Everything Everywhere all at Once

Everywhere including the Strand. Saturday, April 1 at 7 PM. 

Winner of lots of Oscars: Best Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Picture, and Directors...

Avenue Q returns!!!

Performances at 

the Strand Theatre: 717 Clay Street:

 

Friday, March 17 - 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 18 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, March 19 - 4 PM

Friday, March 24 - 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 25 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, March 26 - 4 PM

 

 

It's rare that the Westside Theatre Foundation does the same show twice, but they are presenting an encore run of Avenue Q, which was last at the Strand in 2017. "It was a popular and successful show back then, and many have encouraged us to bring it back," according to Jack Burns, director of the show (then and now). "But I think the most influential opinions were of the puppets themselves. And Paul Salgado, who is producing the show." Avenue Q is a musical comedy which looks a lot like an episode of Sesame Street. It takes place on a city block and features young people who need life lessons, which are supplied by a group of singing puppets. But Avenue Q has definitely not been authorized or approved by Jim Henson Company or Sesame Workshop, which have no responsibility for its content. The characters who need advice are twenty somethings, and the the lessons they learn are about becoming adults. "So, I'd call it R rated: not for kids, in other words."

The show involves a dozen or more puppets which all had to be hand made by Burns and a number of volunteers he refers to as the Acme Puppet Factory. "We could have rented puppets, but where's the fun in that? First we had to make them, then we had to figure out how to effectively operate them while singing, talking, and acting. Stacey Schrader was our puppeteering coach first time around. So, after the show was over, we put all the puppets in the balcony where they've been watching whatever we do for the last six years. They wanted back on the stage. I could see it in their eyes."

In addition to all the puppets, Tessa Scandizzo returns as Kate Monster, along with Cameron Gates as Trekkie Monster, and Brian T. Sessums as Rod. New cast members had to be found for several roles including Crorey Lawton as Princeton; Nia R. Hurst as Gary Coleman; Izvistia Robertson as Christmas Eve; Hunter Weeks as Brian; Mark Jourdan as Nicky; and Ashley Schutt as Lucy.

Advance tickets are available for $20 at Highway 61 Coffeehouse, and online: (click here.) Online tickets will have a service charge added.

 

They will be $25 at the door.

Princeton and Lucy (a puppet of questionable morals)

Strand Theatre - Best Performing Arts Venue? It could be...

The Strand has been nominated as Best Performing Arts Venue in Mississippi Magazine's 2023 Best of the Best List.

Okay, it's not the grandest, or most prestigious. It's undeniably funky. But we are justifiably proud of the fun, educational, sobering, mystifying and even entertaining things we bring to Vicksburg: Films you may have heard about (or not), local and regional musicians, outrageous and/or amazing community theater... And we're always gratified when people travel from the surrounding counties and parishes to see something here they couldn't otherwise find.

So, here's your chance to help spread the word about our little operation. Imagine the confusion if we were to end up on top of the list!

Don't forget: seeing a film at the Strand gets you free popcorn! What a world!

Vote now

A Christmas Carol free show at the Strand

 

 

 

A Christmas Carol

Saturday, December 17 at 7 PM

Free at the Strand Theatre 

Brian Sessums is sponsoring a Christmas gift for all at the Strand this season: a free showing of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. 

 

The version he has chosen stars George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge, a hard-nosed, single-minded businessman in Victorian London. He has disowned his only living relative - his nephew Fred - and generally treats everyone he meets with extreme contempt. He hates Christmas, only cares about making money and only gives his clerk, Bob Cratchit, the day off. However, he is taught the true meaning and spirit of Christmas by three ghosts who show him his own past and present. He is also shown what the future holds for him if he doesn't change his behavior.

 

Please come enjoy this Christmas Ghost story about a miser who learns the true spirit of the season. In that spirit we are inviting you to make donations to River City Rescue Mission. We will be collecting contributions at the show and passing them on to them.

 

Celebrate Christmas with us at the Strand. It's a free movie, suitable for all. And free popcorn.

Rocky Horror at the Strand

 

 

Friday & Saturday October 21 & 22 at 7:30 PM

Friday & Saturday October 28 & 29 at 7:30 PM

Monday, October 31 at 11:59 PM

It's back! Yes Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show returns to the stage of the Strand Theatre with old friends as well as fresh blood as they attempt, once more, to answer the question: "They can't really do that here, can they."

Answer: Fasten your seatbelt...

 

Brad, Janet, Dr. Scott, Eddie, Magenta, Columbia, Riff Raff, the Transylvanians, and of course, Dr. Frank-N-Furter and Rocky himself will be at the Strand to do the Time Warp. Again.

 

Your presence is required.

 

"Like a late night double feature picture show...'

 

'I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey...'

 

'Dammit Janet!'

 

'The master is having one of his affairs...'

 

'I'm just a sweet transvestite from transexual Transylvania...'

 

'We'll say where we are and go back to the car...'

 

'He thought you were the Candyman...''

