ShareSaveCommentLifestyleDiningIn Puglia, The Beautiful City Of Andria Has Yet To Be Discovered By Tourists. It Won’t Be LongByJohn Mariani Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights 10:29am ESTShareSaveCommentCASTEL DEL MONTE The Castel del Monte belongs to the Unesco world heritage sites (Photo by Frank Bienewald/LightRocket via Getty Images) Andria is the fourth-largest city in Italy’s Puglia province though largely unknown to foreign tourists who are more likely to visit Bari tree-lined Corso Cavour at twilight is to experience the passagiata of locals strolling arm in arm getting café or pizza or gelato along the way ITALY - OCTOBER 2006: An aerial image of City Center Andria shares the same history of being ravaged or taken over or gifted by everyone from the Byzantines to the Fascists but since the war it has evolved into a major Italian city Andria is crammed with churches of various interest including Sant’Agostino built by the Teutonic Knights and San Nicola di Myra and fifteen miles outside of town is a UNESCO World Heritage site worth a trip––the 13th century octagonal Castel del Monte Beyond its municipality lies the Alta Murgia National Park spread over 67,000 miles and populated by wild horses and eagles Highly innovative cuisine is wed to tradition at Retrosina in Andria Both hotels and modern B&Bs are remarkably inexpensive flower garden and lawn is currently charging only $107 per night Most of the restaurants and trattorias in Andria serve traditional Puglian food––orrecchiete with broccoli di rabe spaghetti all’assassina cooked in red wine––but there are also some very contemporary restaurants prized for their innovation including Restrosena (Via Ettore Carafa 12) which serves a tartare of pheasant with figs cooked in red wine cardoons and black pepper; “French toast” with a sashimi of salmon avocado and cream cheese; and pacchero pasta with tiny squid MaMà (Corso Cavour 27) is a minimalist restaurant that sets an enticingly modern menu of dishes like rice with almonds and scampi and spaghetti with sea urchins At Il Turaciollo Elena Fucci and chef Luciano Matera But I was quite amazed when my wife and I read about and saw the menu at Il Turaciollo (Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II have for 20 years been on the front line of innovation Luciano bounds from table to table exuberantly telling you about the menu the specials and the wines––300 very decently priced labels at the lively wine bar at the front The menu at Il Turaciollo features several crostini the restaurant itself looks brand new and scrubbed tile floors and wooden tables set with individual lamps Luciano promises a “touch of creativity in every dish,” and he fulfilled that promise for us starting off with puffy warm focaccia and a series of crostini––small dishes set on crusts of bread––one the other of fried zucchini chips and red peppers Turaciollo takes a traditional cannoli tube and makes it into a sumptuous torta Next was pork that had been caramelized and cooked wine and dusted with herbs Desserts were as delicious as they were pretty including a rich cannoli cake and a semifreddo with chocolate and hazelnuts On our trip we had been meandering north from Lecce along the coast and Andria seemed like a reasonable overnight stop But it proved much more than that for its beauty and a culture built on centuries of conflict that have now coalesced into one of the loveliest cities in Puglia nodding and smiling at the younger Adrians still enjoying the warm evening on the broad Corso Cavour He told her it was a small musical and asked if she would be interested The play would be taking place April 24-27 and May 1-4 but said she hadn’t really planned on doing it until next year “I told him I didn’t know anything about it and he (Christman) told me I would be fine,” she said Peterson stopped by the box office at the theater and let Christman know she had watched a little bit of the show listened to the music and that she was interested in directing it She also said she wanted the first show she directed to be something her 13-year-old son could watch “It’s about love and relationships that span your entire adult life from dating to marriage and what it’s like having children,” said Peterson She said there are songs that will make people laugh and there are some that are very touching there are songs and scenes that you are going to laugh so hard “But it’s just that it’s not for the faint at heart nor is it family friendly.” that with the way the world seems to be currently people need a little bit of levity and a little bawdy humor in their lives She said seeing the play would be good for a date with your significant other or a night out with friends Peterson also said that if there are people who are not the biggest fans of musicals that this show would be a great one to see because it is so fun Now Change” is Peterson’s directorial debut She has been the assistant director for a few shows and has acted in a couple of shows She also performed with Showstoppers in Glenwood I’ve been around the block a few times,” she said “I just haven’t stopped in this parking spot before.” Peterson works at West Central Indexing in Alexandria She said it is a company that provides software to the County Recorder’s Office that helps manage the document recording processes a seventh grader who loves all things sports are on the Alexandria Youth Baseball Association board of directors She also used to coach the in-house team while her husband coached the traveling team she is also the wedding coordinator at First Lutheran Church Peterson said she told her cast that if they have a sold out show she will do the curtain speech at the beginning of the play in whatever costume they pick for her to wear “There have been some wild ideas already thrown out,” she said but this is the first show where there is live music This was one of the reasons she decided to try out for it “I thought it was cool that we were doing live music,” she said I haven’t gotten the chance to do that yet.” People she has met and always having a good time is what keeps Hartman coming back to the stage She said you never know what exactly is going to happen so you get to have a little adventure every night which is why she decided to try out for that production “When I saw they were doing such an iconic story “And then everybody was so friendly and nice and it’s kind of hard to meet people in this area So getting a chance to meet such a variety of people was really nice.” Her mom also did theater in New York for a while took care of the sound for his high school theater Hartman said this show has been fun because she is stretching herself in new ways sometimes the humor gets lost in translation “This is not one of those shows,” she said But it’s been fun working with Monica and the cast is great.” She also said that this show is not for kids “I think this is the sort of show that brings us into the summer season really well because it’s pretty light and bubbly.” a 2019 graduate of Alexandria Area High School is currently a transportation driver for Alexandria Public Schools he took an eight-year hiatus to pursue a degree in environmental sciences from the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities which brought him back to the Andria Theatre “I met a bunch of great people during that show and it turned out to be my favorite performance because of the people I met,” said Johnson When he heard there was another show after “A Few Good Men,” he decided to audition again to see what would happen “I’ve never done a singing part in a play before so it is kind of getting me into another different part of myself that I didn’t know I