A 'theological battle of biblical proportions' takes the stage at Art Downtown in Brunswick

A perky young evangelical missionary (Amy Lovin) tries to
convert two Catholic spinsters (Shirley Williams and Clynne
Morgan), who have enlisted the help of their parish priest
(Jack Conyers).

It's not going too far out on a limb to say that more wars and conflicts have been fought over religion than perhaps any other topic. In very simple terms, that is the premise behind The Savannah Disputation, a comedy by Georgia playwright Evan Smith. The play is being performed weekends through May 15 at Art Downtown in Brunswick.

A perky young evangelical missionary (Amy Lovin) gets a lot more than she bargained for when she drops in on two Catholic spinsters (Clynne Morgan and Shirley Williams) to 'convert' them, igniting a crisis of faith.

To fight back, the sisters enlist the help of their unsuspecting parish priest (Jack Conyers), who finds himself in the midst of a theological battle of biblical proportions.

"Early on we wrestled a bit with the subject, given that some people have a tendency to become defensive of their faith," explains gallery owner and director Lynda Gallagher. "Though it sounds as if it is ponderously deep, there are a lot of laughs as well as some bittersweet moments. In the end, the characters learn that they are a lot closer in their beliefs than they thought."

Evan Smith was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. The Savannah Disputation premiered in Fall 2007 at the Writers' Theatre in Chicago. Other works by Smith include Servicemen, The Uneasy Chair, Psych and Daughters of Genius. His TV pilot “Debs” was produced onstage in Los Angeles by Naked TV, a joint venture of Fox TV and Naked Angels. He is a recipient of a 2002 Whiting Award. He has a BA in English from Vassar College and an MFA in play writing from the Yale School of Drama.

Performance dates for The Savannah Disputation are Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm April 16, 23 and 30, and May 7 and 14. Sunday afternoon performances will be at 3:00 pm April 17 and May 1 and 15. Performances include dessert and coffee, and doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. Reserve seat tickets may be purchased by calling 912-262-0628, or at Art Downtown at 1413 Newcastle Street in Brunswick.

Alan Ball comedy opens at Mary Miller Theatre in Brunswick, Georgia

Georgeanne, Trisha, Meredith, Frances and Mindy are as different as night and day. But they have one thing in common: the dress. It’s big. It’s lime green, with spaghetti straps. And after today, they’ll probably never wear it again. But they’ll discover things about themselves and each other that they’ll treasure forever.

Art Downtown/Gallery 209 presents Alan Ball’s comedy, “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress,” in the Mary Miller Theatre, Saturday evenings and alternating Sunday afternoons through Sept. 4.



Five reluctant, identically-clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom of a Knoxville, Tennessee, estate, each with her own reason to avoid the proceedings below. Frances is a painfully sweet but sheltered fundamentalist. Mindy is the cheerful, wise-cracking lesbian sister of the groom. Georgeanne, heartbroken over her own failed marriage, engages in outrageous behavior. Meredith, the bride's younger sister, is a rebel with attitude and a dark secret. Trisha is a jaded beauty whose die-hard cynicism about men is called into question when she meets Tripp, a charming bad-boy usher to whom there is more than meets the eye. As the afternoon wears on, these five very different women joyously discover they all share a common bond that goes well beyond their hideous bridesmaid dresses.

Georgia native Alan Ball is the creator and Executive Producer of "Six Feet Under," the critically acclaimed drama series on HBO. Ball wrote the screenplay for the film American Beauty, for which he received the 1999 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, the Writers Guild of America award for Best Original Screenplay, and the Golden Globe award for Best Screenplay, among others. He has written extensively for television, including the series "Oh Grow Up," "Cybill" and "Grace Under Fire." Prior to moving to Hollywood, he was a noted comedic playwright in New York. Among his numerous credits are Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, The M Word, Made For a Woman, Bachelor Holiday, The Amazing Adventures of Tense Guy and Your Mother's Butt.

Located at Art Downtown/Gallery 209 in historic downtown Brunswick, the Mary Miller Theatre showcases the works of Georgia playwrights. Performances take place in an informal gallery setting. Audience members enjoy coffee and homemade desserts during intermission, and have an opportunity to meet the actors following the performance.


“Five Women” will be presented Saturday evenings, July 17, 24 and 31; Aug 7, 14, 21 and 28, and Sept. 4. Matinee performances will be offered Sunday afternoons, July 18, Aug. 1, 15 and 29. Special group rates are available and private performances for groups are available with prior notice.

For information, contact Art Downtown/Gallery 209 at 912-262-0628 or visit them online at www.artdowntowngallery209.com.

Enjoy dinner and help solve a neighborhood mystery

Ricki Mortis is beginning to realize why he got his new home for a song; his neighbors are loony.

In the four months he's lived there, Ricki has been accused of stealing lawn ornaments, soliciting foolish relationships, disregarding the town building code, and murdering a beloved family pet.

Whether he is guilty of these crimes or not remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the damage is done: The neighbors hate him.

In an effort to mend fences and reverse bad first impressions, Ricki invites the neighbors to a good old-fashioned dinner. But when the guests arrive, they find something quite unexpected. Ricki Mortis is dead.

You're invited to help solve help solve the mystery Saturday, Jan. 30, during "Welcome to the Neighborhood," a Mystery Dinner at the Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum at Epworth by the Sea.

According to museum director Judi Fergus, selected dinner guests are assigned various roles in the story. "You won't know until it starts who is involved and who isn't," Fergus explained. "They're really a lot of fun."

Cost for the Mystery Dinner is $40 per person and includes three-course dinner and beverages. Seating is limited to the first 60 people. For information or reservations, please call (912) 638-4050.

Proceeds from the dinner help support the Moore Methodist Museum's educational programs.