Theatre North Carolina

Did you know there was a new performing arts facility in Durham?

Just in case you forgot, or have been living under a rock. . .

Bull City fills the bill

Durham's new center offers more ways for area arts lovers to book their calendars

By Orla Swift, Staff Writer

DURHAM - If recent arts seasons left your datebook overflowing, get ready for a flood.

The 2,800-seat Durham Performing Arts Center opens Nov. 30, and its first burst of bookings includes Bill Cosby, David Sedaris, B.B. King, a Chinese variety show and a "Rent" tour with two of the original Broadway stars. Those events will compete for attention with Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Bublé, Broadway touring shows and other large-scale productions in Raleigh's major venues.

"Our booking mission is really to have something for everyone," says Bob Klaus, general manager of the new center. "I just can't wait to open the doors and show Triangle theater and live entertainment fans what a fantastic home for entertainment DPAC will be."

Durham's $46.8 million investment in the arts brings bragging rights to the largest theater in the Carolinas. It tops Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium by 523 seats and roughly doubles the capacity of Duke University's Page Auditorium and UNC-CH's Memorial Hall.

Read the rest. . .

newsobserver.com | Bull City fills the bill

It's the Experience Stupid!

I love Arena Stage and Chad Bauman. I think he really gets it and he's not afraid to share it. We need to remember that it's not just the production, but the entire experience that matters. It's not that the concept is that new or innovative. It's that someone is actually taking action! Congrats Arena Stage for leading the way! Here's the full post. Make sure to keep an eye on what they are doing!

Recently Arena Stage held a couple of focus groups about membership programs at Shugoll Research in Bethesda, MD. While I was there trying to figure out whether or not a membership program could supplement our subscription options, I learned another lesson entirely.

Our first group was with recent lapsed subscribers, and we asked them why they decided not to renew their subscription. We got several answers that we anticipated--our move to temporary venues while our new building is being built, the selection of shows, not enough time, don't want to commit, etc. And I got some answers that I completely wasn't expecting:
--"I love the productions, but I was having a tough time getting a cab after the performance, even though I asked house management prior to the show. I don't want to stand around for a half hour waiting on one."
--"I understand your move to Crystal City, but do you really have to charge $5 for a cup of coffee at concessions."
--"Parking is going to be difficult at the Lincoln Theatre. I know you have valet parking, but at such a large venue, it is going to take forever to get our vehicle."

These issues had nothing to do with the product, the sales vehicles, the messaging, or anything else that a marketer normally thinks about. They have to do with the entire experience. Reflecting on these comments, I have made it my number one commitment that we will provide the best overall experience of any theater in the metro area. To do this, we have changed the way we do business, and are looking for more opportunities everyday.

We now:
1. Offer free coffee and cookies at every performance, and for every patron. Our customer service mission includes positioning ourself as "warm and friendly." What is more warm and friendly then free coffee and cookies.
2. We are working with our valet company to get the timing of every vehicle return down to 10 minutes, which is quite an accomplishment in DC on a Friday evening. We are using shuttles to shuttle valet drivers back and forth so they don't have to run to vehicles, and therefore don't get fatigued or winded. I literally have stood at the front of the theater with our Director of Audience Services and have timed the delivery of cars. We still have a little way to go, but are making headway.
3. We now require our ushers to where black and white, and have brand new name badges. They are trained to welcome each guest at the door, route them to the free cookie and coffee bar, and then thank them when they leave. We actively seek ways in which we can go out of our way to help people (i.e. loaning an arm to an elderly patron to assist in getting out of a vehicle, walking people to a nearby restaurant, etc.)
4. We have opened our house to both food and drink. I initially thought this was going to be a disaster and we would have to increase our cleaning staff, but our audiences are very respectful of the space and there haven't been any issues. And our patrons love taking food and drink into the space.
5. We started a Money Back Guarantee for our subscribers. If they don't like the first show, we will refund their subscription. This puts the pressure on us to solve every problem they have, and to provide the best service.
6. I moved a significant amount of funds into a "customer service" allocation. If we make a mistake, or it is perceived that we made a mistake, not only will we fix it, but we will make sure our customers leave happy. If this means buying them drinks, giving them a restaurant gift certificate, a free CD, or something else, we have funds for this purpose.

These are just a couple of things off the top of my head. I am very lucky in that I have a Director of Audience Services who is phenomenal, and is just as committed to this as I am. If you have any great ideas, please share...

