Danville’s relationship with its Sister City of Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland has made headlines again with the arrival of Ryan and Amy Moffett. The Moffetts are visiting this month as guest instructors at West T. Hill Community Theatre’s Camp Causwelovetoact, but they are also stopping at the Community Arts Center for Lunch with the Arts this Wednesday!
Ryan and Amy are founders of Uplift, a performing arts school in Northern Ireland. They will bring a few teenage students to perform several musical numbers as a preview of the upcoming public performances at West T. Hill Community Theatre. The Moffetts will also talk about their experiences starting Uplift and the successes they have experienced so far.
The performance will cover Irish and American music (tracing the similar roots of each genre) and Broadway show tunes. Lunch with the Arts presentations are always followed by a question and answer session and a chance to meet the artists.
Local playwright and arts advocate Liz Orndorff played a pivotal role in bringing the Moffetts and their students to Danville.
“When I spent a month in Carrickfergus in November of 2012 on a Sister Cities Artist Exchange, I attended one of the Uplift shows in Belfast,†Liz said. “I was so impressed with the talent and energy of these kids, that I knew we had to bring them to Danville. Since West T. Hill annually did an acting camp, though on a much smaller scale, I thought we could incorporate Uplift into the teaching and performing. It took a year of Skype-ing, fundraising and intricate planning, but it’s all coming together this weekend when 13 of them arrive from Northern Ireland.â€
Danville residents have continued to strengthen and embrace their connection to Carrickfergus over the past year. Boyle County Public Library director Georgia de Araujo participated in the 2014 Cultural Ambassador Exchange, and the Arts Center’s Intro to Irish Dance classes proved so popular that another introductory class for children and a group class for teens and adults have been added in August.
Lunch with the Arts is a part-lecture, part-demonstration and part-interactive series presenting a different visual or performing artist each month. Local restaurants provide boxed lunches to attendees who register in advance for $10. (You’re also welcome to bring your own lunches and pay $5 at the door). This month, if you register in advance your entree choices are a chicken salad sandwich, pimento cheese sandwich or Cue Club (with side and drink) from Cue on Main.
As always, to learn more about this and other upcoming events at the Community Arts Center, please drop us an email, call 859-236-4054 or stop by and see us!.
IF YOU GO
Lunch with the Arts
Ryan and Amy Moffett with Students from Uplift Performing Arts School
Wednesday, July 16, noon
Community Arts Center
401 W. Main
$10 in advance (includes a boxed lunch from Cue on Main. Register online by 5 p.m. Monday!)
$5 at the door for the program only (feel free to bring your own lunch!)
