SPARK
Spring 2018
B L U M E N T H A L P E R F O R M I N G A R T S – I G N I T I N G C U LT U R E
FEATURE:
TRANSFORMING A CITY | P.4
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Ignite a SPARK: Facebook.com/NCBPAC
CONTENTS
Twitter.com/BlumenthalArts Instagram.com/BlumenthalArts
Spring 2018
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A crowd enjoys some jazz music on a spring afternoon in uptown Charlotte, a site that likely wouldn't have been seen 25 years ago. PHOTO BY PHILLIP HOFFMAN
Blumenthal introduced Charlotte residents to an authentic flamenco show to help further broaden its cultural experiences. PHOTO BY DANIEL COSTON
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11 BUYER BEWARE
FEATURE:
4 TRANSFORMING A CITY
Blumenthal Creates a Vibrant, Thriving Charlotte
Brokers Threaten Affordable Tickets
12 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Photos of Blumenthal's Anniversary Events
9 TRANSFORMING PEOPLE
Blumenthal Sparks Curiosity, Sense of Discovery
11 CONNECTING ART AND MUSIC
Local Artist Creates Romare Bearden Inspired Backdrop
14 THE POWER OF POETRY
BreatheINK Changes Lives as an Outlet for Expression
15 DIFFERENCE MAKERS
Couple Helps Make Dreams Come True
ON THE COVER: Unlike 25 years ago, now Charlotte often comes alive when the sun goes down.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Richard Battle Reginald Bean, marketing & community relations chair Riaz H. Bhamani Amy Rice Blumenthal Kristin Hills Bradberry Bobby Chesney, compensation chair Brian Cromwell Dena Diorio Bobby Drakeford J. Porter Durham Jr., governance chair Julie Eiselt Charlie Elberson 2 SPARK | SPRING 2018
Jonathan Feit Erin Lavely Fisher David M. Goodman Jeff Hay, chair Renee Hobart, education chair Jerri Kallam Michelle Lee Barbara Meeks, development chair Gail Sharps Myers George A. Raftelis Matthew Salisbury, secretary Anjali Shah Scott Tozier Kevin White, finance & audit chair
SPARK SPARK is produced by the Blumenthal Performing Arts Marketing staff. Vice President of Marketing Wendy Oglesby Editor, Graphic Designer and Content Coordinator Mark Wallace, creative services & publications manager Content Coordinator Rebecca Bereiter, communication & creative content producer Contributing writers: Liz Rothaus Bertrand Adam Rhew Shameika Rhymes
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Editing support: John Luebke Tim Jonassen
2016-17
FINANCES BY THE NUMBERS Operating Revenues Event Revenues
$23,941,597
ASC Support
$150,000
City/County Maintenance Reimbursement
$914,526
Endowment Distribution
$882,450
Contribution Income for Operations
$2,437,869
Other Revenues
$278,716
Total Operating Revenues
Operating Expenses
THE NEW FACE OF BLUMENTHAL
Events
$17,190,600
Operations
Logo Conveys Character, Depth and Diversity of Arts Organization
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alking past Belk Theater, it is hard not to notice the banner hanging above the North Tryon sidewalk with its array of bold colors twisted and swirled into a “B.” This is Blumenthal’s new logo, which debuted at Celebrating Big Dreams, the first of Blumenthal’s 25th anniversary special performances. “It’s one of many ways that we want to send a clear signal to the community that this is (an) institution that is constantly recreating itself and looking ahead to the future,” Blumenthal President Tom Gabbard says. “We wanted to see something new that focused more on the community, and adopting a logo that was rich in color as our community is rich in color was a part of this.” To execute this vision, Blumenthal worked with Wray Ward senior designer David Haire. According to Gabbard, Haire was the clear choice to lead the rebranding effort due to his attentiveness and ability to convey a sense of the organization’s character through design. Haire looked to Blumenthal’s largest performance space, Belk Theater, for his initial inspiration. Architect César Pelli’s subtle incorporation of the Fibonacci spiral into his design of Belk Theater caught Haire’s attention, as did the vibrancy of the stage. “While I was inspired by the architecture, I also took a design cue from the cubism art movement, more specifically Orphism, which was an offshoot of cubism that focused on pure abstraction and bright colors,” he says. “The colors come from the bright theater lights and the tones they produce.” The thoughtfulness of the new logo extends far beyond its color palette. Look closely, Haire says, and one might discover a “P” and an “A” hidden within the main letter. This depth is a trait Gabbard hopes patrons will appreciate and anticipate from Blumenthal in both presentation and programming. “One of the things that we loved about this logo is that it will change and morph. I want people to always wonder ‘what’s next?’” T
$28,605,158
BLUMENTHALARTS.ORG
$9,788,738
Management and General
$968,839
Fundraising
$615,635
Total Operating Expenses
$28,563,812
Net Results From Operations
$41,346
Audited financials, year ended Aug. 31, 2017. To see our full audited financial report and Form 990, visit BlumenthalArts.org.
IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS Number of Performances, Classes, Events and Activities
3,645
Attendance at All Events and Classes Economic Impact
539,520 $54,200,000
Student Impacts
16,124
Tickets Provided Via Arts for All Initiatives
2,678
Community and Education Program Impacts
24,210
Hours Donated by Volunteers
39,071
All Donations (Mission and Endowment)
$2,756,413
Charlotte Jazz Festival
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TRANSFORMING A CITY
COVER STORY BY ADAM RHEW
This page: Blumenthal's innovative outdoor programming like Sounds on the Square at Spirit Square has helped vitalize uptown Charlotte. Bottom right: The streets of Charlotte are often bustling day and night now. PHOTO BY DANIEL COSTON
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“It seemed like they had rolled up the sidewalks by 6 p.m.” MARK HAWLEY
Blumenthal Creates a Vibrant, Thriving Charlotte
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ark Hawley doesn’t remember much about his first visit to Charlotte for a wine tasting event more than 25 years ago, except how dead center city was after dark. “It seemed like they had rolled up the sidewalks by 6 p.m.,” he recalls. He and his wife, Patti, drove back home to Winston-Salem unimpressed by the state’s largest city. Mark’s recollection is a familiar sentiment among longtime
Charlotteans. When the uptown businesses closed, and the workers returned to the suburbs, the central business district was lifeless. It had none of the major amenities it enjoys today – no basketball arena, football stadium or baseball park; few spaces for creativity; a listless hospitality scene home to just a couple of bars and restaurants. What Mark didn’t know – what he couldn’t possibly envision – was how dramatically all of that would change. Uptown just needed an attraction.
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A magnetic pull. Something to get people out of their offices and onto the streets. And on Nov. 20, 1992, uptown got what it needed.
A REASON TO COME UPTOWN
Early boosters of the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, with its 2,100-seat Belk Theater, knew it could be the kind of magnetic pull the city needed to add vibrancy in center city. Part of their pitch to the community – whose Continued on Page 6
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support was essential for the $43 million project to be viable – was the transformative effect a downtown arts venue could have on a city “in terms of making restaurants prosper or leading to people meeting people from some other part of town, as they should,” says former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl, who supported the project. When Blumenthal opened on that late fall night just more than 25 years ago, its debut was heralded as both a cultural and economic good for the city – not just uptown. A thriving central business district would boost all of Charlotte, supporters said. But Charlotteans – would-be theatergoers – were still wary. Newspaper stories offered advice about where to park and how to enter the building while avoiding the uptown streets. “A lot of people don’t realize that the place was designed so that you could park, come through a skywalk, come into the theaters, and never go outside,” says current Blumenthal President and CEO Tom Gabbard. “Tryon Street at that time was viewed as a dangerous place to be.” In those early days, patrons would drive into uptown from the suburbs, park in a garage, and wind their way into the theater covertly. The attraction was the show – and nothing else. Slowly, though, things began to change. Restaurants and bars began to pop up throughout uptown. Storefronts stayed open a touch longer. Workers who once bolted for their cars at the 5 o’clock whistle would linger for a drink. “Uptown was already a growing hub of employment for the city and the region, but for many people, Blumenthal gave them a reason to come uptown,” says Michael Smith, president and CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners. “It energized evenings when there was little other nightlife.”
THE DIFFERENCE A DECADE MAKES
Roughly a decade after they first visited Charlotte, Mark and Patti Hawley moved to a lakeside golf community about an hour north of the city. They had just moved back from Switzerland, where Mark had been posted for work, and were eager to find hobbies in their new home. “Since we were more or less living in the middle of nowhere,” Mark says, “we were looking for interesting things to do outside of our small community when we learned about the Broadway Lights Series.” They bought tickets and made the drive in to town. Oh, how Charlotte had changed. “We were really impressed with the transformation of uptown from the sleepy town we had experienced on our last visit.” The quality of the performances blew the Hawleys away. “Many 6 SPARK | SPRING 2018
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equaled or bettered the same shows we had seen on Broadway or in London,” Mark says. During this time, Blumenthal intentionally began to look outward, to the growing entertainment district around it. “We set out to acknowledge that now Tryon Street was a great place to be, and reorient how people use the building,” Gabbard says. “(We) put our box office out there, encourage people to use those front doors to go out to dinner before, and then come to the theater. “That vibrancy is a really important thing.” The Hawleys started coming into Charlotte more frequently, first for a 6 p.m. dinner at Rooster’s or Aria, perhaps, and then a 7:30 p.m. show. “We have tried most every eating establishment in uptown at least once over the years,” Mark says. Typically the couple drove into town for a Wednesday night performance, and drove back to their home afterward. But on the occasional weekend night, the Hawleys would book a hotel room to avoid the late night drive home – and to revel in every minute of uptown’s energy.
DRIVING POSITIVE EXPERIENCES
City leaders point to Blumenthal as an important driver of the energy uptown. “Its success proved that uptown could attract, sustain and grow a faithful art audience,” Smith says. “Without this demonstrated support, many of the cultural venues we have in place may not have had the support for their construction.”
Restaurants and bars are buzzing in uptown Charlotte thanks to the bursting cultural scene.
By 2005 or so, a massive transformation to uptown Charlotte brought new arts venues – most notably the Levine Center for the Arts, which is home to museums and performance space including Knight Theater. But Blumenthal’s success isn’t only important for the cultural sector. The hospitality industry sees a significant boost in business connected to performances. “There is definitely an extra sense of energy and buzz at the hotel, and our food and beverage partners – 5Church restaurant and Sophia’s Lounge – also see more reservations for dinner and groups meeting for drinks before and after the shows,” says Janal Montagna, the sales and marketing director for
A crowd takes to the streets of uptown Charlotte to enjoy jazz on a spring evening.
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The Ivey’s Hotel, a boutique property across the street from Belk Theater. The evolution of uptown has enabled hospitality businesses to thrive as more and more visitors come to Charlotte for weekend getaways – something that would have been inconceivable 25 years ago. “These people are visiting to get the whole experience: staying at a new, boutique hotel; experiencing a Broadway show; attending a national sporting event; visiting a contemporary art museum; taking a historic walking tour; trying a local beer at a craft beer bar and trying a new restaurant lead by a well-known chef,” Montagna says. “It’s really the whole experience that they come for, and having a strong performing arts venue to anchor the city helps make that experience a well-rounded one.” In addition to driving positive experiences among residents and visitors, Blumenthal has become an important tool for economic developers seeking to attract major corporations to locate in Charlotte. Smith says Blumenthal’s 1,000-plus annual performances “animate the street” in a positive way. “Prospects expect a vibrant cultural life in the cities where they choose to locate,” he says. “World-class performing arts assets like the symphony, opera, ballet and first-run Broadway hits are valued amenities that help make individuals and businesses choose Charlotte and support the city’s future growth.”
