OnStage: Blumenthal Performing Arts Fall/Winter 13-14

onstage

Fall/Winter 2013-14

The Book of Mormon: A Joyous Bundle Unwrapped p. 12

Sleeping Beauty: A Gothic Fairy Tale p. 10

KNIGHT THEATER Levine Center for the Arts

The Mountaintop Imagines King’s Last Night p. 7

BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Belk Theater • Booth Playhouse Stage Door Theater

SPIRIT SQUARE

McGlohon Theater Duke Energy Theater

TABLE OF CONTENTS Fall/Winter 2013-14 3...............................................................................Letter From the President 4...................................................................................................... News Briefs 7................................................................Katori Hall Climbs The Mountaintop 8........................... Two Students Have a Theatrical Experience of a Lifetime 9........................... Forbidden Broadway Waits for the Perfect Time to Strike 10................................................... Q&A: Inside the Mind of Matthew Bourne 12................................................ Excitement Builds for The Book of Mormon 14......................................................................... Godspell: Jesus as Rockstar 15.................................................... PNC Celebrity Series Proving to Be a Hit 16....................................... Charlotte Is the Place to Be This Holiday Season 17.....................................................................................Blumenthal Talk Back 18...........................................Calendar of Upcoming Shows and Attractions 20........................ Freedom Schools Kids Inspired by Disney’s The Lion King 21................................................ News on Membership, Corporate Partners

2013-14 Season Sales Sizzle

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oes any city enjoy shows more than Charlotte? There’s no stat to prove it, but support for Blumenthal productions indicate that the Queen City definitely loves to be entertained. Last year’s trend of sellouts continued this summer with a four-week engagement of Disney’s The Lion King and concerts by Gladys Knight and Boz Scaggs.

The public sale for The Book of Mormon tickets in early September saw a line wrapped from the front of Belk Theater down Fifth Street to College Street as fans purchased coveted seats for this mega-hit. The Book of Mormon makes its first appearance in the Carolinas at Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in December 2013.

The rest of the fall looks to be just as hot with the internationally touring production of Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty opening the 2013-14 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series Nov. 5 at Belk Theater.

Season Ticket sales for the Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series are up over last year’s record-breaking numbers with more than 9,250 sold, including almost 3,000 new Season Ticket buyers. Renewals also were strong with 88 percent of multiple-season buyers renewing their Season Ticket seats. VIP seating and our most affordable Season Ticket packages sold out over the summer.

“The large number of sellout shows from last year made our Broadway fans keenly aware of the great value of having guaranteed, renewable seats for our Broadway productions,” Blumenthal President Tom Gabbard says. “Our Season Ticket buyers also enjoy the best pricing as shows routinely raise ticket prices when single seats go on sale.”

Smaller packages, offered after Season Ticket buyers are seated, also are a good value but do not guarantee a renewable seat for the next season.

Concerts and special attractions are drawing big audiences this season. The new PNC Celebrity Series sold out its first two shows, and the upcoming fall and winter productions – including Cyndi Lauper and Alton Brown – look to continue that trend.

“We are very grateful to our audiences,” Gabbard says. “They have made us a top 10 market for touring Broadway and a must-play city for attractions and concerts. We look forward to bringing them the best of Broadway and all the performing arts this season.” 

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Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

BOARD of TRUSTEES Riaz H. Bhamani Amy Rice Blumenthal Jennifer D. Blumer, treasurer Kristin Hills Bradberry James Bullock Joni Y. Davis James F. Downs J. Porter Durham Jr. Charlie Elberson Claire Green Fallon Dorlisa K. Flur, past chair Molly B. Griffin Timothy L. Gunter, secretary Greg Haislip Jeffrey S. Hay Rebecca S. Henderson Sunny Hutchinson Lloyd E. Johnson Mac Lackey Joe Maxim Dr. Edith Valladares McElroy Edwin B. Peacock III Rick D. Puckett, chair Jennifer Roberts Ed Rose Kelly Sherman Anne Stolz Catherine Warfield V. Curtis Watkins Amy Wooden

onstage

Onstage magazine is produced by the Blumenthal Performing Arts marketing staff.

Wendy Oglesby, vice president of marketing Elise Esasky, communications manager Mark Wallace, visual communications manager Jessica Reardon, contract graphic designer Contributing writers: Courtney Devores Danny Knaub Jeri F. Krentz Page Leggett Editing support: Lorrie Henry John Luebke Jenna MacFarlane Cover photos: The Book of Mormon First National Tour Company. Photo

by Joan Marcus, 2013; Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, photo by Mikah Smillie; The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

PRESIDENT’Swords TOM GABBARD Dear Friends:

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lot of folks having been giving it a “Whirl” this season in our new initiative to get people actively involved in the arts. The diversity of talent showcased in our bimonthly Open Mic program demonstrates that Charlotte definitely has talent. The first National Dance Day in Charlotte saw hundreds of bodies moving to the music and enjoying being with others. Watch for more programs in the future, and think about giving it a “Whirl” yourself.

One of the best sights for me this summer was seeing dozens of boys with ties and girls in pretty dresses who were lined up to see Disney’s The Lion King. These were young scholars from the Freedom Schools program who came as guests of hundreds of local donors for an evening they will likely never forget. Some came from as far away as Bennettsville, S.C. Inspiring young people to dream big dreams and aim high in their school work to achieve those dreams is a high priority for Blumenthal Performing Arts. Bringing more than 1,000 Freedom Schools scholars to The Lion King provided a wonderful aspirational time that will feed the souls of these kids for years to come.

Launching a Celebrity Series to elevate the quality and quantity of big name acts we bring to Charlotte has been on our agenda for a while. It took PNC Bank and their generous support to make it finally come to fruition. The PNC Celebrity Series is off to a great start, as you will read about in this edition of Onstage. Stay tuned, there is more to come.

I’ve been a fan of the play The Mountaintop since seeing its first production in London. Blumenthal Performing Arts co-produced the Broadway run of the show, and now it has finally come to our home. What I love about this play is the reminder that Martin Luther King Jr. was a real person. He accomplished so much that sometimes we can forget that he was a real human being with doubts, emotions and questions about what his legacy would be.

Please come see it.

Another artist that we’ve had a close association with is Matthew Bourne. Matthew is one of the most successful choreographers/directors in the theater business, and we can’t wait for his Sleeping Beauty to arrive. It was a sellout

success in London last season. We’ve supported four of his London productions and have managed to get two to the states. Bourne’s ability to tell classic stories in fresh, reimagined ways is remarkable. More than any director I know, his work attracts people who never thought they liked dance. He tells wonderful stories without a single word being spoken.

Theater fans have been patiently waiting for one of the most talked about shows in the history of Broadway to land in Charlotte, The Book of Mormon. For months after the show opened on Broadway, fans speculated on whether or not it would come to Charlotte. The Charlotte Observer’s theater writer speculated that it would not. In fact, well before the show received all of its Tony Awards, we had already committed to the show’s producer, Scott Rudin, to play the show for two weeks.

Unquestionably, this show pushes a lot of controversial buttons. Comedy and religion are an explosive combination. The “South Park” style of comedy spares no one, no matter what the subject is.

We’re doing our best to alert people in advance to make sure they think about whether the profanity and subject matter are appropriate for them. The last thing we want is to surprise someone with this show. Ultimately, the “South Park” style that offends some is intensely loved by others. Charlotte has developed into a big, diverse city with residents who expect a wide range of entertainment.

For those who have been looking forward to seeing it, we’re thrilled that the opportunity is nearly here.

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

Tom Gabbard President tgabbard@ncbpac.org onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

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NEWSbriefs Affinity Groups Nurture Friendships, Theater Fans

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lumenthal Performing Arts’ Affinity Groups – Charlotte Live, Club Blume, Teacher’s Lounge and Out on the Town – are in full swing for the 2013-14 season.

Affinity Groups are informal social clubs that get together around select shows throughout the year. Members enjoy free pre- or post-show parties plus discounts on show tickets. Additionally, some events provide educational activities that enable members to become true patrons and ambassadors for the arts and for Blumenthal Performing Arts as a whole.

“I have a great passion for theater, and Club Blume gives me access to all of the best performances in Charlotte,” says

current member Christine Eidson. “You can count on great friends, great food and great shows!”

In the Affinity Groups, there are no dues, no officers and no requirements for membership, except an interest in seeing great performances and meeting others who share a passion for the arts. For more information and to view the fall schedule, visit our website at BlumenthalArts.org and click on the Enrichment tab.

Affinity Groups include Club Blume for young adults; Charlotte Live! for students; Teachers Lounge for educators; and Out on the Town for the LGBT community. Share with friends you think would be interested! 

At left, Club Blume members mingle during the pre-show reception of War Horse. Above, educators attend a preshow reception for Wicked. Below, students in Charlotte Live! pose after a pre-show workshop at Les Misérables.

