Weekend of Events Mark King Holiday 1/3/2008

Holly Springs celebrates the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday with a play, free concert and community march Jan. 18-20. Holly Springs Cultural Center plays host.

Mike Wiley takes the cultural center stage Friday evening, Jan. 18, in "Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart." Wiley's one-man play tells the story of African-American athletes who broke the color barrier. Tickets for the 8 p.m. performance are $5.

Priscilla Calvin and Mystique Band rock the cultural center theater Saturday, Jan. 19, with a free concert of rhythm and blues, adult contemporary and dance music. Showtime is 8 p.m.

"We're excited to present these new events and what we hope will become a community tradition of special events and concerts centered around the celebration of the Martin Luther King holiday weekend," said Cassie Jones, assistant manager of the cultural center.

Sunday, Jan. 20 is Holly Springs' annual community march and service. The march begins at 3 p.m. at the Food Lion shopping center on Main Street and ends at Holly Springs Cultural Center. Rosa Gill, chair of the Wake County School Board, is the scheduled guest speaker. The march and service are open to everyone.

In "Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart", Wiley transports the audience to a time of separate but unequal locker rooms. Robinson became the first African-American major league baseball player of the modern era in 1947.

"A Game Apart" is a powerful lesson of courage through dedication and leadership. The play is appropriate for families, including children who are 8 or older. Tickets are available through www.etix.com or at the cultural center.

The multifaceted Mystique Band appeared at last October's HollyFest celebration. Lead singer Calvin has performed in New York, New Jersey and the Caribbean. She now lives in Fuquay-Varina.

To guarantee good seats for Mystique Band, concert-goers may obtain up to four free tickets in advance at the cultural center.

For more information on Martin Luther King Celebration Weekend, call the cultural center at (919) 567-4000.

Holly Springs Cultural Center is on West Ballentine Street, a block from Town Hall. It adjoins a Wake County branch library.

Home page

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us