ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Get in on the act
There are so many cultural opportunities here, it can be tough to decide what experience to take in. Here are some navigational tools.
The music scene
Fayetteville's music scene is robust and diverse, attracting high-quality national acts and producing some talented local and regional ones.
Jesters Pub recently hosted a sold-out performance by Daughtry, the "American Idol" phenom whose debut CD reached the No. 1 Billboard spot. Jesters, normally Fayetteville's home for heavy metal and hard rock, has enjoyed visits from Drowning Pool, GWAR, Anthrax and Agent Orange, among many others.
Gotham City, formerly Gotham Blues, in downtown Fayetteville has made a name for itself by hosting such artists as Tyrese and for creating its own "American Idol"-style talent search.
Also downtown, the newly opened Festival Park is home to the Fayetteville After Five concert series, which runs May through September, as well as the Dogwood Festival, which recently featured headliner JoJo.
The multivenue Crown Center, consisting of the Crown Coliseum, the Crown Theatre and the Crown Arena, is a great destination for many larger touring acts. Trace Adkins, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chris Brown, LL Cool J and Rod Stewart have all made stops at the Crown.
Several local venues support live music throughout the week, including the Rock Shop, Louie's Sports Pub, Huske Hardware, Big Harry's Tavern, Paddy's: An Irish Public House, and It'z Entertainment City.
Who We Are
Staff photo by Cindy Burnham
Kim Vaquilar, left, the artistic director for Stage Door Theatre, works on short-form improvisation with Allison Lingenfelter.
Kim Vaquilar How long have you lived in the area? "I was born and raised here. I really do remember when there was nothing to do here." How do you get involved in the community? When Vaquilar isn't participating in improv, she's teaching it at the Stage Door Theatre, where she's the artistic director. Vaquilar and three friends started the theater about five years ago after wanting to fill the improv void in Fayetteville. "Sometimes the people that have no experience whatsoever are the best ones," she said. "They're not bringing in any extra baggage, no bad habits. For someone that thinks it looks fun, I would tell them, 'Come out and do it.' It's a very accepting and encouraging environment." Tip: The Stage Door Theatre offers improv classes. The next short-form session (think Drew Carey's "Whose Line is it Anyway") begins in August. To find out more, call 433-2900 or go to www.thestagedoortheatre.org. |
Regional theater
Cape Fear Regional Theatre: The Fayetteville theater heads into its 46th season this fall. Musicals, dramas and special events are on the playbill.
The season opens in September with "Oliver!" Other plays tentatively scheduled are "Good Ole Girls," based on the writings of North Carolina authors Lee Smith and Jill McCorkle; "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story"; "Moonlight and Magnolias," a farce about the making of the movie "Gone with the Wind"; "Porgy and Bess," to be produced in cooperation with Fayetteville State University; and either "White Christmas" or "Company."
The theater also plans an outdoor show at the Campbellton Landing stage, an Oktoberfest on Oct. 20, a student production of "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" and a Blues-N-Brews festival May 31, 2008.
For more information, call 323-4234 or visit www.cfrt.org.
The Gilbert Theater: The theater started in 1994 as a "black box" in the basement of founder Lynn Pryer's home. It now stages productions in downtown Fayetteville at 116 Green St., above Fascinate-U Children's Museum.
The Gilbert stages modern plays, classics and original works. Past shows have benefited area charitable organizations.
The season opens with "Doctor! Doctor!" in September. It's followed by "A Christmas Carol" in late November, "Belle of Amherst" in January, "Rabbit Hole" in April and "Cabaret" in June.
For more information, call 678- 7186 or visit www.gilberttheater.com.
The Stage Door Theatre: The theatrical company stages a weekly improvisational show and also produces plays at its home base at 934 Cambridge St., next to Tallywood Shopping Center. The theater also presents "That Improv Show!" Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. For more information, call 433-2900.
Broadway's Best Series: The series features touring productions of some of Broadway's most popular shows at the Crown Theatre in Fayetteville. Shows are "Gypsy," Nov. 9; "The Producers," Feb. 4; "Ring of Fire," March 14; and "Chicago," April 4. Tickets start at $25. For more information, call 438-4100.
Sandhills Theatre Company: The theater stages plays at various locations, including Owens Auditorium on the campus of Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst and the Sunrise Theatre in Southern Pines. For more information, call (910) 281-0661 or visit www.sandhillstheatre.com.
Temple Theatre: Housed in a former vaudeville house, the downtown Sanford theater has been producing plays since 1984. It attracts a regional audience with a blend of musicals, dramas and comedies. For more information, call (919) 774-4155 or visit www.templeshows.com.
Givens Performing Arts Center, on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke: The Arts Center's season includes concerts, a "Broadway and More" series and a Distinguished Speakers Series. The theater season opens Oct. 4 with "Hairspray." "Rent" is scheduled for November, followed by "Evita" in January and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in March.
Other events include "A Viennese Christmas" in December, a performance by the State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico in February and "Swan Lake" by the St. Petersburg State Ballet Theatre in March. Concerts include Tony Orlando in September, a Beatles tribute in October and Bobby Goldsboro in January. For more information, call (910) 521-6287 or visit www.uncp.edu/gpac.
Harnett Regional Theatre: The Dunn theater stages comedies, dramas and musicals at the Stewart Theater, 114 N. Wilson Ave. For more information, call (910) 892-8142 or visit www.onlinehrt.org.
Robeson Little Theatre: The theater stages a drama, a comedy and a musical annually. For more information, call (910) 618-9401.
Methodist University: The college has a full schedule of productions planned. First up is "Moonchildren," scheduled for October. Next up is "Talking With..." in November, followed by a children's show or musical in February. Other plays under consideration are "Wind in the Willows," "Charlotte's Web" and "Little Women." For more information, call 630-7000.
Fayetteville State University: The college stages productions at Butler Theatre and Seabrook Auditorium. Scheduled productions are "Tartuffe" in September, "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men" in November and "Pinocchio" in February. For more information, call 672-1111 or visit www.uncfsu.edu.
Who We Are
Phillip LynchHow long have you lived in the area? "I was born in Durham, but before I was 1 year old we moved here," said the 15-year-old student at Cross Creek Early College High School on the campus of Fayetteville State University.
How do you get involved in the community? "I've done the summer drama camp at Cape Fear Regional Theatre for a couple of years. This year, I was an assistant counselor." Phillip also has acted in regional theater plays such as "The Jungle Book," "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "High School Musical."
Tip: Cape Fear Regional Theatre holds two summer theater workshops a year, and the theater often is looking for actors and technicians to help out with plays. To find out more, call 323-4234.
Updated: August, 2007