Interested in Joining?

For more information about Affinity Groups and upcoming events, visit blumenthalarts.org/affinity

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Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

YOUR TALENT. OUR STAGES.

NEWSbriefs Open Mic Spotlights Local Talent

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hen Blumenthal Performing Arts offered up a professional stage for Charlotte locals to showcase their talents, the community embraced it wholeheartedly.

Open Mic – part of Blumenthal’s new participatory arts program called Whirl – has been a huge hit since launching in February 2013. The free, bimonthly shows have drawn crowds of entertainers and viewers. Some say they love to come to Open Mic, even when they don’t know anyone up on stage.

“It is always a fun evening,” says Blumenthal patron Lester Ranson. “You get to hear and see a variety of live performers and encourage developing talent.”

Since the event has continued to grow, it was recently moved from Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center to McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square. With a larger venue, there’s now an opportunity for a larger audience to enjoy the local talent.

These exciting shows draw a variety of acts, from singers and dancers, to jugglers and comedians.

All Whirl events are free and open to the Open Mic, part of Blumenthal’s Whirl program, encourages local participation in the arts and public. 

Blumenthal Performing Arts

Give it a WHIRL! Whether you’re a performer or a fan of live entertainment, Whirl is your ticket to some performing arts fun. This new Blumenthal program brings local performing artists and fans together at Blumenthal theaters. Think “America’s Got Talent” starring Charlotte!

There’s no cost to perform and no charge to attend. Whirl events Blumenthal Performing range from Open Mic nights Arts to National Dance Day to a choir festival planned for next season.

These events give area talent a chance to perform in a professional setting and provide fun and FREE entertainment for audiences.

Come on and give it a Whirl!

gives Charlotte audiences a chance to see some great local talent, free.

National Dance Day Recap As part of its participatory arts program, Whirl, Blumenthal Performing Arts hosted its first National Dance Day event July 27 in Founders Hall in uptown Charlotte. National Dance Day was created by Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of “So You Think You Can Dance,” to promote health and self-esteem through the art form of dance. Hundreds of people came out to participate and helped make the Charlotte event a huge success!

All photos by Daniel Coston

At left, a hip-hop dancer does a head spin during the National Dance Day event in Founders Hall. Above, the crowd performs the National Dance Day routine “Everybody Dance.”

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

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NEWSbriefs Charlotte Loves The Lion King

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isney's The Lion King celebrated a soldout run in Charlotte, breaking Belk Theater’s box office record for highest-grossing week when it grossed nearly $1.4 million for the week ending Sept. 1. The triumphant four-week return grossed more than $5.5 million at the box office and entertained more than 63,000 patrons. One of the 33 soldout performances entirely benefited The Actors Fund, a national human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment.

This was The Lion King’s third soldout showing in Charlotte, following a five-week premiere in 2003 and a six-week return in 2007 at the Belk Theater.

It is estimated that the Charlotte run of Disney’s The Lion King generated a $19 million economic benefit to the city from travel, hotels, restaurants, parking and other businesses that served theatergoers and production staff. A Touring Broadway League report found that, on average, Broadway tours have an impact on the local metropolitan area’s economy that is equal to 3.5 times the gross ticket sales.

“The Lion King has once again taken Charlotte by storm during its four-week run, and the response we’ve seen from audiences and the community has been exciting,” says Blumenthal Performing Arts President Tom Gabbard. “We especially want to thank our friends at Disney Theatrical Productions and The Lion King for their help in returning this amazing production to Charlotte. They truly represent the ‘best of Broadway’ that we strive to deliver each season, and we can’t wait to have them back again.” 

Cast members of Disney’s The Lion King reach out to the community by spending a morning at Levine Children’s Hospital. Posing with a child at Levine Children’s Hospital are, from left, Nia Holloway (Nala), Nya Carter (Young Nala), Jordan Hall (Young Simba), Tshidi Manye (Rafiki) and Tonoccus McClain (Ensemble).

The Lion King cast members enjoy the cast party on opening night.

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Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

The Katori Hall Climbs The Mountaintop Mountaintop

Playwright uses family inspiration to reimagine the final hours of Martin Luther King’s life

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by

KATORI HALL

had to write. That epiphany is the thing of which she is most he Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We’ve got some proud. difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now.

"I took a chance – I didn't know what the road was going to be Because I’ve been to the mountaintop.” These were some like,” Hall says. “We make the road by walking, and I decided to of King’s final words to the nation before he was assassinated. become my dream instead of lying there and dreaming about Now this speech is taking center stage Feb. 4-March 2, 2014, it." when the critically lauded The Mountaintop makes its Charlotte Hall’s mother, Carrie Mae Golden, was the inspiration behind debut in Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

The Mountaintop. In 1968, a young Golden begged her mother The 2010 Olivier Award winner for Best New Play, The to take her to hear King speak at the Mason Temple, but her Mountaintop is the gripping reimagining of the events that took mother refused because of the place April 3, 1968, the night fear of violence. That became one before the assassination of the of Golden’s biggest regrets. Hall civil rights leader. even named the female role in her After delivering his magnificent play Camae, short for Carrie Mae, and memorable “I’ve Been as a way to give her mother the to the Mountaintop” speech, chance she never had with King. an exhausted and defeated Rather than go the nonfiction King retires to Room 306 at route, The Mountaintop details the Lorraine Motel where an an imagined encounter on the unexpected visit from a feisty last night of King's life inside a young maid compels him to Memphis motel room after his confront his own humanity and “Mountaintop” speech. the fate of our nation while an Hall tells Huffington Post: epic storm rages outside.

“Obviously, Dr. King himself was Hailed as “daring, rousing and very afraid because of what he provocative” by Entertainment said in what turned out to be his Weekly, the play was written by last speech – that he had been Memphis native Katori Hall and to the mountaintop but may not is co-produced by Blumenthal get to the promised land with us.

Performing Arts.

I wanted to imagine what he felt Blumenthal has had a long that last night in Room 306 of the association with this play since Lorraine Motel.”

Blumenthal CEO Tom Gabbard “He had vulnerabilities and saw the very first production fears,” Hall says in an interview of it in London. Blumenthal with The Washington Post. subsequently co-produced

by KATORI HALL “This is a man that provided a the Broadway run of The fundamental shift in American Mountaintop starring Samuel L. FEB. 4-MARCH 2, 2014 society. King forced us to see Jackson and Angela Bassett. The BOOTH PLAYHOUSE people of color are not secondupcoming production is jointly class citizens; they are equal. He produced by the Arizona Theater Company, Guthrie Theater, Penumbra Theatre and Blumenthal. did this extraordinary thing. But he wasn’t superhuman. He It will play in Tucson, Ariz.; Phoenix; Charlotte; and Minneapolis, always said, ‘I’m a sinner. Not a saint.’ That is the King you will see in The Mountaintop. It was important to see the humanity in and is directed by Penumbra’s artistic director, Lou Bellamy. this hero so we can see the hero in ourselves.”

Hall, the playwright, grew up in a working-class household as Now critics and audiences are praising Hall as the hero as she the youngest of four daughters. Her mother was a phlebotomist became only the second black writer (following August Wilson) and her father worked in factories. For fun, Hall would spend and the fourth woman in 34 years to win the Olivier Award, hours by herself making up stories, and she recalls having Britain's equivalent to the Tony, for Best New Play. about 15 imaginary friends. In 2003, she graduated from "I must say, I feel very satisfied," Hall says. "I feel as though Columbia University with a degree in African-American studies – and I'm very proud of this – that I have been able to make and creative writing. From there, she went on to do theater Broadway accessible to a new generation in terms of putting up training at Harvard and playwriting at Julliard. a story that all different kinds of people want to see. It doesn't It was while studying at Columbia that she realized the matter if you're white, black, old or young. Everyone is coming lack of roles for African-American women. She was given an assignment to pull some scenes with two young Africanto see The Mountaintop."  American women and couldn't find any. She knew then that she — Article by Danny Knaub

The Mountaintop

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

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A Theatrical Experience of a Lifetime Charlotte’s high school theater winners take to N.Y. to compete for national award

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s winners at the second annual Blumenthal Performing Arts High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as The Blumey Awards, Areon Mobasher and Eva Maria Noblezada had the opportunity this summer to spend an unforgettable week singing and dancing on Broadway.

They were among 62 nominees chosen from more than 50,000 teens in cities nationwide to perform live at the Minskoff Theater as part of the fifth annual National High School Musical Theater Awards on July 1. The ceremony is known as The Jimmy Awards, named after famed Broadway producer James M. Nederlander.

Noblezada was one of four Best Actress finalists at The Jimmy Awards, and as one of the five runners up, she will receive a $2,500 education scholarship.

