Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1525586
August/September 2024 | maconmagazine.com 57 478-471-PLAY || MACONLITTLETHEATRE.ORG FINDING YOURSELF || 2024-2025 SEASON It's a season of showmanship, social cliques, and secret identities. We celebrate reaching out to friends and vanquishing the enemies within. Take a look in the mirror and find yourself, on stage with MLT. A CHORUS LINE A CHORUS LINE A CHORUS LINE A CHORUS LINE A CHORUS LINE A CHORUS LINE September 6-15, 2024 September 6-15, 2024 September 6-15, 2024 Directed by JP Haynie Directed by JP Haynie Directed by JP Haynie Music Direction by Laura Voss Music Direction by Laura Voss Music Direction by Laura Voss Directed by JP Haynie Music Direction by Laura Voss Directed by JP Haynie Directed by JP Haynie Directed by JP Haynie Music Direction by Laura Voss Directed by JP Haynie Music Direction by Laura Voss Directed by JP Haynie Music Direction by Laura Voss Directed by JP Haynie Directed by JP Haynie Directed by JP Haynie Music Direction by Laura Voss Directed by JP Haynie Choreography by Faith Madison Holton Choreography by Faith Madison Holton Choreography by Faith Madison Holton Music Direction by Laura Voss Choreography by Faith Madison Holton Music Direction by Laura Voss Music Direction by Laura Voss Music Direction by Laura Voss Choreography by Faith Madison Holton Music Direction by Laura Voss Choreography by Faith Madison Holton Music Direction by Laura Voss Choreography by Faith Madison Holton Music Direction by Laura Voss Music Direction by Laura Voss Music Direction by Laura Voss Choreography by Faith Madison Holton Music Direction by Laura Voss THE BELOVED SHOW BUSINESS MUSICAL SEPT. 6-15 GET TICKETS AND FIND OUT MORE MACONLITTLETHEATRE.ORG Development Department, signaling then-Mayor Robert Reichert's focus on downtown. "Establishing the Main Street program in Macon was the fi rst step in breaking down silos that had kept Macon in the state of having potential, but not enough kinetic energy," explained Alex Morrison, who was hired as the fi rst Main Street Manager in 2010 to start the program. "It forced conversations that laid the groundwork for MAP [Macon Action Plan] and gave a consistent voice to our growing business community." With the paid manager came a rotating board made up of downtown stakeholders alongside strong community partners like Visit Macon and the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce. Together they implemented a steady stream of programs, from parades to public art. With support from Macon-Bibb, the program moved under the management of NewTown Macon in 2018, so as not to duplicate downtown- boosting programs that existed in both entities. Under NewTown, ideas like art-fi lled alleyways and the Downtown Diversity Initiative continue to inject life into Macon's core. Communities who are exceptional at turning this philosophy into action are eligible to win the Great American Main Street Award. Only 110 cities have won since 1995, accounting for less than 1% of the cities in the program. A jury of experts in economic development and historic preservation evaluates applicants on criteria like commitment to historic preservation, innovative programming, implementation of cross-sector partnerships, community outreach and stakeholder engagement, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Macon's win this year signifi ed that all the hard work churning over dozens of years in downtown development made this city the cream of the crop. "Main Street is more than a program; it's an ethic and an ideal. In the early days, we likened it to the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. The notion is that if you are a Main Street community, you are attractive, inclusive, and holistic," Morrison said. "Now with an award from Main Street America, Macon is marked once again, this time as the best of the best." ABOVE Families play in a median park during NewTown's monthly First Friday celebrations.