had,” he said “And it is broadening my horizon and a way to continue giving back to the community that gave so much to me growing up here.” The hiatus before coming back to the theater allowed Johnson to really become himself again “The theater really allows you to do that,” he said “Being around people who are being themselves around you and you being yourself around them is great It doesn’t really matter who you are or what your background is you always have a place here (the Andria) regardless of where you came from Johnson said this production is about the growth of relationships and that being a single person in a show about relationships is a little different But he said it is fun and that the show is kind of like a romantic show but with a comedic feel to it And although the show may push the envelope a bit Johnson said people should see it because it gives a perspective about relationships and aspects people may not have thought about “It gives people something to talk about after,” he said “It’s something we can learn from or maybe it’s something we knew but want to reminisce about It gets people to think about where they are and how they’re living life.” Husband and ArthurAmy Senne Foxx – Woman 1 Tyler and RoseMatt Senne – Spokesman and Husband Director – Monica PetersonProps – Hilary NinmanVocal director – Kayla NoblePianist – Laura HardingCostumer – Janet BakerSet design and construction – Greg BohlChoreographer – Katherine OwensLight design and tech – Donna MagnusonHair and Makeup – KD TomosonProjectionist – Cassie ZimmerSound – Greg Raether and Sidney Imsande BRENTWOOD — Andria Hansen has been named the new town administrator of Brentwood The Selectboard announced the appointment Tuesday night Hansen is currently the town administrator for the town of Candia "We are extremely happy about this," said Selectboard Chair Jennifer Jones where she is the current town administrator there and looking for a change and a new challenge." Hansen was one of two finalists to replace former town administrator Karen Clement The Selectboard announced on Nov. 19 that Clement, who had been Brentwood's town administrator since 2015, was no longer an employee with the town She, along with then-police chief John Ventura, was placed on paid administrative leave on Oct The announcement came after an emergency nonpublic meeting of the town's Selectboard on Oct board members would not comment on why Clement and Ventura were placed on leave Ventura resigned from his position effective Nov Jones said Hansen will officially start on Jan "She has been a town administrator for many years," Jones said "Candia operates a little bit differently than we do in terms of how they do their finances and things like that I think it's going to be really interesting to have a new set of eyes come in and give us some advice on how to move forward." After more than a decade of exemplary leadership Andria Derstine is leaving her post as the John G Cowles Director of the Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM) at Oberlin College recognized as one of the best academic art museums in the nation Oberlin is pleased to name Katherine Solender as interim director during the search for a new leader Derstine will begin her role as deputy director and chief curator of the Cleveland Museum of Art in December.  who has been the Allen’s director since 2012 having joined the museum as a curator in 2006 leaves behind an impressive legacy of growth marked by key accomplishments in expanding the museum’s endowments Derstine led significant initiatives to secure the museum's future she played an instrumental role in raising and securing endowments to support curatorial positions Derstine also worked to preserve the museum’s historic buildings and infrastructure she oversaw the conservation of Frederick Wiley’s ceiling and clerestory paintings in the King Sculpture Court partnered to secure a new roof for the museum’s flagship Cass Gilbert building supported efforts to maintain the Weltzheimer-Johnson Frank Lloyd Wright House and laid the groundwork for a future museum expansion Building the museum's collection was another highlight of Derstine’s directorship particularly of works by women and artists from diverse backgrounds she championed numerous exhibitions and public programs featuring acclaimed artists such as Dawoud Bey “I am proud of completing a new strategic plan for the Allen overseeing the museum's reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums and finding ways to connect Oberlin students with the public through our work,” says Derstine “The Allen has an unparalleled collection for an academic museum of its size encompassing works that span six millennia and representing cultures from around the world It has been an honor to lead such an extraordinary institution." Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Oberlin College praised Derstine’s leadership: “Andria’s tenure has transformed the museum in countless ways Her success in securing financial resources her stewardship of our collection and historic buildings and her commitment to enhancing the museum’s role in public and academic life have cemented her legacy the Allen has become a national model for how a college art museum can serve students Oberlin alum Katherine Solender is the ideal leader to take the reins of the AMAM as the museum searches for a permanent successor Solender is a highly respected museum professional with more than 40 years of experience including prior service as interim director of the AMAM in 2003-2004 and again in 2011-2012 “We are thrilled to have Katie return to lead the Allen during this transition,” says Kamitsuka both with the Allen and the Cleveland Museum of Art and her expertise in museum operations make her the ideal person to ensure the museum's continued success.” Solender expressed her enthusiasm about stepping into her new role: “I’m looking forward to serving Oberlin once again as interim director of its extraordinary museum I’m impressed by how its collections and programs bring the world to Oberlin and engage students and faculty My primary goal will be to ensure stability and continuity for our staff and community partners as we prepare for the museum’s next chapter." Solender has long been a consultant for the AMAM and served as acting director during Andria Derstine’s sabbatical in 2018-2019 Her distinguished career includes leadership roles at the Cleveland Museum of Art and other institutions where she oversaw exhibitions and major projects “I believe academic museums like the Allen can be effective forums for experimentation and discussion providing access to diverse ideas and encouraging visitors to think critically about complex issues,” added Solender “I’m honored to help continue this mission as we search for a new director.” the Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin College is one of the finest academic art museums in the United States Its collection includes more than 16,000 works spanning 6,000 years and representing a broad range of cultures the museum serves as a vital resource for Oberlin students For more information, please visit amam.oberlin.edu Oberlin College and Conservatory is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Seydl as the new John G Cowles Director of the Allen Memorial Art Museum Oberlin will present a concert version of Rhiannon Giddens’ award-winning opera both at Finney Chapel in Oberlin and the Maltz Performing Arts Center in Cleveland Surrounding it are all kinds of cross-disciplinary events for campus and community Longtime officer emphasizes collaborative approaches to supporting students and strengthening community Oberlin has separate application