Previous Page | Next Page

Pathfinder of the Month

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path
and leave a trail."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

(TLAC) was born. During their first year, 2002, they produced 10 plays, started an open mic night and held several classes and camps. They also became a registered non-profit 501c(3) incorporated organization.

The TLAC supports many other organizations and community members. They offer partial need based scholarships year round for their camps and classes. "We don't want a child with a sincere interest to be excluded due to money issues," said Gay. In addition, the TLAC awards a $500 college scholarship each year to a qualified high school senior who has devoted time to the performing arts at school and the TLAC. They have provided financial assistance to the Breast Cancer Walk through direct donations and ticket sales, and most recently, the TLAC produced an Evening of One Act Plays as a fundraiser for Eagle Watch resident Nicole Slifcak, who had been involved in a serious car accident.

Gay started TLAC for one reason 1 to provide a safe and positive environment for creativity, expression and education in the arts. "I want people, especially young people, to learn that theater can be entertaining without being vulgar or negative. We have created a wonderful, vibrant and growing community theater for all ages," she said. Missy Walthouse, Secretary of the TLAC Board said, "Gay has worked so hard to bring this wonderful jewel to our area. There are not many communities in the country that have what we have in TLAC, right in our own backyard. Gay has a wonderful way of making every child and adult she teaches or directs feel special and important, and she goes to great lengths to ensure that TLAC's productions send a positive message to the community."

Gay has big plans for the future of TLAC. She hopes to have ongoing tour programs in the local schools to bring literature in the school curriculum to life for the students. She also would like to have an outreach program for youth at risk. "It's an honor for me to be at the head of TLAC. The actors, parents, patrons, Board members and volunteers have contributed so much to the success of TLAC, and I wouldn't be able to do anything here without them," she said.

Thank you, Gay, for all you do to make our community a better place to live!

Three Dollar Café provided Gay with a $25 VIP card for her to enjoy as a "Thank You" gift to our Pathfinder.

Gay Grooms

Part of what makes our community a great place to live is the variety of amenities available to the residents. We have our choice of retail and entertainment options. One of those entertainment options is the Towne Lake Arts Center, which was started and currently operated by Gay Grooms. Through her efforts, community members of all ages are able to enjoy and participate in live theatrical productions right in their own backyard. These efforts and the impact she has made and continues to make have earned Gay the title of Pathfinder of the Month.

Gay is originally from New York and has been performing for as long as she can remember. "According to my mother, my first performances were given in the middle of the night when I was a toddler. I would stand up in my crib and recreate the entire Mickey Mouse Club show, word for word and song for song," Gay recalled. She became fascinated with the arts after seeing a production of the ballet The Nutcracker Suite. She credits one of her music teachers, William Briggs, with teaching her about singing and doing musical theater. She has performed in opera, light opera, musicals, plays and ballets. Her early experiences created a life-long passion for the theater, and sharing that passion became her mission.

Gay has taught, wrote and directed in the Atlanta area at private schools and theaters since 1990. As her own group, Performing Arts North, began growing, she felt the need to expand her physical location. It just so happened that the father of one of her former students at the Performing Arts North had a 5,000 square foot building available in Woodstock. Gay took the leap of faith and the Towne Lake Arts Center