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Dixie Carter, Hal Holbrook and former
Governor Ned Ray McWherter share the spotlight at
Saturday's gala dedication evening featuring the
Nashville Symphony. photos courtesy
The McKenzie Banner |
Dixie is ravishing on opening night of the center that
was named in her honor. Behind her is longtime friend,
pianist John Wallowitch, who flew in from New York for
the festivities.
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It was a magical weekend at The Dixie November 17-20, starting
with the Thursday night performance of The Chuck Wagon Gang.
Friday, area students enjoyed the Nashville Symphony. Saturday
provided daytime fun and excitement and the evening was memorable with the gala
dedication ceremony attended by Dixie Carter and Hal Holbrook
as well as Dixie's friends: John Wallowitch and Linda
Bloodworth-Thomason, the creator, writer, and executive
producer of Designing Women, in which Dixie portrayed Julia
Sugarbaker in perhaps her most famous role.and a plethora of
dignitaries including former Governor Ned Ray McWherter.
Other special guests of the evening included Tennessee Arts
Commission representatives Rod Reiner, Deputy Director of
grant programs and Kim Leavitt, Director of Arts
Education/Director of Literary Programs; members of the
Huntingdon Town Council, Huntingdon Arts and Events Advisory
Committee; state legislators, Senator Don McLeary,
Representative Mark Maddox, Representative Jimmy Eldridge,
special thanks to Buster Barger, David M. Schuermann of
Architecture Incorporated of Memphis, Alan Douglas of the
Knapp Foundation, and representatives of the Tennessee
Department of Transportation, Norandal, USDA Rural
Development, and many family members and guests of Dixie and
Hal.
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Huntingdon Mayor Dale Kelley and Dixie Carter, center,
pose with members of The Chuck Wagon Gang Thursday
evening. |
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Dixie Carter chats with
Jackie and Karen Allen of McKenzie. |
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Hal
Holbrook signs an autograph for Tonya Belew, near the
entry of the theater that bears his name. |
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Square
dancers kick up the fun. |
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Huntingdon Mayor Dale Kelley kisses Dixie, his friend
and schoolmate, on the forehead. |
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Karen Voytek of
Huntingdon and Debbie Taylor of Bruceton handle
concessions. |
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Norma Easley of
Huntingdon and Joyce Blow of McLemoresville, above,
are among a plethora of volunteer ushers and other
helpers from across Carroll County who are excited to
be a part of The Dixie.. |
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Marge and Leon Tucker
of Huntingdon arrive at The Dixie. |
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Carlotta and Kenny
DeAllen attend the symphony. Carlotta is a member of the
Huntingdon Arts and Advisory Board. |
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Shirley
Willhite, left, of Martin, and Ms. Pat Forgy, McKenzie
Elementary School music teacher, enjoy an evening with
The Chuck Wagon Gang. The friends are members of
Gloryland Quartet. |
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Theater
aficionados Gena Mitchum and Phyllis Franks of McKenzie
attend the performance of the Nashville Symphony. |
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Molly
Davis, 7, and mom Pansy enjoy juice and cookies after
a performance of The Velveteen Rabbit. |
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