From Ballet to the Symphony, Tupelo’s Art Scene Flourishing
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Tupelo is having an art attack. For a town its size‚ Tupelo is overflowing with artistic and cultural opportunities. Maybe it’s not quite New York City or Paris‚ but this northeast Mississippi city is graced with ballet troupes‚ community theaters‚ art galleries and a well-attended concert series and symphony orchestra.
“ People should come see and hear what is playing in Tupelo‚” says Tina Lutz‚ executive director of the GumTree Museum of Art. “They’ll be delighted and surprised with what Tupelo has to offer.”
The GumTree Museum of Art is certainly one example. Its mission‚ Lutz says‚ is to lure museum-quality exhibitions that would not otherwise be seen in Tupelo.
“ With those exhibits‚ we also create educational programming to go along with them‚” Lutz says. “The artwork displayed here is the heart of this museum‚ but the accompanying educational programs are its soul.”
The museum also promotes art by sponsoring the annual GumTree Festival on the second weekend of May. It attracts top artists from around the country – and celebrated its 32nd anniversary in 2003.
Music is also an important part of Tupelo’s cultural mix. The Tupelo Community Concert Association‚ formed in the late 1940s‚ has attracted more than 200 national and international musical productions to Tupelo.
“ We sponsor musical presentations that range from concerts to full-fledged Broadway shows‚” says Frank Riley‚ president of the Tupelo Community Concert Association. “Our season runs from October to April‚ and we are already sold out for our entire 2003-2004 lineup.”
Also onstage in Tupelo is the Tupelo Ballet‚ which formed 20 years ago to allow ballet students a chance to perform more often than just in school recitals.
“ I currently have a 35-member ballet company‚ but I bring in guest artists for productions that have had up to 100 cast members‚” says Sharon Long‚ director of the Tupelo Ballet.
“ We have presented The Nutcracker for the past 18 years‚ and the Tupelo Symphony often accompanies us. In fact‚ The Nutcracker becomes a $40‚000 production every time the orchestra accompanies our ballet company.”
The Tupelo Symphony Orchestra itself was founded in 1971 and currently features nearly 75 professional musicians. It has evolved over the years to include a Tupelo Symphony Chorus and a Tupelo Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Tupelo also is looking forward to its second visit from the Moscow Ballet‚ performing its own version of the Great Russian Nutcracker. This production features performers from the Kremlin and Stanislavsky Ballets and incorporates dancers from the Tupelo area.
As for thespian talent‚ Tupelo features the Pied Piper Playhouse‚ which showcases the talents of community adults and children. In addition‚ the Tupelo Community Theatre has produced nearly 150 different local productions and is now housed in the historic Lyric Theatre.
“ We have a talented artistic community here in Tupelo‚” Lutz says. “From art to theater to music to dance‚ you’ll find it all here in Tupelo.” – Kevin LitwinGaryon Judon (left)‚ Mickey Gousset‚ Anna Katherine Montgomery and Liz Dawson belt out a song in Tupelo Community Theatre’s production of Oklahoma.
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Harrison McClary
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