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Pastor Kenneth Rogers brings the Transformation Impact Conference to Paris.
Kenneth Rogers, the senior pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church, took his vision for the citizens of Paris, Texas to come together in solving problems and created the Transformation Impact Conference, hitting town June 20-22.
The event, hoped to enrich the community through personal inspiration, features guest speaker, and Grammy award winner, Donnie McClurkin.
“It’s part of a convocation,” Rogers said. “It’s a gathering of people, of church leaders, community people, folk who are interested in making impact in their community. We believe that the word of God is what transforms our thinking, and what we wanted people to do is get together and have a discussion about our community, about issues, and be inspired by these great speakers and artists so that they will go back to their communities and make impact.”
Rogers has high hopes to see Impact influence family life, thinking, lifestyle, economic development, crime and education in Paris by not zeroing in on any one particular issue.
“We don’t want to be so specific in terms of our focus,” he said. “We’re going to be kind of broad-minded in terms of some of the speakers. The conference is nothing radical.”
Donnie McClurkin, who has won three Grammy’s, ten Stellar awards, two BET awards, two Soul Train awards, one Dove award and the NAACP Image award for his work in gospel music and ministry, is the headlining speaker along with Zacardi Cortez, Nikki Ross, Sonya Purcell, Daryl and La Tonja Blair, and Chris Spivey.
Paris native Dr. Curtis Wallace of the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas will also speak at the event in addition to Niki Brown, Shay Bills, Dean Clark, Jason Rogers and Darrell Franklin.
The Transformation Impact Conference kicks off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 20. At 8:30 a.m. on Friday, breakout sessions will begin and continue to run throughout the day, concluding with a night session at 7 p.m. Saturday’s lineup will follow the same schedule.
For more information, visit transformationimpactconference.com.
By Matthew Ablon
The Paris Municipal Band playing at Bywaters Park.
On any given Friday night during the summer, the usually barren peristyle at Bywaters Park comes to life with performances by the Paris Municipal Band. The members play in their traditional concert attire while the lights shine down among the instruments, setting the typical scene.
But, this year, the band’s look changes significantly with the departure of long-time conductor Tom Neugent, who is retiring to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Replacing Neugent is Paris native Joe Watson.
In previous seasons, Watson played trumpet in the municipal band under the direction of Neugent as well as fellow Floyd Weger, whom Watson described as “legends in the band business.” Watson was a guest conductor for the band on occasion, preparing him for his now permanent role.
“I would say I’m nervous, but very honored to be following [Weger and Neugent] with the baton,” he said. “I’ll do my best to honor them and the program.”
That honor is paired with some sadness for Watson as he reminisces on his past with Neugent.
“When I heard Tommy was retiring, I was heartbroken,” Watson said. “It has been a real highlight of mine to play under his direction. I loved every moment. I understand and respect his decision, but I know his leaving will signal changes. All good things — you know the rest. Personally, I will miss his presence.”
Watson assured that the community will see a healthy mix of both traditions and new ideas.
“My plan is to continue the traditions of the Paris Municipal Band,” Watson said.
According to him, there will still be marches from John Phillip Sousa, among others.
“We will also be having some concerts that will feature selections from movie, television and musicals,” he said. “We are also considering a guest soloist and other features that we hope the band members and audience will enjoy.”
Concerts are at Bywaters Park at 8:30 p.m. every Friday from June 14 through July 19, with the exception of the Fourth of July concert, which will precede the fireworks show on Wednesday, July 3, at Wildcat Stadium on the Paris High School campus.
The final concert on July 19 is also the Crape Myrtle Queen coronation ceremony.
Should inclement weather occur, concerts will be held at the pavilion north of Love Civic Center.
By Matthew Ablon
The Paris Community Theatre proudly presents and welcomes you to The Pink Panther Strikes Again by William Gleason. Sponsored by Digital Mammography of Northeast Texas, Turner Industries, Radiology Center of Paris, Magnetic Imaging of Paris and RRV Radiology Association, the production runs this weekend, June 14-16 and 20-23, in historic downtown Paris at the Plaza Theatre on the square.
Synopsis: The Pink Panther Strikes Again has been regarded by some as the best of the clumsy Parisian detective’s “comeback” films of the 1970’s. Driven insane by the stupidities of Clouseau, ex inspector Dreyfuss transforms into a master criminal. Kidnapping the inventor of a death ray, Dreyfuss threatens to use the demon device indiscriminately unless Clouseau is offered as a “sacrifice.” A hunted man, Clouseau is forced to adopt one transparent (but hilarious) disguise after another. He is rescued from being incinerated by Dreyfuss when Soviet spy Olga falls in love with him and strives to protect him.