processes for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music You have exceptional musical talent and intellectual enthusiasm.We have a place just for you Grammy-winning gospel singer Le'Andria Johnson issued an apology Wednesday after her arrest Monday in Greenville on intoxication charges "To all of my family, my friends, and my supporters, I just want to say thank you for your continued prayers and love. I do see all of the text messages and all of the phone calls, Johnson said in a video posted to Larry Reid Live on YouTube. "I'm just taking this time now to really just 'woosah'," Johnson said and this has been a daily walk for me for some time The 41-year-old singer has been a topic of discussion on social media since her arrest. Comedian and radio host Rickey Smiley posted a video in defense of Johnson Greenville Police were called to BrickTop's restaurant on reports that Johnson was “causing a disturbance," screaming at other customers She was arrested and charged with public intoxication and having an open alcohol container on a public street after police reported seeing her with a styrofoam cup that she attempted to conceal when an officer approached She was released from the Greenville County Detention Center Tuesday after posting bond Johnson has talked previously about her battle with alcoholism she told "Iyanla Fix My Life," host Iyanla Vanzant that she had been part of a 30-day rehabilitation program She also recounted 30 days in jail on driving under the influence charges More: Award-winning gospel singer arrested by Greenville Police for public intoxication and later moved with her family to Altamonte She started singing as a child growing up in the church led by her parents Bishop Gregory Johnson and Pastor Sharon Johnson Johnson lists that she is married to Forrest Walker When did Le'Andria Johnson compete on BET's Sunday Best?Johnson gained national notoriety when she competed in and won Season 3 of BET's Sunday Best Gospel music competition show in June 2010 Her recording "Better Days" has 32 million views on YouTube and 9 million streams on Spotify her album “The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson," debuted atop the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart and No 3 on Billboard’s Top Christian/Gospel Album chart Johnson won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song WHEELING – The OVAC Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is adding a former basketball standout as well as a former football star from the decade of the 1970s Bishop Donahue’s Gary Fonner and Wintersville’s Ernie Andria are the latest selections to the conference shrine They will be formally inducted at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling in August Previous enshrines for the 2025 HOF class include Wheeling Park’s Errin Baynes and Indian Creek’s Alex Young from the decade of the 2010s; Martins Ferry’s Clay Tucker and Beaver Local’s Derek Wolfe from the decade of the 2000s; Buckeye Local’s Chet Pobolish and Bellaire’s Richie Mamie from the 1990s; and St Clairsville and Linsly’s Heath Haynes from the 1980s Here’s capsule look at the honorees for the decade of the 1970s: Bishop Donahue (Class of 1978) – Fonnner was perhaps the most gifted and entertaining athlete to ever grace the halls of Bishop Donahue As a wide receiver/defensive back in football Fonner earned All-OVAC first-team honors and duplicated that feat with similar honors in baseball as a centerfielder/pitcher He had speed and strength rarely seen in a player 5-11 and 160 pounds Playing over the rim and oftentimes on the edge of reality Fonner scored 1,172 career points in two years still a Marshall County high school scoring record and had 49 points in a memorable match against Sistersville at the Wheeling Civic Center All-Valley ‘Small School’ captain and first-team All-West Virginia Class A captain He was also named the OVAC Athlete of the Year in 1978 Fonner was selected by The Intelligencer as one of the OVAC’s Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century He earned a basketball scholarship to Wheeling Jesuit University He has won several local amateur golf tournaments Wintersville (Class of 1975) – Andria was a three-sport standout – wrestling track and football – for the Golden Warriors Not only did he earn letters in each sport all three years but he also was named captain for each as a senior he participated in the 220 and 440 relay and even anchored the 880-relay team in invitational meets Wrestling was another successful endeavor as he competed as a heavyweight and won numerous titles His senior record was 26-4 and included a fourth-place finish in the OVAC Wrestling Tournament Although sustaining an injury in his junior season he accumulated more than 50 varsity wins at WHS as he excelled for OVAC Hall of Fame Coach Robert Kettlewell at Wintersville Andria was a dominant interior lineman and a starter from day one of his sophomore season He really entered the big stage in his junior season he dominated Ohio State senior recruit and future All-American lineman and NFL player Chris Ward and this performance caused a recruiting boom for Andria’s services His Golden Warrior accomplishments and awards are staggering They include: 1974 Ohio Class AAA All-State 1st Team offensive guard selection; 1974 Associated Press All-Eastern District Class AAA 1st Team/Lineman of the Year; 1974 All-OVAC 1st Team; 1974 All-Valley 1st Team/Co-Captain; 1974 High School All-American named by Scholastic Magazine -The Schoolboy Top 100 Players; 1975 OVAC All-Star Game Selection/Ohio Team Captain; 1975 Ohio North-South All-Star Game selection; 1975 Wintersville H.S Top Athlete Award; 1975 Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan High School Special Honoree He had multiple Division I scholarship offers and picked The Ohio State University over WVU and others he was a four-year letterman and a two-year starter at guard Andria earned second team UPI All-Big Ten honors while OSU went 11-0 in the 1979 regular season to win the Big Ten Conference and bowed to USC Andria was part of an infamous play in OSU history as he was the messenger guard who brought in the final play that ended the career of Coach Woody Hayes The play led to the altercation with Hayes hitting Clemson noseguard Charlie Bauman in the 1978 Gator Bowl Andria’s fine college career enabled him to ink a free agent contract with the Houston Oilers an injury on the first day of training camp ended his professional hopes He is now retired from the Worthington (Ohio) Public Schools Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia added another player to its large laundry list of transfer portal additions this .. NEW MARTINSVILLE – Tyler Consolidated scored five times in the top of the seventh to stun host Magnolia | https://www.theintelligencer.net | 1500 Main Street Thalmann said the WI organization is similar to groups like the Ladies Aid or Homemaker’s Club She cooks up a scheme to create a calendar to raise some money The fundraiser is in honor of another member’s husband “The shocking thing about the calendar is that to spark interest for the fundraiser the ladies decide they should pose nude,” said Thalmann in an email to the newspaper the subject matter and humor will be most interesting to grown-ups It would be a great night out for a group of girlfriends or dinner and a show with your special someone.” This proper group of English women discover through loads of laughter and a few tears that they are more brave than they ever thought they were adding that the ladies also grow in ways that they never could have imagined Thalmann said she was so looking forward to directing this play because