville-based jazz/R&B vocalist whose velvet vocals have captivated audiences around the world.
While celebrating the theatre, Barnard also took a moment to celebrate one of its longest employees, Business Manager Elizabeth Hinkle, who has been at the theatre for 40 years.
“I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking 40 years, she must be old, but you are wrong. This was the first interview and first job that Elizabeth has ever had,” he told the crowd. Turning to Hinkle and presenting her with a gift, he said, “You’re the heart and soul of our staff.”
Chanel Davis
Editor
[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP] SALEM BAND ANNOUNCES STARS & STRIPES CONCERT: FREE CONCERTS IN SALEM SQUARE
Barnard that special care went into planning for the 50th season.
“When we were planning this season, we had three things in mind. We wanted to increase our footprint and produce shows, maybe not as many total shows, but bigger shows, shows that people are more likely to drive farther away for. Secondly, we wanted to have an emotional response from people. Our intended response to at least one of the shows that you see is, oh, my goodness, I can’t believe that they’re coming to High Point. That’s the intention, and we’ll see if we’re successful or not. Thirdly, it’s our intention to serve all of High Point in all of its diversity. And so this is, in fact, I think probably the most diverse season I have ever had the privilege of planning,” said Barnard.
Established in 1771, Salem Band is the oldest, continuous mixed wind ensemble in the nation.
Join Salem Band for an All-American band concert in the town Square, our Annual Stars & Stripes performance honoring veterans in our community with marches, big bands, sing-alongs, “Armed Forces Salute,” and of course, “Star & Stripes Forever!” and featuring Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” “American Salute,” and “76 Trombones.” Hear Jim Steele, host of Afternoon Jazz on WSNC (90.5 FM), narrate the MLK biopic, “Until Justice Rolls Down Like Waters.” Arrive at 6:45 p.m. to enjoy pre-concert jazz by Salem Band/Swing Band vocalist Mignon Dobbins and pianist Ryan McCollum.
Other concerts in the 2025 Salem Band Summer Series include:
• August 5, Super Heroes Film Fest! at 7:30 p.m. with 6:45 p.m. pre-concert music by the Salem Band Saxophone Quartet
• August 12, Salem Band with Paperhand Puppet Intervention (rescheduled from May) at 7:30 p.m. with preconcert music by the Salem Band Tuba Quartet
All concerts are free and open to the public. Contact musicdirector@salemband.org for more info. !
Tickets for High Point Theatre’s 50th Anniversary Season will be available in stages. Full-season ticket packages went on sale June 11, followed by threeshow packages available starting July 1. Individual tickets for all shows will be released to the public on July 15 at 10 a.m. For pricing, package options, and event details, visit www.highpointtheatre.com. !
This event is free and will be held in Salem Square, 649 S. Main Street in Old Salem, Winston-Salem. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic. The rain-date is Saturday, July 5.
Established in 1771, SALEM BAND is the oldest, continuous mixed wind ensemble in the nation, celebrating 250 years in 2021-2022. Eileen Young, Music Director. More information at www.salemband.org | https://www.facebook.com/SalemBandFan/
CHANEL DAVIS is the current editor of YES! Weekly and graduated from N.C. A&T S.U. in 2011 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She’s worked at daily and weekly newspapers in the Triad region.
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SUBMITTED BY SALEM BAND
Ian McDowell
‘The Hair Journey’ returns to Greensboro
“‘The Hair Journey’ is a culmination of my professional and artistic career and just really thinking about the hardships I’ve experienced as a Black dancer, choreographer, and artist,” said Princess Johnson, founding director of Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet.
Johnson also describes the ballet she created and choreographed, which will be performed June 26-28 at Greensboro’s Carolina Theater, as about joy, imagination, and love.
“It’s a really fun imaginative show. It’s not about oppression and injustices. It’s about a little girl who didn’t listen to her mom, and shows what happens when a mother does a daughter’s hair. It’s a very ritual type of thing and a bonding experience.”
As well as a celebration of di erent types of hair textures and choices.
“As Black women, we often do feel like our hair has to be a certain way to progress in society. This is a reminder that it’s okay to love your hair just as it is. And so you will see that happening on stage, with little girls comparing their hair to each other and wishing they had di erent hair, and then what comes with desiring what other people have, as one girl goes through a coming of age story triggered by what happens to her hair.”
