Dr. McClinton to Present 'Celebrating Our Local African American Treasures'   Clifton Forge, VA (Feb. 9, 2018) - The Clifton Forge Public Library is pleased to offer Dr. Calvin A. McClinton’s program, “Celebrating Our Local African American Treasures.” The public is cordially invited to attend his presentation on Thursday, February 15. It will be held in the Michael Armstrong Community Room of the Clifton Forge Public Library and will begin at 6:00 p.m. The library is also featuring a display by the same title, which highlights local history. Among the featured topics are the slave allotment at Covington’s Cedar Hill Cemetery, along with other local slave cemeteries, such as Red Hill Cemetery in Clifton Forge and Karnes Slave Cemetery in Low Moor. The history of Wrightsville is featured and includes the founders, Archie and Mary Wright, along with the Wrightsville School, the Wrightsville Church, the Blakey Taxi Service, the Wrightsville Garden Club, and businesses such as the Heritage Museum. Green Pastures at Longdale, built by the Dolly Ann Civilian Conservation Corps Camp F24, is also featured. Focus is given to local residents who have inspired, encouraged, and led the way through their achievements for succeeding generations – people such as Gretal Anderson, Stephanie R. Clark, Bimbo Coles, Pastor Alfred (Mustard) Dearing, Dr. Marcus L. Martin, Evelyn Harvey Spurlock, Linton Townes, B.C. Williams, Jr., and William (Junior) Young. A graduate of Alleghany County High School and resident of Covington, VA, Dr. McClinton is highly knowledgeable and well-qualified to speak on local Civil War history and specializes in Wrightsville history. He is himself very accomplished as an international music theatre specialist. He is founder and president of the McClinton Musical Theatre Arts Foundation in Romania; The McClinton Foundation in the United States; The Golden Arrow Plaza Restaurant in (Wrightsville) Covington, Virginia; and, The Wrightsville Heritage Museum which opened in 2009. The museum houses artifacts and memorabilia that pertain to the history of African American families from within the Alleghany Highlands with a special emphasis on Wrightsville history. Dr. McClinton is a former professor of theatre and musical theatre studies at Lake Michigan College, Benton Harbor, Michigan; Howard University, Washington, DC; Kent State University, Kent, Ohio; The National University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest, Romania, and The National Korean University of Art, Seoul, Korea. He is a Senior Fulbright Scholar and Alumnus to Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, and Korea. He has performed with Eddie Bracken at The Michigan Opera Theatre, Detroit; Zubin Mehta at the Spoleto Festival in Italy; Christian music composers Avery and Marsh on their album “A Song for All Seasons”; Dave Brubeck on his album “The Gates of Justice;” and, Gig Young, Shirley Booth, Lillian Gish and Jesse White, at the Central City Opera, Colorado. In New York he starred in the world premier of English composer, Sir Malcolm Williamson's opera, “Dustin and the Devil.” Dr. McClinton has taught and worked with such celebrity actors as Jessica Biel of “The A Team” movie; David Ramsey of TV Series “Flash” and “Blue Bloods;” William Perley and Jack Waddell of Mark Twain PBS broadcast; Avery Brooks and Debbie Allen in “Stepping Out of the Negro Caravan” to name a few. He has directed international premiers of “Little Shop of Horror”, in both Seoul, Korea and Romania; “Before Breakfast,” “Point Zero” and “Beyond the Surface” in Bucharest. He directed the Northern Ohio, American premier of “Shades of Postal Blue” in Cleveland and musically directed “The Mark Twain Musical Drama” in Elmira, New York; “Carmen” and “The Bartered Bride” for the Monmouth Opera Company in New Jersey; “Ain't Misbehavin,” at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre; “Eubie” and “The Wiz” for the Kalamazoo Black Civic Theatre; and “Beehive” for the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Center in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Dr. McClinton also Guest Directed “Godspell” at the Teatrul George Ciprian in Buzau, Romania, and “Hair” in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 2003 his new music theatre work, “HA, the Musical,” premiered at the American Center in Bucharest and in 2005 a concert version, “A Tale from Romania,” at the Kent State University Museum in Kent, Ohio. In 2013 his “Wrightsville Suite” for Piano was premiered at the Wrightsville Renewal Festival. He is a member of the Fulbright Association, American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Musical Artists, The Society of Composers, Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers, and Association of Disciple Musicians. Dr. McClinton is author of “The Work of Vinnette Carroll: An African American Theatre Artist,” a leading Black artist in the musical theatre world, along with several articles published by national and international journals. Light refreshments will be provided following Dr. McClinton’s program. The Clifton Forge Public Library is located at 535 Church Street. For more information on any library program, call 863-2519.

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