Friday, December 4, 2009

Retrospect: NCT by Curtis Brown

We hope to see you at The Hive (above Busy Bee Cafe) tonight for our gallery show - Retrospect: NCT by Curtis Brown. Curtis has been our production photographer for the past few seasons and we are excited to showcase his brilliant work!

We are also launching HipTix at the event. Buy your HipTix subscription tonight and here's what you get:
1. The chance to have a walk-on role in The Full Monty starring Ira David Wood III and Sally Struthers
2. The $8 handling fee waved

Curtis Brown Photography is raffling off FREE headshots as well as nine other other prizes!

This is something you don't want to miss!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Introducing...HipTix at NCT!

We are so excited to finally unveil this project! As you may already know, North Carolina Theatre has a program called Student Preview Night ($10 tickets for all students and teachers) and after you graduate from the program, it may be hard to make the jump from $10 to a full-priced ticket. So...after much brainstorming we have come up with HipTix and we hope a lot of young professionals in Raleigh will join the group!

How it works: purchase a HipTix subscription for $100 ($25 per show) - nearly 50% off the single ticket price - and enjoy the benefits!

HipTix members will attend the Wednesday night performance for each production. If for some reason you can't make that particular performance, we will gladly exchange your ticket(s) for either a Tuesday or Thursday evening.

Show Schedule
The Full Monty: March 3 at 8 PM
Cinderella: April 14 at 8 PM
Annie: July 28 at 8 PM
Little Shop of Horrors: September 22 at 8 PM

Benefits
*prices at nearly 50% off the single ticket price
*networking opportunities - at a designated Empire Eats restaurant there will be a pre-show reception with drink & appetizer specials, and you get to mingle with fellow HipTix members
*enjoy the Empire Eats employee discount (30% off!) for you and a guest four times a year, available during the run of the show
*additional special offers sent right to your inbox
*purchase additional single tickets at the subscriber discount
*personalized customer service

To download the order form and for FAQs, click here!

HipTix is sponsored by
HipTix members will receive special offers to the following restaurants:

Friday, November 20, 2009

Exciting Events at Winterfest & First Friday!

We are very excited to participate in Winterfest this year - Raleigh's premier holiday event - on Friday, December 4th from 5 to 11 PM. The plaza will be transformed into an outdoor skating rink and the event is a family-friendly celebration with lots of activities and performances for everyone to enjoy! Our very own Ray Walker will entertain audiences with his stunning voice in what we call a "Christmas Showstopper." Stay tuned for more details on when he will actually sing during the event.


As you already know, Ray Walker is a Broadway veteran - having been in Les Miserables, Grease and Jesus Christ Superstar. He also created the role of Freddie in the Off-Broadway revival of Chess, supervised by Tim Rice, and appeared in the world premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind. Currently, Ray is the artistic director for our Conservatory in North Raleigh. Check out our class listings here!

NCT will also be participating in First Friday with our fabulous production photographer, Curtis Brown for RETROSPECT: NC Theatre by Curtis Brown. Curtis has been our photographer for the past five seasons and we will showcase some of his most stunning pieces at The Hive (upstairs of Busy Bee Cafe) from 6 to 10 PM on Friday. Be sure to stop by and take a look at his work and mingle with fellow arts supporters! We will also be launching our new young professionals program called HipTix, so you don't want to miss out on that - especially if you are 30 and under - you qualify for great discounts to great shows!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

New Board Members

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS!
At the final board meeting of 2009, seven new board members were voted in including:
They join a prestigious group of community leaders who are committed to the mission of NC Theatre. We're excited to have them on board!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

NCT Featured on UNC-TV!

Hilary Russo, a reporter for UNC-TV, approached me this summer with an idea about promoting North Carolina Theatre on their station. The segment she was doing was North Carolina Destinations - and she felt that with our rich history in downtown Raleigh and North Carolina - we were an appropriate fit and great destination in Raleigh!

From there we began brainstorming possible people for her to interview to make the segment and quickly came up with our list:
De Ann Jones - Founder of NCT
Lisa Grele Barrie - Executive Director of NCT
Ray Walker - NC Theatre Conservatory Artistic Director
Lauren Kennedy - NC Theatre Alum/Broadway star
Kathleen Lynch - NC Theatre Alum/student in our Kids on Broadway program

The interview process went really well and I gave her footage of our past productions to showcase the quality and talent that is on our stage performance after performance. After Hilary put the finishing touches on the piece, it aired on Thursday, October 15th! In case you missed it, they put it up online as well! Click on this link (http://www.unctv.org/ncweekend/video_audio/october2009.html), scroll down to October 15th and click on NC Theatre! Enjoy!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Full Monty & Cinderella Auditions!