“The Hair Journey” is undertaken by a young girl named Zuri, played by Brevin Gilliam, and at an older age, by Tenshi Daley. “The name Zuri means beautiful in Swahili, because we really want the confidence of the young ladies. Her mother is played by Brevin Gilliam’s mother Brooke Gilliam. The other main characters are the Weave Queen, played by Jhakya Burks, and Nywele, which is also
Swahili and means lots of hair, played by Jade Donnell, who has been with our company since 2015.”
The title journey takes Zuri from a hair salon to such fantastic realms as The Weave Kingdom and the Land of Locks and Fros.
“I like to promote it as the show with no buns. It’s a ballet, but there are no buns. There are a lot of wig changes. When some school kids came to see the show, they helped us count the wigs, and there were over 30. We have a cast of 24 in total. The ensemble includes dancing hair beads dancing clouds, and dancing raindrops. Zuri doesn’t listen to her mom, who told her to cover her hair because it was going to rain, and instead took o her bonnet and got rained on.”
Born and raised in Greensboro, Johnson attended
Dudley High School, which is where her own creative journey began.
“That’s when I really started to hone in on dancing, my identity, and my career path. I was in the marching band as a majorette, and then was in a dance company where we learned modern and other types of dance. When it was time to graduate, I wanted to stay locked in on dance and learn more about it technically, because I didn’t get to dance in a dance studio growing up.”
So she enrolled at UNC-Greensboro.
“I was originally just a business major, and auditioned for the dance school three times before I got in. I graduated with both a business and a dance degree, with the intent of starting a dance company. I was able to do that by an internship that I had with the Richmond Ballet
Contributor
while I was in Virginia, and I immersed myself into their dance company. I got to learn about how ballet companies function and operate. That stuck with me. I’ve considered myself a professional choreographer ever since. But really, I started choreographing when I was eight years old because I didn’t have dance classes.”
Johnson started working on “The Hair Journey” in 2021.
“We were coming up on the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, and things didn’t seem to really be getting better. My first thought was that I should create something about COVID or the protests, then I realized how much we needed something that brings joy, laughter, and nostalgia.”
She first imagined “The Hair Journey” as a children’s book.
“Not long after I began writing it, the North Carolina Arts Council announced a new grant called Spark the Arts. They were looking for proposals for projects that would bring audiences back into theaters, like we used to do before COVID. So I thought ‘The Hair Journey’ would be a great project for this. I applied for the grant, and we got it.”
It was a two-year grant, which gave Johnson time to develop and refine her vision.
“The first year was the research and the second year was spent putting it all together. A part of that process was also doing a residency with Creative Greensboro where I was able to go into the Cultural Arts Center for six weeks and just play, which was something I’d never done as an artist. So often, you get these grants, and the grants are technically for a year, but you don’t hear you landed the grant for a while, and then you’ve
only got six or eight months left to spend the money, which you didn’t even know you would get, so you didn’t really start the project, which leaves everything so rushed. With the two-year grant, I really got to just take my time developing and then doing the residency.”
She found the process very inspirational.
“I brought the community in and just talked about hair, and I painted. I’m not a painter, but I decided I’m gonna paint, because maybe from painting, this will give me some movement ideas. I had artists bring their paintings in and I asked for artists who paint things about hair to fill up the space. It really did inform the work and became a part of our choreographic process. Visually, I would see the same thing and then I would think about how that painting would jump o the page, and what would it look like. It all just kind of came together into creating the movement.”
Johnson expressed gratitude to the team that came together to make this happen.
“I hired a director, Morgan Jones, out of Atlanta. And then I had a stage manager, Angel Howze, and lighting design from Lovett Lighting, and costume designer Daniele Herbin, who also sewed most of the costumes.”
“The Hair Journey” debuted in 2024, with multiple performances at UNCG Auditorium and Reynolds Theatre in Winston-Salem. It proved so popular that there will be five performances over three days at the Carolina Theatre this year.
On Thursday, June 26 there will be an 11 a.m. Special Children’s Performance, shortened for ages 5-12. That evening a 6:30 p.m. is the Community Arts Night
with what Johnson calls special reverse seating.
“I’m really excited about this night because we are doing something revolutionary with the ticket prices. For too long, premium seating has been reserved for the wealthiest ticket holders. We’re turning this tradition on its head and making the lower-priced tickets front and center, because art is for everyone and we believe in access.”