Click to enlarge.
The PCT showing will be directed by William Walker, a theatre teacher at PJC and board member of Paris Community Theatre. All ages welcome.
Tickets may be reserved by Email at: pct@1starnet.com, by calling the Theatre Office weekdays 1-5 PM at 903-784-0259 or online at BrownPaperTickets.com. Show times are as follows: 7:30 p.m. June 14 and 15th, 20th thru the 22th and 2:30 p.m. on June16 th and June 23rd. Tickets are $10.
Cast List
Austen Naron – Chief Inspector Clouseau
Ryan Box - Dreyfus
Mike Risinger - Dr. Fassbender
Tara Girard – Margot
Shelby Gilliam – Olga Berriosiva
Lucas Robertson – Cato
Kaytlyn Zimmer – Mrs. Japonica, Assassin, Ensemble
Emily McDaniel – Mrs. Bullock, Assasin, Ensemble
Lisa Martin – French Lady, Inmate, Mrs. Leverlilly, Assassin, Ensemble
Jonathan Frakes – Dr. Duval, Tournier
Paige Collins – Orderly, German Agent, Assassin, Ensemble
Edward Kelley – McLaren, Hindu Harry, Assassin
Brittani Spang-Klotz – Mafia-type, Mrs. Shork, Technician, German Waitress, Ensemble
Steven Pyles – Cairo Fred
Kathryn Comer – Orderly, Mrs. Stutterstutt, Assassin, Ensemble
Justin Gallant – Frenchman, Jarvis, Messenger, Desk Clerk, Ensemble
Spencer Sansom – Waiter, Francois, Mr. Shork, Drummond, Assassin, Ensemble
Texas songwriter, Nick Brumley, will be coming back to That Guy’s Coffee & Listening Room on Sunday, June 9th. Sponsored by eParis Extra!, the concert will start at 6:30pm; doors open at 6pm.
Making his Paris debut at That Guy’s in November of 2011 with the acoustic duo Brumley & Gardner, Nick will return this time solo.
Musician Daniel Smalley states, “Nick Brumley embodies everything we admire about songwriters. His lyrics deliver truth, judgement and pain, with no hope for comfort, while his vocal is etched into your brain with an intoxicating sorrow. Townes, Guthrie, and Williams will all toast with brother Brumley in that Bar in the Sky.”
Brumley was also a nominee for the Rising Star Award at the 8th Annual Texas Music Awards.
See more and purchase tickets at www.ThatGuy’sCoffee.com.
That Guy’s Coffee & Listening Room is located at 117 Clarksville Street, Paris, Texas.
Musical theater workshop instructor Chet Norment
During a short stent home from college, senior student at Elon University Chet Norment instructed a musical theater workshop at Paris Community Theatre, the same stage on which he learned to perform many years ago.
“I feel like I grew up at PCT,” Norment said. “It was my babysitter. Jean Campbell really supported me and taught me a lot about performing.”
Norment discovered his passion for the limelight when he began taking classes at the request of his grandmother, and took his talent as far as he could reach, with the help of his parents.
“In high school I got hooked up with a great dance teacher, Kitty Carter, in Dallas,” he said. “She gave me my first experiences in the dance world…and taught me to get in front and just do my thing. I would go to class all day, then hop in the car with my parents, drive two hours to the studio, dance until 10 pm, then come back to Paris. I can’t believe my parents let me do that.”
Norment followed his talent to North Carolina where he is currently enrolled at Elon University, a private liberal arts school, which also took him to Hollywood for a semester when he was awarded an internship at McDonald Selznick Associates talent agency. After choreographing North Lamar’s Singin’ in the Rain production last fall, he was approached by Laura Hutchings and eParisExtra’s own Jenny Wilson in a request to teach others his craft.
With assistance from fellow choreographer and long-time friend Rumer Noel, some of Paris’ youth got four hours of personal training on Broadway performances. Norment isn’t sure he will ever permanently return to Paris, but enjoyed giving back to the local arts community.
“Paris is lucky because, for a small town, we do have a lot of artistic opportunity for youth,” he noted. “The arts are everything. They allow us to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.”
For more information on Norment’s professional background, visit www.chetnorm.net.
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