it is a wonderful example of the unique power of the friendship of women to support each other in everything She also knew that there was a great deal of interest by the many talented women in the Andria’s theater community – both from veterans as well as newcomers “We had such a great turn-out for auditions and the actors were so excited for this production that I cast everyone,” said Thalmann “It was not difficult to cast the show as it seemed that each of the actors were so perfectly suited to their characters.” Thalmann also thanked the three men who are part of the cast as they are very outnumbered – but in a good way She said the friendships of the women in the play are being mirrored in the support and camaraderie of the cast “It’s a fun and enriching experience to be a part of,” she said A retired elementary school teacher from Alexandria Public Schools Susie Johnson said she has always admired the area arts production in Alexandria and had friends who took part in them She even thought one day she’d love to be a part of one moved out of the Alexandria area for a while She’s back now and decided it was finally time for her to try her hand at acting my friends and I created a calendar,” Johnson said “I did another one when I turned 60 and just recently did another one because I’m on the doorsteps of 70.” Johnson said the calendars she’s been in were done in a stylish classy way and they weren’t for people to buy Johnson said she is one of the WI Ladies in this play She doesn’t have any lines other than to sing a song or two noting that this show could be a one and done because of the time commitment She’s not really sure because she said she is always open to meeting new people making new friends and taking on new adventures “It is truly about growing old confidently graciously and with acceptance of what happens to all of us She said people should see it because it is meaningful Sandy Susag of Alexandria was in her first play “Hansel and Gretel,” when she was 5 years old but then didn’t get active with the local theater until her sons had graduated Since getting involved with the Alexandria community theater which at one time was known as the “Quad A,” Susag said she would roughly guesstimate she has performed in 80 to 90 shows “I have made lifelong friends in my various shows and have enjoyed every show I’ve been in,” she said she said her favorite roles have been Mamie Yocum in “Little Amber” and Vita Louise in “Harvey.” “I have been everything from a nun in ‘Sound of Music’ to a tipsy office worker in '9 to 5.' I have climbed a tree as Morgan LeFay in ‘Camelot’ and was shot in ‘Mousetrap,’ ” she said In “Calendar Girls,” Susag plays the role of Marie and is “in charge” of the WI Her character is enthralled with the beauty of nature for the subject of the group’s annual calendar has several divergent themes and it is both heartwarming and daring Susag said she knew it was going to be a fun show based on the script and the fun people she gets to do the show with “Who doesn’t enjoy meeting new people and creating something as funny as this show?” asked Susag especially things like winter and cold weather and the fact that you get to become someone else for a short while “I have really enjoyed working with several new people in this production a couple of whom have had ‘doing a show’ on their bucket list,” said Susag “I truly hope that this show will be the launch of their involvement in our local theater Chris – Ann HermesAnnie – Cathy SnyderCora – Ruth BlomJessie – Rachel BardusonCelia – Carrie SmoleyRuth – Bonnilynn TungsethMarie – Sandy SusagJohn – John ThalmannRod – Kevin LeeLawrence – Mike ArditoBrenda Hulce – Karen CooperLady Cravenshire – Kathy RayElaine – Amythyst BrownfeildLiam – Alicia DiazWI Ladies – Kim Carlson Director – Sharon ThalmannAssistant director/stage manager/props – Hilary NinmanCostumes – Janet BakerSound – Greg RaetherLight design – Donna MagnusonLighting tech – Monica PetersonSet design and construction – John ThalmannHair and makeup – Amythyst BrownfeildDialect coach – Sara Schwabe RobinsonMusic coach – Ruth BlomProjectionist – Holly Wallerich She actually started working there in May 2024 when she was hired as the box office manager Because of her love for the arts is the reason why Colberg said she wanted to work at the downtown Alexandria community theater in the first place She loves how being in theater lets people be expressive “I would say I’m a pretty expressive person,” said Colberg “I was attracted to the theater specifically because you get to learn how to be confident with yourself but also learn how to play another role with confidence.” she graduated from college in 2024 with a degree in accounting and she is currently pursuing a degree in business management at the Alexandria Technical and Community College “I decided that the executive director role would be a good fit for me because it’s a lot of math and numbers that it's also helping to do things behind the scenes that people may not even think about “It’s the little things that I see that can make a big difference,” said Colberg I like having the ability to help those people who are behind the scenes And it’s made a bigger difference than I thought it would.” Now that she is in the executive director role Colberg said she has goals for the theater “My main goal is getting more people involved,” she said “So that means getting more people to come to the theater engaging more with the community to attract new customers and new friends of the theater actors or people to help with concessions.” Colberg said they need people to help with set buildings “We’re always happy to talk to people about what they might be looking to help out with.” Another goal for Colberg is community outreach “We are focusing on getting involved in other organizations in the community,” she said me and Olivia (the marketing and house manager) are planning on joining the Alexandria Area Young Professionals group We are also hoping to network with a bunch of different businesses to meet with them and give them the opportunity to learn more about us and the Andria.” Although Colberg said she couldn’t say anything or give out any hints she said there will be a good mix next season and something that will suit everyone “That is all I can say without giving too much away,” she said adding that if people want to know what is coming next they should plan on attending the “Reveal Party” in June “The Reveal Party is going to be a blast,” said Colberg “It will be at Crooked Willow this year and Raapers will be catering a delicious meal Of course we will be announcing our new season which is going to be so exciting for us and hopefully exciting for everyone else.” More details about the event will be released at a later date “The Andria Theatre remains deeply committed to fostering a safe inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community the board of directors made the difficult decision to request Christine Reilly’s resignation as executive director following a review of circumstances that led to an erosion of trust in the theater in our community and we thank her for her contributions to the theater during her tenure and her continued support of the Andria’s work “We recognize the trust placed in us by our patrons and we are committed to continuous improvement and accountability For further updates on the theater’s programs and leadership please visit our website – andriatheatre.org.” “I was deeply saddened by the request for my resignation from the Andria Theatre board of directors It was unexpected and extremely disappointing “I loved my job at the Andria and am very proud of the things I accomplished during my two years