Personal Injury Attorneyin Simpsonville, SC.

Brooks is starring in the new reimagined version as the character Sofia

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Simpsonville native and Golden Globe-nominated actress Danielle Brooks returned home to bring the new Color Purple movie to the Upstate for a private screening on Sunday.

Brooks was overjoyed when she arrived in the Regal Simpsonville Theater, her daughter at her side, to see her ‘village’ come out to support her.

“My village is in the building today. Y’all know its been a journey,” she said. “Truly I would not be here without you all. Growing up this has been my foundation, Simpsonville, South Carolina.”

She goes on to say Bethlehem Baptist Church has been her foundation. This is when she got the desire to become an actress.

“I’ve been going to Bethlehem since I was four,” said Brooks, “and it really has shaped me in so many ways. My first play was at church at six...from there the bug started.”

Brooks later attended the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and then Julliard. She thanked her community for their contributions on her journey.

“You all poured into me whether you gave me two dollars, twenty dollars or two-hundred dollars, I thank you,” said Brooks.

Brooks, 34, is playing Sofia in the new reimagined Color Purple film. A character she also played on Broadway during the 2015- 2017 revival of the stage musical alongside Jennifer Hudson as Shug Avery and Cynthia Enviro as Celie.

“Sofia is a representation of women owning their power and so to be that and learn how to do that walking in the shoes of Sofia everyday has been a real cool experience to do.” said Brooks, “and so I’m excited for young girls and women and men to witness to this story because it truly is for everyone.”

The role of Sofia was originated in the 1985 film version by Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey was one of the producers on the revival version of ‘The Color Purple’ on Broadway, which is where Brooks first connected with the media mogul.

“She’s just been a very great resource just giving me great advice on this industry and even just how to be a good human being,” said Brooks, “and yea it’s just been really wonderful getting to connect with her in this way.”

The film is set to be released in theaters on Christmas Day.

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As Simpsonville gears up for voters to head to polls on Nov. 7 to choose City Council representatives, unpacking who is running for which seat may be difficult.

Councilmembers Matthew Gooch (Ward 1), Jenn Hulehan (Ward 3) and Ken Cummings (Ward 5) are not seeking reelection. Mayor Paul Shewmaker is the only incumbent on the ballot. In addition, Shannon Williams (Ward 3) is the only candidate running unopposed.

Mayor

Incumbent: Paul Shewmaker

Position: Retired director of human resources and does HR consulting work

Years as mayor: 3.5

What do you plan to work on if reelected? Complete the major projects council has begun, including the new municipal complex and renovation of Simpsonville Park, improved walkability and traffic flow downtown, making South Main a better festival venue, and extending the Swamp Rabbit Trail to Heritage Park. Continue developing a plan to help the people most affected by stormwater runoff during heavy rains. My highest priority is to continue the leadership, integrity and civility I have brought to the mayor’s office and council meetings during my first term.

Challenger: Warner Bouzek

Position: Owner of King Tut Grill in Simpsonville

What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? The one thing that needs the most focus is getting families to and from work or school more easily. I plan to work heavily with the county and state to improve the infrastructure and prepare for the next 20 years. Families should be spending more time at home and less time on the road stuck in traffic.

Challenger: Janice Curtis

Position: Owner of Merle Norman Cosmetics and Spa in Simpsonville

What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? I have established relationships with our county, state and federal representatives. I have personally met with the representatives to discuss flooding in our community and remedies. I look forward to working with county representatives to curtail problems Simpsonville encounters when new developments are approved in the county. The traffic must be addressed in our community. I know the city currently has a traffic plan in place, but this will take substantial time to complete. We must have safety precautions in place for neighborhoods that will be used as cut through during roadwork. I have a proven record of rolling up my sleeves and doing the hard work and keeping promises.

Ward 1

Candidate: Erin Medlin

Position: Realtor and English instructor at USC Upstate and Spartanburg Community College.

What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? Simpsonville has grown exponentially, which requires sustainable growth and infrastructure to be our top priority. I want to see that growth carried out in a transparent and viable fashion, with input from our citizens. Growth without plans for implementation leads to a poor quality of life for everyone and Simpsonville deserves a livable community today and for the future. I have started the conversation with our county and state representatives on how we can work together to solve some of these issues.

Candidate: Chad O’Rear

Position: Care navigator with Providence Care

What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? One of my first orders of business is to work towards a repeal of ordinance No. 2018-07 which requires a “super majority” vote to make decisions about the employment of the city administrator and department heads. Secondly, re-open Hunter Street. Thirdly, be more available, receptive and transparent with the citizens of Simpsonville.

Candidate: Skip Strong

Position: CNC/EDM machinist

What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? I am a strong supporter of our law enforcement and first responders and believe that more staffing, equipping and training is necessary to keep up with the growth that Simpsonville is experiencing. I’d say the general consensus is that people feel safe parking downtown and walking to restaurants, shopping, music venues, etc. Let’s maintain that level of comfort and safety as we grow.

