WHAT;  The Complete Works of Shakespeare, abridged.  Directed by Shine
Production’s Barry Lemoine and starring Christian Bordelon, Will
Schneider and Barry Lemoine.

WHERE:  Dubuisson Gallery, 300 Robert Street, Olde Towne Slidell

COST:  $20 per ticket
TIME:  7:30 pm – Happy-Half Hour of wine and conversation
8:00 pm – Show Time

CONTACT:  Rose Marie Sand, rose@voicesoflouisiana.org, 504.666.1220;
voicesoflouisiana.org

The distance between St. Tammany and St. Bernard parishes is spanned by more than a five mile bridge – both parishes share commonalities
that have broadened since the storm.  The Voices Foundation wants to ‘abridge’ the distance even more with a presentation of “The Complete
Works of Shakespeare, abridged,” on May 18 and 19 at DuBuisson Gallery.

“The Voices Foundation has enjoyed a presence on the North Shore for the past 6 years, in no small part due to the efforts of Slidell’s
Rita Stockstill O’Sullivan,” said Voices board member Rose Marie Sand. “In 2006, we toured the country with a show called ‘The Voices of
Louisiana,’ and Rita helped book shows as we traveled.”

When O’Sullivan passed away in 2008 the Foundation began a scholarship in her name, and has presented awards to nine high school students in St. Tammany, as well as ten Milton Sand Memorial Award to St. Bernard seniors.  The show at DuBuisson Gallery will be performed by St. Bernard’s Shine Productions Barry Lemoine, Christian Bordelon and Will Schneider, and proceeds will expand the Foundation’s scholarship program.

This project is an outreach to St. Tammany Parish, to help fulfill the stated mission of the non profit.  The Voices Foundation’s mission is
to preserve the history and the culture of St. Bernard Parish and the surrounding areas.

“With the growth of St. Tammany and St. Bernard, it’s perhaps more important now than ever,” said Sand, “to join our parishes in an
entertaining way.  We’ll invite former St. Bernard residents as well as St. Tammany residents who’d like to meet and mingle for a fun
evening of laughs and conversation.

“The people of St. Tammany have opened their arms to us.  This show is a way to show our appreciation, and to invite those who consider both parishes home to meet and share some laughs.  This show is fast paced and irreverent, and the actors have been compared to “The Three
Stooges” doing Shakespeare,” said Sand.

The show marks the troupe members return to the North Shore, having performed at Minicappeli’s Dinner Theatre pre-Katrina.  The charming ambiance of DuBuisson Gallery in olde towne Slidell will add to the evening’s entertainment.

Among other venues, they performed this play at Rocky & Carlo’s in Chalmette and Minicapelli’s in Slidell, and received this review from Al Shea, of WYES “Steppin Out:”

“In less than two hours, three young and super energetic clowns take us on a whirlwind jaunt through many of the Bard’s great works. It is all performed like a speeding bullet, with the boys playing all of the parts, falling over each other to enter and exit with and without wigs and funny hats. It is reminiscent of the Three Stooges. The audience loves their silly shenanigans and laughed out loud from start to finish.”

Doors will open at 7:30, with a ‘happy half hour’ of wine and conversation in the courtyard of DuBuisson’s Gallery.  Show time is 8
pm.  Tickets available by calling Rose Sand at 504.666.1220.  For more information, email rose@voicesoflouisiana.org, or visit
voicesoflouisiana.org.

The spirit of the people of Saint Bernard is perhaps no more evident than in the family traditions of tried and true recipes from our diverse culture. “To know it is to love it” applies both to the parish, and to our food.

With this thought in mind, the Voices Foundation announces the fourth printing of our book called “Serving St. Bernard.”  Project director Ronda DeForest explained that the book contains both recipes and histories of the diverse ethnic makeup of the parish.

“Serving St. Bernard is an example of cultural diffusion.  Many dishes diffuse from the original culture of origin, making our regional cuisine unique – a pinch of this and a taste of that keep our dishes, and our lives, interesting and exciting,” DeForest said.

Through a generous grant from the Meraux Foundation, a sixth printing of Serving St. Bernard is in the works.

Photographs of St. Bernard parish landscapes by Rose Marie Sand are included in the pages of the book, along with documentation of the journey of each ethnic group to the parish.  Each ethnicity begins with a ‘server’ – someone from that ethnicity who serves St. Bernard.  Many of these servers are well known in our community and will be familiar faces.  Others may not be well known, but they serve our community every day, making a difference in more subtle ways.

Proceeds from the sale of “Serving St. Bernard” will fund a culinary arts scholarship.

One of the most popular features of the book are the anecdotal stories given by contributors about their memories of family traditions built around the recipes they shared.

“I couldn’t put the book down, and read it from cover to cover the night I bought it,” said Anna Weidenhaft.  Miss Weedy, as she is also known by the scores of students she taught at Andrew Jackson, said she will be submitting a recipe for the next edition of the book.

Check our “Projects & Productions” page for more information.

August 26 – 28th at Nunez Community College Auditorium.  Tickets are available at PJ’s Coffeehouse in Chalmette, or by calling 504.301.8770.

The Voices Foundation offers several items for purchase and all proceeds help fund our scholarship program.  Please drop us an email or call a board member to order:

• EVACUATION THEATRE TROUPE performance of VOICES OF LOUISIANA at Southeastern University’s Fanfare – $15 plus s/h
• DOCUMENTARY – THE VOICES FOUNDATION ROAD TOUR – $15 plus s/h
• SERVING ST. BERNARD COOKBOOK – available at Rocky & Carlo’s Restaurant in Chalmette or through mail order.  $12 plus s/h
• ST. BERNARD POSTERS – three different posters available – $15 plus s/h

Three posters – “From the Parish, and Proud of It,”  “Historic Past, Promising Future,” and “St.Bernard Parish Pride,” showcasing different scenes, are available.  All proceeds from these art posters fund the Voices Scholarships.  Photos and graphics by Rose Marie Sand.