PHOTO BY DANIEL COSTON
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF
Knight Theater adds to uptown's cultural diversity with Charlotte Symphony and Charlotte Ballet performances, hip-hop dance performances and more.
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Charlotte visionaries saw the potential for growth in the city, and today, there is a vibrant cultural scene with sports in the BB&T Ballpark, above, as well as the Spectrum Arena, plus innovative restaurants, theater and more. Those visionaries knew a performing arts center, namely Belk Theater, at left, is what the city needed to kick-start that growth.
The Hawleys took advantage of uptown’s boom. After years of attending shows at Blumenthal, they began to expand their patronage to other cultural institutions. “Each year, we seemed to add more events to our calendar,” Mark says. The couple became season ticket holders for the Charlotte Symphony and the Actors Theater of Charlotte. They picked up new favorite restaurants as Bernardin’s and Halcyon opened on South Tryon Street in close proximity to Knight Theater. But even with their busier calendars, the Hawleys weren’t attending as many events as they would have liked because of the hour-long drive home each night. So the couple did something they never would have imagined on that first visit a quarter century ago: They sold their golf course home and moved to uptown Charlotte. Mark says the relocation “put just about everything we want to do within walking distance.” McColl, one of the early backers of an uptown performing arts center, recalls a conversation in the early 1990s with an opponent to the idea. She said McColl and other boosters were misleading the public about uptown’s potential. No one would ever decide to live there, she scoffed. McColl laughs when he recounts the conversation. He rattles off a list of amenities the thousands of people who live in uptown today can enjoy: innovative restaurants, professional sports, buzzing bars, a bursting cultural scene. “We have here in Charlotte, within 10 blocks, everything people talk about in New York,” he says. The retired executive takes a measure of satisfaction in proving critics wrong. T “I wish she was still alive because I’d love her to see what’s happening.” T
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PHOTO BY DANIEL COSTON
Above, a flamenco dancer performs during Charlotte's first Tablao Flamenco program. Below, Blumenthal Performing Arts creates a unique experience for jazz lovers with a fully decorated Jazz Garden Tent during Charlotte Jazz Fest.
TRANSFORMING PEOPLE Blumenthal Sparks Curiosity, Sense of Discovery in Charlotte
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PHOTO BY BECKY BEREITER
By Shameika Rhymes
magine traveling to some of the wonders of the world, including Spain and London, or checking out some of your favorite jazz musicians in an intimate setting, all without having to leave the comfort of Charlotte. It’s possible to stay in the Queen City and get a taste of various cultures thanks to Blumenthal Performing Arts. Through innovative and diverse programming, Blumenthal is broadening the cultural palate of Charlotte residents. Blumenthal Performing Arts President/CEO Tom Gabbard said it’s more than just whipping up a batch of quality, culturally different, and experientially different programs. “That sense of discovery is also part of it,” he said. “We want to fill people’s curiosity about these things.
When they have good experiences, that curiosity makes them want to seek out more.” While Charlotte is a melting pot of transplants filled with people from around the world, there is still an appetite for the arts that only Blumenthal could satisfy. “We’ve always had a focus on bringing things to Charlotte that otherwise wouldn’t be here,” Gabbard said. “We’ve really tried not to be repetitive of what other people have covered and do well; but rather to fill gaps and do some things that we can uniquely do because of the great theaters and resources we have. There are certain things that if we don’t do them, nobody will.” Bridging the diversity that is Charlotte isn’t an easy
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feat; but programs like the Charlotte Jazz Festival, Tablao Flamenco, Breakin’ Convention, and a new comedy festival, all play a hand in giving residents unique experiences in their own backyard. To achieve that, Blumenthal is investing in infrastructure to craft a home-grown cultural experience. For music lovers, the Charlotte Jazz Festival with programs at the Jazz Garden Tent at Romare Bearden in uptown Charlotte is an example of the innovation that merges sophistication with nature. “We have this jazz festival that’s gaining a lot of traction. There’s lots of great concerts, and in this wonderful tent, it’s something that’s quite unexpected for people,” said Gabbard. “This last year was really quite a discovery for people. They come knowing it’s going to be in a tent. That notion combined with some elegance with chandeliers – and most of all to celebrate that natural environment by being right on the grass with clear walls, so you can see into the park – that is something that a lot of people have never seen before.” Hip-hop music has a global reach yet made its mark on Charlotte with an explosion of dance talent. Blumenthal Performing Arts’ international festival of hip-hop dance theater brought in dancers from around the world to give the Queen City a taste of London’s hottest annual event known as Breakin’ Convention. Blumenthal provided a close-up look inside the hip-hop culture by incorporating graffiti painting, DJs, dance workshops and more for the past three years. Spoken word artist and host Boris “Bluz” Rogers co-emceed the event and said introducing hip-hop to Charlotte audiences goes beyond the music. “Events like this puts people from all different walks of life in one room to vibe off the same energy and music. That’s when they realize they might like the same songs, same clothes, or even the same movies,” he said. “Events like this tear down the ‘-isms’ we carry sometimes and build up the ideas of creative unity and community bonding.” Blumenthal Performing Arts infused Spanish nightlife into
PHOTO BY DANIEL COSTON
Breakin' Convention brought people with different backgrounds and interests together for a weekend of entertainment.
