North Carolina Theatre

Mission :
The mission of North Carolina Theatre is to strengthen the cultural vitality of the region and cultivate musical theatre appreciation by producing outstanding professional Broadway musicals and developing the next generation of artists through youth training, performance and outreach programs.

History :
In 1983, Mr. L. P. Zachary, Raleigh’s City Manager, stated his desire to bring entertainment to Raleigh’s downtown. In response, the Carolina Regional Theatre, under the expert direction of DeAnn Jones, entered into a contractual agreement with the City to become a permanent resident in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium producing a minimum of four major productions annually.

In light of the Regional Theatre’s commitment to helping revitalize Raleigh’s downtown, the mission was written to reflect the Theatre’s focus on producing major Broadway musicals of universal appeal on the City’s downtown stage, Memorial Auditorium. Under an agreement with the Actors’ Equity Association, the union for national performers, NCT committed to hiring a significant number of “Equity” performers for its productions. This commitment to using the highest level of professional talent supported NCT’s mission to maintaining a professional theatre company in North Carolina.

The first musical production, Camelot, opened in May of 1984. NC School of the Arts graduate Terrence Mann whose Broadway credits now include Javert in Les Miserables, The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Chauvelin in Scarlet Pimpernel and Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, played “King Arthur” and a UNC student, Sharon Lawrence, whose credits most recently include Sylvia Stipowitz on NYPD Blue, Velma Kelly in Chicago and many other roles on TV, Stage and Film; played “Guenivere”. The successful formula of producing top quality musicals with top national performers and local talent was inaugurated. Opening with 825 season tickets sold and a total audience of 24,000, Camelot marked the beginning of the Regional Theatre’s new direction and the name was changed to the North Carolina Theatre.