and five months as executive director During my tenure the Andria was growing and thriving one full time staff member and one part time staff member were added A $250,000 remodeling project was accomplished Participation in productions and ticket sales increased each year “Although I wish I had more time to accomplish some other projects in the works I am grateful for my time there," Reilly added "Without a doubt the best part of the job was working with and meeting so many wonderful people; many have become close friends A community theater is a unique and special place that brings people together in a way like no other.” Larson is a graduate of the Carlson School of Management the University of Minnesota Theater Department and the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab he spent 16 years at the Minnesota Fringe Festival including three years as executive director His recent projects for Arts Progress include an organizational assessment and executive search for Ashwabay Alliance leadership transition support for Young Artists Initiative and One Voice Mixed Chorus and interim leadership of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus Larson served as the executive and artistic director of the Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing Editor's note: Echo Press reporter Celeste Edenloff signed a letter that was sent to the board of directors after Reilly was asked to leave She signed it as a personal friend of Reilly's and not in her profession as a reporter or as an employee of the Echo Press This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page An award-winning gospel music singer was arrested Monday in downtown Greenville According to arrest documents from the Greenville Police Department’s Sgt Le’Andria Johnson was arrested at about 2:42 p.m and charged with public intoxication and having an open alcohol container on a public street Police were called to BrickTop's restaurant on North Main Street after reports of Johnson “causing a disturbance," including screaming at other patrons she left BrickTop and walked west on West Washington Street Officers found Johnson walking on North Laurens Street while screaming profanities at a man Johnson handed a styrofoam cup to the man and attempted to conceal it when an officer approached More: Statewide and county DUI totals have improved since COVID; how much is too much to drink? Police reported that Johnson smelled of alcohol, swayed while attempting to stand still, had slurred speech, and adding the cup she handed over contained an amber-colored liquid that smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage. Johnson was the season three winner of BET's Sunday Best gospel music competition show and best known for her song "Better Days" which currently has 32 million views on YouTube and nine million streams on Spotify.   She paid a $257.50 bond Tuesday afternoon and was released from the Greenville County Detention Center. Records did not show a court date. Print Le’Andria Johnson has a message for her fans after she was arrested earlier this week in Greenville following a drunken outburst at a local bar Music Morgan Wallen is sentenced after pleading conditionally guilty to charges stemming from an incident where he threw a chair from a sixth-floor Nashville balcony The “Better Days” singer addressed her arrest Tuesday in a video on the Larry Reid Live YouTube channel, thanking those who sent messages of support and saying she is taking time to “woosah.” “So just keep me lifted, and I’m a get through this,” she added. Television Children of alcoholics, whether they drink or not, tend to behave like alcoholics, as main character Carmy Berzatto demonstrates in Season 3 of FX’s “The Bear.” Johnson was taken into police custody around 3 p.m. Monday and charged with public intoxication and possession of an open container, according to an incident report from the Greenville Police Department. She was released from detention the next day and given a personal recognizance bond on her charges, Greenville Public Information Officer Sgt. Diana Munoz confirmed Wednesday. Police apprehended Johnson after receiving a call about a customer “causing a disturbance” and “screaming at patrons” at BrickTop’s restaurant in the city’s downtown area, the incident report said. According to the report, officers identified and located Johnson after she left BrickTop’s and went down the street, “screaming profanities at a male who was walking with her.” Upon being approached by police, Johnson handed her Styrofoam cup to the man, who attempted to hide it, the report said. After observing “multiple signs that she was heavily intoxicated” — the scent of alcohol, slurred speech and unstable posture — officers confirmed the cup contained alcohol and “disposed” of it. Entertainment & Arts Garrett Hedlund has reportedly been released from a Tennessee jail after he was arrested for public intoxication The “Sunday Best” victor was arrested and initially booked on a $257.50 bond, which she does not have to pay “on the condition that she show up to court,” Munoz said in a statement to The Times. If Johnson requests a jury trial, “she will not have to appear in court until her jury trial date, which can be next year,” Munoz added. Climate & Environment World & Nation California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map SVP of marketing and communicationsThe Right Place Inc Andria Romkema’s vision of turning Grand Rapids into a thriving technology hub is morphing into reality the senior vice president of marketing and communications at The Right Place Inc. created and launched Tech Week GR to support a new 10-year Regional Tech Strategy led by the economic development organization Tech Week GR has attracted more than 13,000 people and hosted more than 30 events “At the risk of sounding like a broken record Tech Week is by far the professional accomplishment I’m most proud of,” she said “It was exciting to take an inkling of an idea and build it into a community-wide event that 13,000 people attended I had to cast a vision for the event and convince some of our region’s most prominent business and community leaders to invest time and money in it — and then I had to build and lead a team that could deliver I’m proud of how this event has built momentum for our economy’s growing tech sector.” In addition to her work in greater Grand Rapids Romkema also served on the board of directors for the Michigan Economic Developers Association and Michigan Tech Week and companies to the state’s week-long event my work leading our marketing and HR efforts helps drive the region’s economic development strategy and creates systemic positive economic impact in the region,” she said Staying current is easy with Crain's Grand Rapids Business news delivered straight to your inbox Click below to see everything we have to offer “It was originally written for the stage,” said Alvig “But the movie folks bought the rights to do the movie and of course their screenwriters changed a few things from the original play script.” A fun fact that Alvig shared is that after the movie came out in 1992 thought that some parts of the movie that were adapted for the movie made sense and so he went back and rewrote some of the play’s script Marines who were charged in the murder of a fellow Marine and how their lawyer expects a plea bargain after he is prodded by a female member of his defense team the lawyer ends up making a valiant effort to defend his clients The show does include mature themes and language Directing such an iconic show is both easy and hard has some top-notch actors in it who do a superlative job interpreting their roles his cast has some pretty