With her love of the theater and dedication to service, Jo Beth Britt came up with an idea to combine the two and next weekend the 7th annual Affairs of the Heart will be held.
The event is a fundraiser for the Salvation Army’s Women’s Auxiliary and the Good Shepherd Community Center and offers a variety of entertainment by area talent.
“Affairs was a mind child of my own as I saw an opportunity to put my theater expertise to work along with the great community talent,” Britt said.
Britt initially approached the captains of the Salvation Army with her idea, she said, and felt like their first reaction to her idea was one of skepticism.
“I think that they may have thought that I was nuts, and I wasn’t sure they really understand the enormity of the show,” she said — that was until the SA Captain came to his first dress rehearsal, she said and discovered the fundraiser was going to be big.
Since its inception, Britt said the Affairs of the Heart fundraiser has grown with many of its entertainers returning year after year to perform.
It has been special for me to watch some of the young performers grow up giving of their time for the fundraiser and a joy to see how these dancers or singers begin as little ones and have progressed through the years, Britt said.
“Affairs seems to inspire the best of people, and its’ special when I walk through a school and a student leaves their line to come up and whisper, ‘see you at Affairs this year’ or the texts and emails that start arriving in early fall — ‘do you already have show dates for Affairs this year?’ It is truly a heart show,” Britt said.
This year, some of those slated to perform include dance students from Riverpointe Dance, The Debra Franco Preparatory School of Dance, the Teresa George School of Dance and the April Green Dance Studio. Students at the Jacob’s Ladder Learning Center are also on tap to perform as well as vocal and instrumental solo and duet performances from children and adults.
Scheduled to emcee the shows are Dr. Sarah Nichols from Hinds Community College, Mike George and Tommy Miller from the Good Shepherd Community Center.
For those wanting to participate in the show, Britt said it is not too late to sign on. Performers must attend one dress rehearsal, Britt said, but they are not required to participate in all three shows.
Affairs performers can select the shows that they will perform in, she said.
Britt credits the success of Affairs of the Heart to all those who volunteer, which include not only the performers, but also those who work behind the scenes, at the box office and in concessions.
“I never dreamed that Affairs would become an on-going annual event — growing each year,” Britt said, adding this has been part of her “heart” work.
Affairs of the Heart shows are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Feb. 17 and 18 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre, 101 Iowa Ave.
Tickets are $10, $5 for ages six to 18 and free for ages five and younger and are available at the door or from members of the Good Shepherd board.
For more information, call 601-618-5457 and for those wanting to perform or volunteer contact Britt at jbbr.seren.shel@usa.net.
Tickets are available at the door or from members of the Board of Good Shepherd.