You’re invited to a garden party for Trillium Performing Arts

The annual Garden Party for Trillium Performing Arts is Thursday June 20^th in the garden behind the General Lewis Inn in Lewisburg.  The party is an opportunity to raise funds to support Trillium’s art programs throughout the year according to Lynda Howe, Business and School Coordinator for the arts collective.

“What we do mostly is educational programs, free shows that we create for right now 3^rd and 5^th graders in Greenbrier County; and so that’s where the funds go,” said Lynda. “And the Garden Party this year happens to fall on June 20^th which is West Virginia’s birthday, so we are celebrating West Virginia as our theme in music, in dance, in food – things like pepperoni rolls and ramps and stuff like that.”

Live old time and Appalachian music will be heard throughout the event as they also celebrate the history of the state.

“And then Trillium dancers will be doing some Appalachian themed dances,” said Lynda. “And then we have a couple of surprises and we do silent auctions; we’ll have about 5 different gift packages and all the food you could want!”

Trillium Performing Arts is the brainchild of Beth White, Lorrie Monte and Carli Mareneck, three performing artists who collaborated on dance projects in the early 80’s at various venues in Greenbrier and surrounding counties.  In 1982

Trillium was officially incorporated and moved into studio space on Washington Street in Lewisburg.  In 1992 they received federal non-profit status.  Then in 2007 they took another leap of faith and formed a limited liability corporation, All Arts, which purchased the Lewis Theater in Lewisburg.  Trillium remains the arts company in residence for the theater.

Lynda said they hope to do another mystery event at the Greenbrier Brewing Company in July but the exact date has yet to be set.  They’re also at work on their children’s programs which will most likely debut in the fall.

“The third grade show is called weathering the elements and deals with the water cycle,” she said, “and how hurricanes are formed and we have a hurricane on stage and we have a volcano erupt on stage.”

“Then for the 5^th graders this year we started a show that is about the solar system and the stars and the universe and how things are formed.  And we’re working on one for the 7^th grade that we’re hoping for 2020 to start for 7^th graders.”

Trillium also has a March event that is a combination of music and dance and about six Friday Night Alive events that are open mic events in which local musicians, dancers and other artists are invited to share their talents.

All of the events aside from the Garden Party are held at the Lewis Theater and are open to the public, including the children’s programs and most events are free of charge.

There is a fee for the Garden Party on the 20^th.  Tickets for adults are $25.00 in advance and can be purchased from the Greenbrier County Visitors Center which can be reached at 304-645-1000.  You can also purchase a ticket at the door on the 20^th for $30.00.  Tickets for children 12 and under are $15.00 in advance and $20.00 at the door.  In case of inclement weather, the party move inside the Inn.  And you can find more information about Trillium at trilliumperformingarts.org.