CLIFTON FORGE—Appalfolks of America Association (AAA) has registered with Mighty Cause to participate in “Giving Tuesday,” on Nov. 30.
AAA was founded by M. Ray Allen in December 1985 as a nonprofit organization based in Clifton Forge. The purpose of AAA is to promote the literary and performing arts via programs that encourage participants to develop their creativity and talent via a drug-free approach.
The Virginia Opry, AAA’s oldest program, made its debut on Oct. 17, 1992, on stage at the Historic Masonic Theatre that was operating as the Historic Stonewall Theatre at the time, having been donated to AAA on Dec. 20, 1991, by Irwin R. Cohen, the owner of R-C Theatres, Inc. based in Reisterstown, Md.
Gov. Ralph Northam signed “Senate Bill 283” on March 31, 2020, to designate The Virginia Opry as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Opry. Senator R. Creigh Deeds filed the bill on Jan. 8, 2020, and the bill was passed by the Virginia Senate 40-0 and the Virginia House of Delegates by a 93-6 vote.
The Virginia Opry, currently a troupe of 43 musicians and vocalists, has featured such Nashville recording artists as the late Dan Seals, Keith Bryant, a current member, The Lonesome River Band, The Farm Hands, and The Darrell Webb Band.
The late Bob Campbell and the Coachmen set an attendance record at the theatre in 1994 when 510 tickets were sold for the concert. Campbell, one of six performers to have performed as one of the Statler Brothers, helped form the Virginia Junior Opry at the theatre that helped young vocalists and musicians develop their talent.
Special Theatrical Artists Revue and Showcase (STARS) is a troupe of 29 performers who have physical disabilities and/or intellectual challenges. STARS was formed to perform in the theatre in 1996 under the direction of the late Vivian Pendleton. AAA won a Bronze Telly in 2006 for its documentary titled “STARS,” an 8-minute video featuring members of STARS, their parents and those working with STARS at the theatre.
The documentary was scripted and narrated by Jana Allen, Ray’s daughter, an actress. She made her debut on stage at the Historic Stonewall Theatre as a sixth grader, and she has performed in more than 20 films and TV programs as a member of SAG/AFTRA.
In 2003, AAA donated the Historic Stonewall Theatre to the Town of Clifton Forge that renamed the theatre, The Historic Masonic Theatre.
AAA and Clifton Forge Public Library teamed up in 2006 to form the Alleghany Highlands Writers’ Workshop that meets the second and fourth Tuesdays in the library. The workshop is free of charge and has accommodated more than 40 local writers over the years. Also, guest authors from outside of The Alleghany Highlands have participated as presenters.
“The Giving Tree,” AAA’s annual fund drive is being incorporated with “Giving Tuesday.” Those who wish to support AAA and its programs may do so by visiting support@mightycause.com and donate via credit card to AAA via #333885, the number that Mighty Cause has assigned to AAA for “Giving Tuesday.”
Ray remarked, “On May 2, 2019, Appalfolks signed an arts education agreement with Highlands Media Group that designates WKEY Radio Station’s 103.5 Big Country as the Radio Home of The Virginia Opry, and on Oct. 12 this year, the Town Council of Clifton Forge voted 5-0 to designate the Town as “Home of The Virginia Opry.”
He continued, “The Virginia Opry will feature Glen Shelton as emcee and Nashville Recording Artist Keith Bryant as the headliner with Crimson River opening for him at our annual “Country Christmas Show at The Virginia Opry at The Historic Masonic Theatre on Sat., Dec. 11, at 7:00 p.m.”
Natural Bridge Historic Hotel (est. 1906) designated the hotel as the Resort Performance Home of The Virginia Opry in July of 2021, and “Christmas with Charles Billingsley” will be The Virginia Opry’s first Christmas show performed at the hotel. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:00 p.m. show (a pre-show dinner can be reserved) with Glen Shelton Duo and Gentlemen South opening for Billingsley. Tickets with or without dinner arrangements may be reserved online by visiting www.naturalbridgeva.com.
STARS will perform the third show of its 25th performance season at the Fellowship Church on South Lexington Ave. in Covington on Sun., Dec. 12, at 3:00 p.m. under the direction of Paula Crance.
Allen concluded, “Appalfolks really needs help due to the negative impact COVID-19 has had on our programs that forced cancellations and postponements in 2020 and have resulted in lower attendance in 2021 for our programs that consistently drew hundreds before the pandemic.”
Checks may be made payable to Appalfolks of America, stubbed for “Giving Tuesday” and mailed to P.O. Box 613, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422. The checks received by “Giving Tuesday” on Nov. 30, will count toward the $5,000 goal AAA has set to raise with the help of Mighty Cause and online giving along with its Giving Tree mail out that begins the day after Veteran’s Day.
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