 

'I see you shiver with antici...pation...'

 

'You're a hotdog, but you better not try to hurt her, Frankfurter...'

 

'Come up to the lab, see what's on the slab...'

 

'In just 7 days, I can make you a man...'

 

'And crawling on the planet's face, some insects called the human race. Lost in time, and lost in space... and meaning'

 

'It's just a jump to the left! And then a step to the riiiight!'

 

Tickets: $20 in advance

Available at Highway 61 Coffeehouse
or online: http://rockystrand.brownpapertickets.com

Far East Deep South screening with filmmaker in attendance...

 

The Strand Theatre in downtown Vicksburg will host a screening of Far East Deep South and one of its filmmakers on Saturday, October 15 at 7 PM. The film tells the story of a Chinese-American family’s search for their roots which leads them to the Mississippi Delta, where they discover surprising family revelations and uncover the racially complex history of Chinese immigrants in the segregated South.

Through encounters with local residents and historians, this Chinese American family not only discovers their family’s important role in the Mississippi Delta but they also learn about the symbiotic relationship between the Black and Chinese communities during the Jim Crow era.

The film provides a window into the struggles of Chinese immigrants in the American South during the late 1800s to mid-1900s and the discrimination they faced. The Chiu family’s history demonstrates how exclusionary immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 separated their family for generations. This deeply moving and unforgettable story offers a poignant and important perspective on race relations, immigration and American identity.

"Growing up here in Vicksburg, we were very aware of the dozens of Chinese American families who lived here, said Daniel Boone, film programmer for the Strand "They often owned and operated small neighborhood grocery stores throughout the city. We shopped in the stores, because they were convenient, and the owner's kids were our classmates. This film tells the larger story of how all that came to be and what happened in later years. Being able to be present another Mississippi story which helps us understand the fabric of this place we call home is part of what we see as our mission as a community theater."

Baldwin Chiu, producer of the film (and one of its subjects) will be presenting the screening and leading a discussion at the Strand.

This screening is being underwritten by the US Heartland China Association and will be free of charge.

 

 

Manhattan Short returns to the Strand!!!

 

One screening only: Saturday, October 1 at 7 PM

 

It's time again for you to be the judge...

 

MANHATTAN SHORT today announced the Final Ten selections for its 25th Annual Short Film Festival, a worldwide event taking place in over 400 venues across six continents between September 22 and October 2, 2022. MANHATTAN SHORT is the only event of its kind. The Final Ten screen simultaneously across the world during a one-week period, with the Best Film and Best Actor awards determined by ballots cast by the audiences in each participating venue. By virtue of their selection by MANHATTAN SHORT, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified.

 

The Final Ten MANHATTAN SHORT finalists hail from eight countries with films from Scotland, Czech & Slovakia, Spain, Australia, Finland and Lebanon, alongside two films each from France and USA. These Final Ten Films represent the best short films from among 870 submissions from 70 countries received by MANHATTAN SHORT for 2022, testimony to the enduring vibrancy and creativity of short films worldwide.

 

If the 10 short films presented by MANHATTAN SHORT have one common theme, it's how people deal with adversity in its various forms. Short films like The Blanket, Freedom Swimmer and Freefall explore how individuals react when caught up in large-scale, traumatic events. Adversity on a more personal level is the focus of short films like Warsha, Fetish, The Big Green and Love, Dad. Sometimes, the response is laughable, as in Save the Bees and The Treatment, especially when even the universe seems to be against you, as in Don vs Lightning. How these stories are told is varied as the directors that tell them. In short, there is plenty of drama and comedy interwoven with surprisingly effective newer ways of storytelling like animated documentaries. MANHATTAN SHORT also is a showcase for rising-star actors and recognizable favorites like Disney stalwart Peton List and Scotsman Peter Mullan, himself a prize-winning director, appearing in unexpected, talent-stretching roles.

 

The MANHATTAN SHORT Final Ten are:
Don vs Lightning (Scotland), Love, Dad (Czech & Slovakia),Save the Bees (USA),The Treatment (Spain), Freefall (France), Fetish (USA), Freedom Swimmer(Australia), The Blanket (Finland) Warsha (Lebanon) The Big Green (France).

 

All Final Ten short films become Oscar-qualified, meaning they will be automatically eligible for an Academy Award nomination by screening for a week at the Arena CineLounge in Hollywood in the county of Los Angeles from Sep 23 to Sept 29.

 

You Be the Judge!

Which of these Final Ten short films is the best? That's up to a worldwide audience to decide. Cinema-goers across the United States and around the globe will become instant film critics as they are handed a ballot upon entry that allows them to vote for the Best Film and Actor. MANHATTAN SHORT is the ultimate audience award that salutes the creative talents of both directors behind the camera and actors in front of it. Votes will be sent through to MANHATTAN SHORT HQ with the winner announced at ManhattanShort.com on Monday Oct 3, at 10AM EST. 

 

Tickets are $10 and available at Highway 61 Coffeehouse and at the door...