Beaufort

COUNTY

FUTURE of TURNAGE bright, expanding

The historic Turnage Theatre has been around, in some form or fashion, for more than a century.

And, if the Arts of the Pamlico and its many partners have anything to say about it, it will be open for many more.

This crown jewel of Eastern North Carolina is now the performance home of East Carolina University’s school of music opera theatre program, has a year-round menu of performing arts on stage and a robust and growing offering of youth arts throughout the year, including after-school workshops, movie events, summer art camps for children ages 5-15 and more.

“The future of the historic Turnage Theatre is bright and expanding in the region,” said Debra

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STORY BY JIM GREEN

Torrence, executive director of the theater and its owner, the Arts of the Pamlico, since 2016. “From live theatre to pottery to comedy, there’s always something happening here,” she added.

The Turnage Theatre, located within the Washington Historic District, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It is a unique facility, not only because it has two theaters, but also it is an exceptional record of the magnificent interior environment and elaborate decorative plaster details that exemplifies the architechural language and construction method of the early 20th century. The grandeur of the Turnage contrasts strikingly with the functional aesthetic of a modern day movie theater.

The Turnage is composed of two buildings: the vaudeville theater constructed between 1910-1913, and the movie theater directly behind the vaudeville theater, which was constructed between 1928-1930.

The vaudeville theater was constructed in 1913 to provide theatrical entertainment all year round instead of traveling shows that arrived on boats a few times a year. The building was later named after its present day namesake, C.A. (Cat) Turnage.

Because Washington was on the main line of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad between New York, N.Y. and Miami, Fla., the Turnage Theater (it was called the “New Theater” back then) was one of the stops for the vaudeville acts traveling between those cities; thus Washington developed into a major

“From live theatre

to pottery to comedy, there’s always something happening here.

entertainment hub for all of Eastern North Carolina.

When movies became a popular form of entertainment, the location of the theater next to the busy street made it difficult for patrons to hear the movie. Hence, C.A. Turnage built the movie theater in 1930 behind the vaudeville theater (dubbed The Palace Theater) to provide a better acoustical environment for movies. Because he was uncertain about the success of movies, he included a stage with lights and rigging so it could also function as a performance theater. It stayed in use until 1978, when it no longer could compete with newer and larger cinemas that were later built in Washington.

The theater closed after Turnage died and as commercial trade moved out of downtown. Sitting vacant, the theater’s glorious décor began to fade.

A short time later, a committee of local residents (historic preservation enthusiasts and arts advocates) joined together to restore the theater as the non-profit Turnage Theater Foundation. Fundraisers helped to raise resources needed to begin restoration.

Around 1996, the restoration project began and took about 10 years, and the Turnage Theater reopened in November 2007. It showed movies, presented stage productions and more.

Sadly, after a short time, the theater closed again in 2011 as the Foundation struggled to repay the two million dollars borrowed to complete restoration.

In 2013, the Turnage Theater building gained new life when it was purchased by the Beaufort County Arts Council, now called the Arts of the Pamlico. AOP is a state-designated arts council – one of the oldest in the state – and opened the building to events Tuesdays through Sunday in a beautifully restored 432-seat theater with updated sound and lighting systems, a catering kitchen, three art

The Turnage Theatre lit up from the outside.

There are a multitude of activities happening at Turnage Theatre.

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galleries with revolving exhibits showing local, regional and national artists and craftspeople, and also houses the administrative offices of the property owners, AOP.

The gallery exhibits and theatre are open to the public during operating hours and for events. Tours may be reserved by calling the Arts of the Pamlico at 252-946-2504.

The AOP plans to restore the Vaudeville Playhouse upstairs in the future.

The Turnage Theater’s roof structure and surface, beyond a patch to the top surface and the insertion of an interior brace, was not addressed in the restoration of the theater in the mid-2000s. The roof structure must be completed over the next few months to avoid failure. The Raise the Rood project began in the spring.

Donations are accepted by cash, check, credit card or pledge. Online donations may be made through Paypal.

To donate online, visit www. artsofthepamlico.org/raise-the-roof.

While its arts programming continues, AOP is installing a recording studio and pottery kiln and wheels in its Creation Station backstage, and planning for installation of multiple interactive murals created by AOP, local youth and adult artists in downtown Washington.

Along with the music lineup, a new option – workshops for adults – begin in late January and will offer evening, morning and Saturday acting, voice, screenplay writing, pottery and costuming classes as well as Paint & Take pottery activities on some Saturday mornings.

AOP also has some signature events coming up – Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival Feb. 7-8, St. Patty’s Day Party March 13 and a Comedy Fest March 14.

Stop by and see the permanent and rotating costume and jewelry exhibit and the first donations to the vaudeville exhibit including a rare working pump organ, sheet music and period costumes. A host of music concerts are also on the website’s calendar.

The Turnage Theater is located at 150 West Main Street in Washington. It is open 1-6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information on events, call 252946-2504 or visit www.artsofthepamlico.org. (Special thanks go to Arts of the Pamlico, filmmaker Nick Leach and AOP/Turnage Theater Executive Director Debra Torrence for information used in the writing of this story).

Jim Green is Copy Editor of Eastern North Carolina Living and serves as Sports Editor of the Martin County Enterprise & Weekly Herald, the Bertie Ledger-Advance and The Standard.

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