Red Mountain Theatre Company is wrapping up its 2018-19 season with the fresh and creative musical Matilda The Musical at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater on the campus of the Alabama School of Fine Arts. RMTC welcomes back a lovely presence on the stage, Bonny Baker, for the third summer in a row playing the heartwarming friend and teacher of Matilda, Miss Honey.

Whether it’s Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof or Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Baker looks forward to the new and exciting challenge of undertaking a role. “This is a fresh and new experience for me. In the past, I have played very headstrong female characters, but with Miss Honey it’s a completely new angle. She is still very strong, but not in a forward way. Her strength lies in her quiet, kindness, and love for children,” Baker states.

The musical based off of the children’s book by famed author Roald Dahl, is a cute and charming tale with a powerful message that resonates throughout our community today. “It allows for us to understand that anybody has the ability to change the world. You just have to make a decision to overcome whatever obstacles you face and keep marching towards the greater good,” Baker points out.

In an age of popular, larger-than-life superheroes, it is refreshing to know the hero of our story in Matilda is not a powerful, towering adult that makes an impact, but an intelligent little girl with psychokinetic powers. Matilda faces the daily trials and tribulations of her unloving parents and an unbearable school headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, but overcomes them all with wit, charm, love, and friendship. This speaks volumes for Baker as she inserts, “The story gives children the chance to be the rockstar, the superhero. The children are the ones that save the day. How inspiring is that for any child? It allows the child to understand they can change the world now and not feel like they have to grow up to make a dent in society.”

Whether you are 2 or 92, Matilda is a story that will empower you to face the challenges of today’s world with a warm heart and a friendly smile. Matilda reminds us we are not alone in the struggle.

Matilda The Musical
July 12-August 4
Dorothy Jemison Day Theater
Click here for tickets and information.

During the 100 days of summer – between Memorial Day and Labor Day – the number of teens killed in car crashes increases 26 percent compared with the other months of the year.

“Summer is a time for teens to relax and have fun, but that doesn’t apply to the time they spend behind the wheel. Young drivers are at a greater risk for crashes compared to more experienced drivers,” said Marie Crew, director of Safe Kids Alabama at Children’s of Alabama. “Parents and other adults can model safe driving behavior, encouraging teen drivers how to become better drivers, keeping the roads safer for everyone.”

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, factors contributing to teen driver crashes include:

• Not wearing seat belts – more than half of teens killed in crashes weren’t wearing their seat belt
• Texting while driving – at 55 mph, that’s like travelling the length of a football field blindfolded
• Afraid and not speaking up – half of teen passengers report feeling unsafe riding with a driver who isn’t alert; one-third of teens feel unsafe riding with a parent
• Too many passengers – when two or more teens ride in a vehicle with a teen driver, the risk of a fatal crash can double to triple; many states – including Alabama –  that limit the maximum number of passengers
• Drinking and driving – 15 percent of drivers aged 15-19 who were killed in crashes had a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher
• Driving when it’s dark – the risk of a fatal crash at night can be more than three times higher for teens than adults
• Speeding – more than one-third of teens killed in crashes were speeding

We were recently invited by the Great Wolf Lodge to come over and take advantage of their new day pass and explore the water park and other activities they have to offer. With their new day pass you can enjoy unlimited splashes at their 84-degree indoor water park, access to over 50 activities and more all under one roof, and be back in your own bed by bedtime. It’s the perfect day trip over from Birmingham and we had a great day. Here are 5 Things to Know before you go!

1. Indoor and Outdoor Fun:

The water park with all of the slides is indoors, but they also have a beautiful outdoor pool with lots of space for setting up your spot poolside. We made this our “basecamp” for the day for when everyone needed a little fresh air and sunshine. Cabanas are available for rent and they host a fun pool party during the day with music, dancing and games. While we were there for the water park, inside the lodge they offer a variety of activities from a ropes course, and bowling, to a rock wall, arcade and more.

