Marcia Ball, Photo provided by GCAAEvents
Twelve Day Festival Saluting the Best of Texas Fine Art and Fine Texas Wines
Conroe, TX –The 4th Annual Rising Stars and Legends of Texas will be presented in various venues throughout Downtown Conroe beginning Thursday, March 12th through Saturday March 21st offering opportunities for the public to experience the arts organizations represented by the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance (GCAA). This year the event is highlighting the Best of Texas Art and Wines with legendary musicians, artists, and poets. Each member organization is invited to present their own unique fine art, poetry, theatrical presentations, cinematography, music compositions, instrumental music, choral performances, and Texas history through live performances during the event in Downtown Conroe venues.
The Greater Conroe Arts Alliance represents 17 non-profit organizations in the Conroe area: Christian Youth Theatre, Conroe Art League, Conroe Live, Conroe Symphony Orchestra, Crighton Theatre Foundation, Friends of the Flag Foundation, Heritage Museum of Montgomery County, Jazz Connection, Montgomery County Choral Society, Montgomery County
Genealogical and Historical Society, Montgomery County Historical Commission, Montgomery County Literary Arts Council, The Players Theatre Company, Sounds of Texas Music Series, Stage Right of Texas, The Woodlands Show Chorus, and the Young Texas Artists Music Competition.
Two events will anchor the event from the beginning to the end March 12-March 21. Houston Black and White 4 x 5 Photographer, Gary Watson (www.g.watson4x5.com) will display an exhibit at 202 Main Street (new event venue) throughout the event and Conroe Art League’s 5th Madeley National Art Show will exhibit 684 pieces of artwork at their gallery located at 127 Simonton Street. Carrie Fountain, 2019 Texas State Poet Laureate, starts out the evening Thursday hosted by the Montgomery County Literary Arts Society.
Thursday, March 12-Saturday, March 14 preliminaries for each division of the 36th Annual Young Texas Artists Music Competition (string, piano, voice, winds, brass, percussion, harp, and guitar) will take place at the Crighton Theatre advancing individuals to the finals on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30pm. Public is invited to view any of the preliminaries at no charge, with tickets to the finals available at www.CrightonTheatre.org.
The Bach, Beethoven, and BBQ Annual Fundraiser event boosts the “Rising Stars and Legends of Texas” on March 14th benefitting the Young Texas Artists Music Competition. The nationally acclaimed official State of Texas musical competition is open to 18-32 year old Texas musicians competing in the finals. Reception begins at 5:00pm at the street tent Downtown, then continues to the tent in the street in front of Martin’s to continue with dinner, dancing and a live auction. The entire package of events including the After Party Dance can be purchased at www.ytamc.com/bach-beethoven-barbecue
As a special edition playing at the Crighton Theatre on Sunday, March 15 for a 3pm matinee performance only, Montopolis’s, an acclaimed indie chamber music group from Austin, Texas, will perform The Legend of Big Bend with the works of composer Justin Sherburn. Montopolis combines original music with film and live interaction storytelling in an audience-engaging, multi-media event.
The celebration of the Arts, Rising Stars & Legends of Texas, presented by the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance will include a Gospel Night on Tuesday, March 17, 7:30 at First Baptist Church Downtown Conroe. Arts Alliance members (Montgomery County Choral Society, Jazz Connection) will participate as will invited guests from local choirs. The evening’s performances will trace the history of Gospel Music, with musical selections, from the early 1700s to the contemporary gospel music of today. Admission is free with an opportunity to donate to the evening’s performance.
The early African American Spiritual is the precursor to Gospel Music, which had already been around for well over a century before Gospel Music began its rise to popularity starting in the 1920s. Music of every genre’ has been influenced by the early Spirituals which was a way to express feelings whether it was sorrow, joy, inspiration or hope. Today, the harmony, percussive precision, and evangelical fervor of gospel music have made it a hit all around the world with every major known artist recording gospel music. The Spiritual influence is in every kind of music from country, jazz, blues, R & B, praise, classical, opera, to the Christian Hymnals.
