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1 ORDER TICKETS NOW! WWW.CAROLINATHEATRE.ORG The Official Magazine of The Carolina Theatre SHOW CAROLINA THEATRE HISTORIC EXHIBIT: HONORING THE PAST, LOOKING TO THE FUTURE A Story Worth Telling PG. 14 time SPRING 2012 | Issue 2 | www.carolinatheatre.org 2012 INSIDE New Shows Added! See the updated schedule Interview with Full Frame’s Deirdre Haj The Art of Improv Comedy... with Puppets SPRING

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The official magazine of the Carolina Theatre.

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1ORDER TICKETS NOW! WWW.CAROLINATHEATRE.ORG

The Official Magazine of The Carolina Theatre

SHOW

CAROLINA THEATRE HISTORIC ExHIbIT: HONORING THE PAST,

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

A Story Worth TellingPG. 14

timeSPRING 2012 | Issue 2 | www.carolinatheatre.org

2012

INSIDENew Shows Added!

See the updated scheduleInterview with

Full Frame’s Deirdre HajThe Art of Improv

Comedy... with Puppets

s p r i n g

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2

bOARD OF TRUSTEES

Paul Brock, Chair

Tim AlwranClaude Bogues

Joe BowserEugene BrownChuck Catotti

Brett ChambersMatthew CoppedgeChristopher Crabtree

Cecily DurrettSaundra Freeman

Scott Harmon Dave McInteeJohn Warasila

bOARD OF AmbASSADORS

Sue BeischerSusan CoonEarl Dowell

Shirley DrechselPepper FlukeBarker French

Thomas Kenan III Richard MorganHenry Scherich

In MemoriamMary Duke B.T. Semans

(1920-2012)

board members

AbOUT THE CAROLINA THEATRE OF DURHAm The Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc is the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that manages the city-owned

Carolina Theatre complex. Each year we present a variety of film and live performers that encompass

a broad and diverse cross section of arts and entertainment.

Live performances at the Carolina Theatre are supported in part by the North Carolina Arts

Council, an agency funded by the state of North Carolina, and the A.J. Fletcher Performing Arts Fund

of the Triangle Community Foundation.

ADvERTISERS mAKE THIS PROGRAm bOOK POSSIbLE

This program book is designed and published by Opus 1, Inc. in cooperation with the Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. This book would not be possible without the advertisers who support it. We extend our gratitude and encourage you to

thank them as well.

For advertising information, contact Amy Scott at 919.834.9441.

///

THE CAROLINA THEATRE 309 West Morgan Street

Durham, North Carolina 27701 www.carolinatheatre.org

Box office: 919-560-3030Administrative offices: 919-560-3040

Fax: 919-560-3065

FOLLOW US

facebook.com/CarolinaTheatreDurham

twitter.com/CarolinaDurham

carolinatheatre.org/blog

staff members

CAROLINA THEATRE STAFF

Bob Nocek ................................................President/CEO

Jim Carl .....................................................Senior Director

Aaron Bare ........Director of Marketing & Communication

Michelle Irvine ....................Director of Audience Services

Meredith Vey ............................. Director of Development

Elisabeth Branigan ....................... Marketing Coordinator

Cora Bryant ......................Executive Assistant to the CEO

Aurora Carey ......................Assistant Box Office Manager

Marlene Leavell .................................Box Office Manager

Liz McDonald ................................... Booking Coordinator

Alison McPherson .................................Business Manager

Betty Rhodes ................................ Education Coordinator

Ryan Shivar ............................................Graphic Designer

Jamin Skipper .......................................Facilities Manager

Carl Wetter ..........................................Technical Manager

T h e C a r o l i n a T h e a t r e

SHOWtime

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Board Members & Administrative Staff . . . . . . 2

Letter from the CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Star Series Calendar ..................................... 9

Film Festivals ..............................................13

A Story Worth Telling ...............................14

Interview with Full Frame’s Deirdre Haj ...20

Coming Unstrung

Improv Comedy With Puppets .................24

Jim Carl’s my Take .....................................28

Photo Gallery (A Century in Downtown) ........18

Photo Gallery (Concert) ..............................26

Photo Gallery (Supper Club) ......................34Carolina Stars Donor List ............................36Donor Spotlight .........................................39 Tickets & Seating .......................................40 Support Our Mission ..................................41Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Guest Presenters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

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sprin

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featUres

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2012s p r i n g

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Letter from tHe PresIdeNt

Recently I’ve found myself spending a great deal of time contemplating the Carolina Theatre’s past.