The journey to New York City for the two students started May 19 at The Blumey Awards, presented by Wells Fargo, where Mobasher of Charlotte Latin School won Best Actor and Noblezada of Northwest School of the Arts won Best Actress.

“Being nominated was such an honor,” says Noblezada. “I just wanted to represent my school at its best.”

Mobasher and Noblezada each received an all-expenses-paid trip and weeklong stay in New York City to train and compete with other regional winners in The Jimmy Awards.

“It was intimidating, to say the least,” says Mobasher. “But I honestly loved every second of it.”

Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana, Tony Award-nominated stars of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, hosted the ceremony, which included vibrant ensemble and smaller group medley performances from all the nominees after an intense weeklong Broadway boot camp of sorts.

Only seven of the 62 nominees were invited to perform solos for the audience at The Jimmy Awards – a huge honor – and Noblezada was one of the seven. She performed “With You” from Ghost the Musical, which comes to the Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center April 1-6, 2014.

An acclaimed group of judges, including Tony nominee Montego Glover (Memphis) and several Broadway casting agents, selected Noblezada for the honor.

“I’m looking for someone who shows an understanding of the art form in its raw element," Glover says.

“Dreams do come true,” says Noblezada, when reminiscing about her time in New York. “This was my first Broadway show and an opportunity to grow as a performer.”

The opportunities didn’t stop there. Industry leaders often attend The Jimmy Awards, and one of them was Tara Rubin, Eva Maria Noblezada and Areon Mobasher in NYC.

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who is casting the London revival of Miss Saigon. She thought Noblezada might be right for the lead of Kim and invited her to audition in New York. Her tape was sent to London, where she has been invited to audition for producer Cameron Macintosh.

In the end, neither Mobasher nor Noblezada took home the big prize at The Jimmy Awards, but their experiences and exposure were the big rewards.  — Article by Danny Knaub

Winners of the Second Annual Blumey Awards Best Actor: Areon Mobasher of Charlotte Latin School – Jean Valjean in Les Misérables Best Actress: Eva Maria Noblezada of Northwest School of the Arts – Ariel in Footloose Wells Fargo Best Musical: Charlotte Christian School – Oklahoma!

Best Supporting Actor: TJ Schmidt of Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Igor in Young Frankenstein Best Supporting Actress: Kelly Kapur of Ardrey Kell High School – Ado Annie in Oklahoma!

Best Featured Performer: Evan Bertram of Covenant Day School – Madame de la Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast Best Overall Direction: Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Young Frankenstein Best Ensemble/Chorus: Charlotte Christian School – Oklahoma!

Best Choreography Execution: Charlotte Christian School – Oklahoma!

Best Student Orchestra: Providence High School – The Wizard of Oz Best Costume Creation: Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Young Frankenstein Best Lighting Execution: Charlotte Christian School – Oklahoma!

Best Set Construction: South Point High School – Seussical Best Hair and Makeup Design: Central Academy of Technology and Arts – Young Frankenstein

Photo by Daniel Coston

2013 Blumey Award participants give it their all on the Belk Theater stage.

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking opens its first run in Charlotte Nov. 12.

Forbidden Broadway Waits for the Perfect Time to Strike

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ith its glitz, glamour and song, Broadway has always been ripe for lampooning. Gerard Alessandrini practically built his career razzing Annie, Wicked and Phantom of the Opera with the award-winning revue Forbidden Broadway, a hilarious cabaret-style show that sends up Broadway’s heaviest hitters in song.

The 12th and latest version of the recently resurrected award winner, Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking, begins a twoweek run Nov. 12 in Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

Broadway has given Alessandrini, who pens the parodies, rich new material of late. The latest version of Forbidden Broadway riffs on recent smashes The Book of Mormon, ONCE and everyone’s favorite ill-fated superhero, Spiderman. But there was a time when Alessandrini became somewhat disenchanted with Broadway, which led him to shutter New York’s run in 2009 after 31 years.

“He was nostalgic for a time when most Broadway musicals were relatively sophisticated fare for adults,” explains Forbidden Broadway producer John Freedson.

Enter the very adult, very hilarious The Book of Mormon, which plays at the Belk Theater in Charlotte Dec. 26-Jan. 5, 2014.

“The Book of Mormon did a lot to change all that, just as the arrival of A Chorus Line energized and affected a listless Broadway a generation earlier,” Freedson says. Thanks to shows like "Glee" and "Smash," and hit big-screen adaptations such as Les Misérables, Broadway is experiencing a renaissance.

“There was a kind of ‘perfect storm’ taking place that made it tempting to us to return to New York,” Freedson says. “There were a couple of thrilling new musicals, which seemed to usher in a new generation of creative talent and re-energize audiences.

The Book of Mormon was in many ways an old-fashioned

musical – tuneful songs that advance the plot, well-crafted lyrics, characters you care about. Yet it was hip, irreverent and incredibly profane. But the overall sweetness of the show and its characters trumped the negatives, and excited new audiences.

We wanted to take a crack at it.”

Fresh blood wasn’t the only factor. “Stephen Sondheim had been back in New York with revivals of two of his biggest hits: Follies and A Little Night Music,” says Freedson. “And there were bona fide stars in town – Catherine Zeta Jones, Ricky Martin, Matthew Broderick, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Elaine Stritch. And then there was Spiderman, where critics were panning, actors were dropping like flies, and audiences couldn't get enough. We were cursing ourselves for ever having taken a break and started planning our return.”

Alive and Kicking marked the revue’s return in August 2012 and won Forbidden Broadway a spot on Time Magazine's annual Top 10 list.

“And we're a 30-year-old show!” Freedson beams. What makes it work is the universality of the familiar material, thanks to Hollywood crossovers like Chicago and Hairspray and the cast’s ability to adapt to its audience.

“We've been able to develop a repertoire of material that gets the same huge laughs no matter where we go,” he says.

“When we tour to a theater-savvy town like Charlotte, we throw in the most fun numbers from this year's New York version. We're confident that everyone with even the slightest interest in Broadway will get every joke,” he says. “The cast knows all the material from all the editions, so it's pretty easy to tailor make a version to suit any city. The real trick is making sure there's enough time for the cast members to (change costumes). An actor may have 20 seconds to get from Hugh Jackman to Simba.” 

Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking Nov. 12-24, 2013 Booth Playhouse

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

— Article by Courtney Devores

onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

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Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty

Photo by Mikah Smillie.

Q&A: Inside the Mind of Matthew Bourne

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pening the 2013-14 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series, Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty will alight on the Belk Theater stage Nov. 5-10. It completes the trio of Tchaikovsky-composed ballets taken on by the choreographer, which started in 1992 with Nutcracker and was followed by the international hit Swan Lake in 1995.

The timeless fairy tale about a young girl cursed to sleep for 100 years has been reimagined into a gothic, supernatural love story that promises a “Twilight” type experience.

Following are Bourne’s answers to some questions about the show.

What are the challenges of creating a new interpretation of this centuries old fairy tale for contemporary audiences?

When I first looked at this story, I asked myself what was it that made it less than satisfying as a narrative, and two things were clear, in the ballet scenario at least: no love story and no narrative tension in the last act once Aurora has woken up.

Unless you believe in love at first sight, the love of Aurora for her prince is very unconvincing, with the hero and heroine only really meeting at the very end of the story. It’s impossible to feel anything for them. Interestingly, Walt Disney, one of the 20th century’s great storytellers, also recognized this flaw in the story for a modern audience, even in 1959.

In Disney’s narrative, Aurora, as a young girl, meets her prince, thinking he is a commoner, and falls in love just before her fate is sealed with the prick of her finger and the century-long sleep. The dilemma becomes how can the prince break the spell and keep their love alive. This creates a beautiful tragic love story, and a logic and dramatic tension in one stroke. Thank you, Walt!

All versions of Sleeping Beauty begin with the lines, “Once

upon a time there was a king and queen who had not been blessed with an heir” or “could not have a child” or some such phrase. I have taken this as the starting point of the tale and have tried to give the dark fairy Carabosse a more compelling reason to want to do harm to the child. Maybe the royal couple went to the dark side to obtain a child to call their own?

This, in turn, sparked lots of ideas about Aurora herself. Was she the child of an ordinary working family rather than a royal princess? A gypsy child? An interesting character formed in my mind: A feisty, nature-loving wild child, happier running through the forest barefoot than with the stuffy life of a princess. In movement terms, and considering our timeline, as a young girl, she could be an Isadora Duncan figure. A new kind of forwardlooking, emancipated young woman.

Sleeping Beauty

One of the exciting things about creating a gothic fairy tale is that you do have permission to have fairies, spells, magical curses and the like, so why not vampires, too? Our use of the vampire myth, though, is very subtle and is used entirely as an important plot device.

