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A COMMUNITY OF THEATRE<br />
“It’s really grown to something now that is kind of a staple, I think,<br />
in Perry, ”Strickland said.“Our motto has always been, ‘we don’t<br />
require experience, we provide it. Our goal, what we really like,<br />
is having local people able to come and do shows, participate in<br />
shows whether it be directing, choreography or acting.”<br />
Perry Players works to create a connection between those on<br />
stage and those who come to see them, to best serve their<br />
audience and tell the story they’re attempting to perform. That,<br />
Strickland said, is what makes community theatre special.<br />
You can find more information on Perry Players by visiting their<br />
website, at www.perryplayers.org.<br />
Center Stage for Christ is a theatre that does things a little differently.<br />
After retiring from her teaching position at <strong>Houston</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
High School in 2006, Diane Kinsley found herself with a need<br />
for a theatrical outlet. Working together with her husband, Dr.<br />
Michael Kinsley, the two began putting on productions at<br />
Perry Methodist Church.<br />
Today, Michael Kinsley writes each production, while Diane<br />
Kinsley works with actors and acts in the plays herself.<br />
Typically, they produce three performances a year, a combination<br />
of murder mystery dinner shows for fundraising and comedies<br />
where regular, everyday people have to solve problems they’ve<br />
often gotten themselves into. Sometimes things work out, other<br />
times they don’t.<br />
“People that have been on a spiritual journey their entire<br />
lives can enjoy our shows,” Diane Kinsley said. “And people<br />
that have never stepped into a church in their lives can enjoy<br />
our shows.”<br />
All the money collected at these shows goes to a charity, whether<br />
it be the HALO Group, Stop Hunger Now, Family Promises or<br />
any of the ministries in Perry Methodist’s missions department.<br />
Michael Kinsley spoke of the guiding principals of the theatre:<br />
“that the participants have a spiritual experience while<br />
delivering a great piece of entertainment to our community.”<br />
You can find more information about Center<br />
Stage for Christ and their productions by<br />
visiting www.perryumc.org.<br />
94 AT HOME IN HOUSTON COUNTY
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