Throughout much of last year, the staff and I spent time digging into the archives of the first 85 years of this great building as we worked to create the first of the historical exhibits that you can read more about inside this issue.

The exhibits are just one of the changes in a time of transition - the physical renovations to the complex, the major expansion of our programming, and in our brand.

It strikes me, as it sometime seems that we’re changing everything about the place, that the Carolina Theatre has always been in some period of reinvention.

This is, after all, a building that was renamed only three years after it opened, forever leaving us with “Durham Auditorium” carved in stone, even though it’s been the Carolina Theatre since 1929.

The name changed because the purpose did – live events were losing favor, and so the Carolina became Durham’s destination for cinema. We’ve straddled both sides ever since, and I’m proud to say that we’ve never done it better or with more commitment than we do today.

In the depths of our research, I discovered a kindred spirit in Charles Lewis, an adventurous risk-taker who in the 1940s led the Carolina through one of its most exciting periods, bringing touring Broadway to town with stars like Katherine Hepburn and Tallulah Bankhead while continuing to present films as well.

No changes, to my mind, are more important than those that were driven by the personal passion and commitment of individuals who saw not only the physical building but its symbolism in downtown Durham.

The first, in the 1960s, were the brave Civil Rights protestors who fought to ensure that this city-owned facility would offer equal access to all.

Then in the 1980s, when the idea of tearing down the decrepit Carolina became too real, Connie Moses and her fervent fellow volunteers gave their all to keep this facility alive and see it restored and expanded.

All of the emboldened who came before us, full of vision and purpose, saw a new future for the Carolina beyond what it was at the time or had been before. We pay tribute to their memories in the exhibits we unveiled in November, and in the work we do daily to make Durham even more special. We are proud to follow their lead, and inspired to meet their purpose.

Warmest Regards,

Bob Nocek

President/CEO

dear friends:

CTD ceo

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febrUaryOUTbACK CONCERTS & AEG LIvE PRESENT

Portlandia: The TourWednesday Feb 22, 7:30pm

Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and Carrie Brownstein (Wild Flag, Sleater-Kinney) from IFC’s hit original comedy Portlandia are embarking on a unique tour bringing the romanticized and dreamy rendering of Portland, OR to life for fans across the country.

marcHJon Anderson: The Voice of Yes Thursday mar 1, 8pm

There are few vocalists in the history of rock music that are as immediately recognizable by their sound as Jon Anderson, former lead singer of progressive rock icons Yes. In this personal and engaging solo performance, Anderson draws from his staggering number of hits including “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and “It Can Happen.”

Sweet Honey in the Rock Friday mar 9, 8pm

This internationally-renowned female a capella group’s soulful sound is textured by the rich traditions of African American music - including gospel hymns, spirituals, jazz improvisation, African chant and ancient lullabies. Their message gives voice to hope, love, justice, peace and resistance.

The Peking AcrobatsSaturday mar 10, 2pm & 7pm

Experts at treacherous wire-walking, trick-cycling, precision tumbling, somersaulting, and gymnastics – The Peking Acrobats defy gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility, and control. Set to a live Chinese Orchestra these acrobats pull out all the stops to create a thrilling entertainment experience audiences won’t soon forget.

joN aNdersoN

sweet HoNey IN tHe rock

PortLaNdIa: tHe toUr

PekINg acrobats

2012s p r i n g

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STAR SERIES CALENDAR

Jay & Silent Bob Get OldThursday mar 15, 8pm

The hilarious duo Jay & Silent Bob are back. Film icons Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes made history and fans all over the world with the characters Jay & Silent Bob from the movies Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Clerks 2 . Now you can see them live recording their comedy podcast Jay & Silent Bob Get Old.

Cinematic TitanicFriday mar 16, 8pm

Live on stage, the creators and original cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000 continue their tradition of riffing on the unfathomable, the horribly great, and the just plain cheesy movies of the past. Follow the Carolina Theatre on Facebook to participate in a special fan poll to help choose which frightful film the Cinematic gang will goof on.