big footsteps to follow “There are some real challenges to do a unique presentation and not just copy what they did in the movie,” Alvig said I have a pretty talented cast and they’re basically striking out in their own direction But he also said that when he sees them going in a direction that he feels will not be productive over time Alvig said his hope is that they end up with a show that people might say is just like the movie or maybe people will think that some parts of the play were not part of the movie but that they really liked those parts The show he is producing follows the storyline of the movie fairly closely but Alvig said there are a few remarkable departures His cast is a mixture of both veteran actors who have been in a number of shows and some who are kind of “getting their feet wet” for the first time One of the actors Alvig said he has been impressed with is Kyle Pietrowski telling him he can’t be a prisoner of the way the words are printed on the page,” said Alvig “He has taken that to heart and has really started to make the role of Kaffee his own.” The cast as a whole has been doing a really great job When Pietrowski auditioned for “A Few Good Men,” he said he was just auditioning for any role It didn’t really matter which part he got and that he was just happy to help the theater anyway he could When asked what it has been like being cast in the lead role – a role played by legendary actor Tom Cruise – Pietrowski said it’s a lot “I’ve been put into large roles before without auditioning for them “I have more lines in this show than I did in all of my previous shows combined.” Even though he said it is a lot and a big commitment He likes that he has a challenging role and said he has never acted in a straight show like this one He has always done either comedies or musicals “It’s been fun to test out my acting chops in something a little bit more serious,” said Pietrowski Pietrowski said Kaffee has just graduated from law school and that he’s only been in the Navy for nine months “He (Kaffee) doesn’t really care about anything that’s going on until he suddenly gets tossed into this big murder investigation,” Pietrowski said noting that his character was just kind of breezing through life before that He also said that people should see the play because it is a fantastic and iconic show who recently moved back to Glenwood from the Fargo-Moorhead area said he decided to try out for “A Few Good Men” because he wanted to get involved in something “It’s something creative that I can do,” he said who is one of the two men on trial for the murder of a fellow Marine He said Downey is a follower and looks up to his squad leader and that when his squad leader is not around Downey is trying to figure out who he is and how he is going to be Although he hasn’t seen the movie for a long time Greene said he chose not to watch it after he was cast in the play “I didn’t want to watch it again because I wanted things to happen organically,” he said “I didn’t want to watch the actor playing my role in the film because I would think that I should do things this way or that way I wanted my character to come from my own sense of interpretation.” Greene believes people should see the show not just because it is iconic but because there is relevance in the story related to what really is right from wrong when it comes to bullying and also the battle of the sexes “It’s about how we look at our own morals compared to someone else telling us what our morals should be,” he said WHAT: “A Few Good Men”WHEN: March 13-15 and March 20-22 at 7 p.m. March 16 and 23 at 2 p.m.WHERE: Andria Theatre AlexandriaTICKETS: Go to www.andriatheatre.org or call the box office at 320-762-8300 has worked at the Andria Theatre since May 2024 Some of her duties as the box office manager included financial management and organization of Andria Theatre's annual fundraising event Board President Michael Ardito said that the members of the board conducted a search with local and national candidates and that Kolberg was the best choice “She has exciting ideas to deepen our local connections and take the organization to new heights," said Ardito coupled with the talented slate of new board members we just elected marks an exciting new phase for the Andria.” Colberg said she is thrilled for the opportunity to work with such a "terrific team" to guide the Andria Theatre's work I’ve seen firsthand the impact that the Andria has on this community and I’m eager to help make it even stronger,” Colberg said in the news release The community will have an opportunity to meet Colberg and hear about the 2025-26 season at the upcoming "Reveal" event scheduled to take place on June 3 at Crooked Willow Colberg said the theater will be hiring someone to fill her position but that the title has changed to "Front of House Manager." She said the job will be posted on Indeed sometime on Wednesday EEW Magazine is the leading online mag for women of faith & color EEW Magazine is the same web publication you love with a new look The award-winning and chart-topping gospel artist Le'Andria Johnson was arrested in Greenville for public intoxication after allegedly causing a disturbance at a local restaurant The incident adds to the singer's documented history of struggles with alcohol Written By Rebecca Johnson // EEW Magazine Online Le’Andria Johnson is an award-winning gospel singer with a history of alcoholism—(EEW Magazine Online) Update: Le’Andria Johnson has issued a statement following her arrest and my supporters—thank you so much for your continued prayers and love.” She acknowledged that her struggle with alcoholism “is a daily walk and this has been a daily walk for me for some time now.” She also stated that she is “still growing.” Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson According to public records from the Greenville Police Department’s Sgt and charged with public intoxication and having an open alcohol container on a public street.  Le’Andria Johnson’s official arrest record and mugshot show she was charged with public drunkenness and is being held on bond in Greenville (Credit: Greenville County/EEW Magazine Online) Greenville News reports in a disruptive incident at an upscale dining establishment local police responded to BrickTop's restaurant on North Main Street following multiple reports of a disturbance was seen screaming at fellow diners before departing the premises on foot along West Washington Street Law enforcement officials later located Johnson on North Laurens Street where she was observed shouting obscenities at a male companion The situation escalated when officers approached and witnessed Johnson attempting to conceal a styrofoam cup after hastily passing it to her companion Johnson exhibited multiple signs of intoxication Officers noted that the styrofoam cup in question contained what appeared to be an alcoholic beverage described in the report as an amber-colored liquid with a strong alcoholic odor Johnson, renowned for her powerful vocals and candid transparency, has openly discussed her struggles with alcoholism in the past. In 2019, she revealed that her battle with alcohol had led to a DUI arrest and a subsequent 30-day jail sentence for probation violation During a testimony at the New Met Philly Church in Philadelphia You know how long it took me to first accept that I had a problem?" Her journey to sobriety included participation in the reality TV series "Iyanla: Fix My Life," where she worked with life coach Iyanla Vanzant to address her personal challenges Johnson expressed gratitude for the support she received Despite achieving a milestone of nine months of sobriety in 2019 In September 2023, she made