Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley, Fort Gordon commanding general and Chief of Signal, met with cast members of the show Beauty and the Beast and members of Storyland Theatre's board of directors prior to its Jan. 30 performance of Beauty and the Beast at the Imperial Theatre. Storyland has offered free admission to military families for five years. Charmain Z.Brackett Before Augusta community leaders gathered to partner with Fort Gordon and show their commitment to the Army Family Covenant, there were Augustans who wanted to do their part.

“We’ve been doing this for five years,” said Barbara Feldman, executive director of Storyland Theatre, on its offering free admission to military families to its performances.

More than 3,500 military dependents have been able to experience live theater at the Imperial Theatre through Storyland, and prior to the Jan. 30 start of its production Beauty and the Beast, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley, Fort Gordon’s commanding general and Chief of Signal, presented Feldman and the children’s theater company board of directors a plaque of recognition for their efforts.

“We serve in support of a grateful nation,” said Foley. “Anything the community does just says thank you. We are part of the community. We are all in this together.”

Several years ago, while a member of Leadership Augusta, Feldman was impressed with the importance of Fort Gordon to the Augusta community, she said.

Not only do they give the ultimate for the protection of our nation’s freedoms, but having Fort Gordon as a neighbor boosts the area’s economy and provides other benefits.

“I always ask the families of the Soldiers to stand before the performance,” said Feldman. “I always get all choked up.”

Storyland Theatre is Augusta’s only theater company with children as its main audience. It has been in existence for more than two decades. Each season, Storyland produces three different plays and performs each play at least 13 times, primarily to weekday morning school groups. A Saturday matinee caps the run of each show. It’s primarily Saturday matinees that Feldman and her board opened up for free admission to military audiences, but the company has also provided free admission for groups of children from Freedom Park Elementary School.

Foley was the guest of honor in the front row center of the Imperial Theatre to take in a show starring Herman Gonzalez, whose father, Lt. Col. Herman Gonzalez, works in Signal Towers. The younger Gonzalez played the role of the Beast.

Foley thanked the actors for sharing their talents with the community.

“I’ve always stood in admiration of those who stand on stage and speak or act,” said Foley.