Ward 3

Candidate: Shannon Williams

Position: Homemaker

What is one thing you plan to change if elected? I think there has already been some wonderful work done by the city council. I am looking forward to contributing to the positive changes the city has made and will continue to make. I would like to focus on the community and making sure Simpsonville is a great place for all of its citizens. I am open and here to listen to the people of Simpsonville.

Ward 5

Candidate: Tim Pinkerton

Position: Retired from the construction and engineering industry

What is one thing you plan to change if elected? I would change the counterclockwise proposed traffic switch and develop safe passage through the heart of Simpsonville without creating more traffic through and affecting neighborhoods. My construction-business background suits the need of a representative with a common-sense approach to growth with a focus on maintaining our infrastructure before city enhancements.

Candidate: Jermaine Smith

Position: Trainer at Michelin

What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? I am looking at bringing change through economic opportunities for existing and new residents of Simpsonville, so that everyone can have a hand in the growth of the community.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. —

At the age of 19, Simpsonville native Parris Goodman is starting to truly see the fruits of her labor.

"The Color Purple," one of the most iconic titles in film and literature, will be in theaters across the country on Christmas day in the form of a new adaptation of the original 1985 film.

Goodman is one of two Upstate natives set to grace the big screen. Goodman is cast as TEEN Lil Cat, beating out roughly 3,000 other prospects.

"This is like a dream come true. I prayed for times like this and I’m super grateful,” Goodman said. "This is based off the Broadway show, the book and original movie. It’s more uplifting and rooted around sisterhood.”

Goodman said she attended virtual school at home, following an in-person schooling experience in middle school to further pursue acting. She detailed her battles with self-doubt, finding herself, and the importance of mental health as her acting journey started back in 2018 following her first stage play.

"I heard the reaction from the crowd, and I fell in love with it," Goodman said. "So, I did it again in 2020, and I was like, oh, I can get used to this. I've learned that you just can’t give up. You can have those small breaks to get yourself together, but you’re going to have to get back up. You’re going to have to keep on going, and you are going to have to stop doubting yourself."

Following her second stage play in 2020, Goodman joined Spartanburg-based Stisa Talent Agency under the leadership of Steve and Lisa Lopez.

Goodman thanked her immediate family, her Stisa family, along with anyone who has supported her along the way. She also talked about the importance of her faith and how that has led her to continue on a rewarding path.

"In middle school, I wasn’t as close as I should’ve been to God and going into home school, I was by myself, so I only had him," Goodman said. "So I had to get close with him and it’s like he made me a promise – if I get through high school and keep my faith with him, that he’ll make this happen. You ever question yourself, like are you loved? This definitely shows me that I’m loved.”

"The Color Purple" will be in theaters on Monday, Dec. 25.

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. —

A band that canceled their concert in Simpsonville, South Carolina, due to weather is addressing the backlash the cancelation caused online and announcing their rescheduled show Thursday night also won't happen.

(Video above was a report on Wednesday about the Tuesday night show cancelation)

The Swedish rock band Ghost was set to perform at the CCNB Amphitheatre Tuesday night.

Some fans say they drove from hours away to see the band but weather forced the show to be canceled.

Several concertgoers reached out to WYFF News 4 on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning about their concerns over how the communication was handled.

You can watch fan reaction and what the city of Simpsonville said Wednesday below:

About 9 p.m. Wednesday night the band went on social media to explain what happened and announced their Thursday night show is canceled as well.

The message addressed to "Children of South Carolina (and beyond)!" started off with an apology to fans and said they had to "maneuver through a lot of bureaucratic hoops."

It said the band was concerned about the weather Tuesday morning and were assured the weather would be fine later in the day.

According to the message, it started raining heavily during the morning set up and some of the equipment started to malfunction.

The band said the equipment was repaired and parts were swapped to "make the show happen."

When the opening band started Ghost said "a sudden torrential rain began (as well as thunder), and the entire stage was completely flooded."

The band said as the rain subsided "it was clear that many of the key components of our show presentation were totally inoperable, mainly the sound and lighting control consoles, definably a show stopping problem. All in all, it was impossible for us to perform and we told the venue this."

The post went on to say, "We insisted the venue/promoter explain IMMEDIATELY to all our fans that were patiently waiting to be let back into the venue but we were met with legalese."

To read how Simpsonville responded to complaints on Wednesday, click here.

The band said in the post that despite effort to get the system working again it was clear nothing would work.

Due to that the band said it has to cancel the rescheduled Thursday concert as well.

The post said "Refunds will be issued automatically at point of purchase, there is nothing further ticketholders need to do."

"We are heartbroken thinking about what all you fans were put through because of this."

To read the full statement, click here.

The city of Simpsonville provided the following statement on Thursday morning:

"The City of Simpsonville is proud of the role that the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park plays in the high quality of life in Simpsonville and looks forward to remaining concerts and festivals this season."

