Smoky Mountain Opry Donates $50,000 to Creative Theater

The Smoky Mountain Opry Theater recently donated $50,000 to Creative Theater in Pigeon Forge, making the largest individual gift in Creative Theater’s two-year history. The gift will be used to further the creative process of the theater to produce new work.

David Fee, president and chief executive officer of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group said, “We were able to donate to Creative Theater with the proceeds from our Smoky Mountain Opry Christmas Candle Program. Each night candles are purchased by guests who attend ‘Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry’ and the proceeds go to charitable causes. We are really touched and blessed to be able to give to this worthy community organization. It is our honor and our pleasure to donate $50,000 to Creative Theater.”

“It is encouraging to see a business and business owners who believe in investing in the community and in making a training ground for future artists,” said Robert Kalina, founder and executive director of Creative Theater. “There are so many good opportunities for jobs for people in performing arts in our community, but people need a training ground. Already three of the participants from our community theater shows have been placed in various professional theater shows around town.

“As a community theater we depend on the support of the community and without the various donations and corporate sponsorships we would not exist,” Kalina said. “We thank Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group for the generous donations they have given not only of their money, but in the form of excess resources such as costumes, props, theater lighting and equipment.”

Kalina said seven shows have already been selected for 2019. He hopes the donation from Fee/Hedrick will spur others to do the same. Donations may be sent to Creative Theater, 125 Music Mountain Drive, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.

Fee recalled that he got his own start in show business at the Oak Ridge Junior Playhouse, a community theater in Oak Ridge, Tenn., working alongside his parents who did volunteer work at the theater. Now he is happy to give back to community theater and help others get their start in show business the way he did.

The Smoky Mountain Opry’s Christmas Candle Program is used to support local charitable causes. At intermission before the live nativity scene, during the “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry” show, guests purchase LED souvenir candles “to hold high in honor of Christ.” The candles are held in honor of the spirit of giving at Christmas. One hundred percent of the proceeds from these candles go to the Smoky Mountain Opry Christmas Candle Fund, which has now given over $500,000 to local charities.

The “Christmas at The Smoky Mountain Opry” show will run until Jan. 5, 2019 and features Chris Blue, Season 12 winner of “The Voice.” The Smoky Mountain Opry will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a special show featuring Blue and the rest of the Smoky Mountain Opry cast on Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. The theater is located at traffic light 0 at 2046 Parkway in Pigeon Forge. For more information or reservations call the theater’s box office (865) 428-SHOW (7469) or 1-800-768-1170 or visit http://www.SmokyMountainOpry.com.

World Choice Investments recently purchased Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment and is set to take over Jan. 1, 2019.

Photo left to right – Front Row: David Fee, president and chief executive officer of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, Xander Batey, Ella Riggs, Emory Saylor, Cayte Castro, Ethan Harrison, Sarah Christy and Robert Kalina, founder and executive director of Creative Theater. Back row: Rendi Johnson, Isaiah Tillman, Caroline Castro, Bell Tedders, J.H. Dillingham, Cora Marinich, and Izzy Otter.