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Above, an improv comedy troupe performs. As part of its efforts to create new ways to bring diverse entertainment to Charlotte audiences, Blumenthal is planning its first comedy festival.
Charlotte by transforming the Booth Playhouse into an authentic Spanish dance club at Tablao Flamenco, bringing an innovative performance that featured a collection of the world’s best flamenco dancers, singers and instrumentalists. Patrons in Charlotte were able to experience the traditional flamenco art form up close and personal. “I’ve always had this sense that the audience was looking for something more personal than the dance companies that we brought here. I got the sense that people would welcome the opportunity to be up close to appreciate the artistry of these musicians, dancers and singers,” said Gabbard. A good hearty laugh is just what the doctor ordered by way of the first comedy festival in Charlotte. Blumenthal Event Manager Joe Hunsaker is spearheading the event and says it is more than a festival; it’s an experience full of laughs and culture that draws a crowd from diverse backgrounds. “We always try to be very mindful of our audiences and love to keep them diverse,” he said. “We are actively booking acts that appeal to minorities, the LGBTQ community, children, women and everyone else.” To create a memorable experience, the festival will embrace various mediums and spaces. “We plan to use the unique set up of Spirit Square to make a true comedy experience, including improv, stand-up, podcasting, magic, storytelling and music,” Hunsaker explained. Joining forces with Comedy Zone Charlotte will add to the hilarity that’s about to ensue, but more importantly it’s about bringing together art forms. “For some reason, the local improv community and the local stand-up community don’t often mix, but we’re here to bridge that gap,” Hunsaker said. Bridging the gap, and providing new discoveries and artistic experiences is all part of Blumenthal Performing Arts’ plan to continue to balance the servings of culture to the Queen City. “We deal with a lot of big, well-known brands, including Broadway shows, and we love them; but we have a responsibility and a desire to serve the community with things that are less well-known,” said Gabbard. “Blumenthal is sending out the invitation to everyone to come see the classics as well as the avant-garde,” said Bluz. “The people of Charlotte are accepting it with open minds and hearts, and taking a front row seat.” T
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CONNECTING ART, MUSIC, QUEEN CITY Local Artist Draws Inspiration From Romare Bearden for Jazzy Backdrop
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By Liz Rothaus Bertrand
ometimes all the pieces seem to fit together in the most remarkable ways. That’s the case with a new artwork commissioned by Blumenthal that served as a backdrop for performances in The Jazz Tent at Romare Bearden Park during the Charlotte Jazz Festival in April. Local artist Bree Stallings created a mural that is an homage to the park’s namesake – one of the most innovative artists of the 20th century – as well as a celebration of jazz. Her artwork, titled “Mecklenburg Spring” (an allusion to Bearden’s “Mecklenburg Autumn”) incorporates paint and paper elements on wooden panels and measures about 20 feet high by 30 feet long. It was inspired by Bearden’s trademark collage style, his strong connections with jazz, the park where it will be on display and the people of Charlotte. “Romare Bearden has such an interesting history with Charlotte,” says Stallings, who like Bearden, often explores themes of social justice in her creative work. Bearden was born in Charlotte and spent childhood summers here, even after his family moved to New York City. North Carolina and the African-American experience figure prominently in his art. He also had deep connections to the jazz world. “A lot of people don’t know how the visual arts and jazz were combined at that time,” says Stallings, whose new creation draws inspiration from musicians like Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis. Bearden grew up only a few blocks from the famed Savoy Ballroom at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, and many
PHOTO BY BECKY BEREITER
Blumenthal Performing Arts commissioned Bree Stallings to create a unique backdrop for the Jazz Garden Tent at Romare Bearden Park during the Charlotte Jazz Festival.
prominent musicians were guests at his family’s home. Duke Ellington bought one of his first paintings; Billie Holiday and other musicians were subjects of his artwork; and the multitalented Bearden also co-wrote more than 20 jazz compositions, including the hit song “Seabreeze.” His artwork is often described as resembling jazz through his use of color, riffs on recurrent themes and his ability to capture a sense of improvisation within the structure of his compositions. Wynton Marsalis, who headlined the Charlotte Jazz Festival, and his family also had a close association with Bearden, whose artwork appeared on album covers for both Wynton and Branford Marsalis. In fact, Branford Marsalis did an entire recording titled “Romare Bearden Revealed” that consisted of music inspired by Bearden’s body of work. Stallings hopes her piece, which also incorporates images of the gardens at Romare Bearden Park and children playing there, will stimulate conversations, celebrate jazz as something for all generations to enjoy, and inspire visitors to learn more about Bearden. “I think that it will be really exciting (for audiences) to connect the visual arts, musical arts and community aspects of it the way Romare Bearden honored all those things in his work, and the way Blumenthal continues to do so with their programming,” says Stallings. T
BROKERS THREATEN AFFORDABLE TICKETS
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By Liz Rothaus Bertrand
hanks to our city’s proven appetite for arts and entertainment, many prominent artists and top shows now stop in Charlotte. According to a recent study, more than 3.5 million people attended arts and cultural events in Mecklenburg County in 2016. But there’s a problem that comes along with popular, high profile arts events: the rise of ticket brokers who resell seats at exorbitant prices to unsuspecting fans. Take a show like Hamilton, coming to Charlotte this fall. Tickets are not yet on sale to the public but dozens of broker sites are already posting misleading offers for seats costing as much as $1,800 each. That’s way above what the actual ticket price will be and a direct violation of Blumenthal’s policies, which prohibit ticket resale with more than a $10 mark up, plus original taxes and fees.
