After eight years, Offshoot

Productions is ending the run of its popular Stars on the Southern Crescent

coffeehouse.

The cabaret-style shows featured

performers of nearly every genre, from storytellers to comedy troops,

from jazz vocalists and bands to classical music performers. The coffeehouse

gave a venue to performers when there was none and it also gave the community

a place to see different forms of entertainment for a reasonable price.

"Since

we have lost our performance venue in the band room of the old Fayette

County High School," said Offshoot Productions artistic director

Susan M. Steadman, Ph.D., "it is unlikely we will pick up the coffeehouse

again in the fall. It's been a wonderful and fulfilling eight years, but

also eight years of enormous effort."

The final event will take place

Saturday, May 12, in the cafeteria at the LaFayette Educational Center

in Fayetteville. The bill includes the outrageous Andy Offutt Irwin. A

performer who almost defies categorization, Irwin is a composer, singer,

musician, storyteller and humorist.

Artist-in-residence at Oxford

College of Emory University, Irwin spent five years writing, directing

and performing with the comedy improv troupe SAK Theatre at Walt Disney

World.

Also featured is the Jazz League,

a group new to the Stars coffeehouse, which will perform jazz standards.

A number of performers will also help bid goodbye to this south side institution.

They include Chris Moser from the Celtic band Barney's Goat, the youthful

trio of Paige Steadman, Elissa Dukes and Katy Jenkins performing a blend

of music and comedy, and voaclist Amy Emrich-Selby, who recently co-directed

"The Blue Light" with Susan Steadman.

The LaFayette Educational Center

is at 205 LaFayette Ave. Doors open at 7:45 p.m., and the show starts

at 8:15. Admission is $7 ($5 for senior citizens and children under 12).

Patrons who bring their mugs from home are eligible for the "most

unusual mug" award and receive discounts on hot beverages. Patrons

who purchase Stars on the Southern Crescent mugs will enjoy free beverages

at this last coffeehouse.

As always, the menu includes

gourmet coffee, herbal tea, cold beverages and home-baked desserts. Proceeds

from concession sales benefit Offshoot Productions' apprentice program.

For information phone 770-631-2362 or e-mail [email protected].

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