February 21, 2013
2013 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Arts
Cheryl Grace’s acceptance speech:
Hello Everybody –
Our community theater has many to thank. We have a wonderful community to thank. And the Mississippi Arts Commission. And the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. And the Leo Seals Foundation. And each member and volunteer.
We have a dedicated and hard-working Board of Directors, John Anderson, Vice-President, Larry Clark, Richard O’Briant, Charles Dessommes, Clayton Pennylegion, Kelly Everett, and Donna Oakley.
Thank you to our Mayor who is our constant support. Thank you Mayor Fillingame and his Barbara. Thank you Paula Fairconnetue.
Katrina completely ruined our Little Theatre. Everything gone. We resurrected a piece of our exterior wall which was red corrugated aluminum and placed it up against a tree on the theater lot and spray painted the words “The show must go on.” That became our mantra. And in this barren ruins, our sign stood tall.
We knew it was important to our community to rebuild. We knew the rebuilding would inspire, be a source of hope and healing and connection.
It was important to find a still-standing building and renovate and repurpose. It was important to save a building that still remained because so few did.
We knew it was important for our new location to honor our six decade history. That it connects us with all the creative energy that went before us.
We knew it was important to honor John F. Holmes whom the Little Theatre is named after. He cared for and gave untold hours for 50 years for our Little Theatre.
So – we took a damaged, abandoned-for-forty-years, Ma and Pa grocery store and turned it into a theater. We painted the front door red, the color of our original theater, So every time we enter, we are reminded of our history.
We placed John F. Holmes name on the Theatre. He left a legacy that our Little Theatre is a labor of love and that lives on.
We continue to connect, expand, heal, surprise, share with performing arts.
Theater matters. Thank you so much.