“We are aggressively responding to this problem,” says Blumenthal’s CEO Tom Gabbard. “Blumenthal is deeply committed to affordability so that teachers and other middle-class folks are able to see our shows. When brokers buy up the affordable tickets, they undermine our ability to serve the entire community.” Blumenthal does not partner or cooperate with any brokers. In fact, it actively works to root them out by flagging suspicious ticketbuying activity, invalidating tickets that break their policy, and informing consumers about official ways to purchase tickets. The only way to be sure you are getting legitimate tickets at the lowest price is to purchase through BlumenthalArts.org or CarolinaTix.org. For more information on avoiding ticket scams, visit BlumenthalArts.org/Official.
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Blumenthal 2017-2018 25th Anniversary Celebrations
PHOTOS BY DANIEL COSTON
Celebrating Big Dreams
With Leslie Odom Jr. November 14, 2017
Clockwise from top left: 1. VIP guests enjoy a preshow party in the Booth Playhouse; 2. Leslie Odom Jr. performs as the headliner for the anniversary celebration; 3. Philip Blumenthal, Amy Rice Blumenthal and Tim Belk enjoy the festivities at the preshow party; 4. A drum corp parades the audience out of Belk Theater onto the plaza at the end of the show; 5. Past students from The Blumey Awards perform; 6. Abby Corrigan, former Blumey Award winner and cast member of the Fun Home national tour, performs; 7. Kristin Hills Bradberry, Deborah Harris, Gary Bechtel and Johnny Harris pose during the preshow party; 8. Guests enjoy dinner before the show.
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Blumenthal 2017-2018 25th Anniversary Celebrations
PHOTOS BY DANIEL COSTON
A Gala Musical Tribute HONORING
WILLIAM IVEY LONG February 24, 2018
Clockwise from top left: 1. BeBe Winans performs at the tribute show; 2. From left, David Dabbon, music director; Charles Randolph-Wright, director; William Ivey Long; Christine Ebersole, performer; BeBe Winans, performer; Laura Osnes, performer; and Nita Whitaker, performer; 3. Blumey Award winner Anna Hertel performs a number during the celebration; 4. Guest of honor William Ivey Long escorts Laura Osnes; 5. A performance showcases William Ivey Long’s costume creations; 6. Charles Randolph-Wright poses with William Ivey Long; 7. Andy Karl performs during the tribute event.
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THE POWER OF POETRY BreatheINK Changes Lives as an Outlet for Expression
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BREATHEINK
BreatheINK Your Poetry Initiative gives teenagers an outlet to openly express who they are.
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By Liz Rothaus Bertrand
or Terry Creech and the young people he coaches, poetry isn’t a bunch of pretty words from a bygone era: it’s contemporary, competitive and life-changing. As executive director of breatheINK Youth Poetry Initiative, Creech works with local teens to develop their skills and confidence as spoken word poets. “I love poetry and I love sports, and Slam is basically the sport of poetry,” says Creech, who also founded SlamCharlotte, an organization for adult poets that has won two national championships. Creech and breatheINK have played an integral role in promoting performance poetry in the Carolinas, through school and community workshops. Much of the work these young poets do to develop their craft can also help them succeed in life. “Since I was 16, breatheINK has been like my compass,” says 20-year old Jordan Bailey, a recent graduate of Northwest School of the Arts, who now serves as an assistant coach for breatheINK. “Even more than that, it has helped me to express myself. I suffer from bipolar disorder … it’s helped me to say things and write them down (and) learn better ways of communication.” Poetry can also help young people acquire the awareness and skills to be more engaged in the community. Both were called upon in September 2016, when Bailey and other young poets organized an event outside Spirit Square in response to the Keith Lamont Scott shooting. Their poetry focused on issues like police brutality, fear and what it means to be part of a community. It was a difficult but crucial moment for young people to speak up. “I think it’s what everybody needed – us as youth needed, us as poets and as a city needed,” says Bailey. “... When it’s in your own backyard, you can’t ignore these things.” The group’s signature events are monthly Youth Poetry Slams held at Spirit Square, where teenagers can perform their original works in front of an audience and panel of judges. “They don’t really have that many outlets to openly and freely express who they are,” says Creech. “It’s all 14 SPARK | SPRING 2018
about getting their voices out.” No topics are off-limits, and Creech encourages audience members to write down lines that resonate with them as well as interact with the poets after the competition. The goal is to build community and a family atmosphere despite the competitive nature of Slam. “Blumenthal’s been amazing,” says Creech. “There’s no way we could do what we’ve been doing without their support.” Blumenthal provides space for performances and rehearsals free of charge. It also donates proceeds from tickets sold to the Youth Poetry Slams to help pay for a team of six outstanding poets to represent Charlotte at the annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival in July. “We couldn’t go without it,” says Creech, noting that many of the participants’ families don’t have the financial means to fund an out-of-state trip. This summer, Charlotte’s team will head to Chicago to join teens from around the globe for workshops, competitions and lessons on using poetry to promote positive change in their community. T
WANT TO GET INVOLVED? Monthly Youth Poetry Slams take place on designated Fridays at Spirit Square, November through March, with the finals in April. Free community workshops also take place every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Imaginon’s Teen Loft.