In our version, Aurora’s blossoming love for Leo, her childhood sweetheart, is cut short by the fulfillment of Carabosse’s curse.

The dilemma becomes, how can he still be around for her when she wakes up in 100 years time? For those of you that know your vampire lore, I leave you to guess what happens, but a clue could be in the name of our “Lilac Fairy” figure, Count Lilac!

It is extraordinary to note that around the time of the premiere of the ballet in 1890, well over 50 percent of the population, if asked the question “Do you believe in fairies?” probably would have

Nov. 5-10, 2013 Belk Theater

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We hear that as well as good and wicked fairies, you may also have vampires in your production?

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

answered “yes.” Even by 1917, Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, author of “Sherlock Holmes,” was supporting the existence of fairies at the bottom of the garden, supposedly captured in photographs by two young girls in the famous case at Cottingley. So I find it quite natural that in the 1890 ballet, the fairy community is invited into the human world and to the christening of the young princess to give their blessings. Since our story eventually takes us into the present day, a time when very few believe in such things as fairies, I find it equally logical that they are no longer present; shut out in their own world waiting to be believed in again.

How is it possible to be “faithful” to a story that already has so many well-known versions that are all so different?

As I said before, I think that these stories are still around possibly because they are simple enough to allow for any number of interpretations. Indeed, “The Sleeping Beauty” has inspired not just Disney and Petipa, but also erotic novels by Anne Rice and dark stories by Angela Carter. It’s true that I may have taken a few liberties with Tchaikovsky, which I hope he will forgive, as he, above all others, is the reason why I had to make this piece. As this completes my trilogy of the maestro’s only three complete ballets, I humbly dedicate this production to his memory. 

Matthew Bourne: Director and Choreographer

High School Students to Experience New Adventures with Sleeping Beauty When New Adventures brings Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty to Charlotte in November, up to 35 local high school students will have an opportunity to participate in a four-day intensive workshop that will culminate in a performance in front of a live theater audience.

In the workshop, students will work with two New Adventures principal dancers from London to create a 5-7 minute dance routine related to the themes of Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty. The students will then perform the routine on the Sleeping Beauty set as a “curtain raiser” for the Sunday, Nov. 10, matinee audience. Bourne, artistic director for New Adventures, will introduce the special performance.

The program is designed to give students and teachers a memorable and aspirational experience, a unique insight into Bourne’s work, and an opportunity to develop their performance skills in front of a theatergoing audience. It also is designed to enhance relationships between the schools and Blumenthal Performing Arts, as well as to showcase Blumenthal’s education and outreach activities.

Widely hailed as the U.K.’s Bourne most popular and successful choreographer/director, Matthew Bourne is the creator of the world’s longest running West End and Broadway ballet production, Swan Lake; a five-time Olivier Awardwinner; and the only British director to have won the Tony Award for both choreographer and director of a musical.

He is artistic director of New Adventures, which has created an unprecedented new audience for dance with its groundbreaking, multiaward-winning dance/theater productions: Nutcracker!, Highland Fling, Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Car Man, Play Without Words, Dorian Gray and Edward Scissorhands, which played the Belk Theater in 2007.

His long association with Cameron Mackintosh includes the hit musicals Oliver! (1994 and 2009 Olivier nomination), My Fair Lady (Olivier Award), and the West End and Broadway hit musical Mary Poppins (Olivier Award and Tony nomination), as well as overseeing a new production of The Phantom of the Opera, which comes to North America in late 2013. He also choreographed the musicals Children of Eden (original production), Show Boat (Malmo), and South Pacific (National Theatre).

Bourne has twice been nominated as Best Director at the Olivier Awards in London, and his achievements in choreography and direction have been recognized with more than 30 international awards and honors. Bourne was awarded an Order of the British Empire from the queen for services to dance, and he is the proud recipient of five honorary doctorates.

Photo by Simon Annand

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

11

Excitement Builds for Unconventional, Award-winning The Book of Mormon Joyous bundle unwraps in Charlotte this winter

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inner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon is one of the hottest selling tickets around, breaking box office records across the country – and it’s coming to Charlotte Dec. 26-Jan. 5, 2014.

“Subversive” and “satirical” are words Steve Kroft of “60 Minutes” uses to describe the mega-hit. In 2012, the CBS News correspondent sat down with “South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker – the masterminds behind The Book of Mormon – to discuss what has people singing its praises. Kroft discovered one thing: that “sharp teeth and a strong heart are the foundation to the duo’s success.”

The Book of Mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to Uganda to try to convert citizens to the Mormon religion, but it’s all done in true Parker and Stone fashion, which

is particularly appealing to “South Park” fans.

“I am extremely excited about seeing The Book of Mormon!” says Charlotte resident Lydia Stern. “I have been wanting to see it because I'm a huge fan of ‘South Park,’ but also I have heard nothing but good things about this show.”

Parker, originally from Conifer, Colo., dreamed of writing a Broadway musical one day but had no idea it would end up making history. After being wildly successful with the animated series “South Park” with his college friend, Stone, the pair teamed up with Robert Lopez on a project that would quickly push the limits of musical theater – though Parker and Stone tell “60 Minutes” they aren’t breaking boundaries, just tackling a subject that hasn’t been touched before.

The Book of Mormon Dec. 26-Jan. 5, 2014 Belk Theater

The Book of Mormon First National Tour Company.

12 onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

The Washington Post says The Book of Mormon deserves worship: "Matt and Trey: Where have you been all my life? A pricelessly entertaining act of musical-comedy subversion. A marvel. One of the most joyous bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years. Approach the altar of Parker, Stone and Lopez."

Lopez is the Tony-, Grammy-, and Emmy-winning co-creator of the smash hit musicals Avenue Q and, now, The Book of Mormon.

Come December, Blumenthal Performing Arts will present the extraordinarily popular show on the Belk Theater stage. It’s a show some argue is the biggest yet to hit Charlotte, and thousands say they refuse to miss it.

“My husband and I are longtime theater fans and being especially drawn to comedies and musicals, we have had The Book of Mormon at the top of our must-see list,” says Blumenthal patron Shannon Reichley. “We're so excited to have gotten tickets!”

As excitement continues to build, Charlotte theatergoers brace themselves for a new kind of show, but one many say still has an old-Broadway feel. While The Book of Mormon may poke fun at religion and other unconventional topics of theater comedy, most people say you will leave feeling uplifted and possibly even inspired. 

Mark Evans, Derrick Williams. The Book of Mormon First National Tour.

Is Charlotte Ready for The Book of Mormon?

Mark Evans. The Book of Mormon First National Tour.

Even before winning a slew of awards in New York, theater fans in Charlotte began buzzing about whether The Book of Mormon would land in the Bible Belt. Fans wondered if Charlotte could handle the show.

For Blumenthal Performing Arts, the choice was clear from the start that we wanted the show for our fans.

Presenting the best in the performing arts is at the core of our mission. Blumenthal has presented every winner of the Best Musical Tony Award since 1994, so of course, The Book of Mormon deserved a place in our season.

Beloved as the show is to many people, others are not crazy about the profanity and sharply pointed “South Park” style of comedy. We strongly recommend that the interested public watch an unedited “South Park” episode on TV, view this segment on “60 Minutes” (http://tinyurl.com/mujlqcm), or research further to decide whether The Book of Mormon is right for them.

Charlotte has become a highly diverse community with a wide range of tastes. As with every show on a Blumenthal stage, we strongly recommend that people do a little research to make sure that the content, language and subject matter is appropriate for them.

Phyre Hawkins, Mark Evans, Christopher John O'Neill. The Book of Mormon First National Tour.

All photos by Joan Marcus, 2013

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

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Jesus as Rock Star Godspell updated after weaving its spiritual spell for 40 years

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n the beginning – before he wrote Wicked – Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for Godspell, which plays Dec. 3-8 in Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts. Schwartz was just 23 at the time, but he did have a little help from above, one might presume. The pop/rock musical that celebrates the teachings of Jesus Christ is, after all, based on the Gospel of Matthew.

The Jewish composer, who also wrote Pippin, wasn’t even familiar with the Gospels when he wrote the now-famous lyrics.

His biographer, Carol de Giere, recounts in “Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz” that he once said, “I was reading some of these parables for the first time. I basically was responding to the material fresh.”

The hippie-era musical, with a book by John-Michael Tebelak – who also conceived of the radical idea – feels as fresh today as when it opened off-Broadway in 1971.

The show moved to Broadway five years later and has played in touring companies and in church fellowship halls ever since. In “Defying Gravity,” de Giere says Tebelak had hoped to “weave God’s spell over the audience.”

