Appalfolks of America Association
Appalfolks of America Association (AAA) was founded by M. Ray Allen in 1985 to promote the literary and performing arts via programs that promote drug-free creativity. “Encyclopedia of Appalachia,” a 2006 publication by the University of Tennessee Press, cites Allen and AAA for its good work with youth in Appalachia in general and at the Historic Stonewall Theatre in Clifton Forge, renamed the Historic Masonic Theatre following AAA’s donation of the theatre to the Town of Clifton Forge in 2003.
The Historic Masonic Theatre serves as the home for AAA where its office is located on the ground floor level. For more than two decades, AAA has served as both producer and presenter of programs at the Historic Masonic Theatre. In 1992, AAA founded The Virginia Opry, a country music troupe patterned after the Grand Ole Opry. In 1993, AAA founded STARS (Special Theatrical Artists Revue & Showcase) serves to provide an opportunity for all special needs performers who wish to perform, and no audition is required for a mentally or physically challenged individual to join the troupe that currently consists of 20 members. Both The Virginia Opry and STARS have performances scheduled at the Historic Masonic Theatre in 2016 and 2017 (see schedule).
P.O. Box 613
Clifton Forge, VA 24422