2. Fun for All Ages:

Great Wolf Lodge really does offer fun for all ages with areas specifically designed for toddlers, tweens, teens, and even adults. Also for the adults, if you’re looking to enjoy an adult beverage while the tiny humans slide their little hearts out, there are several bars conveniently located where you can sip a cocktail and keep on eye on all their fun! (might we suggest the frozen Jack and Coke…)

3. Perfect Day Trip:

Located in LaGrange Ga, it took us a little over 2 hours to get there. However, we did have a little trouble getting it to pull up in our GPS, once we did, the route took us down US 431 and we felt like we were in the middle of nowhere. Not being familiar with the area we did get a little nervous that we weren’t on the right path. There are no signs along the way indicating you’re headed the right way, so you won’t know until you pull up that you’re there but it all worked out, don’t freak if you feel like you aren’t going the right way.

4. Eats:

There are lots of options for eating. We opted for the pizza from ‘Hungry as a Wolf’ and it didn’t break the bank. They also offer a couple of different spots where you can grab a burger, hot dog or fries. There’s a Dunkin’ Donuts, Ben & Jerry’s and a sit down restaurant if you want something a little less “fast food.”

5. Buy in Advance:

The offer for day passes is new and there are a limited number available each day, so make sure to purchase online before you go. Visit their site to see everything included in the day pass or to purchase.

Great Wolf Lodge is located at:

150 Tom Hall Parkway
LaGrange, GA 30240

Ticket Prices vary by day, and water park passes are non refundable. All sales are final

Red Mountain Theatre Company will culminate its 2018-19 season with the charming Matilda The Musical at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater on the campus of the Alabama School of Fine Arts. RMTC recently celebrated their 40th anniversary and it has been a joy to bring back faces from the past and bring forward new faces to the RMTC stage. RMTC welcomes an alum who grew up in the days of the Summerfest (former title of Red Mountain Theatre Company) workshops, the extremely talented Elise Mayfield. Mayfield will be shimmying all over the stage as Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda The Musical.

Mayfield is not only a veteran of the Birmingham stage having performed for numerous theatre companies, but she also pounded the pavement as an actor in Chicago. During her time there, she furthered her chops by studying improv and sketch comedy for the famed Improv Olympic and Second City. She is finally making her RMTC return and continuing her story with the organization, “The last production I performed in was Footloose (one of Executive Director Keith Cromwell’s first productions) and I remember closing the show, my parents picking me up at the stage, and they drove straight to my dorm room at Ole Miss where I started college the next day,” reminisces Mayfield.

She is counting the days to grace her presence on the stage as this has been a production she has been anticipating for quite some time. “It’s one of my favorite books and I still love the movie that came out in the 90s. I had the pleasure of witnessing this musical on Broadway and it reminded me how much I love the story. The music is incredible, the characters are fascinating, and the staging is engaging. What more could you want,” exclaims Mayfield.

As fun as it to play the character of Mrs. Wormwood, it is the heart of the story that she hopes resonates with the audience. “Matilda is about the small triumphing over the big. It’s not just little as in physically little like the small children in the story, but also emotionally as the character of Miss Honey triumphs after being made small time after time by Miss Trunchbull. It’s a story about the underdog,” explains Mayfield. “I hope the community is inspired by our amazing cast of kids, and remember that even the little can overcome incredible obstacles.”

Matilda The Musical
July 12-August 4
Dorothy Jemison Day Theater
Click here for tickets and information.

If you have a child in competitive cheer, you understand the importance of great coaching and a great place to train, well, Jay and Jennifer Taylor are providing that and more at their new gym Alpha Extreme Cheer in Pelham.

Jay has 20+ years in the competitive cheerleading industry from junior high through college and then coaching; while Jennifer was a competitive gymnast for 13 years and moved into cheerleading later in life. Having opened their doors in early May, the Taylor’s hope to use their experience in the industry to emphasize and teach the importance of safety, discipline, tumbling, cheerleading, hard work, dedication and loyalty within their students. Their goal is to help them become amazing athletes, but even better leaders on and off the mat.

Alpha Extreme offers a variety of classes for all ages starting with their Tiny Tots class geared towards ages 3-5 and advances based on skill level.

Competitive team evaluations will be held August 2nd and 3rd – for more information on those, any of their classes or to try a free class, visit their website

Alpha Extreme Cheer is located at:
147 Corporate Way in Pelham
(205) 725-0215
Email: alphaextremecheer@gmail.com
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