David Benoit & Brian Culbertson: Piano2PianoWednesday mar 21, 8pm

Two of the highest profile keyboardists in contemporary jazz come together for a rare and special performance. Playing two acoustic grand pianos, Benoit and Culbertson combine their very distinctive styles to perform their best known compositions along with original music.

aPrILBuddy GuyWednesday Apr 18, 8pm

Buddy Guy, the legendary Chicago blues guitarist and showman is known for his riveting, virtuoso playing and fervent vocals. He has received 5 Grammy Awards, 23 W.C. Handy Blues Awards (the most any artist has received), the Billboard magazine Century Award for distinguished artistic achievement, and the Presidential National Medal of Arts. Rolling Stone ranked him in the top 30 of its “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”

Henson Alternative: Stuffed and UnstrungFriday Apr 20, 8pm

What happens when Henson puppeteers are unleashed? You get a new breed of intelligent nonsense that is Stuffed and Unstrung – a live, outrageous, comedy, variety show for adults only. Enjoy an unpredictable evening when six talented, hilarious, expert puppeteers will improvise songs and sketches based on audience suggestions.

brIaN cULbertsoN

stUffed aNd UNstrUNg

davId beNoIt

cINematIc tItaNIc

bUddy gUy

jay & sILeNt bob get oLd

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greg Lake

esPeraNza sPaLdINg

Max and Ruby: Bunny Party Saturday Apr 21, 1pm & 5pm

Join bunny siblings Max and Ruby as they embark on a musical bus ride to find the greatest present in the world for the Bunny Party. This fast-paced theatrical production will have the whole audience singing and hopping to original tunes.

Greg LakeWednesday Apr 25, 8pm

The voice of a generation, Greg Lake, founding member of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, has woven his passionate music and compelling voice into the fabric of our culture.

mayEsperanza SpaldingWednesday may 9, 8pm

Esperanza Spalding is one of those jigsaw pieces you never knew was missing from the world of music. Grammy winner and singing double-bassist, Spalding is both beautiful and enigmatic; a unique necessity in music today. Her Brazilian-tinged experimental Jazz entices and enchants audiences everywhere.

Madeleine PeyrouxTuesday may 15, 8pm

Songstress Madeleine Peyroux is known to her fans for interpretive takes of the early American blues and jazz repertoire. She began as a teenage busker, honing her vocal and guitar skills on the famously quaint, acoustic streets of Europe, where she molded her style on the cornerstones of jazz: Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong.

Jonny LangWednesday may 16, 8pm

If the blues is all about the crossroads, Jonny Lang is standing in the right place. More than a decade into the new century, Lang represents a new and innovative generation of blues artists – one who honors the past, yet isn’t afraid to embrace a more hybrid sound that is at once traditional and innovative.

to order tIcketsCALL: 919-560-3030vISIT ONLINE: carolinatheatre.org

max aNd rUby

joNNy LaNg

madeLeINe PeyroUx

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NORTH CAROLINA GAy & LESbIAN FILm FESTIvAL Now 10 days! August 10-19

The North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (NCGLFF) celebrates a world-wide glimpse of today’s gay and lesbian life, helps bring the community together and features entertaining and sophisticated films and filmmaking. Since beginning in 1995, the Festival has featured a diverse array of shorts, documentaries and feature films. The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau named the NCGLFF a Signature Event for Durham, the highest honor bestowed on a cultural event or attraction by the organization.

ncglff.org

RETROFANTASmA FILm & RETROFANTASmA CLASSICS SERIESRetrofantasma Film Series: Admit it, you like being scared on purpose. When the shriek of a violin makes you jump, when dark shadows scurrying past a flashlight’s beam take your attention from the world, when you hear a scream at night in the distance and wonder what’s playing on the TV at your neighbor’s house, you step – for the briefest of moments – into the magic realm of scary movies. Simply put, Retrofantasma is a monthly double feature of the greatest scary – and fun – movies ever made.

