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!

Auditions

There is nothing quite like participating in the audition process. The atmosphere is laced with the full range of human emotions: excitement, anticipation, anxiety, impatience, joy, elation, pride, disappointment. Recent auditions for The Sound of Music elicited responses from over 330 talented, local performing artists who braved the heat and the crowds for a chance at 32 roles. The intensity of those who sit on the "other side of the door" and must evaluate and critique each and every performance in less than a minute (16 bars if you please) is another world of mind-boggling decision-making based on vision, role, type and talent.

For the past 6 months I have been in quasi "audition mode" as I performed the part of "Interim Executive Director" at NC Theatre. After a nationwide search, I was offered the role of a lifetime (Executive Director) and accepted with gratitude. I showed up and did my best and was cast. It was the right time and I was the right type. I encourage all local performers to come out for NC Theatre auditions because they provide unforgettable moments that build character and competence - it all starts with showing up!

Lisa Grele Barrie
Executive Director

Gratitude

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness.Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts."
~David O. McKay ~

So in this season of Thanksgiving, my thoughts turn to gratitude. As the Development Director, I used to tell people that I was in the "gratitude business." As Interim Executive Director, nothing much has changed except my title! Gratitude abounds here at NC Theatre: gratitude for our founder, De Ann Jones and her son Wally for the creation of our non-profit professional theatre celebrating our 25th anniversary year, gratitude for the City of Raleigh and Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts - the world-class venue in which we perform, gratitude for the unique American art form of musical theatre, gratitude for the thousands of talented actors, musicians and technicians who have created magic on our stage, gratitude for the thousands of patrons who have shared happy and tearful moments and countless standing ovations with us, gratitude for the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations whose resources ensure our continued growth and success, gratitude for our growing Theatre Education program and the young performers who train with such passion, gratitude for the hundreds of volunteers who have served on our board and as members of the Curtain Callers and finally gratitude for an exceptional hard-working staff that is committed to the mission and vision of NC Theatre.

Thank you in advance for sharing the gift of musical theatre from NC Theatre with a family member or friend - we'll give you two free tickets for every new season subscriber you refer!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Lisa Grele Barrie

The Times They Are A-Changin'

As many of you already know, Phantom was Wally's last show. He has been our executive director and producer for the last five years and has worked in essentially every position at the theatre since 1988. While we are very sad to see him go, we are also very happy and excited for the opportunities that he has ahead of him. He is now the president and executive producer for Casa Manana Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas. He is actually in New York City right now for auditions for their upcoming production, Annie, in December. We can't wait to hear all about it!

The office has been pretty quiet this week so far...we are tying up all of the loose ends from the show and don't have another main stage production until March 2009! Right now, we are in "interim" mode until the Board of Directors finalizes our new executive director and artistic director.

We are in very talented and capable hands - Lisa Grele Barrie is our interim executive director. She has been with NCT since 2003, where she was Development Director and then promoted to Managing Director at the beginning of this year. Casey Hushion is our interim artistic director and has worked on several NCT shows, including Phantom, The King and I starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Chess and several Kids on Broadway shows. She was also the associate director on two Tony Award-winning shows on Broadway - In the Heights and The Drowsy Chaperone! Carolee Baxter has been promoted to associate producer. She has been with NCT for the last nine years where she has held an array of positions, most recently as production manager.

Every staff member at NCT is dedicated to the artistic excellence that has been instilled in the theatre for the past 25 years and is excited for what the future holds! Stay tuned for further updates throughout this transition!