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DIFFERENCE MAKERS
COUPLE HELPS MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE Jaime and Mike Monday Inspired to Support Blumenthal's Life-changing Opportunities
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By Liz Rothaus Bertrand
hen Jaime Monday called Blumenthal Performing Arts about 10 years ago with a special request, she was trying to make her daughter’s dream come true. Little did she know that phone call would eventually lead to Monday and her husband, Mike, helping thousands of other kids’ dreams come true, too. A middle schooler at the time, their daughter, Allie, was completely obsessed with Wicked. Jaime Monday knew it was a long shot but found a Blumenthal phone number online and called to see if there was any way her starstruck daughter could meet the actress who played Elphaba when the show swooped into town on its first national tour. She reached the individual giving line and the answer was a polite but firm no; it simply wasn’t something the department could do. Jaime figured that was the end of the story. But instead of ending the call, the Blumenthal staff member started asking questions, like what types of shows did the Mondays enjoy, and how often did they come to Blumenthal? They chatted about the organization’s initiatives beyond the stage – programs that the Mondays, occasional theatergoers, had never heard of before. They talked about Blumenthal’s membership program, charitable contributions, and the impact giving has on the organization’s overall mission and education programs. That day, Jaime Monday discovered a wide range of programs Blumenthal offered: from school partnerships and educational initiatives, to free and discounted ticket programs enabling kids with limited financial means or access to experience the performing arts. “I was blown away …” says Jaime Monday. “We were able to see first-hand the impact Blumenthal has on the broader community and we were hooked.” Since then, the Mondays' contributions have grown incrementally each year, and they are now among the organization’s most generous donors. The arts have always played an important role in the lives of the Mondays, who both grow up in military families. They provided stability in their transient childhoods that took them to new cities every few years. “Art and music and the performing arts are kind of a universal language,” says Mike Monday, who now leads Accenture’s SouthEast region’s cyber security team but studied trumpet and dabbled in musical theater during his high school years. “Even though we were moving around, music and art were at the center of everything, whether it was church or sitting around (playing songs).” For Jaime Monday, too, now a senior vice president in Operations at Wells Fargo, music was essential. As she moved from one corner of the world to another, the family piano came
Jaime and Mike Monday
along, enabling her to train as a classical pianist. The arts took on an even more significant role in their lives through their daughter’s passions. Dancing since age 3, Allie fell in love with theater and the performing arts. A recent graduate of Belmont University with a degree in music business, she’s also a gifted singer and guitarist. The Mondays know they were fortunate that they could afford to pay for lessons and other opportunities supporting their daughter’s interests. Through Blumenthal, they’ve found a way to extend opportunities to other children as well, which they know can be life-changing. “For kids that have that passion for the arts and need that inspiration, I think that’s where Blumenthal fills that gap,” says Jaime Monday. Mike Monday says he is especially touched by the stories he has heard first-hand from young people like Devante Lawrence, who years after graduating from Porter Ridge High School in Union County still carries the ticket stub in his wallet for the first Broadway show he ever saw, thanks to Blumenthal’s The Broadway Experience. Lawrence went on to graduate from NYU-Tisch in 2014 with the financial support of the Mary Doctor Performing Arts Scholarship. “The other thing that I think is truly inspiring is the platform that (The Blumey Awards) has given these high school kids,” says Mike Monday. “That’s their Superbowl. That wasn’t there in any of the other communities I lived in. It’s one of the hottest tickets in town … that speaks volumes.” But behind every community initiative that Blumenthal undertakes are the donors who make it possible. Through their generosity, Jaime and Mike Monday have provided a spark of inspiration to children throughout the region. And that could make all the difference in the world. T
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BLUMENTHAL
in Pictures
Blumenthal President/CEO Tom Gabbard is interviewed during a video shoot for the 2018-2019 PNC Broadway Lights season announcement.
The chandelier for The Phantom of the Opera is hung in the Belk Theater for its run in January.
During their stay in Charlotte in February, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater troupe held two workshops, sponsored by Wells Fargo, for young performers at Ivory Baker Rec Center.
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PHOTO BY JENNY KABOOL
The wall by Knight Theater is lit up in honor of costume designer and Carolina native William Ivey Long, part of Blumenthal's 25th anniversary celebration.
Velvet Caravan kicks off Blumenthal's Living Room Sessions series at Stage Door Theater.
Some Hamilton fans take their shot on the stage during Blumenthal's second "Hamiltunes" event, this time at Levine Avenue of the Arts
After local auditions, Matilda McCullough, left, and Harper Kuehnle, both 5, landed the role of Lulu in Waitress and alternated between performances. ALL PHOTOS ON THESE TWO PAGES, EXCEPT BOTTOM LEFT, BY BECKY BEREITER
A public art concept by @shapeclt invited people passing by Spirit Square to share their thoughts on the city.
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THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS Contributions received from April 18, 2017-April 18, 2018
PRODUCER’S CIRCLE $25,000+
Peg and Jay Adamczyk Jacquie and Gary Bechtel Barbara and David Goodman* Laura and Jeff Hay Julianne Marley Mr. and Mrs. William B. McGuire, Jr.