Retrofantasma Classics Series: A monthly double-feature of genre films from the 1950s through the early 1970s. From the infamous gimmickry of William Castle to the giant bug films of the 1950s, some of these films are considered masterpieces. Others are simply great “bad” movies.

festivals.carolinatheatre.org/retrofantasma

NEvERmORE FILm FESTIvAL Since 1999, the Nevermore Film Festival has presented brand new horror shorts and features from around the world, as well as timeless fan favorites. Many of these films will never receive a theatrical release in the United States. From classic suspense movies to hyper-violent Hong Kong cinema and everything in between – Nevermore has it all!

festivals.carolinatheatre.org/nevermore

ESCAPISm FILm FESTIvAL Your favorite childhood movie heroes are back: Jack Burton, Buck Rogers, Admiral Kirk, Snake Plissken, Kermit the Frog, Indiana Jones, and so many more. Escapism recaptures the magic of your favorite fantasy and adventure movies from the late seventies and early eighties. The ones you remember watching with your friends on Saturday afternoon matinees during summer vacations. Timeless examples of what movies do best of all – fantasy and adventure, epic in scale, heroic in concept, and imaginative in execution. They’re fun movies. They’re meant to be.

festivals.carolinatheatre.org/escapism

The Carolina Theatre presents the finest independent cinema 365 days a year.

fILm festIvaLs & serIes

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BY MEAGHAN MULHOLLAND

Carolina Theatre Historic Exhibit: HONORING THE PAST, LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

worth telling

a story

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“a century downtown,” was unveiled in the carolina theatre’s kirby Lobby in November as the first of a three-part exhibit com-memorating the theatre’s heritage in durham. with its vibrant displays of historic artifacts and photo-graphs, it gives an overview of the changes the theatre has experi-enced while celebrating the artists and films that have appeared here over its 86-year history.

The decision to install a permanent exhibit came from a desire to educate the Theatre’s growing audience. Of the thousands who come to performances and events at the Theatre each year, many are first-time visitors with no prior knowledge of its long, important legacy in Durham. “It’s more than just a beautiful historic building – it’s got a fascinating history,” says Bob Nocek, President and CEO of the Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. “It’s played a pivotal role in the life of downtown Durham, and it’s important to us that visitors understand how the Theatre has changed and grown over the years. It’s always been many things to this community, and we want to acknowl-edge that.”

“The Theatre means a great deal to Durham,” says Gary Kueber, creator of the website OpenDurham.com (formerly EndangeredDurham.org). “There were once ten theaters downtown; now it’s the only one.” Bob Ashley, Executive Director of Preservation Durham, adds, “As one of the iconic original structures downtown, the Carolina Theatre encompasses so much of Durham’s his-tory, not just as a civic auditorium, but as a focal point in the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960’s. It can be easy to forget how proximate these events are to us in time, and it’s important to acknowledge and reflect on the past as we look to the future.”

The exhibit includes scans of original architectural blue-prints of the Theatre, a blown-up aerial view of surround-ing buildings circa 1925, and playbills and photographs from Theatre events like the world premiere of Bull Durham and a live performance by Katherine Hepburn. “It shows how Durham embraced arts and culture from the beginning,” says Ashley.

In discussing initial ideas for an exhibit, Nocek and his staff had a basic plan to display a few artifacts, perhaps create a walking tour of the newly finished Theatre renovation. They soon realized they needed to do more. “The display had to have some permanence,” Nocek

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says, “to go deeper into the history.” He hired Design Dimension, Inc., a Raleigh-based firm with experience in exhibits and museum installations, to help them real-ize their vision.

While it was important to the staff to unveil the first phase of the exhibit this fall, on the heels of such wonderful community support for the Theatre’s recent renovations, the remaining phases will be completed over the next two years. This will allow time for neces-sary planning and fundraising, as the exhibits will be entirely funded by private donors and businesses. “Restoring Hope” will be installed on the mezzanine level and will be a tribute to dedicated volunteers

like Connie Moses who helped save the Theatre from decline and near destruction in the 70’s and 80’s. The third and final phase, “Confronting Change,” will be completed in 2013 in the upper balcony and will focus on the Civil Rights era and community activism that led to the integration of the Theatre in the 1960’s.

“It’s important to keep the stories alive,” says Kueber, “so we don’t forget and don’t minimize what happened here. The beauty of an exhibit like this is that you’re here, in the place itself. It’s much more powerful than just looking at a website or a photograph – you’re experiencing the space, and seeing how it has evolved.”

