Athens Community Theater’s 2011 production of “The Dixie Swim Club” by Jones, Hope and Wooten will be featured as part of the Clayton Center for the Arts second annual Community Theater Festival. Directed by Art Kimball, the play features Kay Simmons, Melonie Carideo, Sarah Maynard, Karen Siklosi, and Pam Thigpen.
The festival will be held at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville July 27 and 28.
The original cast of five women from Athens will reunite for two performances at 9 p.m. on July 27 and 28 and 1 p.m. on July 28 in the 200-seat Haslam Family Flex Theatre at the center.
“The Dixie Swim Club” tells the story of five Southern women whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team. They set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships.
“The Dixie Swim Club” focuses on four of those weekends spanning a period of 33 years. It is the story of five unforgettable women and friendships that last forever.
Directed by Art Kimball, the play features Kay Simmons, Melonie Carideo, Sarah Maynard, Karen Siklosi and Pam Thigpen.
The festival features performances by six theater groups from the region. Patrons may see all six shows for $50, a three-show package for $30, or individual performance for $15.
Prior to the first festival performance on Friday, there will be music and barbecue on the plaza, weather permitting.
Patrons may learn about each theater group and meet and mingle with cast members throughout the weekend. A full schedule of performances and other festival information may be found at www.claytonartscenter.com.
Individual tickets for The Dixie Swim Club are $15 and are available both at The Arts Center in Athens and at the Clayton Center box office at 865-981-8590. Full festival tickets are only available at the Clayton box office.
The Clayton Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Maryville College near downtown Maryville.
The Athens Arts Center is located at 320 N. White St. in downtown Athens; phone 423-745-8781; www.athensartscouncil.org.
