SPRING BREAK at The Renaissance Center

Everyone loves Spring Break! And we’ve got some great activities for the whole family at The Renaissance Center. The good news is that these programs are also very reasonably priced!

Monday, March 28 – Friday, April 1^st:

ART WORKSHOPS:

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (March 28 – 30): Drawing Workshop, Ages 7 – 12.  10 – 11:30 am. We’ll create a different piece of art each day. Come for 1 or all of these drawing classes!

Thursday and Friday (March 31, April 1): Painting Workshop, Ages 7 – 12. 10 – 11:30 am. We’ll create a different piece of art each day. Come for 1 or both of these painting classes!

Price per workshop: $15/day, or buy the week’s worth for $50 ($10/day)

CYBERSPHERE THEATER:

Tuesday (March 29) through Friday (April 1):

Special Spring Break showings of Spacepark 360 (1pm) and Laser Vinyl (2pm)

M.E.T. (Mind Enriching Theatre) THEATRE:

“Busytown” - Special theatrical performance of this Richard Scarry classic: Tuesday, March 29, 10 am – 11 am. Tickets are $6.

Busytown is always buzzing with activity. But what do people do all day? That's where Huckle Cat comes in to take us on a tour of his great neighborhood. And there is so much to see and do, so many wonderful friends to visit. Huckle shows us how Farmer Pig and Grocer Cat work together to bring food to the town. Construction Worker and his crew build new houses, and Fire Chief and the gang keep them safe. Isn't it wonderful how everyone works together to keep Busytown busy?

Music by Michael Koerner, Lyrics by Kevin Kling and Michael Koerner. Based on the Book "What Do People Do All Day?" by Richard Scarry

The Mind Enriching Theatre (M.E.T.) series consists of age-appropriate professionally produced plays aimed at enhancing the educator's curriculum. Plays range from familiar favorites to classic stories.

A limited lunch menu will be available for those who want to stay for the day.

"Annie, Jr."

"Annie, Jr." opened to great crowds this past weekend and will finish the run with performances on Friday, March 18 (7pm), Saturday, March 19 (7pm) and Sunday, March 20 (matinee: 2pm). The cast and show are wonderful!      Website link...
Check out this video, produced by Nathan Brown!

The Renaissance Players Theatre (at The Renaissance Center):

Annie, Jr. – A Young Entertainers on Stage production (Y.E.S.)

This Broadway Junior production of one of the most beloved musicals in history is cast entirely with kids from 1st through 12th grade! The 7 time Tony Award winner includes all the great characters, including Annie, Daddy Warbucks, Miss Hannigan, Rooster, President Roosevelt, all those orphans and Sandy the dog! It also features a hit score that includes “It’s A Hard Knock Life”, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile”, “Easy Street” and the song used to cheer up children of all generations “Tomorrow”. Opening night is Friday, March 11 with performances through March 20 (Fri & Sat nights at 7pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm.)

Performances: Friday, March 11, Saturday, March 12, Sunday, March 13, Friday, March 18, Saturday, March 19, and Sunday, March 20.

Times: Friday & Saturday evenings at 7pm, Sunday matinees at 2pm

Tickets: Adults/ $15, Seniors/ $12, Children/ $8. 20% off groups of 15 or more. Call (615) 740-5500 or toll-free: (888) 700-2300 for reservations..

Spring Computer Classes

SPRING COMPUTER CLASSES

Call (616) 740-5572 or 740-5600 to register! Toll-free: (888) 700-2300

Limited space! ONLY $35 for a 5-hour class!
Click to go to our website

Buying and Selling on eBay and Craig’s List. This new 5-hour workshop is a beginner course that will teach the basics of how eBay and Craig’s List work, how to sign up and how to get started. A more in-depth course on “Selling on eBay” will be offered later this year.

Instructor: Bob Spencer.