Fundraising in the coming months will be critical, says Nocek, who recently launched an online Kickstarter campaign that raised in excess of $15,000 for the exhibit. He hopes to include video and interactive features in the next phases of the exhibit, to keep things dynamic and innovative. “We feel a deep responsibility to the people of Durham who’ve been a part of this Theatre for so long,” he says. “It’s a story worth telling, and with their help, there’s no limit to what we can do.”

carolinatheatre.org/history

Carolina Theatre Historical Tours!EVERY FRIDAY AT 11AM OR BY APPOINTMENT.CALL BETTY AT 919-560-3040 x256.

...the remaining phases will be completed over the next two years.

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Photo Credit: all photos by Nicholas D’Amato

In November 2011, the carolina theatre kicked-off a three year fundraising, design and installation effort dedicated to the 86-year history of the carolina theatre complex. a few days before the opening, the theatre invited members of the press for a first look. fundraising for this exhibit is ongoing. for more information on how you can help, visit carolinatheatre.org/history.

a ceNtUry IN dowNtowN

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01 CEO Bob Nocek (left) and Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tim Alwran (right) at the exhibit’s November 2 press event 02 Workers put the final touches on the exhibit for the November 5 unveiling 03 The Herald-Sun’s Cliff Bellamy discusses the exhibit with lead designer Charles Samuels of Design Dimension 04 All of the Triangle’s major news outlets were in attendance 05 Guests pour into the exhibit for a first look 06 Fans explore the all new exhibit 07 Yummy treats for the unveiling held just before the November 5 Boney James concert

06 07

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05

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Panel following the CENTER FRAME screening of BURMA SOLDIER directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg from the 2011 festival. (credit: Mike Oniffrey)

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The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival has been a source of local pride since 1998, bringing some of the world’s best filmmakers to Durham each spring. Though recent economic struggles caused some to speculate about the long-running Festival’s fate, a fresh focus and the leadership of Executive Director Deirdre Haj show the Festival poised to enter its fifteenth year still going strong.

“The Festival belongs to this city,” says Haj, who took the helm as Executive Director in January 2010. “It’s an enormous success, both artistically and economically, and it brings a lot to this community.” Last year’s Festival sold out a record number of events, bringing more than 29,000 visitors to Durham and contributing $1.78 million to the local economy. “We hope to establish more of a year-round presence in the community,” Haj says of her plans going forward. “Our goal is twofold: to take care of the filmmakers who come to the Festival, and to take care of Durham.”

A successful actress, award-winning docu-mentary filmmaker and founder of a Carr-boro-based communications/PR company, Haj came to Full Frame prepared to build on the Festival’s previous success and also to expand its profile, both globally and locally. In the past two years, she’s overseen its return to Duke, as a program under the University’s Center for Documentary Studies, and the launch of several new com-munity outreach programs.

Once the only film festival devoted exclusively to the documentary form, Full Frame is now one of half a dozen such festivals, yet continues to gain prominence in the global scene. Last year, the Festival included 50 foreign titles from 22 different countries, and 30 of its 99 films were premieres. Haj spoke on a panel at the Independent Spirit Awards in New York recently, and will lead programs at the Sundance and Toronto film festivals as well. “We’re not your typical festival,” she says, “where film-makers come focused on just selling films or finding distribution channels. We see ourselves as a filmmakers’ festival.” Full Frame events like the A&E EasyFilm SpeakEasy Discussion series, and the long-standing Festival Fellows Program, support the Festival’s

mission of advocacy for both established and emerging filmmakers and the documentary form itself. Being geographically close to New York, but removed from the market-based thrust of other festivals, enables Full Frame to be a “cultural watering hole,” according to Haj – a place where filmmakers come to watch and discuss films with a diverse and engaged audience.

Full Frame is committed to building its presence in the local community as well, with free screenings on the lawn at the American Tobacco Campus in summer, fall showings at the Nasher Museum of Art, and monthly “Countdown to the Oscars” events at the Carolina Theatre in winter. Along with these free community events, the Festival has recently launched several educational programs, including a partnership with East Durham Children’s initiative and Southern High School that produced a 5-week documentary camp last summer. At the camp, students learned about the documentary-making process and created their own short film, and they will participate in the annual Festival as well. Another program, “Teach the Teachers,” invites one educator from each Durham public high school to learn about how to use documentary films effectively in their classrooms. The teachers earn education credits for their participation, and are also invited to take part in the Festival.