Are you looking for a restaurant near Simpsonville, SC? Whether you are looking for a restaurant for a specific meal or occasion, this guide can help. We also broke down our list into sections of Simpsonville due to it’s size.

Spread across the lower half of Greenville County, getting from one end of Simpsonville, South Carolina to the other can be time-consuming if you’re not familiar! Locals know to ask for more details when someone says, “Meet me in Simpsonville” because that could mean several different sides of town. We’ve sorted out our restaurant list into sections of Simpsonville: Fairview Road, Five Forks, Downtown Simpsonville, and Fountain Inn.

Where In Simpsonville, South Carolina Are You Headed?

There are three major areas within Simpsonville:

Fountain Inn, SC: Not to be forgotten, but just outside of the Simpsonville border is Fountain Inn. This small town in Greenville County is just five and a half square miles and includes some of our favorite places to grab food.

Don’t miss the new and super cool Scuffletown Food Truck Park in Simpsonville!

Breakfast in Simpsonville

Big Apple Doughnut Cafe – Fairview RoadLearn more from Kidding Around – Big Apple Doughnut & Cafe Is A Doughnut Lovers Dream Come True.

Maple Street Biscuit Company – Five Forks Delicious biscuit sandwiches, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and more are on the menu for breakfast. Come hungry because the portions are enormous! Go early because they can get swamped on the weekends.

Lunch in Simpsonville

Uncle Bertos Burritos – Five Forks A delicious spot to grab some authentic Mexican Food!

Henry’s Smokehouse – Downtown Simpsonville Pull up a chair and enjoy some delicious BBQ!

The Sheriff Burger – 1020 Northeast Main Street, SimpsonvilleDelicious and unique fusion burgers that locals are loving.

Southern Catch – Fairview Road A no-frills southern-fried-seafood restaurant. It’s only open three days a week, so plan to have lunch at this off-the-beaten-path cafe. It’s past all of the commercial areas on Fairview Road.

Dinner in Simpsonville

Shortfields – Downtown Simpsonville In business for over a decade, Shortfields serves everything from burgers and fries to grilled salmon. They also have a reasonably priced kid’s menu in addition to the extensive menu.

Golden Llama – Five Forks Healthy and delicious Peruvian cuisine is an exotic way to enjoy dinner without offending the pickiest eaters in your family. Golden llama’s menu includes grilled meat dishes, salads, and more.

Lin’s Asian Cafe – Five Forks The menu at Lin’s includes sushi, Chinese-American dishes, Thai cuisine, hibachi, and more! They also have several lunch specials that make them an excellent choice for that meal.

Romantic Restaurants in Simpsonville

Stella’s Southern Bistro – Fairview Road An area favorite, this southern bistro utilizes the local farmers to inspire the food on the menu.

Unterhausen – The Castle Cellar Pub – Downtown Simpsonville This hidden gem of Simpsonville is tucked away in the basement of a castle. OK, maybe not a castle, but pretending is fun, right? Once you enter, you’ll forget that you didn’t cross a moat to get in—the intimate size of Unterhausen. The German beer and the delicious Bavarian food will have you wondering how it took you so long to discover this place.

Places With Delicious Food In Fountain Inn

Bobby’s BBQ & Seasonings Learn more from Kidding Around – Bobby’s BBQ & Seasoning in Fountain Inn, SC Will Have You Begging For Seconds.

Gio’s BakeryLearn more from Kidding Around – Gio’s Pastry Shop: An Edible Trip To Italy Is Just Around The Corner in Fountain Inn, SC.

More spots to try out in Fountain Inn

Best For Young Kids

Warehouse at Vaughns – Downtown Simpsonville This food hall venue not only has a selection of different food vendors to order from (so everyone gets what they want), there is a large outdoor seating area with plenty of space for kids to run around. Bourbon Street Burgers | Tacos and Bla Bla Bla | Anchor Raw Bar | Southern Freight | Humble Pie Pizza Co | Pineapple Express | Crazy Cow Creamery | The Peanut Co.

Bova Pizza – Five Forks With a menu including brick oven pizzas, pasta dishes, and even chicken tenders, it’s the holy trinity of picky-eater options.

Ice Cream Station – Downtown Simpsonville This walk-up ice cream shop is suitable for kids (and kids at heart) of all ages! Plus, they have Dole-Whip, for you Disney World fans!

Best for Business

Exchange Coffee Co – Downtown Simpsonville Enjoy an early morning meeting with coffee or a meal of crepes at the Exchange Coffee Co.

Budget Friendly

Coach House Family Restaurant – Fairview Road This Greek/Diner-style restaurant has an extensive menu with an all-day breakfast menu, burgers, gyros, salads, seafood, and more. You’ll be hard-pressed not to find something you’re craving on this menu, and it’s all reasonably priced.

Take Out

Mei Mei House – Fairview Road Chinese take-out is always a good idea! Mei Mei house has been in that location for over a decade, and locals love the food here!