MY PRINCESS WAS REBORN THURSDAY!

I just wanted to share my wonderful evening Thursday with all my Mushy's Moochings friends.  If you follow the Princess Blog, or our Friends of the Princess Facebook page, you probably have already seen these photos.  However, if you haven't, please enjoy my labor of love.  After this, maybe I'll post here more often, but it has kept me busy for over 2 years now.  Enjoy!

They were dancing in the street and in the isles last night at the Princess Theatre's Grand Opening!

For those of us that worked the event, it was a labor of love.  Those of us behind the scenes were tiring, driven only by the adrenaline of the Grand Opening; a culmination of years of hard work.  However, when we looked outside and peaked out at the auditorium, we saw the proud, smiling faces of Princess supporters, and it spurred everyone on.

The crowd loved Tommy Harding singing on Roane Street, as the crowd converged on the Princess ticket booth.  Each one was greeted by the happy face of Jean Penley, who had waited years to sit there and hand out "call for" tickets.  At the doors, more smiling faces of the many wonderful people who staffed the entrances, ushered folks to their seats, or just answered questions.

Many more people working security, as stage hands, techs, and the artists were all so proud to be at the Princess Theatre!  It was a long dream come true, and Gary Baker and Muse Watson could hardly hold the joy they felt inside.

I think the pride and purpose rubbed off on Megan Anderson too.  She will be charged with carrying on the torch and ensuring that "the dream" continues to touch the people and children of this area.

Backstage, countless artist, who had practiced only one day for the event, waited their turn to take their historical turn on the new Princess stage.  They were just the first of countless ones to follow.  This was just one day, the beginning, of something wonderful to happen to our area!

 

Oh yes, there was someone else there last night!  One of the biggest fans the Princess ever had...Sandra Stout!

I must also point out, that while all the performers were great, the crowd poured into the aisles as the Grand Prees played an encore!  They must come back soon...very soon!

I'll shut up now and just let the photos speak what was in the air Thursday night.  Welcome back my Princess...we have long awaited your return! 

 

Mike Franks...I mean Muse Watson.  He and Gary Baker began the journey to restoration!

Everyone seem to be really struck by the community coming together, hands over their hearts, listening to the Star Spangled Banner being played on stage by the Babahatchie Community Band!  What a wonderful moment!

The Grand Prees begin in 1965!

This is Roane State Bluegrass Band!  They were great!

'Nuff said!  We've set the bar high, now, let's get on with the show/s!

Saturday night, it's Marshall Tucker on the Princess stage!

I'm Going To Be Very Busy, and Very Happy This Weekend

Yahoo...I'll be working the crowd at both the Princess Theatre Grand Opening Thursday, and at the Marshall Tucker concert on Saturday.  I'll be clicking away, and privy to even the "green room"!

I'll be back in touch, once my feet also touch the ground again!  I'm so excited, so pumped that my Princess once again is alive and well in Harriman, Tennessee!

Below are two of my recent posts on my Princess Theatre blog:

Post 1:

From Owen Driskill,  Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Roane State Community College:

March 6, 2012

Grand opening for Princess Theatre set for March 22

The grand opening for the renovated Princess Theatre in downtown Harriman will be Thursday, March 22.

The Princess Theatre Foundation is hosting the 7 p.m. event, which will include performances by area students and artists. Admission is free, but tickets are required.

Tickets can be picked up at Rocky Top General Store in Harriman (316 Ruritan Road) or Harriman Jewelry Exchange (509 Roane St.). Doors for the grand opening will open at 6 p.m.

The Princess Theatre Foundation also will host a fundraising concert on Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m. featuring The Marshall Tucker Band. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for floor seats and $20 for balcony seats. For ticket information, call (865) 403-2988.

All proceeds benefit the Princess Theatre.

The renovation of the 552-seat Princess, located at 421 N. Roane St., culminates a decade-long effort. The City of Harriman, Roane State Community College, the Tennessee Technology Center at Harriman, Roane County Schools, business leaders and community leaders worked together to complete the renovation. The Princess Theatre Foundation, formed in 2004, has raised money for the project and will continue to support the theatre.

The project was supported by a $317,000 grant awarded to the City of Harriman by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. In addition, TVA donated $1.7 million to the Princess Theatre Foundation for the renovation following the December 2008 ash spill. Dozens of individuals have donated time and resources to the project.

Sparkman & Associates Architects Inc. designed and oversaw the renovation.

Two neighboring buildings have been connected to the theatre for restrooms, dressing rooms, green room, storage and an elevator.

The City of Harriman owns the theatre. Roane State, with the support of the Princess Theatre Foundation, operates it. Megan Anderson, a Nashville native with more than 10 years of experience in theater production, is manager of the Princess.

The renovated Princess is part of a performing arts and education center that includes Channel 15 television station, operated by Roane State and owned by the City of Harriman. The Princess and the TV station give students opportunities to receive hands-on education and training in communications.

History of the Princess

The Princess Theatre was once downtown Harriman’s crown jewel, a 900-seat showplace that provided entertainment to movie-goers from Harriman and surrounding areas.

Crescent Amusement opened the Princess in September 1926, and it was known as one of the larger movie theaters in a small town. The Princess suffered minor damage in a September 1932 fire, but was not so fortunate a few years later. In January 1939, a blaze destroyed the building, and the loss led to new theater construction in Harriman.

The Princess reopened on Nov. 16, 1939, and began showing movies once again. L.W. Bevel, from Sudekum Theatres, was the manager of the new Princess.

The Princess continued on for several years. In 1987, theatre manager Cecil Johnson began to lease the theatre when he learned that the company that owned the Princess planned to close it. The theatre stayed open until 1999 when Johnson retired.

For more information about the Princess, visit www.princessharriman.org.

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Post 2:

The Princess Theatre Foundation presents an inaugural concert, the first of many to come, on Saturday, March 24^th, in the newly renovated facility. The Princess Theatre Foundation will proudly present The Marshall Tucker Band to break in the newly expanded Princess stage, and season the new plaster!

The Princess Theatre doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets* cost $30 for floor seats and $20 for balcony seats. 

Tickets can be picked up at Rocky Top General Store in Harriman (316 Ruritan Road) or Harriman Jewelry Exchange (509 Roane St.).  

In the early fall of 1973 Marshall Tucker Band was a young and hungry group out to prove themselves every time they hit the stage.  They are still rockin’ today and continue to prove they are an unforgettable band!

Still led today by founding member and lead singer Doug Gray, they represent a time and place in music that will never be duplicated.  Gray is quick to credit the band's current dynamic members with carrying on the timeless essence of the Marshall Tucker Band sound.

Current members include slide guitarist Stuart Swanlund who joined the band in 1989, the highly respected drummer B.B. Borden, a former member of both Mother's Finest and The Outlaws, multi-instrumentalist Marcus Henderson of Macon, Georgia, plays flute, saxophone and keyboards in addition to lead and background vocals, Pat Elwood on bass guitar, and Rick Willis on lead guitar and vocals, both of Spartanburg SC, are disciples of the Caldwell Brothers.  Together they present a powerful stage presence as they continue to tour the country and continue to be powerful force in the world of music.

*All proceeds benefit the Princess Theatre.

Incidentally, tickets for both events sold-out 3 hours after the announcement on the Princess Blog!