Romanza-St. Augustine, Inc.
Official Newsletter		 August 2015
Pat Syeles, Editor
IN THIS ISSUE:

Next ROMANZA GATHERING in October
at Raintree Restaurant
********************
FIESTA 450!
September 8
********************
A CLASSIC THEATRE
Announces Cast of their 2015-2016 Season Opening Production
********************
The New & Improved Website
for the 
6th Annual
St. Augustine
CELTIC MUSIC & HERITAGE FESTIVAL
********************

EMMA
presents
FIESTA 450!
September 6
3:00-9:00 PM
at the St. Augustine Amphitheater

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In celebration of the City of St. Augustine's 450th birthday, the EMMA Concert Association presents
Fiesta 450!, a six-hour all-Spanish themed historical and musical extravaganza at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Sunday, September 6, 2015, from 3PM to 9PM.  Fiesta 450! Is EMMA's gift to the community and is underwritten in part by a grant from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council.  

Fiesta 450!, will feature free, local Spanish-themed performances during the daytime and an evening ticketed performance by
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater.

Gates open at 3:00. Between 4:00 and 5:30   Viva España will feature a FREE Spanish-themed musical salute to St. Augustine directed by Gary Cadwallader on the main stage of the St. Augustine Amphitheater. 

Local arts organizations participating in this performance are the St. Augustine Orchestra, the St. Augustine Community Chorus, the St. Augustine Youth Chorus, Limelight Theater, and First Coast Opera.

From 5:30 to 7:00 on separate stages and mingling amidst the audiences, local historical and artistic groups, including re-enactors Leo and Merri McCarthy and James Bullock (aka Francisco Menendez), will entertain and educate our visitors. Other presenters, emphasizing family involvement through demonstrations and hands-on activities, include the St. Augustine Textile Arts Guild, the St. George Players, The St. Augustine Art Association, representatives from the Castillo de San Marco, and actors portraying historical personages in period costumes.


From 7:30-9:30 Ensemble Español Dance Theater will perform on the main stage. This will be the ticketed headline event for Fiesta 450!. The Ensemble, a premier Spanish dance company, is chartered "to share the rich traditions of the dance, music, literature, and culture of Spain in the classical, folkloric and Flamenco styles." 

Tickets are on salenow at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Box Offices and at  http://staugamphitheatre.com
or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Tickets to a VIP Event from 6:00 to 7:30PM at $100 are also available and includes parking, hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and Amphitheatre front-section seating at Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater concert at 7:30. 

For more information and to purchase Ensemble Español Dance Theater tickets, go to http://staugamphitheatre.com 
and scroll down to 'September 6th.

 
LOGO-Romanza Monthly Gatherings

The next Romanza Gathering will be held on Tuesday, October 13, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Raintree Restaurant.



We hope you will join us after our Summer hiatus so we might all catch up on plans for the upcoming year's exciting events!


Our Gatherings are a compellingly unique and comfortable opportunity for the creative community to socialize, communicate and share ideas and information.
 
This networking program is open to all individuals and cultural organizations, members and non-members alike. 

We look forward to seeing you all there!

EVENT INFORMATION:
DATE:  Tuesday, October 13
TIME:    5:00-7:00 PM
        102 San Marco Avenue


Cash Bar/Complimentary hors d'oeuvres
No Reservation Necessary


A CLASSIC THEATRE
Announces Cast of "Threads of Silver and Gold: Women of the Panama Canal"

Top row: (left to right)
Kelly McTaggart, Chelsye Ginn, Shiray Thomas, Toni L. Philips, Patric Robinson
 
Seated:  (left to right)
Carmel Rowley, Vanessa Warner, Jan LoPresti-Beach, Joy Manning

Director/Playwright Deborah B. Dickey has selected a talented group of nine actors to portray the fifteen colorful characters in the 2015-2016 season opening production. Taking the challenging role of Theodore Roosevelt is Kelly McTaggart of St. Augustine.  Also from St. Augustine are Chelsye P. Ginn, Shiray Thomas, Carmel Rowley, Joy Manning, Vanessa Warner and Jan LoPresti-Beach. Coming from Jacksonville are Patric Robinson and Toni L. Philips.
 
Created in honor of the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal, the play looks at the role of women who arrived from the West Indies, England and the United States during the construction period in Panama.
 
Dr. Paul Ortiz, Director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida describes "Threads of Silver and Gold" as "an intimate and compelling portrayal of life in the Panama Canal Zone. Told through the voices of women from the West Indies, England and the United States, this play is a poignant and powerful rendition of life as it was experienced by people from different backgrounds in the Panama Canal."

PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES:
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, Oct. 22-24 @ 7:30 
Sunday, Oct. 25 @ 3:00 pm
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, Oct 28-30 @ 7:30 

PERFORMANCE PLACE:
The Pioneer Barn at Ft. Menendez 
259 San Marco Avenue, Uptown St. Augustine

ALL TICKETS ARE $20

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Call 904-501-5092 or email  [email protected]

 
The St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival 
March 11-13, 2016 @ Francis Field
Our new and improved Celtic Festival website is  up and running.
Find out what will be happening at this much anticipated annual event and keep checking back for new information on 
The Bands 
The Clans 
The Highland Games
The Whiskey Tasting Event
AND...
Announcement (coming soon) of a 
very special NEW EVENT 
being added to the weekend festivities!

VISIT US AT:
www.celticstaugustine.com/