The tale, while timeless, got an update for its 2011 Broadway revival to include references to people and things definitely not found in the Bible: Facebook, “The Donald” and Lindsay Lohan, among others. The original Godspell featured a troupe of clowns who follow Jesus around an abandoned playground where a chain-link fence serves as a backdrop. The updated version, with a multicultural cast, depicts Jesus and followers in the sort of clothes you’d see on any college campus.

As with all ageless stories, there’s a hero (the Messiah) and a villain (Judas). And while Judas has a deservedly bad rap for his betrayal of Christ, there was a time when the two had been best friends. Schwartz and Tebelak show us their closeness by way of a Vaudeville-inspired soft shoe routine the two perform to “All for the Best.”

Godspell’s Jesus is teacher, mentor, friend and peacenik.

Because the show focuses on his humanity more than his divinity, it appeals to people of all faiths … and even to those without much faith. In her November 2011 USA Today review of the Broadway revival, Elysa Gardner writes, “Regardless of your faith, or lack of it, you'll leave this Godspell a believer in the transporting power of musical theater.”

The devout will find the material familiar, even if the treatment is straight out of the Age of Aquarius. At one point, a disciple asks: “What is the greatest commandment?” and Jesus responds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul ... and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Lessons and songs (and dance moves!) are seamlessly woven into a tapestry of old-time religion and flower child rock ’n’ roll.

If you doubt the crossover appeal of a musical rooted in the Bible, take note of “Day by Day,” the Godspell song about seeking a closer relationship with God that reached No. 13 on the Billboard chart in the summer of 1972. The song is now so ingrained in pop culture that Ben Stiller uses it to surprisingly hilarious effect when he recites it as a blessing at the dinner table in Meet the Parents.

The intimacy of this new production makes the audience feel, at times, like they’re in communion with the cast.

In the original off-Broadway version, the audience was literally offered communion during intermission.

In spite of that intimacy, Godspell is a big, exuberant ride. Entire families will likely relish it, as long as parents know that both the life and death of Jesus are depicted. As you’d expect, the crucifixion is part of the play.

Godspell’s timeless message of peace, love and redemption – and the show’s high-flying energy – will leave you saying “Amen.” 

Godspell

Dec. 3-8, 2013 Knight Theater

14 onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

— Article by Page Leggett

PNC Celebrity Series Proving to Be a Hit

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yndi Lauper just wants to have fun in Charlotte! She’s just one of the latest exciting additions to the PNC Celebrity Series – a collaboration between Blumenthal Performing Arts and PNC Bank that is designed to bring stellar performers from a variety of genres to Blumenthal’s theaters.

Lauper makes her Belk Theater debut on Nov. 12 with the She's So Unusual Tour, commemorating the 30th anniversary of her iconic debut album of the same name that spawned four top five hits on the Billboard 100: “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” “She Bop” and “All Through the Night.”

She has remained in the spotlight all these years, dazzling and surprising her fans all over the world. Her global record sales have surpassed 50 million, and she has won many awards, including a Grammy, an Emmy and several honors for her tireless activism. She recently made history by becoming the first solo woman to win a Tony Award for Best Score for her work on the Tony Awardwinning Kinky Boots.

Don’t miss Lauper when she brings her unique style to Blumenthal as part of the PNC Celebrity Series.

The new series got off to a fantastic start with two sellout shows: Family Reunion 2013 featuring Gladys Knight Lauper & The O’Jays in June, and Boz Scaggs in July.

“We are ecstatic by the audience response to this new series,” says Blumenthal President Tom Gabbard. “Hearing these amazing talents up close and personal is a treat, and we sincerely thank PNC for helping to make this possible.”

Catch these other world-class entertainers who are part of the series: Jim Brickman – Nov. 19, Knight Theater See more about this show in our holiday roundup story on Page 16.

John Oliver – Nov. 23, Knight Theater Fresh off of his eight-week, high-profile gig as the host of “The Daily Show,” the red-hot John Oliver makes his debut at the Knight Theater. He joined “The Daily Show” in 2006 and has done everything from interviewing U.N. Ambassadors to covering the World Cup in South Africa to breaking his nose fighting for the Confederate States Army. As a writer, Oliver has won Emmy and Writers Guild awards, and he won the Breakout Award at the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo. He performs stand-up comedy around the U.S. and has a stand-up comedy series on Comedy Central.

The Colors of Christmas – Dec. 20 and 21, Knight Theater See more about this show in our holiday roundup story on Page 16.

B.B. King – Jan. 12, 2014, Knight Theater Blumenthal welcomes back the "King of the Blues" for one night only! Throughout the 1990s, as well as the ’80s, ’70s, ’60s and ’50s, there has been only one “King of the Blues” – Riley B. King, affectionately known as B.B. King. Since he started recording in the late 1940s, he has released more than 60 albums, many of them considered blues classics, like 1965’s definitive live blues album “Live at the Regal” and 1976’s collaboration with Bobby “Blue” Bland, “Together For The First Time.”

Wayne Brady – Feb. 23, 2014, Knight Theater Emmy Award-winning Wayne Brady is one of the most versatile performers in show business today.

He became well-known for his improvisational skills on TV's “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and has guest starred on “The Dave Chappelle Show,” “30 Rock,” and “How I Met Your Mother.” An extremely quick-witted entertainer, he will wow you with his improvisational genius, unique music and dance talents and limitless impersonation skills. Don't miss out on a hilarious night of entertainment!

Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour – Feb. 24, 2014, Belk Theater Alton Brown brings his brand of quirky humor and culinary-science antics to the stage. The two-hour show is a unique blend of stand-up Photo by Gavin Bond comedy, food experimentation, talk show antics, multimedia lecture, and live music. Audience interaction is strictly enforced – though if you’re called upon as a culinary assistant, you’ll want to take the lab coat Brown offers, as things tend to get messy. The entire family will have a blast, especially as you sing along with Brown’s soon to be hits “Airport Shrimp Blues” and “TV Cookin Ain’t Like No Other Cookin.”

Kenny Loggins – April 27, 2014, Belk Theater Kenny Loggins has been many things to many people over the past three decades. He has been a guitar-slinger with a psychedelic rock band, a hot young songwriter with a publishing deal, half of a legendary country-rock duo, a massively successful and accomplished solo artist, a sonic pioneer in the smooth jazz genre, a reigning soundtrack superstar, a rocker, a seeker, as well as an enduring recording artist and live performer whose most recent works have spoken deeply to young audiences and decidedly adult and worldly concerns.

PNC Celebrity Series shows sell out fast, so get your tickets now, and stay in the loop for future shows by joining Blumenthal’s email club online. Visit BlumenthalArts.org for information. 

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

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Charlotte Is the Place to Be This Holiday Season Entertainment found at every turn in Blumenthal theaters Jim Brickman: The Love Tour Nov. 19, Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts Music lovers will experience Brickman the sounds of award-winning hit-maker, pianist and recording artist Jim Brickman as he brings one of the most entertaining and romantic concert events of the year with The Love Tour.

Brickman's engaging stage presence seamlessly blends mood and music to touch the heart in a special way, letting fans’ imaginations take them wherever they want to go. With dazzling solo piano and starstudded vocal collaborations, Brickman will wow audience members with his hits, including “Valentine,” “If You Believe,” “Love of My Life” and more. The Love Tour strikes the perfect balance between musical intimacy, compelling storytelling and audience interaction.

Prince and the audience with dazzling dancing sweets.

Nutcracker is suitable for all ages. Wondering at what age your children are ready to attend a performance? A good gauge is if they’re able to sit through a movie.

The Colors of Christmas Dec. 20 and 21, Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts Don’t miss The Colors of Christmas featuring four superstar performers in one amazing holiday show! Peabo Bryson (“A Whole New World”), CeCe Winans (“Everlasting Love”), Ruben Studdard (“American Idol” winner) and Melissa Manchester (“Midnight Blue” and “Lovers After All”) share the Knight Theater spotlight for two unforgettable nights! Performing their classic, chart-topping hits, as well as holiday favorites, these incredible talents bring the most magical show of the season center stage!

Charlotte Symphony: Magic of Christmas Dec. 5-8, Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

The Book of Mormon Dec. 26-Jan. 5, 2014, Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

Albert-George Schram returns to the podium to conduct an all new Magic of Christmas! Don’t miss this holiday tradition as George leads the Symphony, the Oratorio Singers and an array of spectacular guests in this festive and joyous holiday concert.

Ben Brantley of The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.”

Entertainment Weekly says it’s “the funniest musical of all time.”

From “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, it’s Photo by Joan Marcus, 2013 The Book of Mormon, The Book of Mormon First National Tour Company winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” calls it “a crowning achievement. So good it makes me angry.” Contains explicit language.

Magic of Christmas

North Carolina Dance Theatre: Nutcracker Dec. 13-22, Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center It’s Charlotte’s favorite holiday tradition!

Nutcracker celebrates the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

Come along for this holiday voyage featuring choreography by Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, live music from the Charlotte Symphony and more than 100 performers.