Arts Marketing: Remember the entire experience

NC Shakespeare Festival

Shakespearean Showcase: Festival in High Point does some shifting about as it alternates productions of King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing

By Mary Martin Niepold

SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL

Published: September 7, 2008

Like vintage wine, the N.C. Shakespeare Festival seems to get better by the year. The festival's 32nd season kicked into gear last night with Much Ado About Nothing and begins rotating that production with King Lear, which is set to open Saturday. The two plays alternate performances, showcasing two of Shakespeare's best loved works.

The festival has served the Piedmont Triad and the state with a slate of impressively well-performed works since its inception in 1977. Along the way, it has satisfied the need for classics among a large and faithful audience in central North Carolina and taken the classics to students statewide.

Several things are new this season. The festival has moved to a new administrative and rehearsal space in High Point called Spirit Center that is large enough to accommodate offices, shops for scenery and costumes, two large rehearsal halls and rooms that can double as conference rooms and workshop space.

"Now, for the first time in our history, we have everything in one place," said Pedro Silva, the festival's managing director. "This is our new permanent home."

Read the rest. . .

Shakespearean Showcase: Festival in High Point does some shifting about as it alternates productions of King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing

Box and Cox!

This Thursday! Don't miss it!

Coming Thursday: The first in a series of salvos celebrating downtown landmark Thalian Hall's 150th anniversary. That's when Box and Cox, a 19th century farce first performed at Thalian in 1858, the year the theater opened, will return to the historic stage.

Read the rest. . .

Thalian Hall celebrates 150th anniversary with 1800s farce | StarNewsOnline.com | Star-News | Wilmington, NC

Are You Watching?!

Watch the Bard-a-thon Live

Watch the Bard-a-thon Live!
September 5 - 7, 2008

NC Stage - Watch the Bard-a-thon Live

'night Mother

’night, Mother

By Marsha Norman

September 12–28, 2008
Raleigh Little Theatre Gaddy-Goodwin Theatre (General Admission Seating)

Drama. “I didn’t want you to save me. I just wanted you to know ...tonight is private, yours and mine.” This Pulitzer Prize-winning two-person drama takes a deeply personal look into the lives of Jessie Cates and her Mama, Thelma, on what seems like an ordinary Saturday night. Jessie’s announcement that she intends to commit suicide at the end of the evening sparks an intense dialogue between mother and daughter. Secrets spill out, and stark realizations are forced into the light.

'night, Mother | Raleigh Little Theatre

I LOVE Floyd Collins

FLOYD COLLINS
Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel
Book and Additional Lyrics by Tina Landau
Weekends October 3 - 19
In the tradition of HART’s production of “Parade,” we bring you one of the most beautiful musicals of recent years relating the true story from the 1920’s of a Kentucky cave explorer whose life and death became a legend.

Sex, Drugs and Lots of Bands!

Ghost & Spice

SEX, DRUGS, ROCK & ROLL
by Eric Bogosian

Director: Rus Hames

Featuring: Jeff Alguire, Rus Hames, Tony Hughes, and Lormarev Jones

A Different Live Band Every Night! (see list below)

September 5 and 6, 11-13, 18-20 at 8pm.

Special show Sunday, September 14 at 7pm.
Presented at

Common Ground Theatre, 4815B Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC 27705
About SEX, DRUGS, ROCK AND ROLL

Funny, fascinating, edgy and provocative, Bogosian’s collection of losers from all levels of society takes us deep into the arid, pitted landscape of their individual worlds. Intense, but often subtle, and hilarious, here is a perceptive view of a society without moorings from the playwright and bestselling author who brought us “suburbia” and “Talk Radio.”

Click here to order tickets online through etix
(888) 239-9253

for ticket and general Ghost & Spice information.
BANDS

Friday, 9/5, 8:00 – Pnuerotics

Saturday, 9/6, 8:00 – Roxcetera

Thursday, 9/11, 8:00 – Hammer No More the Fingers (HNMTF)

Friday, 9/12, 8:00 – Sea Cow

Saturday, 9/13, 8:00 – Veronique Diabolique

Sunday, 9/14, 7:00 – Lost in the Trees

Thursday, 9/18, 8:00 – Veronica Blood

Friday, 9/19, 8:00 – Pink Flag

Saturday, 9/20, 8:00 – TBA

With its “small but mighty” approach to theatre, Ghost & Spice Productions puts special emphasis on high standards of acting and directing while minimizing production costs. Its rich storytelling brings audiences varied, engaging, and affordable professional theatre.

Ghost & Spice

Nothing to do with theatre

Coming Up at Flat Rock!

Flat Rock Playhouse : Calendar 2008 : Unnecessary Farce