Date: Saturday, March 19; 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (5-hour workshop with lunch break)

Beginning Computer. This is one of Bob Spencer’s most popular computer workshops – for those who are just getting started on a computer. Did you get a computer for Christmas? This may be the workshop for you!

This 5-hour workshop will cover everything you need to know, including:

• Computer terms and glossary: what it all means when you're shopping for a computer! Terms such as CPU, Pentium, RAM, operating system and gigabytes!
• How to use a mouse and navigate the computer screen.
• Saving and storing files.
• Basic internet and email.

Instructor: Bob Spencer.

Dates Available:

Thursday, March 17 & 24;  6:00 – 8:30 PM (Two 2 ½ hour workshops)

Saturday, April 9^th; 9:00 AM  – 3:00 PM (5-hour workshop with lunch break)

Intermediate Computer. After you get the basics it's time to take the next step and become a regular computer user!

This 5-hour workshop will cover intermediate computing instruction, including:

• How to set up email - including free email programs such as "gmail" and "hotmail".
• How to use WordPad - a word processing program that comes with Windows 95. This will get you started writing letters and other writing projects.
• How to use Windows Explorer - a file management system that you'll need to use to store and organize your files (basically it's a large file cabinet - in a very small space... your computer!)
• Computer terms and glossary: what it all means when you're shopping for a computer! Terms such as CPU, Pentium, RAM, operating sustem and gigabytes!
• How to create folders and other file management tips and techniques.

Instructor: Bob Spencer

Dates Available:

Thursday, April 7 & 14;  6:00 – 8:30 PM (Two 2 ½ hour workshops)

Saturday, April 30; 9:00 AM  – 3:00 PM (5-hour workshop with lunch break)

Social Networking. Step into the world of Facebook and Twitter to connect with your friends! This workshop is designed for those of us who have delayed the inevitable jump into social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Those participating in the workshop will learn to set up their Facebook account with a profile pic. Basic usage will be covered as well as moderate social integration functions. Twitter will also be covered.

Instructor: David Constance

Date: Tuesday, April 12 & 26, 6:00 – 8:30 PM (Two 2 ½ hour workshops)

2011 Theatre Season

Our 2011 Theatre Season has just been announced and is wonderful!

Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular @ The Gaslight Dinner Theatre

3rd Annual Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibit

November 11, Show Opens

Saturday, November 13, Reception & Awards Ceremony (Free to the public!)

3:30 - 6:00 p.m.

The Tennessee Art Education Association and The Renaissance Center have partnered to present the 3rd annual Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition, featuring exceptional artwork created by Middle Tennessee middle and high school students. This competition offers students the opportunity to display their talents and be honored for their accomplishments in a professional center for the arts environment. The categories include: Ceramics, Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Traditional (film-based) Photography, Digital Photography and Computer Graphics.

The student art exhibition provides an excellent competitive arena for young artists as well as an opportunity for the public to see the high quality artwork being made in various schools. The exhibition is a juried show open to students in grades 6-12, attending public, private or home schools in Middle Tennessee.  The Best of Show award will win a $500 cash purchase award as well as scholarship opportunities. Additional awards have been made possible by the Tennessee Art Education Association. 
This exhibition is in the Visual Arts Gallery, East Gallery and North Gallery at The Renaissance Center.  A free opening reception and award ceremony will be held on November 13, 2010, 3:30 – 6:00 p.m.

Tennessee Artisan Market

Here are some photos of some of the art and crafts at the new Tennessee Artisan Market at The Renaissance Center! More to come. The gallery store is officially open and the Grand Opening will be Dec. 4th!

Mike Gannon Photographs

John W. Walker - pink rhodonite talon knife

Stained glass by Susan and David Allsbrooks

Painting by Terry Donaldson

Painting by R.S. Morgan

Pine needle basket by Peggy Helm

Cigar box mosaic and pottery by Nan Kennedy

Mike Andrews sculpture

Kathy Carter bottle vase



Basket by Frances Wright



Paintings on insulation board by Nick Leaver

Mike Gannon photograph: 3 Bridges