The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — STARS (Special Theatrical Artists Revue and Showcase) will perform “Follow the Stars,” a Christmas variety show, on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. at the Historic Masonic Theatre.
The performance will complete STARS’ 22nd performance season with 21 performers who face mental or physical challenges sharing the spotlight.
Paula Crance and Sonya Romanello will serve as co-directors, and Chris Fisher will return as the emcee.
Appalfolks of America Association founded STARS in 1996 to perform in the Historic Stonewall Theatre that the non-profit organization received from Irwin R. Cohen on Dec. 20, 1991. The outreach program began with Vivian Pendleton as the director.
M. Ray Allen, founder and president of AAA, recalled, “Sharon Walthall became the director of STARS following Vivian’s tenure as director, and AAA has been fortunate to have volunteers such as these fine folk work with STARS for more than two decades.”
Appalfolks teamed with Storm Media of Virginia Beach in 2006 to produce a documentary film about STARS, and that film wound up winning a Telly Award. The documentary can be viewed at the Clifton Forge Public Library.
“STARS has been one of AAA’s most beneficial outreaches over the years,” Allen recalled, “and many of the performers have improved their self-esteem, social skills, and talent by performing in STARS’ productions on stage at the Historic Stonewall Theatre that was renamed the Historic
Masonic Theatre following AAA’s donation of the theatre to the town of Clifton Forge in 2003.”
Performers in “Follow the STARS” are Sally Bradley, Bonnie Crance, Cheyenne Mines, Shane Fury, Sandra Brady, Jamie Atkins, Ruth Golden, Donovan Givens and Alanna Conner.
Others STARS members are Kevin Stec, Erin Boone, Charles Cephas, Tamara Caldwell, Todd Bates, Nancy Wilmore, Kevin Burton, Lee Cahill, Ricky McCoy, Mikayla Davis, Tyreek Yancey and Charles Godfrey.
Tickets for “Follow the STARS” are $8 for balcony seating, $10 for downstairs seating, and $15 for box seats.
Group rates are available when tickets are purchased prior to the day of the show as follows: $2 discount per ticket for a group of eight to 14, $3 discount per ticket for a group of 15-24, and $4 discount per ticket for a group of 25 or more.
All group ticket purchases must be paid for in advance via a check, credit card, or cash by visiting the theatre’s ticket booth operators at 510 Main Street, or by telephoning the box office at (540) 862-5655 to make proper payment arrangements.
Tickets the day of the show are $2 more than the advance ticket prices being advertised.
Balcony seating the day of the show is $10, downstairs seating is $12, and box seats are $17.