headlines for using explicit language—behavior she attributed to alcohol abuse—shortly after being baptized for a second time sparking renewed concerns about her well-being Le’Andria Johnson first gained national attention after winning the third season of BET’s "Sunday Best" in 2010 which propelled her into a successful gospel music career Her openness about her personal battles has resonated with many highlighting the complexities faced by individuals in the public eye This latest incident underscores the ongoing challenges of addiction and the importance of continued support and treatment for those affected there has been no official statement from Johnson or her representatives regarding the recent arrest Fans and members of the gospel community continue to express concern and support for her as she navigates these personal struggles EEWMagazineOnline.com is part of Empowering Everyday Women Inc Privacy Policy   Terms and Conditions   Contact They’re one the most successful countries at Junior Eurovision with three victories Georgia is hoping to continue its winning tradition with Andria Putkaradze and “To My Mom” Andria earned the honour of representing Georgia in this year’s contest after winning Ranina the beloved children’s talent show that has served as Georgia’s selection process for Junior Eurovision for several years The young singer was born in the scenic Black Sea city of Batumi and showcased a love for music from an early age he joined the vocal ensemble Children of the Sea and later studied piano at the Zakaria Paliashvili Music School with his victory on Ranina being a major milestone Andria enjoys spending time with friends and playing PlayStation written by famed Georgian composer Giga Kukhianidze with Maka Davitaia is a heartfelt tribute to mothers and the deep bond between mother and child Giga Kukhianidze is no stranger to Junior Eurovision; he has crafted thirteen of Georgia’s seventeen entries and once again brings his lyrical artistry to the stage the ballad is an emotional expression of love and gratitude Andria’s powerful vocals are complemented by a rich orchestral arrangement that evokes a sense of warmth and nostalgia carrying a cinematic feel similar to Disney soundtracks The lyrics paint a tender picture of a mother’s love as a comforting it understands me,” underscore the intimate connection and support that only a mother can provide The imagery of snow and sunshine serves as a metaphor for a mother’s gentle guidance and warmth helping to light the path through life’s journey “I will sing a song for the paths adorned with song celebrating the beauty and strength of maternal love Music & Lyrics: Giga Kukhianidze and Maka Davitaia Gazapkhulivit lamazi kuchaGazapkhulivit lamazi gzaMzian sikvaruls bolo ar uchansMshvidad migimis tsa vchakrob rom gavutstro drosSheni ghimilit khom Ghimilit tovsChems gulshi sikvaruls tovsMze chumad migimisDa saotsrad ephereba tovlis Tsariel kuchas landeebi uchansAnci bavshivit ertoba mzeSheni ghimilit gamtbara kuchaMegobaarivit gamigebs me Megobaarivit chamikras gulshiGhamighimeb da shemaskhams ftrebsErtad gavivlit gzeebs Vardisfrad tovsChems gulshi sikvaruls tovsMze chumad ighimisDa saotsrad ephereba tovlis Gzeebs simgherit daqargul gzeebsVimgereb simgherasMoval shentan Khels chakideb De A street as beautiful as springA path as lovely as springThe sunny love seems never-endingThe sky smiles peacefully at me My heart races and beats without rhythmI hurry It snows beautifully with a smileIn my heart it snows elegantlyThe sun quietly smilesAnd gently caresses the snow Shadows appear on the empty streetThe sun plays like a carefree childYour smile warmed the streetLike a friend it will embrace my heartIt will smile at me and spread its wingsTogether we’ll draw the paths it snows with loveThe sun quietly smilesAnd tenderly caresses the snow I will sing a song for the paths adorned with songI will come to youI will take your hand What do you think of Georgia’s song for Junior Eurovision 2024 Can Andria Putkaradze bring Georgia its fourth win with “To My Mom” Rezo Mamsikashvili contributed this report from Tbilisi. You can follow him on Twitter @rmamsikashvili . Keep up with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by liking our Facebook page and by following the team on Twitter @wiwibloggs also Luxembourg broadcasting JESC for the first time with their regular commentator Dusko Curlic alongside Nika Turkovic who won the contest 20 years ago in 2004 I hope that these countries will participate next year This beautiful song is one of my big favorites this year I love the song very much and I wish him good luck in Madrid Overview Meet the team Press Write for us Input your search keywords and press Enter Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors A member of the CJP Investment Committee since 2022 Andria played a leading role in creating CJP's first-ever Sustainable Fund which offers an investment option for our Donor Advised Fund (DAF) program that focuses both on strong returns and addressing climate change Andria advocated for taking a serious and focused approach to defining this portfolio and helped identify managers and advocate with fellow committee members Andria was a critical player in bringing this longstanding priority to the finish line applying her deep professional experience in sustainable investing as well as her skill in building consensus for the benefit of CJP CJP welcomes the participation of interfaith couples and families Powered by FEDWEB ® Central Privacy Policy Terms of Use said the music in the show is what drew her to want to direct this production “A lot of musicals have music that is just kind of added This music tells the story of Anastasia through the whole thing,” she said “It is a beautiful story that is enhanced by the music.” The storyline is all about Anastasia and whether she is the real Anastasia or not it was reported that all of Anastasia’s family were shot and killed because of the communist revolution who would’ve been 17-years-old at the time “The story is all about her transition and is she Anastasia or isn’t she?” said Magnuson who added that the first act takes place in Russia and the second act takes place in Paris She said there will be a huge transition from the sad and gloomy Russia to vibrant Paris with flappers and all the wonderful people who are free to the world The cast is made up of 26 members – 10 students and 16 adults Magnuson said her cast is great because there is a mixture of both new and seasoned actors with the students and the adults “And everyone just stepped up to make everything happen She described her character as an innocent but not naive young woman who has faced a lot of adversity Anastasia doesn’t quite understand the kind of person she is or wants to be “Not really having an identity is difficult “I feel like the writers did a really good job portraying that and I am just trying to do my best to convey that in my character development.” Elliott said her character starts to evolve and she starts to discover more about herself Elliott’s favorite song in the show is “Journey to the Past,” because she loves the way that Anastasia still has some hesitation about what she is doing and what her plans are but at the same time is her coming to the full realization that she is going to do this like she is going to get out and do the dang thing,” she said Elliott didn’t divulge anything because they contain spoilers She said people will just need to go and see the show this musical is a more beautiful concept and it is more in depth than the animated movie Elliott said the role of Anastasia’s character reminded her of herself She didn’t really expect to get the role