News
Scene & Heard - Stage Right: Broadway's best theme for group's fundraiser
Mark Boynton and Cecile Merritt.
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Published: May 13, 2008
On Saturday night, I was reminded of the anonymous quote, "If I had two pence, I would buy bread to feed my body. If I had three pence, I would buy hyacinths to feed my soul." In a wonderful demonstration of the importance this community places on feeding the soul, an enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Scale Fine Arts Center at Wake Forest University for The Best of Broadway, a fundraising performance to benefit The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem.
Norman Ussery, the executive director, said he was very pleased with the response from the community to a fundraiser that had been put on hiatus since 2004. The three performances, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, raised about $15,000, he said. The board plans to continue with an annual event to raise money that will supplement ticket sales and corporate and nonprofit support.
After a reception in the lobby, where guests had heavy hors d'oeuvres and drinks provided by Meridian Restaurant, Ussery ushered the crowd down the hall to their seats in front of the stage. "We are grateful to you," he said. "The quality of the shows is astounding because of your contributions."
Brian Joyce, the board president, attended the reception and show with his wife, Irene Apgar, and his mother, Diane Joyce. We spoke briefly before the show about the fundraising concept. "This is a way to be more self-sufficient," he said. "The board is very corporate-driven, which helps us to be more self-sustaining."
Mark Boynton, the immediate past president, agreed, saying he was very excited about the turnout. "We are living in an era in this country where every theater is struggling to survive," he said. "Theaters are going under. The days of thinking that the theater is going to get all its money from ticket sales are over. We have to be creative."
Dr. Jim and Vera Robinson, longtime arts supporters, said that Ussery, who was hired to lead the organization a year and a half ago, has been very good for the theater. "The previous regime just counted on ticket sales," Mrs. Robinson said. "This is a new and needed change." The Robinsons enjoyed the night with their friends Tab and Linda Williams.
Dan Sciandra, a member of the executive board, called Ussery's contribution to the organization "sensational." "It was really great to get him," he said. "He's done wonders for the health of the organization and for its all-round progress." Sciandra enjoyed the night with his wife, Leslie, and daughter, Amelia, who electrified the room in a neon green leg cast. I learned that it was Amelia, 19, who got her father involved with The Little Theatre after she started performing. Mr. Sciandra has been on the board for four years and called the theater a "great and much underutilized community resource."
So many had an interesting story about how they got involved with the organization. Francie Huffman told me that she moved here from Berkeley, Calif., in 1962 and roomed with a girl who managed props for the theater. "I heard a lot about The Little Theatre," Huffman laughed. She said that she has been a season-ticket holder ever since and that she and her husband, John, "rarely if ever miss a play."
"I love all of it," was how Mike Britt described his Little Theatre experience. "The arts make Winston-Salem the rich place it is to live in," he said. He was invited to attend the fundraiser by his friend Kevin Mundy, a member of the planning committee, the production coordinator and a real hoot in his performance of "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" from Spamalot. Britt was joined Saturday night by Randy Horton, from Greenville.
Jo and Harold Leiby, from Asheville, attended the performance with Mrs. Leiby's son, Peter Juran, a board member, and his wife, Beth. Mr. Juran said he has enjoyed performing in Little Theatre shows with his daughters in the past and looks forward to returning to the stage sometime in the future. Saturday night, he was a show all by himself in his black-and-white tennis shoes with their rainbow-colored shoelaces. He said he bought the shoes during the year he participated in Leadership Winston-Salem and was encouraged to do something to get him out of his "comfort zone." He looked mighty comfortable Saturday night.
Mr. Juran called The Little Theatre family "vagabonds," as they are making plans for shows during the renovation of the Arts Council building. They will take up temporary residence at Reynolds and Mount Tabor high schools for coming performances, beginning with the summer musical, Seussical. "We're excited about the renovations, about being at the other locations and about collaborating with other theater groups," he said.
I heard a lot of stories Saturday night, but my favorites were about people who went from sitting in the audience to working in the shows. After having season tickets for about five years, Carol Simes was cast to sing in the pit for Cats last season and then last month braved the stage as a member of the ensemble in Jekyll & Hyde. Her husband, Gary, joined her as a crew member. "I suspect it won't be the last time," he said. "It broadened my appreciation of the acting profession and how difficult that is and how hard they work. The Little Theatre is a priceless resource."
Joining Mr. and Mrs. Simes were Les and Esther Preston, whose daughter Miriam Davie literally lit up the stage as a showgirl in the tune "Gotta Have a Gimmick" from Gypsy. Mr. Preston said that it was his daughter who renewed his interest in the theater seven years ago when she encouraged him to work behind the scenes on costumes and scenery. Mrs. Preston also volunteers behind stage and out front, selling concessions.
But it all began for Mr. Preston more than 50 years ago when his junior high-school teacher took his class to see Arsenic and Old Lace. "I was fascinated by everything that goes on in the theater," he said. On Friday afternoon, that meant vacuuming the lobby of the Scale Fine Arts Center.
■ Have a social or charity activity that you would like Scene & Heard to share with Journal readers? E-mail features@wsjournal.com and type "Scene" in the subject line or call 727-7339. You may contact Leigh Somerville McMillan directly by e-mail at lsomervi@bellsouth.net.
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