$10,000+
Dr. Milton and Arlene Berkman Philanthropic Fund Victoria and Porter Durham Beth and Jonathan Feit Vickie and Tom Gabbard Bob and Jena Gallagher Sandra and Stephen Godofsky Nancy and David Hauser Rebecca S. Henderson and J. Michael Booe Renee and Chris Hobart Julie and Howard Levine Christine and David Longo Michael, Jaime and Allie Monday Linda and Tony Pace Carolyn and Robert Shaw Joan Zimmerman
$7,500+
Betsy and Alfred Brand Dorlisa and Peter Flur The Hertel Family Barbara and Josh Meeks Jean and Matthew Salisbury
$5,000+
Anonymous Cathy and Jim Baily Mr. William M. Barnhardt and Mrs. Nancy B. Thomas* Christine and Arthur Becker The Blumenthal Foundation Amy and Philip Blumenthal Robin and Lea Burt Hona Childers and Daniel Browne Mrs. Mary Anne Dickson Elizabeth and James Faulkner Michele and Walter Fisher Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Gibbs Belinda and Timothy Gunter Dale Halton and Fred Wagner Beverly and Jim Hance Charles and Diane Harrington Jane and Hugh McColl Kate and Mike McDermott Jared Mobley Robert H. Norville, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. George Raftelis Rose and Tom Sherard Shana and Christopher Shivel Lori and Eric Sklut Ann and Michael Tarwater Tracey and Scott Tozier Melissa and Kevin White
$2,500+
Anonymous Becky and Michael Alcione Elizabeth Austin Kelly and Richard Battle Shavonda and Reginald Bean Jeremy and Connie Blaney Doug and Shelly Bose Ben Bourne Crandall C. Bowles Chris and Steve Brace
Kristin and Buck Bradberry George Brooks Mary Catherine and Robert Chesney Nan and Hal Clarke Karin and Sean Davies Amy and Alfred Dawson Dr. Bryan Edmiston and Mr. Felipe G. Edmiston Lou and Charlie Elberson Carolyn B. Faison Erin Lavely Fisher Karen Griffin and John Galloway Douglas R. and Elizabeth G. Goldstein Mrs. Gail Grim Patti and Mark Hawley* Nora and Thomas Hughes Susan and David Jamison Ronald Kahn Janet and Neil Kaplan Mary Jean and Howard L. Kushner The Leon Levine FoundationSandra and Leon Levine Dr. Shannon Moran and Mr. Joseph Lovallo Anna and Tom Nelson Janet and Peter Nixon Jeanne and Rick Puckett Wendy and Frank Rosen Brenda and Bill Ryan Jaye Salter and Daniel Brewster Mr. and Mrs. Jason C. Schmidly Gail Sharps Myers Lisa and Glenn Sherrill Norma and Rodney Short The Marc and Mattye Silverman Foundation Dia and Paul Steiger Patricia and John Stewart Jennifer and David Teifer Carrie and Jeff Teixeira Jacqueline A. Tucker Rita and Bill Vandiver Ed Weisiger, Jr. and Betsy Fleming Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. White Karen and Edgar Whitener Bob and Dara Whiting Lisa and Kenny Wilson Amy Wooden and Joe Kolodziej Anja and David Zimmerman
$1,500+
Anonymous (2) Holly and Jeff Atkins Laura Baker and Family Randy and Nancy Baker Bryan and Kristen Barboza Cheryl Barringer and Mike Sherman Anne and John Barry Joanne and Steve Beam The Donald H. and Barbara K. Bernstein Family Foundation Julie and Riaz Bhamani Andrew Blumenthal and Stephanie Baumann Sam Blumenthal Peggy and Ray Bouley Bill and Robin Branstrom Pat and Tim Brier Kathleen Britton Mary and Frank Brown
James Bullock Dr. Chris Burkett Sarah and Bret Busby Joy and Chris Butler Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Case, Jr. Karmen Cassell Delane and Walter Clark Brent Clevenger Steve and Martha Clifford Dr. Elaine and Steve Coats Lori and Derek Copeland Catherine Cordle Harvey and Muri Corzin Lorin, Erica, and Lydia Crenshaw Rose and Bill Cummings Joni and Aaron Davis Gloria and Peter De Arcangelis Gena DeChant Jennie Derby Pamela and Greg Dills Jim Donahue Claude Duet Michele Durkin Marcia and Bob Dynko Sidney and Andres Echevarria Kelli Enos Chad and Denise Everett Windy and Jef Fullagar Marilyn and David Furman Todd E. Gardner, MD Michael and Connie George Joseph and Carol Gigler Todd Glenham William Griesser Randy Griffin Debby and Mike Groenhout Robin and Blaine Hawkins Dr. Koh Herlong Eric, Lori, Halle and Casey Hillman Juliet and Brian Hirsch Sarah Hollar and Peter Macon Carol and Chris Horn Mr. and Mrs. William T. Houser Larissa and Ken Huber Peggy and Jim Hynes Beth Ipock Lynn Jeffrey Juanita and Lloyd Johnson Michelle Johnson Linda and Kerry Kenner Virginia A. Kern Sandy and John Kindbom Patty and Chris Lambert Eleanor Ehrhart and Dominick Landi Margie and Victor Lisciani Ashley and Scott Mattei Jill Maxwell Betsy and T. Bragg McLeod Suzy and Ed McMahan Karen and Robert Micklash Ms. Marie Mitchell Colin Mutter Anne and William Newcomb Brian and Rene Noonan Paul Norris Dr. Valerie and Mr. Barton O'Kelley Andrew Olah Jacob Palillo Susan and Dale Pond Gregory Price Jim Putnam Dave and Mary Pylipow
Nadine and Leif Rauer Dr. and Mrs. Richard S. Roberts Lisa and Robert Rollins William R. Rollins Ken Rothmel Chryll and Wayne Salow Anne and Steve Schmitt Vesime and Marty Schroering Michael Serulneck Anjali Shah Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Sherrill Deanna and Norman Shue Peggy and Pope Shuford The Skinkle-Tona Family Judith Smith Tom E. Smith Dr. Matthew Wheelock and Dr. Jill Smith-Wheelock Cindy and David Soliday Sara and Morgan Spencer Jeri Dianne Stancil Dia and Paul Steiger Sheri and Kelly Straub Suzanne and Michael Stritch Dr. and Mrs. Robert Sullivan David Thomason Ellen and Ron Vilas Sandy and Greg Vlahos Neya Warren and John Hartmayer Abby and James Warren Mary Ellen and Reid Wilkerson Johnnie Willis and Michael Green In loving memory of my Rip Cathey Winfield Nancy and Robert Wyatt