The Crighton Gong Show hosted by Stage Right with local talents at the Crighton Theatre, was a new event last year and will be returning Wednesday, March 18. Anyone is welcome to be a contestant, Karaoke is encouraged! Participants may contact Carolyn Wong at Carolyn.Wong@stage-right.org
On Thursday, March 19 The Players Theatre Company will host a FREE showing of “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Owen Theatre as part of their contribution to the community and RSLT. The finale and most coveted show will be hosted by dynamic Robin Williams impersonator, David Born (www.robinwilliamsimpersonator.com) on Friday, March 20th at the Crighton Theatre with a 2018 Best of Texas Musician Marcia Ball (www.MarciaBall.com). Marcia is a Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist, songwriter and Rhythm and Blues vocalist with 5 Grammy Award Nominations. She stirs up the energy in the room with “rollicking, playful, good time blues and intimate reflective balladry” according to Rolling Stone Magazine.
The week concludes with a culmination of many of the organizations participating in interactive events Saturday, March 21 beginning at 8:00am at Founder’s Plaza Park with Chalk Up Conroe and ending with a wine tasting, quartets, a Children’s Theatre Workshop by the Players Theatre Company, and a final guest appearance at the new venue, 202 Main Street.
Many events are free to the public. Any of the events at the Crighton Theatre or the Owen Theatre will have a fee attached from $5 to $30. Exceptions are the YTA Bach, Beethoven, and Barbeque Dinner.
Week Events to Date:
Thursday, March 12
- Black and White Photo Exhibit opens at 202 Main Street through March 21
- Conroe Art League’s 5th National Madeley Art Show opens through March 28 at Madeley Art Gallery
- 9:00am Preliminaries for YTA-Wind, Brass, Harp, and Guitar at Crighton Theatre
- 7:00pm Texas Poet Laureate at 202 Main
Friday, March 13
- 9:00am Preliminaries for YTA- Strings Division at Crighton Theatre
- 2:30pm Preliminaries for Voice Division at Crighton Theatre
- 8:00pm Little Shop of Horrors opening performance at the Owen Theatre
Saturday, March 14
- 9:00am Preliminaries for YTA Piano Division at Crighton Theatre
- 5:00-7:00pm Bach, Beethovan and Barbeque Dinner, dancing and auction to benefit YTA at Martin’s Hall (RSVP Required)
- 7:30pm Young Texas Artists Competition Finals at the Crighton Theatre. Tickets available at CrightonTheatre.org
- 8:00pm Little Shop of Horrors opening performance at the Owen Theatre
Sunday, March 15
- 2:00pm Little Shop of Horrors opening performance at the Owen Theatre
- 3:00pm The Legend of Big Bend by Montopolis at the Crighton Theatre
Tuesday, March 17
- 7:00pm Gospel Night at First Baptist Church
Wednesday, March 18
- 7:30pm The Crighton Gong Show sponsored by Stage Right at the Crighton Theatre- $5 tickets at door
- 8:00pm FREE SHOWING- Little Shop of Horrors by Players Theatre company at Owen Theatre
Friday, March 20
- 8:00pm Best of Texas Musician Marcia Ball at the Crighton Theatre, hosted by David Born (Robin Williams impersonator)
- 8:00pm Little Shop of Horrors opening performance at the Owen Theatre
Saturday, March 21
- 8:00am-Noon Chalk Up Conroe, presented by the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance
- Noon -Jazz Connection at Founder’s Plaza Park
- 1:00pm-4:00pm Friends of the Flag, Heritage Museum Displays and Interactive activities
- 1:30pm Bourbon & Laundry LIVE Radio show at 202 Main
- 2:00pm-5:00pm- Children’s Theatre Workshop at Owen Theatre-must register in advance!
- 2:00pm-7pm Texas Wine Tasting and local entertainment at 202 Main
- 2:30 pm Chikawa Aztec Dancers at Founder’s Plaza Park
- 3:00pm Quartet from the Conroe Symphony Orchestra at 202 Main
- 6:00pm Quartet from the Conroe Symphony Orchestra at 202 Main
- 8:00pm Little Shop of Horrors at the Owen Theatre
Learn more about Greater Conroe Arts Alliance by visiting the website at www.greaterconroeartsalliance.com/calendar-of-events/ or follow them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Greater-Conroe-Arts-Alliance.
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