Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County Celebrates Youth Arts Month with Two Events

It’s Youth Arts Month at the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County featuring the Community Youth Production—Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Kids and “You Gotta Have Art” Youth Arts Month Exhibition

CAMDEN, SC – The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County (FAC) is gearing up for another Youth Arts Month with its annual Community Youth Production, as well as the annual Youth Art exhibition—“You Gotta Have Art” in the Bassett Gallery. This year’s Youth Production, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Kids, a musical production that features more than 100 local children from grades first through eighth, will open in the Wood Auditorium at the FAC on Thursday, March 17. With so many children involved, director, Jami Steele (FAC’s Director of Education & Theatre) has created two separate casts, allowing all of the children to enjoy a more fulfilling experience of participating in live theatre. The play runs through Sunday, March 20. Performance times will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Winnie the Pooh Kids is sponsored by Modern Turf and Target Distribution Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students, seniors and military.

• About Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Kids
Disney’s Winnie The Pooh Kids is a delightful new show based on the beloved characters of A.A. Milne and the 2011 Disney animated feature film. Featuring favorite songs from the film as well as new hits by the Academy Award-winning Robert and Kristen Lipez (Frozen,) this honey-filled delight is as sweet as it is fun. The play takes place in Pooh’s home, the Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh is once again in search of honey. Along the way, he meets his pals Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit and Owl but soon discover that Christopher Robin has been captured by the mysterious Backson! As they prepare for a rescue operation, the animals learn about teamwork, friendship, and sharing snacks.

• The Casts
There are two separate casts performing in this year’s production. The Pooh Cast will perform on March 17 and 19 and include Tyler Follmer, Gabrielle Mason, Alexandra Bernier, Allison Wert, Laurel Taylor, Casey Blair, Riley Brazell, Tyler Truesdale, Thomas Portee, Sam Lawing, Julianna Willoughby, Elizabeth Jordan, Brianna Lloyd, Alyssa Reckelhoff, Alexia Ramy, Abby Grace Knafelc, Mary Baxley Shuler, Erin Watts, Taylor Harrop, Bailey Sue Rabon, Millie Rollings, TC Truesdell, Reagan Crocker, Liza Watkins, Alannah Futch, Olivia Drakeford, Camden Kimpton, Mary Elise Drakeford, Cailin Cokley, Leigh Thomas, Syriana Wright, Maci Kimpton, Jakob VanZant, Samantha McCutchen, Brianna Follmer, Roman Lawing, Cooper Rollings, Zoe Turner, Nahra Anne Joseph, Julia Ann Rushing, Asa Orr, Phoebe Jordan, Brianna Ratcliff, Lily Futch, Hailey Barnes, Ellen Shuler, Ella Palmer, and Priscilla Brice Chivers.

The Tigger Cast will perform March 18 ad 20 and include Keaton Heitger, Corey Thomas, Colin Clay, Hank Tarte, Chloe Morgan, Brenna Yeary, Autumn Barkley, Lucas Wilhelm, Sofia Wilhelm, Ethan Irizarry, Alex Matthews, Emilia Robinson, Hailey Dallas, Elissa Stockman, Emma Richburg, Amilia Wilhelm, Emory Gunter, Cabot Brunson, Caleb Clay, Gaby Aponte, Matthias Fox, Laila Houser, Carmen Scott, Lucy Moore, Addie Stegner, Kate Moore, Cergio Rivera, Jordan Johnson, Montana Fuller, McKinley Dutcher, Brynna Nedderman, Craig Jeffers, Laine Redfearn, Eliana Collins, Lucy Houser, Dalton Sharpe, Maggie Long, Sebashtian Sharpe, MacKenzie Melton, Harris Fuller, Blair Gunter, Kaitlyn Brannen, Aurelia Kopans, Mae Stegner, Hailey Scott, Lily Ann Sharpe, JoeAnna Parnell, Lillian Chmiel, Bella Barkley, and DéSaussure DuBose.

Bryant Herring will act as producer and technical director. Margaret Buckelew takes on the job of stage managing this large production, and several local teens are fulfilling backstage roles including Mason Freiburg, Bailee Gurley, Zac Willoughby, Courtleigh Cobb, Jesse Morgan and Bryce Lail. Musical directors are Amanda Britt and Brianna Grant, both of whom were recently seen in CCT’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

* “You Gotta Have Art” Exhibition
As part of its Youth Arts Month Celebration, the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County (FAC) will hold an exhibition of some of the best artwork in the Kershaw County School District in the Bassett Gallery beginning with a special Grand Opening on March 17 from 5:30-7:00 p.m., just prior to the Community Youth Production of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Kids. “You Gotta Have Art” is an annual exhibition that showcases artwork from grades K through 12 which were chosen by the students’ art teachers for display in the Bassett Gallery. This exhibition will remain in the Bassett Gallery through April 1. This work will be judged by several local artists at the Center and the best of each grade level will go on to be a part of the FAC’s traveling Youth Arts display. This display travels throughout Kershaw County in various businesses before landing at our State’s Capital in Columbia. The exhibition is sponsored by the Target Corporation and is an annual partnership with the Kershaw County School District.

For more information or to purchase tickets call 803-425-7676, extension 300 or visit the FAC website at www.fineartscenter.org. The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County is located at 810 Lyttleton Street in Camden. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Thursday 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

The Fine Arts Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that is funded in part by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding provided by the City of Camden, Kershaw County, and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina along with donations from businesses and individuals.