NC Theatre Auditions in Raleigh for
THE FULL MONTY and CINDERELLA (ENCHANTED EDITION)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2009

Seeking male and female singers, actor/singers and singers who dance.
All ethnicities are encouraged to audition.

Time: Vocal auditions begin at 2:30 PM, Saturday, December 12th.

Location: NC Theatre Studios/Conservatory (3043 Barrow Drive Raleigh, NC 27616)

Sign up: You may sign up for auditions ahead of time by calling Carolee Baxter (all contact information is below). To sign up ahead of time you must email, fax or mail your headshot (or photo) and resume and give your phone number, email and address (if it is not on your resume). Specific appointment times are not given. All auditionees are seen first come/first serve starting at 2:30 PM based on sign in position. Calling ahead gets your name on the list so you do not have to wait in line to sign up on the day of auditions. On the day of auditions, walk-ins will be accepted on a time available basis in the order in which he/she signs in. There is no fee associated with these auditions.

Please bring:
1. Two copies of headshot/resume.
2. Sheet music in your key. Audition song should be a musical theatre selection or piece in the style of the show that shows your vocal range and ability. Be prepared to sing 16 bars or more if asked. Accompanist provided by NC Theatre (no taped accompaniment or accapella allowed).
3. Loose clothing or dance attire, soft soled shoes or jazz and/or ballet shoes for callbacks.

Callbacks: Callbacks for both THE FULL MONTY and CINDERELLA (ENCHANTED EDITION) are the same day following the vocal auditions. Callbacks will include movement, reading and possibly more vocals.

Pay/contract: All adult roles (ages 18+) are paid. North Carolina Theatre employs Equity and nonEquity performers.

Please click the show specific audition links below for detailed information on audition procedures, age ranges being cast, roles available, show director and choreographer, rehearsal and performance dates and content.


To sign up to audition for THE FULL MONTY and/or CINDERELLA (ENCHANTED EDITION) on Saturday, December 12th or for more information after reading the details in the above links, please contact Carolee Baxter at 919/831-6941 x6945 or cbaxter@nctheatre.com. Photos and resumes can be emailed to the above email address, faxed to 919/831-6951 or mailed to: North Carolina Theatre, attn: Carolee Baxter, One East South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601.

NOTE: Please check www.nctheatre.com/theatre/auditions.html frequently for audition updates or possible changes.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Our Beautiful Cast!

Aren't they great?! You have FIVE chances left to see this show...tonight (10/23) at 8 PM, tomorrow (10/24) at 2 and 8 PM and Sunday (10/25) at 2 and 7 PM! If you haven't seen it, you better be there!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Reviews of West Side Story

There are six more performances of West Side Story and it has received rave reviews from patrons and critics alike! If you haven't already seen them, I'll give short snippets below and then a link to read the full review.

Roy Dicks of News & Observer said, "Right from the dazzling prologue, in which Jets and Sharks whiz, soar and collide with marvelous precision, the bar is set for high-energy, eye-popping sequences. Whether it's the stage-filling coupling in "Dance at the Gym," the sassy frenzy of "America," the angry contortions in "Cool" or the raunchy antics in "Officer Krupke," the entire company impresses mightily." Read the full review here.

Byron Woods of Independent Weekly states, "...this West Side registers with strong performances by principals. Josh Young and Catherine Cheng Jones both evoke a numinous sincerity as romantic leads Tony and Maria, the Romeo and Juliet figures in this gritty, urban retelling of Shakespeare's tragedy. Their voices are as sure as their characters in duets like "Tonight" and "Somewhere." Read the full review here.

Classical Voice of North Carolina says, "it is the ingenious way that producer Carolee Baxter and dynamic director/choreographer Josh Bergasse have put the pieces together with a vivacious cast and invigorating full orchestral accompaniment, with musical director Edward G. Robinson wielding a deft baton, that makes this 2009 Triangle edition of West Side Story not only a must-see musical, but a home-grown production to rival any Broadway tour." Read the full review here.

Monday, October 19, 2009

West Side Story Video

I was able to take some footage during the West Side Story dress rehearsal last week and wanted to share a few videos with you! We have 8 performances left - Tuesday, October 20 through Sunday, October 25. If you haven't seen the show yet, you do not want to miss it!











Friday, October 16, 2009

West Side Story Production Photos

Josh Young (Tony) sings "Maria"

Catherine Cheng Jones (Maria) and Josh Young (Tony) during "Tonight"


Balcony scene

Asmeret Ghebremichael (Anita) and the Shark Girls during "America"

The Jets dance during "Cool"

Fun dance shot during the Ballet Sequence

Tony & Maria during "Somewhere"

"Somewhere"

Maria & Anita during "A Boy Like That/I Have A Love"

Maria singing "I Have A Love"

Maria & Lt. Schrank (Chris King)