Be there as the Nutcracker Prince triumphs over the evil Mouse King and as the Sugar Plum Fairy entertains Clara, her Nutcracker Nutcracker. Photo by Jeff Cravotta

16 onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

Blumenthal Talk Back Answers to burning questions at our theaters Why is it important to purchase tickets through Blumenthal Performing Arts’ channels?

When you search online for show tickets, don’t assume you are on our site; in fact, you could end up on a broker’s site paying too much for tickets. It is crucial to make sure you are on our channels when purchasing tickets online: www. blumenthalarts.org or www.carolinatix.org.

Here’s an example of why it’s important: We found tickets on a broker site for the Wednesday night performance of Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty in Row D (Mezzanine), priced at $143.

On our site, you will find Row C (Mezzanine) tickets for $49.50.

Also, Blumenthal cannot guarantee that tickets purchased on a broker site are not counterfeit. Next time you are visiting our site, bookmark the page to ensure you are purchasing tickets through our channels each and every time.

Some things you need to know about brokers: • Brokers do not sell tickets at face value, even if they are the least desirable seats in the venue.

• Just because tickets are listed on a broker site does not mean tickets are unavailable on our site. Always check BlumenthalArts.org first.

Can I resell my tickets?

Yes, you can resell for the price you paid or up to $10 more.

You may see this warning in some of our communications: “Ticket purchasers agree to not resell our tickets for more than $10 above the price on the ticket. Each ticket is a revocable seat license. We have the right to revoke the license and void the ticket if resold for more than $10 above the price on the ticket.”

We take this matter very seriously for one reason – to protect our consumers.

Where is Blumenthal located?

Blumenthal Performing Arts manages six beautiful theaters spanning across three campuses in uptown Charlotte. Before coming to see a show, make sure you check your ticket to see which theater you will be visiting. If you’re not sure at which campus the theater is located, visit us online at

Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

www.BlumenthalArts.org/visiting. There, you can review our Plan Your Visit Guide and find every detail you will need to map your trip.

• Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, located at 130 N. Tryon St. uptown, is home to three of our venues: Belk Theater, Booth Playhouse and Stage Door Theater.

• Spirit Square, located at 345 N. College St. uptown, is home to two of our venues: McGlohon Theater and Duke Energy Theater.

• Levine Center for the Arts is home to the Knight Theater, located at 430 N. Tryon St. How can I learn more about shows?

There are a couple of options when it comes to learning more about our shows. One is to visit our website, www.

BlumenthalArts.org. There, you will find photos, show descriptions and links to even more!

If you enjoy interacting with others, you can attend our Get to Know the Show programs. These are free events provided by the Education Department for the general public. These programs provide information about upcoming Blumenthalpresented shows in an entertaining, upbeat and enjoyable fashion, and offer attendees the ability to purchase specially discounted tickets. Get to Know the Show events occur at Blumenthal and off-site venues, often incorporating a variety of activities including teaching-artist presentations, hands-on activities for attendees and cast member appearances.

One Get to Know the Show attendee says: “I love these events! They allow me to have a more in-depth appreciation of the performances coming to Blumenthal and of the arts in general. Events like these are what make the arts accessible to the Charlotte community.”

Get to Know the Show programs currently scheduled for the 2013-2014 season are lunch-and-learn sessions in the Booth Playhouse. Spotlighted shows from Blumenthal’s Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series include Potted Potter, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Godspell, The Mountaintop, Evita, Ghost the Musical, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Gershwins’ Porgy And Bess, ONCE, and Rock of Ages. 

Spirit Square

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

Knight Theater

onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

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Shows and Attractions NOVEMBER 1 The Sphinx Virtuosi

Knight Theater 1-2 The Midtown Men

Charlotte Symphony Pops

Belk Theater 1-2 Moving Poets Charlotte

Booth Playhouse 2 Guy Penrod

Servant Tours LLC

McGlohon Theater 3 MattyB Live in Charlotte

North American Entertainment, LLC

Knight Theater 5-10 Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty

Belk Theater 6 Charlotte Talks 15th Anniversary Celebration

WFAE

McGlohon Theater 7-9 Beethoven & Mozart

Charlotte Symphony

Knight Theater 8 SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam

Booth Playhouse 11 Celtic Thunder Mythology

Belk Theater 12 Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual Tour

Belk Theater 12 The Jazz Room

Jazz Arts Initiative

Stage Door Theater 12-24 Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking

Booth Playhouse 14 The Newport Effect

McGlohon Theater 15 Pam Ann Cockpit 2013 Tour

Reaction Productions

McGlohon Theater 15-16 Live and Let Die

Charlotte Symphony Pops

Knight Theater 19 Jim Brickman: The Love Tour Knight Theater 22-23 Bach St. Matthew Passion

Charlotte Symphony

Belk Theater 23 John Oliver

Knight Theater 23 An Evening of Hope and Inspiration

featuring Jason Crabb

Different Roads Home McGlohonTheater 30 The Irish Tenors: The Premiere Irish

Holiday Celebration Tour

Belk Theater DECEMBER 3-8 Godspell

Knight Theater 4 Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes

McGlohon Theater 5-8 Magic of Christmas

Charlotte Symphony

Belk Theater 10 The Jazz Room

Jazz Arts Initiative

Stage Door Theater 13 SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam

Booth Playhouse 13-15 Black Nativity

Tomorrow’s R.O.A.D.

Booth Playhouse 13-22 Nutcracker

North Carolina Dance Theatre

Belk Theater 14 An Evening with Spyro Gyra &

The Yellowjackets

Jazz Diva Entertainment

Knight Theater 14 The Spirit of Christmas

Charlotte Chorale

McGlohon Theater

18 onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

A Variety of Big Acts Right Around the Corner Celtic Thunder Mythology Nov. 11 – Belk Theater Mythology tells the story of the ancestors of Ireland – their legends, their history and their stories. It’s the lifeblood of modern day Ireland and the influences from its Celtic past that are still reflected in its people today.

Like the Celts, Mythology is bold, challenging, strong, proud and steeped in history. On the set of Mythology, the old and the new combine: Modern catalyst images are projected onto ancient standing stones, a giant Celtic cross takes center stage, and the tempo of the music is strongly echoed in the theatrical and moody lighting.

All six Celtic Thunder principals feature prominently in Mythology, from haunting solo numbers to rousing ensembles and great original tracks that were written especially for Mythology, such as the show-opening number “Voices” and the finale “My Land.”

Celtic Thunder

The Sphinx Virtuosi

The Irish Tenors

Photo by Scott Suchman

Above, Rock of Ages. Drew and Sherrie (Dominique Scott and Shannon Mullen).

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

Cyndi Lauper

Wayne Brady

John Oliver

Alton Brown

B.B. King

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

16 Chris Isaak Holiday Show

Knight Theater 18 Messiah

Charlotte Symphony

Belk Theater 20-21 Clara's Trip

Caroline Calouche & Co.

Booth Playhouse 20-21 The Colors of Christmas

Knight Theater 26-Jan. 5 The Book of Mormon

Belk Theater JANUARY 10-11 Brahms Symphony No. 2

Charlotte Symphony

Belk Theater 12 B.B. King

Knight Theater 16 The Sleeping Beauty

The Nureyev State Ballet Theatre

Knight Theater 17 SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam

Booth Playhouse 18 Laugh for the Cure

Komen Charlotte

Knight Theater 18-26 Il Trittico

Opera Carolina

Belk Theater 21 The Jazz Room

Jazz Arts Initiative

Stage Door Theater 24 KnightSounds: Sights & Sounds of America

Charlotte Symphony

Knight Theater 28-29 Shen Yun

NC Falun Dafa Association

Belk Theater 31-Feb. 1 The Heart of Motown

Charlotte Symphony Pops

Knight Theater FEBRUARY 4-March 2 The Mountaintop

Booth Playhouse 7 UNC Clef Hangers

Knight Theater 7-8 Schumann & Haydn

Charlotte Symphony

Belk Theater 8 Tosco Music Party

Knight Theater 13 Jon Batiste and Stay Human

Knight Theater 13 An Evening With Mika Brzezinski

and Joe Scarborough

Queens University/Queens Learning Institute

Knight Theater 14 Pat Metheny Unity Group

Knight Theater 15 Itzhak Perlman

Charlotte Symphony

Belk Theater 18 The Jazz Room

Jazz Arts Initiative

Stage Door Theater 21 SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam

Booth Playhouse 21-22 Broadway Rocks!