$1,000+
Anonymous Keith Alyea and Fidel Montoya Trina Anderson Dr. and Mrs. Edward S. Baum Aaron Beck Ralph Beck, in memory of Linda Scott Bengel Mr. and Mrs. Tony Bikhazi Laura and Sam Bowles Rachel E. Brackett Mona Brandon Susan and Greg Brouse Peter and Cynthia Buck Jesica Bullrich Caroline and Matt Chambers Karen and Kevin Chapman Charlotte Cochrane Linda and Richard Cook Chris Cope Lori and Roger Cuddy Bill Dantos Virginia A. Davis Donna and Al de Molina Tara DellaVecchia Dena R. Diorio Brigid and James Downs Bobby Drakeford Christine and James Drost Marcy and Fred Dumas Sandra and Eddie Edwards Rachel and Jonathan Ellis Elaine and Jeffrey Fagan Joyce Staley Ford Kayla Freeman Steven and Darcy Garfinkle Glenn and Krissa Gaston John R. Georgius
Robin Gershen Robert W. Graf Family Fund Mr. and Mrs. Mike Greene Molly and Robert Griffin Kathy R. Hairston Neil Handelsman Pamela Hanna, M.D. Leland Helms Donna and Randy Helton Jennifer Henry Sherri and Waddie Heyward James Hill Kathy and Ben Hill Michelle and Brian Howell Beth and Hytham Imseis Kathy and Charlie Izard David S. Jacobson Jerri Kallam Charity Kates Lyndon W. Kennedy Joan Kirschner Tricia and Ryan Knatz Janice S. Ladley Zack Lansat Beverly and John Lassiter Chase and Ron Law James Ledbetter Richard and Anna Marriott Laurie and Kevin McCormick Dr. and Mrs. Alden Milam Shelley and Andy Misiaveg Amy Murphy Donna Nellis Jill and Ed Newman Marian M. Nisbet Wendy Oglesby and David Higbe Drs. Elaine and Thomas Pacicco Jack Page and Robert Myers Anne Patefield Donna and Steve Pernotto Joy Pinchback Kathy and Jerry Price Fidel and Laura Prieto Cynthia Reece Irena and Lee Rimler Sally and Russell Robinson Carla and Ed Rose Mikel Rogers Ryan Beth Schleck In memory of Dr. Daniel Schneck Dr. Marvin Shapiro and Mrs. Anita Shapiro Emilie and Gene Sharbaugh Charles Shelton Jan and Scott Smith Wayne B. Smith, Jr. and Indun Patrick Rochelle and Peter Stewart Claire and Jim Talley Dr. Ben C. Taylor, III Christine and Joseph Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Jack H. Thomas Sandi and Ben Thorman Debi and Bill Timmerman Ellen and Jim Wade Jacqueline and Rusty Wasco Margo and Dave Wehrung Drs. James and Jackie Wheeler Teresa and Stick Williams Pat and Bill Williamson Krista and Thomas Wilson
* Members of The Legacy Society at Blumenthal
Membership gifts make inspiration possible in our community. JOIN TODAY! BlumenthalArts.org/givenow or call 704.379.1288 18 SPARK | SPRING 2018
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CATALYST PARTNERS The Arts & Science Council supports Blumenthal Performing Arts’ 2017 fiscal year budget with operating and programmatic grants.
THE DOCTOR FAMILY FOUNDATION
LEADERSHIP PARTNERS
Blumenthal Performing Arts receives support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.
STATEGIC PARTNERS
$20,000+
SIGNATURE PARTNERS
Preferred Caterer
$15,000+
$10,000+
HOSPITALITY PARTNERS
$5,000+
$7,500+ Publix Super Markets Charities
Bradley British American Business Council C design Inc. Deloitte
InterCon Building Corporation Keatley Wealth Management, LLC King & Spalding LLP KPMG
McKenney’s, Inc Moore & Van Allen PLLC Rodgers Builders Inc. SteelFab, Inc.
Troutman Sanders LLP UTC Aerospace Systems
$2,500+ Adams Electric Company Ashley Furniture Baird Private Wealth Management BDO Bryan Cave Carolina CAT Charlotte Insurance
Charlotte Paint Co. Inc. Chicago Title Insurance Company Foundry Commercial Gray Dog Investments, Inc. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP McCracken & Lopez, PA McGuireWoods LLP
McIlveen Family Law Midrex Technologies Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP PMMC Premier Golf, Inc. PricewaterhouseCoopers Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson P.A.
Rogers Unloading Service RSM US LLP Sentinel Risk Advisors South State Bank The Dowd Foundation, Inc. Walbridge Southeast White Knight Engineered Products, Inc.
$1,000+ BB&T Cabarrus Glass Company Inc. Carolina Labor Source Carousel Capital Charlotte Business Journal Crosland Southeast Curvature
Donald Haack Diamonds & Fine Gems Galvan Industries, Inc. Garmon & Company, Inc. Commercial Flooring High Performance Technologies Hood Hargett & Associates
Hoopaugh Grading Company, LLC Howard Brothers Electric Jenkins Peer Architects McGrann Paper Corporation McVeigh & Mangum Mechanical Contractors, Inc. NC Interiors Contracting, Inc.
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Odell Associates Piedmont Properties Preferred Electric Co., Inc. Robert E. Mason & Associates, Inc. Savills Studley Schindler Elevator Corp.
Tippens & Zurosky LLP Ty Hardee Financial Velligan Medical Services, PC Xentegra
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Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Charlotte, NC Permit No. 3036
130 N. Tryon St. | Charlotte, NC 28202
Celebrating the big dream to create Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, its first 25 years and hopes for the future.
Our 25th anniversary season is presented to the community by
Dale F. Halton FOUNDATION
THE DOCTOR FAMILY FOUNDATION
Education Programs and Student Scholarships