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Saturday, April 26, 2008

STANDING IN THE DUST OF MY GRANDFATHER’S SHOES



An incredible thing happened this morning. On a beautiful spring morning in April, about one hundred and fifty people came to a hole in the ground in the middle of Camden to celebrate. Yes…this hole, now filled with bricks, stones and broken sewer pipes would soon be known as the Waterfront South Theatre. People from all backgrounds, races and religions came as the ground was blessed, speeches were made, and all watched as the ghosts of the past returned to celebrate with the youth of the future as a new” temple of inspiration” was born.



As I stood in the hole and watched as the dust of generations covered my newly polished shoes, I thought out of the corner of my eye that I saw my grandparents. Walt, holding his familiar bar towel and Sue wearing her more than familiar apron were standing side by side in the blinding sunlight. I could see them smiling with pride as the corner that they used to raise four daughters and eight grandchildren again burst to life with the color of art and music. I also saw the ghosts of shipbuilders past, the men who built the ships that left port for war after endless war, standing guard around the perimeter of the building; watching with crooked smiles as their old neighborhood returned to life. I saw Sr. Peg Hynes grinning that wide Irish grin as she stood among the high school and elementary students who now , through this theatre, now have a newly found hope that their future can be as bright as the morning sun on this glorious April day. As Father Doyle blessed the ground one could hear the laughter of angels, as so many have already have, and continue to descend on this once forlorn corner. All will be made new again. “The stone that the builders rejected HAS become the cornerstone”.



I went to wipe the dust off of my shoes after the ceremony only to pause for a second……and then change my mind. This dust was my grandfather’s dust….these rocks were his rocks. All of us should always be proud to walk in our grandparent’s shoes wherever those shoes collected the dust of their lives.



Art will save us. Heal Camden!!!!!!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Schedule Change and Groundbreaking

As many of you may know, we must delay the opening of "The Old Settler" due to a health emergency with one of our actors. But the show will go on!

The new production dates are May 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th, and 18th, 2008. Performances will be held Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM and Sunday at 1:30PM


Also note that the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Waterfront South Theatre will be held at 10AM on Friday, April 25th at the corner of 4th and Jasper Streets.

The celebration will include Msgr. Michael Doyle, Helene Pierson, Executive Director of Heart of Camden, Chief funder of the theatre Pepe Piperno, the Honorable Gwendolyn Faison, Mayor of Camden and the school children of Sacred Heart School. There will also be a special appearance by the talented students from Camden's High School for the Creative and Performing Arts!

Everyone is invited and encouraged to come commemorate this special occasion. Let us show the region that Camden WILL rise!!!! We hope to see you there.


Thank you for you continued support - Art Will Save Us!