Charlotte Symphony Pops

Knight Theater 21-23 Rock of Ages

Belk Theater 23 Wayne Brady

Knight Theater 24 Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour

Belk Theater 28-March 1 Symphonie Fantastique

Charlotte Symphony

BelkTheater Please visit BlumenthalArts.org for the latest details on all shows.

onstage | Fall/Winter 2013 -14

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Disney's The Lion King Inspires Freedom Schools Students

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ven before the show ended, 11-year-old Emmanuel Leva had a Easter services to put the campaign over its goal. Individuals and private foundations also contributed. lot to say about Disney’s The Lion King.

“My wife and I knew we wanted to support it – it was just “I’ve been excited because I have the movie and I’m a big a matter of determining how much,” says Chris Moore of fan,” he said during intermission at Belk Theater. “The costumes, Charlotte. “We’ve been longtime supporters of Freedom School the special effects – it’s very creative. And I think the ending might Partners, and we also love and support the theater. We thought be really good.” the campaign was a wonderful way to tie together these two Emmanuel and nearly 1,000 other Freedom Schools students, interests.” parents and chaperones filled rows of seats on Aug. 6 for the The couple even changed their reservations to attend The Lion preview performance of the Broadway show. The Blumenthal King on the same night as the students. “Seeing their reactions will Performing Arts’ Inspire a Child campaign raised money to provide them all with free tickets and a priceless evening of theater be the big payoff for us,” Moore said before the show.

Wells Fargo also matched magic.

Inspire a Child donations The ambitious by individuals who went fundraising campaign through the Arts and to raise $65,000 over Science Council’s online Blumenthal’s usual Power2Give website. fundraising goal began This site allows people to last fall after Cindy donate to a specific project Rice, Blumenthal’s presented by ASC nonprofit vice president of cultural partners. The Development, proposed − Hillary Ryan, director of Marketing and bank has been a consistent the idea. Blumenthal funder of Freedom School President Tom Gabbard Special Events at Freedom School Partners Partners, “so there was embraced the plan, as a natural connection and did staff members from creative synergy,” says Jay Everette, Wells Fargo’s community other departments. One of Blumenthal’s charitable focus areas affairs manager. is to increase access to performing arts, and this special effort Freedom Schools is a literacy-based learning program would complement ticket programs already sponsored by Duke developed by the Children’s Defense Fund for at-risk students Energy, Carolinas HealthCare System and Synder’s-Lance. across the country. In Charlotte, the Freedom Schools program The community came together to make Inspire a Child operates at 24 sites in partnership with community organizations. successful. Myers Park United Methodist Church gave one of the Run by Freedom School Partners, the program broadens horizons first donations; Christ Episcopal Church collected change during and builds self-confidence while preventing summer learning loss.

Of the 1,000 tickets that went to Freedom Schools, about 200 went to children and chaperones at a Freedom School site in rural Bennettsville, S.C., 90 miles from uptown. Blumenthal Performing Arts chartered buses for the four-hour round-trip and hosted a dinner for the students on the Booth Playhouse stage before the performance.

On the big night, as bus after bus unloaded on Tryon Street, Mary Nell McPherson, head of Freedom School Partners, called the evening a dream come true.

It was certainly a night to remember for Emmanuel Leva. In Act 2, as the curtain rose on Scar’s Cave, he sat with his chin resting on his hand, mesmerized. He laughed at Rafiki’s wisecracks and grew somber at Mufasa’s wise spirit. At the show’s end, after Simba’s courageous return to save the Pridelands, he jumped to his feet, pumping his fist in the air, cheering.

What would he say to everyone who made the evening possible?

“I would thank them for everything they’ve done because this was an awesome play,” he said. “It was just like the movie! Only better.” 

“These kids will go back to school with something that has opened their minds and set them in a place of ‘I can do anything.’ This will be something they never forget.”

Photo by Lacy Kell Photography

Robert Crosland from Bennettsville, S.C., reacts to seeing Disney's The Lion King at Belk Theater, thanks to a major fundraising campaign that gave Freedom Schools scholars a chance to attend.

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onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

— Article by Jeri F. Krentz

Lions, Hyenas and Warthogs … Oh My!

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In the center, Producer’s Circle members, George and Eva Raftelis are flanked

by Rashada Dawan, left, who plays the menacing hyena Shenzi in Disney’s The Lion King, and Patrick R. Brown, who plays Scar, Mufasa’s evil brother.

roducer’s Circle Members received exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with the cast of Broadway’s award-winning best musical, Disney’s The Lion King!

When the cast and crew of The Lion King gathered at Rock Bottom Brewery uptown for some Southern hospitality opening night, Eva and George Raftelis, longtime Blumenthal supporters, joined the party. They chatted with the cast and crew about their roles, their families and life on the road touring with a Broadway production.

Later in the run of The Lion King, Ben Lipitz, a 10-year veteran who plays the role of lovable warthog Pumbaa, visited the Producer’s Circle Lounge at its new location in the Mezzanine Lobby for a rare, exclusive preshow meet-and-greet with Producer’s Circle members.

These are just some of the VIP experiences Producer’s Circle members enjoy.

Interested in supporting the arts while receiving VIP benefits? Call Marianne Schild, Individual Giving manager, at 704-379-1353, or e-mail mschild@ncbpac.org. 

MEMBERSHIP How to Become a Member Become a Member today and start taking advantage of the great benefits!

• Visit us online at BlumenthalArts.org/Individuals then “Make a Gift” • Call Marianne Schild at 704.379.1353 • Visit the Box Office in Belk Theater lobby at 130 N. Tryon St.

PRODUCER’S CIRCLE members Chairman Peg and Jay Adamczyk Vickie and Tom Gabbard Renee and Chris Hobart Mr. and Mrs. William B. McGuire, Jr. Jeanne and Rick Puckett

Director Barbara and David Goodman Michael, Jaime and Allie Monday President Anonymous Cathy and Jim Baily Mr. William M. Barnhardt and Mrs. Nancy B. Thomas Christine and Arthur Becker Dr. Milton and Arlene Berkman The Blumenthal Foundation - Amy and Philip Blumenthal Betsy and Alfred Brand Mr. William K. Diehl, Jr. Dorlisa and Peter Flur Belinda and Timothy Gunter Beverly and Jim Hance Diane and Chuck Harrington David and Nancy Hauser Michael Kahn Karen and Edgar Whitener Benefactor Anonymous Julie and Riaz Bhamani Margaret and Smoky Bissell Kristin and Buck Bradberry Robin and Lea Burt Nan and Hal Clarke Amy and Alfred Dawson Victoria and Porter Durham Charlie Elberson Mrs. Gail Grim Sally Hawk and Tommi Levi Rebecca S. Henderson and J. Michael Booe Mandy and Todd Houser Nora and Thomas Hughes Sunny and Wen Hutchinson

Juanita and Lloyd Johnson Michelle and Tom Johnson Grace, Michael and John Galloway Sandra and Stephen Godofsky Douglas R. and Elizabeth G. Goldstein Susan and David Jamison Anna and Tom Nelson Mary and David Peterson Eva and George Raftelis Wendy and Frank Rosen Brenda and Bill Ryan Jane and Nelson Schwab Lisa and Glenn Sherrill Paulette and Ronnie Sherrill The Levine-Sklut Family Foundation - Lori and Eric Sklut Anne and Robert Stolz Jacqueline A. Tucker Mr. E. I. Weisiger, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. White Amy Wooden and Joe Kolodziej Elizabeth Yerby and Mark Angel Joan and Robert Zimmerman Investor Anonymous Holly and Jeff Atkins Elizabeth Austin Mr. and Mrs. John M. Barry Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Blocker Mr. and Mrs. Alan Blumenthal Pat and Tim Brier Jerod Brown Mary and Frank Brown Troy Brown Bridget and Shippen Browne Sara and James Buck Katy and James Bullock Bret Burquest Jeff and Anne Brady Carlson Karmen Cassell Elaine and Steve Coats Lori and Roger Cuddy Jim Donahue Michele Durkin Marcia and Bob Dynko Beth and Jonathan Feit

Landrum and Kathie Fisher Todd E. Gardner, MD In Memory of Judy Gerhart Carl and Rebecca Guidice Lisa and Greg Haislip Robin and Blaine Hawkins Patti and Mark Hawley Carol Horn Kathy Kearns and Dennis Sullivan Virginia A. Kern Mary Jean and Howard L. Kushner The Leon Levine Foundation- Sandra and Leon Levine Ashley and Scott Mattei Jill Maxwell Clifford McCurdy Donna and Alvaro de Molina Janet and Peter Nixon Jim Putnam Ken Rothmel Jean and Matthew Salisbury Mary and Peter Schild Mr. and Mrs. Jason C. Schmidly Rose and Tom Sherard Mr. and Mrs. Marsh Spencer Ingrid and Walter Steele David Thomason Ellen and Ron Vilas Sandy and Greg Vlahos Catherine and Scott Warfield Mary Ellen and Reid Wilkerson Johnnie Willis Lisa and Kenny Wilson Jennifer and John Wozniak Grand Patron Larry Adams Valerie and Bill Alexander Daphne Aycock Bryan and Kristen Barboza Dr. and Mrs. Edward S. Baum Renee and Mike Baumbach Ralph and Linda Beck Joyce and Andrew Berger The Donald H. and Barbara K. Bernstein Family Foundation Louise and Mark Bernstein

