
Lure of the Lake
"The Show (and the Spirit), Must Go On!" The Plaza Arts Center With Dr. Susan Usry & Lou Benjamin
What if I told you that, right in the heart of Eatonton, there is a beautifully restored historic building that welcomes tens of thousands of people each year, and contains a 500-seat theatre with exceptional acoustics, first-class productions, and truly no bad seat in the house? For those who have experienced the Plaza Arts Center, you already know what a remarkable place it is. For those who have not, today’s episode may have you wondering what took you so long. The Plaza began as the Eatonton School, built in 1916 and used to educate generations of local students. After an ambitious restoration that required nearly a decade of vision, fundraising, leadership, and persistence, the building reopened in 2008 as one of the cultural treasures of Eatonton and Georgia’s Lake Country. But the Plaza is much more than a beautiful theatre. It is a place where national entertainers share the stage with local performers; where children discover their creativity; where history is preserved; and where our community gathers for concerts, plays, classes, celebrations, and special events. My first guest is Dr. Susan Usry, Executive Director of the Plaza Arts Center. Susan shares the extraordinary story of how the Plaza came to be, everything happening within its walls today, and why the arts are so important to the strength and identity of a community. We are also joined by my friend Lou Benjamin, who is appearing in the upcoming production of Noël Coward’s classic comedy, Blithe Spirit. It is a wonderfully clever story involving a novelist, a séance that goes spectacularly wrong, a deceased wife who refuses to remain deceased, and enough marital confusion to make the living question whether the dead might have the easier arrangement. Lou gives us a peek behind the curtain at the cast, rehearsals, and hilarity audiences can expect, without revealing too many of the ghostly surprises. This episode is a story about history, creativity, community, and the extraordinary people who bring a stage to life. So take your seat, remember, there isn’t a bad one in the house, and enjoy my conversation with Susan Usry and Lou Benjamin. Guests: Dr. Susan Usry & Lou Benjamin Website: https://plazacenter.org/ Address: 305 N. Madison Avenue; Eatonton, GA Phone: 706-923-1655 Sponsors: Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance https://mydowntownagency.com/ Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit https://loffc.net/ Second Chance Boutique https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/