and when she found out “This is my first lead ever and it’s been daunting I guess the imposter syndrome has worn off.” who lives in Spicer but teaches social studies at Kalon Prep Academy decided to try out for the show because he has seen several shows at the Andria he was so impressed with all aspects of the theater He said one of the degrees he holds is in theater and that he has always been impressed with the costumes now that he knows what the space is like backstage the Andria is really a top-tier theater in this area,” said Ragan Ragan is playing the role of Dmitry Sudayev He said his character grew up poor and has always lived on the rougher side of things despite being on the lower echelon of society He also said that his character has always taken care of himself but that he always takes care of others in his own sarcastic way Ragan said Dmitry kind of saved his friend from a rough situation so he does care about others he didn’t necessarily try out for a specific role but said to make it worth the drive from Spicer Ragan said it has wonderful music – from the big chorus numbers to the individual solos “It’s got amazing music that is that fun kind of early 1900s Russia and then there is your classical musical ballads,” he said is “Land of Yesterday.” He said it is one of the best songs of the show because it incorporates the group aspect and that it has that Russian feeling “As somebody who doesn’t get to be on the stage singing that song I’m kind of jealous.” If people want to come see another amazing production at the Andria Ragan said they should go and see “Anastasia.” He said the story has a different take on the animated movie of “Anatasia,” noting that the music delivers more of a historical take on the story Ragan was asked if that is giving away too much and Magnuson stepped in and said because you don’t know which way it warms!” WHAT: “Anastasia: The New Musical”WHEN: Dec Reagan Johnson – Young Anastasia/AlexeiAbby Faber – Teenage Anastasia/EnsembleAmelia Meier – Tatiana Romanov/Paulina/EnsembleDylan Marshall – Cadet/Russian Soldier/EnsembleElisa Mae Runge – Ballroom Dancer/Streetsweeper/EnsembleKennedi Hay – Maria Romanov/EnsembleKimiko Jennings – Black Marketeer/EnsembleJonah Monette – Cadet/EnsembleJonas Larson – Cadet/Russian Soldier/EnsembleLuke Hodges – Cadet/Ensemble Director – Donna MagnusonAssistant Director/Stage Manager – Monica PetersonStage Manager/Props Master – Hilary NinmanVocal Director – Ruth BlomChoreography – Katherine OwensCostume Design/Construction – Alyssa PetefishHair/Make-Up – Kathryn TomosonSet Design/Construction – Greg BohlLighting Design/Tech – Sidney ImsandeSound Engineer – Brandon JohnsonMusic Tracks/Projections – Holly WallerichFight Choreography – Jake Stone Sulayman Tahir's new film "Peripheral," starring Rochester native Andria B. Langston, made its world debut and won Best Narrative Feature at the American Black Film Festival last weekend The sci-fi film follows a young woman and her husband as they move into a new town where paranormal events leave the woman feeling isolated and gaslit expressed that starring in this film and winning Best Narrative Feature has been incredibly meaningful to her allowing her to showcase Black women's perspectives Langston's family owns Rochester radio station 103.9 WDKX the only Black family-owned commercial radio station in New York Langston said she worked at the station every day after school and every summer She even worked on her own show at the station where her creativity with content and production flourished "It definitely gave me a good foundation for work ethic," Langston said Langston said theater was a significant part of her childhood she participated in summer theater programs at Geva Theater and short films with The Rochester Film Club but she didn't realize then that it could one day become her career Family ties: Andrew Langston: WDKX visionary chased his dream The lightbulb went off after she graduated with a Master's degree from USC and people began asking her to work on their projects Her father tells her he knew God chose this for his daughter when he watched her perform a monologue at age 17 Langston said she is honored and appreciative of the opportunities and creative freedom the city of Rochester and WDKX have given her To everyone in Rochester with a creative mind and soul Langston advises staying true to your creativity Whether it's writing every morning or recording a monologue she believes nothing should stop you from letting your creativity flow "There's so many opportunities for us today and you think things are supposed to happen on your timeline "You have to just let things flow and let things go and just continue to put beautiful art into the world and you never know what could happen when you do." Sulayman Tahir directed “Peripheral," which Tahir and Jordan Tortorello co-wrote The film has not yet been released to the public Article By Vanda Greene // EEW Magazine // News is celebrating a huge milestone—9 months of sobriety—and she is sending up praises to God for this wonderful accomplishment The gifted songbird, who confessed to being an alcoholic on a two-part episode of OWN’s “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” is grateful to Lord for strength to overcome her addiction to alcohol “This journey hasn’t been easy,” confessed the “Better Days” songstress in a celebration post on Instagram RELATED: The church failed Le’Andria Johnson whose struggle with alcoholism nearly led to the ruination of her ministry and career and says she feels indebted to those that “made it possible for me to pat myself on the back for celebrating 9 months of sobriety!” EEW Magazine Online previously reported that Johnson whose singing career took off after competing in BET’s “Sunday Best” talent competition was ministering to audiences around the nation while barely holding it together behind doors Le’Andria Johnson is confronted by Iyanla Vanzant (not pictured) when she felt like giving up on the process RELATED: Le’Andria is sorry for cussing tirade against church she would drink alcoholic beverages all day long: A Mimosa at 11:00 in the morning another Mimosa and three Long Islands at 3:00 in the afternoon and lots more liquor before the day was done Johnson was becoming less hopeful that she had any power to change her ways Formerly branded “The Bad Girl of Gospel,” the wife and former pastor gained a reputation for drunken rants slurred slander against the church and its leaders But Johnson checked herself into rehab earlier this year and received the professional help she needed those dark days are behind her and better days are ahead The 2024 edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest ended moments ago 17 countries competed in Madrid in this year’s Contest to win over the hearts of the national juries as well as the world-wide public and at the end of the show – Georgia took it’s 4th victory in this Contest this time with Andria Putkaradze and his song “To My Mom” Andria was the runaway winner with the juries – he scored 12 points from 12 different national juries Ukraine was second with the juries with 122 points and France completed the top three with 103 points After the world-wide online vote was added and won the 2024 Junior Eurovision Song Contest with a total of 239 points The winner of the online vote – Portugal finished second overall with 213 points and Ukraine finished in third place with 203 points Massive congratulations to Andria Putkaradze and to Georgia from the ESCBubble Team Check out the winning song once again right here below: and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Open in Spotify to get all the Eurovision news as they happen