March 19-21: Marlboro Players present Neil Simon's Chapter Two

Marlboro Players will present Neil Simon’s comedy-drama Chapter Two at the Marlboro Civic Center (106 Clyde Street, Bennettsville, SC) on March 19—21, 2015, at 7:00 P.M.
The show is being produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., and is being directed by Hampton Hubbard.
Synopsis: Recent widower, writer George Schneider, is encouraged by his younger brother Leo to start dating again. Which sends George into even more depression after a series of bad matches. Then Leo comes up with Jennie Malone and she's a keeper. Still, it's a bumpy trip on the road to Dreamland for these not-so-young lovers. George and Jennie stumble on, overcoming both their hesitation on the rebound and emotional neediness. In a hilarious, farcical subplot, Leo has a fling with Faye, Jennie’s neurotic married friend.

Tickets will cost $12.00 for adults and $6.00 for children (12 & under). 

For more information, call the Box Office at (843) 454-9496.

November 20-22: A Christmas Carol:the Musical in Bennettsville

The Marlboro Players welcome you to their 44th year at the theatre. They will kick off the season with their fall production of the beloved classic A Christmas Carol. This show is directed by Phyllis Hubbard and will be performed at the Marlboro Civic Center on November 20, 21, and 22, 2014, at 7:00 P.M. nightly. 

106 Clyde Street, Bennettsville, SC 29512

November 4: The Megastars of Country Tribute Show

April 10th: Glory Crampton to perform at the Marlboro Civic Center

April 10th: Glory Crampton at the Marlboro Civic Center

March 27th - 29th: 'Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming' in Bennettsville

The Marlboro Players present 

SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING 

Written by Connie Ray 

Conceived by Alan Bailey 

Musical Arrangements by Mike Craver

The Marlboro Players production of the bluegrass, gospel musical SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING at the Marlboro Civic Center will be presented on the evenings of March 27-29, 2014. Each show will start at 7:00 P.M. 

Tickets: $12.00 per adult $6.00 per child (12 years and younger)

Contact the box office at (843) 454-9496.

March 27th - 29th: "Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming" in Bennettsville

The Marlboro Players will present the gospel, bluegrass musical Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming on the evenings of March 27th - 29th at the Marlboro Civic Center (106 Clyde St., Bennettsville, SC 29512). Each show will start at 7:00 P.M. each night. Ticket information will be shared soon. You can contact the box office at (843) 454-9496.

February 6th-8th: The Marlboro County Arts Council presents 'Hometown 2014: Star-Spangled Revue'

The Marlboro County Arts Council will present Hometown 2014: Star-Spangled Revue at the Marlboro County Civic Center (106 Clyde Street, Bennettsville, SC) on the evenings of February 6, 7, and 8 (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). 

Each show will begin at 7:30 P.M., and tickets ($10 each) will be available at the door.  Call 843.479.6982 for more information.

January 18th: Oil Painting Class with Vicky McLain in Bennettsville

Bennettsville Oil Painting Workshop 

Action Scene - Deer Running in Water

January 18th - 9am-2pm

Join Vicky McLain for an oil painting workshop in Bennettsville on January 18th.  This class will be fun for painters of all levels.  

CLASS INFO:

The cost is $30.  Class size is limited to the first 13 artists to pay. Minimum class size is 6 artists.  Class Location: Thomas Memorial Baptist Church, Main Street in Bennettsville.

Class is open to adults beginner and intermediate painters.
To sign up for the class, you must prepay. Mail a check for $30 payable to ACM Enterprises (or ACME) to the following address:

Vicky McLain
561 Eddins Rd
Cheraw, SC 29520

SUPPLIES TO BRING:

Oil Paint: Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yelllow Light or Lemon Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Sap Green, Alizarin Crimson, Titanium White. 

Other Supplies: Canvas no larger than 8x10 - Palette, table easel, Q-tips, Huggies Wipes, #6 #8 round bristle brushes (or something similar), small brush for detail work, medium mop or fan brush, palette knife for paint mixing, odorless mineral spirits for brush cleaning and a jar to put it in, newspaper or covering for your work area.

November 12th: Hitsville hits Bennettsville!

November 12th: Hitsville Live in Bennettsville

Mark Your Calendar: Marlboro County's Summer Fest is set for June 6-8, 2014

Click here for more information!

October 10th - 12th: The Marlboro Players to present 'Grease'

The Marlboro Players will present the musical *Grease* on October 10-12, 2013, at the Marlboro Civic Center (106 Clyde St., Bennettsville, SC 29512). The show will start at 7:00 P.M. each night. Tickets cost $12.00 per adult and $6.00 per child (12 years and younger). Contact the box office at (843) 454-9496.

September 14th: Get Ready for Marlboro Million Words in Bennettsville

The Marlboro Million Words Campaign will be launched Saturday, September 14, 2013, at 11:00 A.M. and will run until May 30, 2014. Come to the Mariam Wright Edelman Library in Bennettsville, SC, from 10:00 A.M. - Noon to register! Participants will receive small prizes for each completed book log, and one entry for a chance to win 1 of 3 grand prizes. There will be games, picture taking, story times, and book finding! Come be a part of something great! Help Marlboro County reach ONE MILLION WORDS read! Forward questions to marlboromillionwords@gmail.com or call 610-331-9517.

February 19th: An Evening with Jim Brickman in Bennettsville

   An Evening with Jim Brickman

Jim Brickman’s romantic piano sound has made him the best-selling solo piano artist of our time.

An Evening with Jim Brickman, brings Brickman’s signature solo piano melodies and hit songs to life and we are honored to have him bring this most entertaining and romantic concert to our stage for a late Valentine’s Day present. 

