Silver Season for
Lees-McRae Summer Theatre

Program celebrates 25th anniversary with Broadway hits

By Frank Ruggiero

Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is celebrating its 25th anniversary in true Broadway fashion. They’re putting on a musical. Or three.

This summer’s slate features Cats, The Secret Garden and Guys & Dolls, offering visitors and residents a different show each month. Cats opens on June 17, The Secret Garden on July 3, and Guys & Dolls on July 30.

This year’s selection adds to the program’s rich history in Banner Elk, and its origins can be traced back to the arrival of artistic director Janet Barton Speer.

In 1978, Speer had joined the Lees-McRae faculty, teaching classes and helping build the college’s acclaimed performing arts program, while also directing numerous productions. With no venue for summertime productions, though, she would often travel off the mountain to direct.

“Dean Jim Stonesifer was tired of Speer going off in the summers to work for other people and venues,” a Lees-McRae press release reads. “He had the vision of a summer theatre program at Lees-McRae College; and it was Speer who would bring this vision to fruition. Collaboratively, these two visionaries planted the seeds of what has become a 20-year journey of theatre, education and outreach.”

As such, Lees-McRae Summer Theatre hoisted the curtain July 17, 1985 for its premiere season, featuring I Do! I Do!, The Mousetrap, Coming of Age and Where Are Friends When You Need Them?, two of which were written by Speer.

According to the release, these performances brought 3,403 audience members to Hayes Auditorium on the Lees-McRae campus.

“The initial years of summer theatre had a wonderful community theater feel to it, which we still cherish today as we have moved into the professional theatre arena,” a Lees-McRae spokesperson said. “Both staff and productions have grown steadily since the opening night of I Do! I Do!, and we are very proud the programs and services offered to patrons and donors.”

According to the release, as of 2004, summer theatre staff totals almost 100 paid performers, technicians and managers, and audience attendance tops 6,000 each summer, with an approximate annual operating budget of $150,000.

And the program continues to expand, ringing in its 25th anniversary with three new programs: a performing arts camp, internship program and volunteer program.

“We may not have the bells and whistles, but we will always have the heart,” Speer said in the release.

Schedule of Performances

Cats
Evening shows: June 17-20 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinees: June 18, 20-21, all at 2 p.m.

The Secret Garden
Evening shows: July 3, 6, 13, 15 and 16, all at 7:30 p.m.
Matinees: July 5 and 15, both at 2 p.m.

Guys & Dolls
Evening shows: July 30-31, Aug. 1 and 3, all at 7:30 p.m.
Matinees: July 30, Aug. 1-2, all at 2 p.m.

Tickets

Tickets are available in advance and cost $24 for adults and $13 for students and children. Matinees cost $19 for adults and $9 for students and children.

The box office is located in Hayes Auditorium on the Lees-McRae campus and can be reached at (828) 898-8709. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, from noon to 5 p.m. (June 1 through Aug. 3 only).

Tickets are also available online at www.lmc.edu/web/SummerTheatre/BoxOffice.htm.