Soon, the voices of young thespians will once again be heard during productions hosted by Picayune on Stage, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation.
According to a release from the LPRVF, the funds will be utilized by Picayune on Stage to transform a warehouse into a rehearsal studio and work space suitable for children.
Work has already begun on the warehouse, which is located on Virginia Avenue in Picayune, Picayune on Stage president Bonnie Hughes said Wednesday.
According to previous coverage, in 2004, the city of Picayune tore down the building that housed the theater room at Friendship park.
“Since then we haven’t been able to host kids,” Hughes said. “Now we can rehearse with large casts and perform the show at the Centreplex.”
Hughes said she is expecting the inside work to be completed by the end of May.
“How fortunate the children in the area are,” Picayune on Stage president emeritus and program director Gladys Hughes said in the release. “They will soon be able to participate in theatrical events and enhance their creative skills. Picayune on Stage is looking forward to casting calls, rehearsals and productions in our newly-renovated studio. We have been eager to continue our children’s program again.”
In the release, Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation President Clyde Dease said Picayune on Stage’s performances impact a community’s economic health and cultural and intellectual development.
“When young families search for a community in which to live, they often take into consideration the opportunities available for enriching the lives of their children,” Dease said in the release. “The foundation is pleased to partner with Picayune on Stage in providing an opportunity for enhancing the cultural and intellectual growth in our community.”
Children from ages 3 to 18 are welcome to join Picayune on Stage, Hughes said.
For more information about Picayune On Stage, contact Hughes at 601-799-1714 and at blhughes@bellsouth.net.
For up-to-date announcements follow Picayune on Stage Theater Group’s Facebook page.