CITY LITES, INC. is a non-profit charitable organization. As Flagler county’s premiere multicultural musical entertainment resource, City Lites produces events and musical/d ramatic performances annually. Their fund raisers provide scholarships to college-bound youth majoring in the arts or who demonstrate interest in arts and culture. Best ltnown for showstopper performances of Motown and to’, one of the non-profit’s highest achievements was arriving on the sound stage of the Den nis A. Fitzgerald Flagler Auditorium in 2012. The show always receives rave reviews from the community wherever they have performed. Show director for the past several years, and current president of City Lites, jimmy Sims, says the cast and crew worl‹ hard. “They are local people that you see every day at the post office, the doctor’s office, at Walmart. We walI‹ among you, but we all come together for a common cause, to support our youth.”
President –Jinn my Sims
Vice President – Dr. Irving Robinson
Secretary – Barbara Jackson
Corresp Secretary – Ei been Hopson
Treasurer – William Hopson
Financial Secretary – Charlene Adams-Nixon
Marketing/ Promotion – Meshella woods.
Sargent at Arms – Ron Ambrose
Ways and Deans – Margaret james
Founder of the Motown and Mo’ show, the late Carlos Butter said in a 1998 Flagler/ Palm Coast News-Tribune release, “When I taught in Peekskill High School in New York, each year, I’d take the Black Culture Club on a cruise, and I’d fundraise by doing this type of show, the parents would get up on stage and be The Temptations — or Ike and Tina Turner — and the kids would do the latest rap or hip-hop songs.” During that time the show was so popular, then New Yorl‹ Gov. George Patal‹i, former mayor of Peel‹sl‹ill, asI‹ed her to direct a production for the Town of Peel‹sltill and she accepted. After moving to Palm Coast, Butter brought “Motown and to”’ to the Lewis E. Wadsworth School in 1998 as a fundraiser for the Little Theatre of Palm Coast and eventually to the Flagler Playhouse. The “Motown & Mo”’ premiere I‹noclted the socl‹s off Palm Coast audiences.
Butter retired from directing 10 seasons of “Motown & to,”’ giving the show artistic vision at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center in 2007.
It was during Season 11 of “Motown & Mo”’ that City Lites, Inc. became the production company behind the m usical entertainment at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Carlos Butler joined the Board of Directors at City Lites. Her continued support was welcomed as she also had many years of experience directing shows such as “Purlie”, “Guys and Dolls” and “A Raisin in the Sun.” Sad ly, Butter passed away in 2016, just prior to that year’s show. Cast member Dr. Irving W. Robinson evolved prayers of gratitude to Carlos Butter as she tapped into such a successfu I show and left a profound legacy. jimmy Sims, stated the decision to bring the show home to Flagler County was important. In addition to
afford ing youth of FPC High School the opportunity to worI‹ with City Lites crew on technical theater lighting and audio production, he has the pleasure of worI‹ing with the Flagler Auditorium’s director, Amelia Fulmer, a staunch supporter of the community, the arts and arts education for youth. Fu Amer has provided wonderful support to our Board members in planning “Motown and Mo’ advertising and performance dates.