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The 1929 building known in Bay St. Louis as the 'This Property Is Condemned’ building Is now Bay St. Louis Little Theater's new home and site of a fundraising picnic on Saturday. The building is pictured on the 1966 Paramount movie poster from the same angle as photographed here.
‘Condemned’ no more
Picnic to bring playhouse to life
By PAM FIRMIN
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it’s back lo Hie ’60s with a literary twist at Bay St. I/>uis Little Theatre's new playhouse in Hie old yellow building on Blaize Avenue.
A fundraising picnic on the grounds from 1 to fi p.m. Saturday will take full advantage of the building's role as the Starr Hoarding House and primary setting for Paramount Pictures' 1966 movie, 'This Property Is Condemned.”
'Hie movie was inspired by a one-act play written by Mississippi-boni Tennessee Williams (1911-1983), which will be presented during the picnic at 2 and 4 p.m.
In a harmony of merchandising and literature, picnickers may pur-rfiasr commemorative brick? for •St- 1hjf wffl bevnqne part of walkway mm the "Jieatrr. to be called “TV Starr Walk.* anil “This Property is Condemned”
DVDs at $15 each.
Filmed primarily in Bay St. bniis, the Paramount movie starred Natalie Wood and Robert Redford, featured Charles Bronson and was directed by Sidney Pollack. 'Hie adaptation of the play's 15-minute, one-scene story line into a full-blown movie was the first screenplay done by Francis Kord Coppola, who later wrote such greats as 'Hie Godfather,” “Apocalypse Now” and "Tile Great Gatsby."
The afternoon-long fundraiser is to finance continuing repair work and renovation on the 1929 building that the theater purchased in early 2008 lo replace its longtime playhouse on Iioardman Avenue destroyed by Katrina.
"It is a community picnic,” said Cheryl Grace, theater board president, "and its purpose is to bring our community into this whole new theater adventure.”
Special evenlswill include a Natalie Wood and Robert Redford look-alike contest, children’s games, photos with life-size cutouts of Wood and Redford, face painting and karaoke.
The original one-act play will be aeled by Hancock County High School students Pevin Wagner and Jonathon Necaise, with Brittany Bilbo as stage manager and drama Icacher Jay Coker directing.
Wagner portrays Willie Starr, played in the movie by Mary Badham as little sister to Natalie Wood’s character. Necaise portrays Willie's friend, Tom, who did not get into the movie at all.
As the frame for the movie version, the play’s young Willie Starr, tattered, dirty and orphaned, meets Tom while both are walking on the railroad tracks during school hours and she tells him a story about the life and death of her big sister.
That's it. Coppola filled in the rest.
Paramount Pictures' poster for Its 1966 movie, ‘This Property is Condemned,' clearly shows the historic yellow building In Bay St. Louis used as the movie’s Starr Boarding House and primary setting.
At a glance
What: Bay St. Louis Little Theatre will host Picnic at the Playhouse' 1-6 p.m. Saturday as a fundraiser for Its building fund.
Where: 398 Blaize Ave., Bay St. Louis, in the Depot District.
What: “This Property Is Condemned," one-act piny presented at 2 and 4 p.m.
Music: Includes musician Rochelle Harper, tlie group Full Cycle. BSLLT Premiere singers
made up of Lex Mauffray, Rosemary Mlgliore and Larry Clark with pianist Cathy Henley.
For sate: Theater T-shirts, Clay Creation theater plaques. "This Property is Condemned” DVDs $15, commemorative bricks $50 and CJ's Bar-BQ and fixings. Picnic baskets and coolers are welcome.
More: Tennessee Williams wrote "This
Property Is Condemned" in 1946 and In 1947 won his Pulitzer Prize for "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof." BSLLT keyed on his "A Streetcar Named Desire" at Its first on-site literary event In March, a Stella Yelling Contest.
Admission: $25; includes picnic tablecloth stamped with the BSLLT logo; children free.
Details: 864-2882.
ARTS
State art awards
The deadline is June 27 to nominate someone for the Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts 2009, either a person or an organization In such fields as visual, literary, performing arts, arts education, community development through the arts, patronage or Mississippi heritage. The • award recognizes significant contributions to the arts and cultural life of Mississippi. Rules require that the 2009 recipient, when notified of the honor, must agree to attend the Feb. 26, 2009, ceremony and party in person.
Forms and information are available at arts.state.ms.us or call 601-359-6030.
HISTORY
What day is it?
Today is the 65th anniversary of the ballpoint pen. Actually this handy-dandy writing utensil is a little older but the Hungarian Inventor, Lazio Biro, had to escape the Nazis before he could finish his work. He patented it in .1943.
His name is a hint as to why many, especially in Europe, call a ballpoint pen a “biro."
EVENTS
Take a spin on a schooner
The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum invites everyone to sail aboard a Biloxi Schooner for the Fourth of July fireworks. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 3-12. The schooner will depart the Schooner Pier Complex on U.S. 90 at 7 p.m. and go sailing and then it will sail back behind Deer Island to watch the fireworks display and return to the dock about 9:30. You are welcome to bring food and refreshments aboard. We will provide Ice chests and ice. Tickets may be purchased by calling 435-6320 Monday-Friday. Don't miss the opportunity to sail aboard a Biloxi Schooner and watch the fireworks. Call the museum for additional information or tickets.
SUNDAY
A salute to dear ol’ dad
Scott Hawkins, Features editor (228) 896-2424
4 ) 2008 Sun Herald
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