For the first time since 2019, Gilmer Arts has named an artistic director to oversee the playhouse, with plans to shake up local theater.
Keli Fowler has always cherished creativity and acting, and is excited to fuel her passions and work on productions as the playhouse’s director.
She’s an upstate New York native and worked in Florida until about three years ago. That’s when she and her now husband decided they didn’t want to grow old in Florida and traveled to nine states in search of their next home. She said they both fell in love with Ellijay’s charm.
“I can remember one of the first days we were driving through Ellijay and through downtown,” she recalled. “I saw the playhouse sign and was like, ‘oh my God, they have a playhouse. My first love was theater, so I hope we end up here.’ It’s so funny, so now here I am.”
She began acting in elementary school where she said despite being a shy kid, she would come alive on stage. She continued her thespian endeavors through high school, joined a performing chorus and had a theater scholarship in college.
“I’ve just always loved it,” Fowler said. “Everything from musical theater, comedy, serious dramas, Shakespeare, it’s such a beautiful art form … It brings to life your emotions.”
Fowler has worn many hats, where her career has taken her from being a makeup artist, to a personal growth and development trainer, to getting her doctorate to open a holistic wellness center and more.
“I’m a huge collaborator, and I love building volunteer armies of passionate people who are like-minded,” she noted.
Fowler first got involved with Gilmer Arts by performing, where she was cast in August’s production of “If a Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood,” and joined the theater committee.
Gilmer Arts Executive Director Pam Burns noticed her passion and work to improve the program, and expressed to her their need for a new artistic director.
“I’ve always been the kind of person that has a really helpful nature, and when I see something’s not working out quite right, I always feel like it’s my duty to be helpful,” Fowler mentioned.
In this position, she said she hopes to promote collaboration between everyone involved with Gilmer Arts, including musicians, artists or writers.
“I would love to bring in artists … to be a part of us, and I would like us to get back to having musicals to involve musicians, dancers and singers and just bring us all together to create magic,” she expressed.
Cultivating and building up directors and actors is also important to Fowler. She wants the playhouse to be a place for creatives to learn and grow.
“I want to find those people who might not even know that they’re directors yet, and nurture them to teach them how to tell a story on stage through theater,” she added.
Fowler and the theater committee will be hosting a free showcase for people to meet her, learn more about the playhouse’s plans for 2025 and see their troupe perform a series of skits. That’s happening on March 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the playhouse along Dalton Street.
“All of us who love theater want to share that with the community, and show them how fun it could be for them if they want to get involved,” she said.
On March 22, a catered, murder mystery dinner is happening at the playhouse, where someone in the audience will be the killer. It’s themed around a 1920s Mafia marriage, so attendees are encouraged to dress in their “flapper, gangster” best. Tickets can be purchased on Gilmer Arts’ website.
Their next production is “Cemetery Club,” a funny and moving play about three Jewish widows who meet once a month for tea before visiting their husbands’ graves, according to the Gilmer Arts Community Theatre Facebook page.
“Cemetery Club” will be directed by Toni Creed. Auditions will take place Tuesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, May 14 at 8 p.m.
“There’s something here for everybody,” Fowler voiced. “I get it, not everybody wants to act or direct, but if you’re creative and want to be around other creative people, this is a really sweet and charming little community.”