Theatre Bristol and Bristol Ballet Recipients of Food City Family Race Night Funding

January 08, 2018

Representing each side of the state line and two types of performing arts, Theatre Bristol and Bristol Ballet joined with Food City and served as August Family Race Night volunteers. In return, on December 19, Food City presented Michele Plescia of Bristol Ballet and Samantha Gray of Theatre Bristol a donation check of $7,500 at the Euclid Food City. The organizations were thrilled to receive the contribution as it will support affordable performances for schoolchildren, their scholarship programs, and general operations to help support their 2018 seasons.

Food City's contributions have significantly benefited nonprofits in our community and the Bristol Ballet and Theatre Bristol were grateful to have been selected by the organizing committee. The organizations worked for weeks to gather the needed volunteers to work the day-long event alongside the many Food City employee volunteers.

Theatre Bristol and Bristol Ballet are very familiar with Food City Family Race Night, their respective students and performers are often downtown for rehearsal for a portion of the evening's events over the years while waiting family members attend the event. The organizations gained an appreciation for all that goes into the event and just how much the racing fans — volunteers included — enjoyed the opportunity to meet their sports' heroes.

Bristol Ballet and Theatre Bristol would especially like to thank Steve Smith for the generous contribution, Lisa Johnson and Alisa Sturgill for their support and assistance, all the Food City volunteers, our Board Presidents for speaking at the event, all the race fans, and our many devoted volunteers for all their hard work.

Race fans and arts patrons alike will enjoy the 2018 season of the Bristol Ballet, includingAlice in Wonderlandin the spring andThe Nutcrackerfor the holidays, both at the Paramount Center for the Arts; and Theatre Bristol's ARTspace and Paramount shows, includingLessons from Shakespeare: How to Avoid a Personal Tragedy; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Tartuffe; Pinocchio; Blithe Spirit; She Loves Me;and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Founded in 1965, Theatre Bristol is the oldest continually running children’s theatre in northeast Tennessee. Its Main Stage season consists of up to six productions. Some of its performances take place in the ARTspace, a multi-purpose, black box theatre which seats up to 120, and other performances are on stage at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Theatre Bristol is volunteer run and we invite you to get involved.

The Bristol Ballet school and company were founded in 1948 by Constance Hardinge. She opened the school after falling in love with the area, having been drawn to Bristol on a temporary teaching contract with Sullins College. For the last six years, Bristol Ballet has been located at 519 State Street, the heart of downtown, where Hardinge’s vision now carries on. Students of all ages may register for ballet classes and there are many opportunities for supporters of the ballet to become involved.

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