Lakana and Tony Bikhazi Peggy and Ray Bouley Crandall and Erskine Bowles Laura and Sam Bowles Bill and Robin Branstrom Kathleen Britton William Britton Peter and Cynthia Buck Nancy and Mark Carter Harvey and Muri Corzin Rose and Bill Cummings Marshall and Max Daniel Joni Davis Rachel and Gene Davis Gloria and Peter De Arcangelis Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Deaton Lee Ann and Steve DeCarlo Betty Doria Pepper and Roddey Dowd, Sr. Brigid and James Downs Martha and Eric Eubank Michele and Walter Fisher Sara and Curt Fochtmann Joyce Staley Ford Stacey and Robert Frost John R. Georgius Anne and George Goodyear Molly and Robert Griffin Randy Griffin Ellen and Ned Hardison Steven Harris Debbie and Frank Harrison Randy Helton William Hertzing Kathy and Ben Hill Carolyn and Tim Hilton Dr. Ann Hoscheit and Mr. Joe Davis Peggy and James Hynes Lynn Jeffrey Linda and Kerry Kenner Janice S. Ladley James Ledbetter Melinda Leith Marc and Xhenis Levack Julie and Howard Levine Joan F. Lorden Dr. Shannon Moran and Mr. Joseph Lovallo

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

H. Joseph Machicote Marie-Claire Marroum-Kardous Joseph Maxim Stephen McClure Jane and Hugh McColl Betsy and T. Bragg McLeod Elsa and Joseph McNamara Mr. and Mrs. Mark W. Mealy Ms. Marie Mitchell Jared Mobley Jill and Ed Newman Mr. Fidel Prieto Dan Reilly Cindy and Randy Rice Dr. and Mrs. Richard S. Roberts Sally and Russell Robinson Lisa and Robert Rollins William R. Rollins Carla and Ed Rose Stuart Schnider Thad and Bobbie Sharrett Roger Shaul, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Shelton, Sr. Peggy and Pope Shuford June Silver The Marc and Mattye Silverman Foundation Sherry and Tom Skains Rosemary and Paul Smith Tom E. Smith Dia and Paul Steiger Patricia and John Stewart Mr. and Mrs. Jack H. Thomas Dan and Sylvia Warren Larry Weems James Wheeler Teresa and Stick Williams Pat and Bill Williamson Cathey and Rip Winfield Gillian Albinski and Douglas Young

Contributions received from Sept. 1, 2012, through Sept. 1, 2013.

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The Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Annual Corporate Partner Campaign is in full swing. For information on how to take a lead role as a Blumenthal Corporate Partner, scan this QR code or contact Susan Yarber, Corporate Relations & Sponsorship manager, at 704-379-1355 or syarber@ncbpac.org.

YWCA ticket scholarship recipients head into a matinee performance of Disney’s The Lion King.

CORPORATE partners LEADERSHIP gifts

2013/14 Broadway Lights Series Sponsor

SIGNATURE gifts

Official Healthcare Provider of Blumenthal Performing Arts

MAJOR

Celebrity Series Sponsor

CEO partners

Official Airline of Blumenthal Performing Arts

Presenting Sponsor The Blumey Awards

Preferred Snack Food Provider of Blumenthal Performing Arts

Preferred Catering Partner of Blumenthal Performing Arts

gifts

Preferred Dining and Catering Partner of Blumenthal Performing Arts

PRESIDENTIAL partners

FOUNDATION gifts

THE DOCTOR FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Arts & Science Council supports Blumenthal Performing Arts’ 2013 fiscal year budget with a Basic Operating Grant in the amount of $331,038.

Education Programs and Student Scholarships

THE LOVETT FOUNDATION 22 onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

Blumenthal Performing Arts receives support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.

THE LEON LEVINE FOUNDATION

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

Duke Energy Ignites Young Minds

T

hrough Duke Energy’s generous support, Blumenthal Performing Arts is able to partner with local organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Communities In Schools, Thompson Child & Family Focus and the YWCA Central Carolinas to expose children to the city’s vibrant cultural arts community. By combining an interactive educational program with a performance, Blumenthal helps inspire wonder and joy in children who participate in the ticket scholarship program.

Since 2009, as part of their sponsorship of the Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series, Duke Energy has provided ticket scholarships for more than 1,200 children to shows like last season’s Sister Act and Wicked. Recently, 150 children were treated to a matinee performance of Disney’s The Lion King during its four-week sellout run in Charlotte.

Stick Williams, Duke Energy Foundation president says: “I know that an experience like attending your first Broadway show can be transforming. That’s what we are after with the ticket scholarship

program – the possibility of igniting a fire or creating a dream within a young person.”

Recent attendees of the touring show Peter and the Starcatcher, which comes to Knight Theater next spring, spoke of just such a transformation. “Peter and the Starcatcher made me think more about how I treat others,” says Y’neth, a fifth grader. Seventh grader Cienna says, “I learned that you should always try your best to continue your journey, and don’t ever give up.” In the spring, the Duke Energy ticket scholarship program will enable 100 children to attend Peter and the Starcatcher at Knight Theater.

By providing tickets to inspiring performances like these, Duke Energy is making memorable experiences accessible for children who could not otherwise experience the bright lights of Broadway here in Charlotte.

To discuss how your company can partner with Blumenthal to support educational programming and community outreach efforts, please contact Susan Yarber, Corporate Relations & Sponsorship manager, at syarber@ncbpac.org or 704-379-1355. 

Blumenthal recognizes the following sponsors and corporate partners for their generous support.

Executive Partners Belk Inc BlackArch Partners Crescent Communities, LLC Deloitte Ernst & Young LLP Family Dollar Store Hunton & Williams LLP InterCon Building Corporation K&L Gates LLP King & Spalding LLP KPMG, LLP McGuireWoods, LLP Midrex Technologies, Inc. North Highland Company NUCOR Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP Rodgers Builders SteelFab, Inc. Managing Partners Ashley Furniture HomeStore Baird Private Wealth Management C design Inc. Carolina Tractor

Charlotte Paint Co. Inc. Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Direct Source, Inc. Dowd Foundation Goodrich Foundation Granite Sky Design Imperial Printing JJ Wade & Associates Lincoln Harris LLP McGladrey & Pullen LLP Morningstar Mini-Storage Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. Shaw Group TOSHIBA America Business Solutions White Knight Engineered Products Associate Partners Ajax Rolled Ring & Machine Aster Group Corporation Bailiwick Data Systems, Inc. BB&T Bissell Chicago Title Insurance Company Choate Construction Co.

CloudComm CM Steel Inc. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated CohnReznick LLP Crosland Southeast CSI Leasing, Inc. Defease With Ease Diebold, Inc. Dixon Hughes Goodman PLLC DSG Concrete Contractors, LLC Forsythe Solutions Group, Inc. Galvan Industries, Inc. Garmon & Company, Inc. Commercial Flooring Harris-Barnes Hendrick Construction, Inc. High Performance Technologies HITACHI Data Systems Hood Hargett & Associates Hoopaugh Grading Co., LLC Interstate Electric Co. Inc. Lake Norman Custom Glass, Inc. LB&A, Certified Public Accountants, PLLC Little Associates

Martin Marietta Materials McCracken & Lopez, PA McGrann Paper Corporation McNeary, Inc. MegaPath, Inc. Messer Construction Co. NCR Corporation Odell Associates Party City PMMC Robert E. Mason & Associates, Inc. Robert Pittenger Company Rogers Unloading Service Schindler Elevator Corp.

Staley Inc. Tandus Flooring Theory House Trinity Consulting United Mechanical Corporation Velligan Medical Services Walbridge Southeast Willis Contributions received from Sept. 1, 2012, through Sept. 1, 2013.

RESTAURANT partners

210 E. Trade St., Suite 120-B Charlotte, NC 28202 704.971.4440 blackfinncharlotte.com

Hearst Tower (Corner of 5th & College St.) Charlotte, NC 28202 704.927.2583 bluerestaurantandbar.com

139 S. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704.601.4141 chima.cc

6903 Phillips Place Ct. Charlotte, NC 28210 704.643.1664 deandeluca.com

401 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704.334.2739 www.rockbottom.com

201 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704.348.1400 thecapitalgrille.com

Tickets: 704.372.1000 | BlumenthalArts.org

onstage | Fall/Winter 2013-14

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onstage

Fall/Winter 2013-14

BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS 130 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202

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