PRINCESS THEATRE - Raising the Curtain: January 2013

Thursday, January 24, 2013

LISTENING TO THE WALLS

I had occasion to visit Megan (Anderson) today, delivering her a CD with some photos from all the 2012 concerts.  She is working on a new brochure all about the Princess and what she has to offer.  It's always nice to talk to her and just walk around the Princess.  

The Princess is just so much more than she was back in "our" movie going days, and her potential has yet to be fully described or seen.  There is so much more coming in the future, and not even those of us that love her, and visit her often, can even foresee. 

The walls could tell us more than our own Princess histories.  They could tell us about all the laughter, the broken hearts, the found loves, and the sweat and tears of those that have labored within her, and even of those that extinguished two intense fires.

However, I would like to think that the walls can see the future.  If they could talk, they would end every story of history with one of the future, and how the music, the laughter, and stories will continue.

That's just some of the feelings that I get when I'm there, especially when I'm there alone, in one of the dark hallways, or just behind the curtain on stage.  The Princess is alive in our brains, and roams in the corners of our nostalgic hearts.
Some of that "Princess love" was displayed this past week, when the Gasparetti's donated a Yamaha Baby Grand. 



The piano is sitting in a locked air conditioned room, just waiting for it's first opportunity to show it's stuff!  

It has some cool stuff to strut too!  Hanging beneath, on the right side of the player's sitting position, is a control unit called a "disklavier". 

Disklavier (pron.: /ˈdɪskləvɪər/) (from Wikipedia) is the brand name for a group of piano-related products made by Yamaha Corporation.  It was introduced in the United States in 1987.
The various forms of Disklavier are essentially modern pianos that use electromechanical solenoids and optical sensors connected to LEDs allowing them to play notes and use the pedals independently of any human operator.  Most models are based upon real acoustic pianos and have been engineered such that the sensors and electromechanical elements do not interfere with or affect the normal playing of the instrument.  They include the ability to store data, including performance data played by a human pianist, and then use that data to replay/reproduce the performance.  Disklaviers also have inputs for data from MIDI and from several storage devices including floppy disks, CD-ROM, serial cables, and USB.
 
Slowly, but surely, the Princess interior is being transformed into a showcase.  The walls are being decorated with memorabilia as the concerts and events happen.  Someday our children will walk the same halls, auditorium, and stage that we experienced, and see around them the things that gave the theater its history.

They will be reminded to occasionally stop, in a quiet hallway, or just behind the dark curtain, and listen to the stories, while at the time, living their own.

Monday, January 21, 2013

GASPARETTIS GIVE THE PRINCESS FOUNDATION A BABY GRAND PIANO!

A Yamaha Baby Grand was delivered to the Princess Theatre tonight.  It came all the way here from Arkansas and was setup and tuned onsite.
The beautiful ebony piano was a gift from Janet and Don Gasparetti to the Princess Theatre Foundation.
The Gasparetti's love the Princess and had noticed that each time a concert requiring a piano occurred one had to be rented and brought there.  So, they thought this would be the best thing they could offer toward the future of the theater.
Chris Mason was on hand to accept the compact baby grand, with auto-play and built-In digital ensemble, on behalf of the Princess Theatre Foundation.  The high-tech piano will even play its own strings as directed by an on-board computer!
The Foundation is thrilled with the generosity of the Gasparetti's, and know that going forward, this beautiful piano will entertain the residents of Roane, and surrounding counties, for years to come.

Thank you Janet and Don for seeing a need in our community, and moving to see that need fulfilled!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Next Up - Country Music Artist Jimmy Wayne

For more on the CASA, just click HERE!

CASA in the NEWS!



We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Jimmy Wayne and are very appreciative of his willingness to support our national cause for children,” says Michael Piraino, CEO of the National CASA Association. “Jimmy’s personal experiences in foster care add immeasurable authenticity to his role as a spokesperson for National CASA. He will be an inspiration to the youths we serve and our national network of volunteers, as well as others who may want to become more involved in helping abused and neglected children.
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