Talent of Columbia celebrates Cinema at the Township
By Rachel Haynie

Columbia native McCree O'Kelley is again center stage after dancing on New York and Tokyo stages.

His newest role is director of performing arts for SCARF + SCREEN COLUMBIA. His first production will be an early September multi- cultural event that will tie a celebration of local talent to cinema. Dance, theatre, vocal performance, maybe even magic, will help reprise some of America's most memorable movies, especially musicals.

Part of the Golden Age of Movies tradition will be conveyed Sept. 8 by holding the star- struck evening at Township Auditorium. O'Kelley performed in some of his earliest recitals on the Township stage.

Before leaving Columbia to study with the N.Y. School of American Ballet, and later the N.C. School of the Arts, he studied with Ann Brodie, who has just been named to the Columbia Museum of Art's Arts Hall of Fame.

O'Kelley was introduced as coordinator of the gala event during last week's press conference at the Nickelodeon where SCARF + SCREEN COLUMBIA was explained. He is headquartered at Columbia Music Festival, a founding partner of the new comprehensive venue.

The new consortia of arts organizations, SCARF + SCREEN COLUMBIA promotes synergy among film and arts venues and restaurants, taking the age- old idea of dinner and a movie to a stellar new level.

By taking its cues from the movies, and by showcasing local talent, the September event O'Kelley will direct will epitomize the concept of SCARF + SCREEN COLUMBIA. By the ninth month, the Columbia community will have experienced numerous earlier versions of the consortia.

Last weekend SCARF + SCREEN COLUMBIA was introduced at a discussion with young dancer authority Peter Sklar and at the S.C. Book Festival.

The concept will expand May 4- 5 with the already- established Main Street Film Crawl, part of Columbia Festival of the Arts. On Friday, May 4 the Nickelodeon will screen winning submissions during the IndieReels High School Film Festival.

Later in the evening Columbia native Stanley Donen's unforgettable film Singin' in the Rain will be screened outdoors at the Columbia Museum of Art. Donen became one of America's most celebrated choreographers and directors.

A Columbia High School alumna, Donen was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 1998 in recognition of his body of work that includes not only Singin' in the Rain but also Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and On the Town.

A four- day film festival Lumera by Alex English Jr. will be held Thursday, May 31- Sunday, June 3. This event will begin the festival May 31.

Friday, June 1, the first films selected for screening in the brand new IndieGrits festival will be shown during the day at Nickelodeon Theatre. That evening the work of award- winning documentary- maker Jeff Sumerel will be screened, also at the Nick.

Saturday, June 2 more IndieGrits films will be screened at the Nick during the day. That evening The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams by Julian Adams will be screened at the Hampton Preston Mansion. An awards ceremony will follow.

Sunday, June 3, during the Best of the Donen Film Festival, a panel of filmmakers will present award winners.

As details become available, they can be found at www.scarfandscreen.com.