His signature style has brought him six Gold & Platinum albums, 30 charted adult radio hits, and two Grammy nominations. He recently tied for most Number One albums on Billboard’s New Age chart, and he currently holds four of its Top 10 spots. Brickman received top honors with two SESAC “Songwriter of the Year”awards, a Canadian Country Music Award and a Dove Awardpresented by the Gospel Music Association.

For more information please go to www.JimBrickman.com. 

September 20th: Glenn Leonard's Temptations Revue in Bennettsville

Bennettsville Hosts Revive After Five Concert Series

Start your summer off right with Revive After Five in Bennettsville! The second of three summer concerts will be held Thursday, July 26 from 6 pm till 9:30 pm featuring the The Shakers at the Bennettsville Community Center, 714 North Marlboro Street.

Admission is $5 and coolers and chairs are welcome No glass please. Food vendors will be available on site.

The last concert is planned for Thursday,  August 23 featuring the Rick Strickland Band.

For more information contact the Bennettsville Visitor Center at 843-479-3941 or go to visitbennettsville.com.

Denny Stevenson wins Best in Show at Coastal Creations Art Show

Bennettsville's Denny Stevenson recently won Best in Show at the Coastal Creations Art Show in Pawley's Island.  The image above shows Denny's winning entry, Fun in the Sun.  Below is a write-up about the show from the  Island Art Gallery website: 


Island Art Gallery held the first of a series of Art Shows,"Coastal Creations", on Sunday, June 10th.  The Gallery was open from 1-5 celebrating the talent of the several local Artists including Sarah Mishoe, Barbara Keller, Jane Woodward, John  Bickle, Barney Slice,  Cindy Roy,  Marlene Askins, Janelle Feeney, Wayne Herndon, Denny Stevenson, and  Felix  Barabal .  The community was invited to drop in and share a glass of wine or ice tea while enjoying the creations of these wonderful artists.

The Show was judged by South Carolina's own, renowned artist, William McCullough.  William McCullough, a native of South Carolina, studied at the National Academy of Art and Design in New York City. His mentors include Daniel Greene, Eric Eisenberger, John Koch, and Robert Brachman. Over 200 of William McCullough’s realist oil paintings are In significant private, corporate and museum collections throughout the United States. McCullough’s current paintings are still lifes and landscapes exploring the everyday life and culture of the American South. He lives on a family farm outside of Kingstree South Carolina and also in the South of France.

First place was won by local artist,  Denny Stevenson, for his work " Fun In The Sun",   14x12,  oil on canvas.  Denny graduated in  1978 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Coker College.  In  1979 he studied at the Maryland institute of art for a year on a grant for painting from the Greenshields Foundation.  In1983 he graduated with a Masters of Fine Art from University of South Carolina. Mr. Stevenson worked for 6 years for Marvel, as an artist in the field of comics. In 1995,  Denny returned to painting and teaching fine art.  Mr. Stevenson was awarded $150 in cash.

Honorable Mention award was given to Local artist Sarah Mishoe for her work, "Afternoon on the Ashley".  Local artist, John Bickle, also received a Honorable Mention award for  his work, "Georgetown Park".

Island Art Gallery will be hosting the next art show in October so get out your paint brushes!  Subject matter will be Artists Choice, so let your creativity guide you.  Work needs to be newly created and approximately 12x12 in size before framing.  Artwork will need to be framed or finished edge Gallery Wrap.

June 28th: Revive After Five in Bennettsville

Bennettsville Hosts Revive After Five Concert Series

Start your summer off right with Revive After Five in Bennettsville! The first of three summer concerts will be held Thursday, June 28 from 6 pm till 9:30 pm featuring the Tim Clark Band at the Bennettsville Community Center, 714 North Marlboro Street. 

Admission is $5 and coolers and chairs are welcome No glass please. Food vendors will be available on site. 

Additional concerts are planned for Thursday, July 26 featuring The Shakers and Thursday,  August 23 featuring the Rick Strickland Band. 

For more information contact the Bennettsville Visitor Center at 843-479-3941or go to visitbennettsville.com. 

Ilona to be featured on The Today Show on Thursday, January 26th

Ilona Smithkin will be on The Today Show on Thursday, January 26th.  Ilona and three other women will be on during a piece featuring Ari Seth Cohen's fashion blog, Advanced Style.  Cohen's blogging centers on women being fashionable as they age.  It's not a surprise he found Ilona.   Click the link below to see videos of Cohen and Ilona:

Ilona Videos on Advanced Style

Ilona has taught classes and performed all over South Carolina, but mostly in the Pee Dee.  Hartsville, Darlington, Cheraw, Bishopville, Bennettsville and Myrtle Beach have hosted Ilona during her many visits to South Carolina.


Most recently known in our area for her performances in the Long Lash Cabaret, an event named after her iconic eyelashes and held at the Black Creek Arts Center in Hartsville, Ilona's fame has skyrocketed in recent years thanks to the efforts of Cohen and Judy Haenni.


Ilona once had her own painting show on SCETV and was the subject of an award-winning documentary by Melissa Hammel.


The Today Show airs from 7am to 10am on weekday mornings on NBC.  Pee Dee Arts believes Ilona will be on between 9-10am.  


To see a collection of Ilona's painting, click here.  

Pee Dee Arts was founded in the Summer of 2011 through a unique partnership between the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, the Florence Convention & Visitors Bureau and Pee Dee Tourism.  Pee Dee Arts’ primary focuses are to promote the arts and cultural activities of the Pee Dee Region and facilitate growth in the region’s arts organizations.  Pee Dee Arts is committed to inclusive and innovative service to the Pee Dee region, which it defines as the following counties: Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Lee, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg.

To have your event, program or project promoted by Pee Dee Arts, email complete information and images to peedeearts@gmail.com.