On Friday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. is the Gala Night, with a pre-show reception at 6 p.m., at which guests are encouraged
to dress up and wear their hair in unique styles.
On Saturday, June 28, the 11 a.m. matinee includes a post-show discussion with cast and creative team, and then the final performance at 4 p.m.
For more performance and ticket information, visit carolinatheatre.com. !
IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.
CARBORRO
Cat’S CradlE
300 E Main St | 919.967.9053 www.catscradle.com
Jun 19: dead Sea Sparrow, MEGaBItCH, Kial & the MuseZac
Jun 19: Kassi Valazza
Jun 20: lauren Sanderson
Jun 22: the Wildwoods
Jun 25: Insect ark & Forn
Jun 27: Honey Magpie
Jun 28: Kelsey Waldon
ChARlOtte
BoJanGlES ColISEuM
2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com
118 E Main St | 336.207.1999 www.facebook.com/TheDeckJamestown/
Jun 20: rewind
Jun 21: Carolina ambush
RAleIgh
lInColn tHEatrE 126 E. Cabarrus St | 919.831.6400
www.lincolntheatre.com
Jun 19:Mad Gallica Presents: a night In the Vortex
Jun 20: Panic Stricken
Jun 21: Jut thomas Band w/ Brodie Cormac
Jun 25: C. thomas Howell rEd Hat aMPHItHEatEr 500 S McDowell St | 919.996.8800 www.redhatamphitheater.com
Jun 20: the driver Era
Jun 21: Flatland Cavalry & Ian Munsick
Jun 25: 311 — unity tour 2025
20: Hotwax & the Splinters
Jun 18: Eternally Grateful
Jun 21: Crane & Co
Jun 22: Megan doss & alek ottaway
Jun 25: anna Mertson
Jun 20: Pageant, Parallel lives
Jun 21: drivin n Cryin, Jeffrey dean Foster & the arrows
Jun 25: Band of Horses, Jenn Champion
[SALOME’S STARS]
Week of June 23, 2025
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You feel ready to face a major change, although it might involve some risks. A once-dubious family member comes around and o ers support and encouragement.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Move forward with your plans, despite discouraging words from those who underestimate the Bovine’s strong will. Your keen instincts will guide you well.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A misunderstanding is easily cleared up. Then go ahead and enjoy some fun and games this week! Meanwhile, a LIBRA might have ideas that merit serious consideration for the future.
[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You might feel as if you’re in an emotional pressure cooker, but the situation is about to change in your favor. Take time out for some well-earned fun!
[LEO (July 23 to August 22) A shift in your workplace responsibilities creates resentment among some co-workers. Deal with it before it becomes a threat to your success on the job.
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Expect some surprises in what you thought was one of your typically well-planned schedules. Deal with them, then enjoy some lighthearted entertainment.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Be careful: What appears to be a solid financial opportunity might have some hidden risks attached. In addition, a hazy
personal matter needs to be cleared up.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) It’s a good time to strengthen ties with family and friends. In other news, you might feel unsure about a recent workplace decision, but time will prove that you did the right thing.
[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Just when you thought your relationship was comfortable and even predictable, your partner or spouse could spring a potentially life-changing surprise on you.
[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your usually generous self is overshadowed by your equally strong suspicious nature. You might be judging things too harshly. Keep an open mind.
[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Love and romance dominate the week. Married Aquarians enjoy domestic harmony, while singles could soon be welcoming overtures from loving LEOs.
[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) An old health problem recurs, but it is soon dealt with, leaving you eager to get back into the swing of things. Also, a favorable travel period starts this week.
[BORN THIS WEEK: You have an independent spirit that resists being told what to do. But you’re also wise enough to appreciate good advice when you receive it.
answers
[CROSSWORD]
crossword on page 6
[1. MOVIES: What is the title of the first James Bond film?
[2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the color of the “black box” that records an airplane’s performance?
[3. TELEVISION: What is the theme song for the long-running sitcom All in the Family?
[4. LITERATURE: What is the name of Ron Weasley’s family home in the “Harry Potter” series?
[5. GAMES: How many dice are used in a game of Yahtzee?
[6. SCIENCE: What does a mole measure in chemistry?
[7. MYTHOLOGY: What is the Greek god of darkness called?
[8. FOOD & DRINK: Which type of liquor is traditionally used in a gimlet?
[9. ASTRONOMY: How many moons does Saturn have?
[10. CHEMISTRY: What is the chemical symbol for gold?
