 Happy Holidays! This year at Theatre Charlotte, with our third production of A Christmas Carol on stage, we are taking a lesson from Ebenezer Scrooge. If Theatre Charlotte was visited by Scrooge’s three spirits, what might they have to show us? Here’s where we think each ghost might bring us:
GHOST OF THEATRE CHARLOTTE PAST
SCENE 1 – The spirit would bring us back in time to 1928 at the Carnegie Library in downtown Charlotte where The Charlotte Drama League was holding its first performance, a production of “Outward Bound.”
SCENE 2 – Stars a 21 year old from Indiana named Thomas Humble being named the first artistic director of the Little Theatre of Charlotte. Mr. Humble’s tenure included 37 seasons and 216 main stage productions.
SCENE 3 – Takes place during the first week of December in 1941 when the production of “George Washington Slept Here” marked the opening of The Little Theatre’s brand new facility on Queens Road.
SCENE 4 – Rather than detailing the stories of the thousands of lives who have been changed by Theatre Charlotte, we simply see a slideshow of all the faces and events that Theatre Charlotte has been able to make an impact on. As Charlotte’s community theatre, many are first exposed to theatre here at Theatre Charlotte. Our lights have lit the way for hundreds of actors to have the chance to be on stage, learn from the area’s best directors, and progress their careers. Our doors have opened the imagination of countless audience members and swept them away to lands near and far. With 82 years under its belt, Theatre Charlotte has touched thousands of area residents with its 443 productions.
GHOST OF THEATRE CHARLOTTE PRESENT
SCENE 1 – The Ghost of Theatre Charlotte Present begins our journey in the lobby of Theatre Charlotte. Here we see a beautifully decorated lobby filled to the brim with a sold out crowd. On the mantle are awards for the 2008 Community Theatre of the Year from the North Carolina Theatre Conference and several awards from the Metrolina Theatre Association including the 2008/09 Outstanding Musical of the Year.
SCENE 2 – The spirit takes us backstage where volunteers are hard at work. We can tell that the volunteer base has doubled in the past two years and that the number of students involved has nearly quadrupled! We look at a calendar and see that it is full of new and exciting events including the New Year’s Eve Celebration, Valentine’s Day Murder Mystery Series Wine, Chocolate, and Murder, Musical Movie Series, and Junior Cabaret, not to mention monthly series including just do it and The Saturday Night Cine Club with the Charlotte Film Society.
SCENE 3 – Suddenly we’re taken on stage where some of the best talent in Charlotte is delivering a top quality performance! We see tremendously dedicated volunteers who have given weeks or even months of their time to be a part of this production. The audience is filled with an enthusiastic crowd of devoted patrons, season ticket holders, and first time theatre-goers.
GHOST OF THEATRE CHARLOTTE FUTURE
SCENE 1 – The Ghost of Theatre Charlotte Future first takes us to a future that might not be so bright. Without the support of our patrons and volunteers, Theatre Charlotte has had to make drastic cuts and can no longer afford to produce outstanding theatre opportunities. The building is dark, empty, and cold. No awards adorn the mantle. No events fill the calendar.
SCENE 2 – In the blink of an eye the spirit transforms the scene. Now we see what the future can be like with the support of Theatre Charlotte’s patrons and volunteers. Generous donations have helped to pave the way for more outstanding productions. Volunteers are hard at work, teaching and learning the art of live theatre. Audience members flood the theatre to be taken away by another magical performance. The theatre is once again filled with cheer.
Now, we invite you to help us write Theatre Charlotte’s future. Please consider supporting Theatre Charlotte with a donation. You may download and fill out the form below and mail it in with a check or credit card information or you may donate online by clicking the DONATE button below. On the donation form you will find a space where you can write in what you think the Ghost of Theatre Charlotte Future would show us! Then check the website to see what other patrons are saying that our future holds.
Again, thank you for your commitment to Theatre Charlotte. Together we can continue to changes lives through theatre.
Thank you and happy holidays!
Ron Law Jackie Timmons
Executive Director Director of Development |