While Haj admits many people don’t realize the effort and expense it takes to put on a film Festival, she remains optimistic and glad to be located in such a supportive community. With a full-time staff of just seven people, Full Frame depends on its 32 seasonal employees and 350 dedicated volunteers to put on a successful Festival each year. The support

of sponsors and the community at large is crucial. Venues like the Carolina Theatre are demonstrative of Durham’s enormous commitment to the arts, Haj says.

With so much happening, Haj is excited about what she sees as a promising future for Full Frame. “Filmmakers who come here know they’ll have a good time,” she says, “because the Festival has always possessed that unique blend of cultural sophistication and down home Durham hospitality.”

a festIvaL tHrIves

deIrdre Haj & fULL frame

B

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2012 FULL FRAME

DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL

APRIL 12-15

fullframefest.org*

Full Frame Executive Director, Deirdre Haj, prior to the screen-ing of the 2011 Opening Night Film: GUILTY PLEASURES(credit: Mike Oniffrey)

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Open your mind, release your inhibitions and feel free to shout out the first ridiculous thing that pops into your head. This might not be what you expect to hear from most Carolina Theatre performers, but it’s exactly what Brian Henson hopes you’ll do at STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG. The show promises to be like nothing you’ve seen before – partly because it’s never the same show twice. With a cast of six comedian-puppeteers and 80 puppets from the incomparable Jim Henson Company, this for-adults-only improv comedy show has earned raves in performances from Aspen to Australia, and it’s coming to the Carolina Theatre on April 20 for one hilarious evening.

Surprised that the creators of beloved children’s characters Kermit the Frog and Big Bird are behind what is a decidedly “R-Rated” revue? According to Brian Henson, Chairman of the company (and son of its legendary founder, who died in 1990) STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG is in keeping with his father’s wonderfully wicked sense of humor, as well as with his original intention to entertain adult audiences on late-night television programs like Ed Sullivan and The Tonight Show. Growing up amongst his father’s whimsical creations, Henson says, the funniest moments often occurred “after the director yelled ‘cut’” when puppeteers would crack each other

up, ad-libbing and improvising things that would have been inappropriate for general audiences. STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG offers a unique glimpse at this hilarious behind the scenes irreverence, as performers manipulate puppets in full view of the audience, from which they request inspiration for original skits and songs. The resulting show is one-of-a-kind: rebellious, absurd, energetic – and yes, occasionally raunchy. Given the anything-goes, “100 percent uncensored” Henson Alternative approach (memorable recent skits include a badger translating a lecture on pole-dancing, and space aliens attempting to seduce a wolverine at a McDonalds), STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG is intended for mature audiences only.

So: what to expect at a STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG performance? For one thing, the secrets of puppetry magic are revealed as master puppeteers demonstrate maneuvers normally hidden from view. Meanwhile, onstage screens allow the crowd a simultaneous view of how the show would look televised, with just the puppets visible. The two-hour show boasts some staged numbers

FRI APR 20

By Meaghan Mulholland

coming unstrung Henson Alternative: STUFFED and UNSTRUNG

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– including re-creation of classic Jim Henson and Frank Oz routines – and, of course, improv sequences in which host Patrick Bristow, of the famed Los Angeles group The Groundlings, takes suggestions from the audience and a unique show takes shape spontaneously, before their eyes.

Anyone who’s seen good improv knows that the best moments occur when the disparate elements of a skit come together to make some kind of bizarre and hilarious sense – something clicks for both the audience and the performers. Puppets add an interesting additional dimension to this phenomenon, Henson says. The performers have the exciting challenge of balancing the technical skill and precision of puppeteering with the creative freedom of improvisation.

While STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG’S puppets (from crabs to warthogs) are unmistakably Jim Henson creations, don’t expect famous characters like Miss Piggy to make an appearance in this show. The fact that every performance is unique, drawing on audience ideas for characters and situations, means the puppets must play different roles each night. For this reason, lesser-known puppets are used

as they lend themselves to more open interpretation.

Brainchild of Brian Henson – himself an award-winning director, producer, writer, and puppeteer – and Bristow, STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG began as a simple, closed workshop for a group of Henson Company puppeteers. As comedy and improvisation have always been important components of Henson shows, they hoped to revive some of that spontaneity and creative energy among the cast. At the conclusion of the workshop, the group did a test performance before a live audience, and a talent scout in attendance invited them to the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival. From there they went on to festivals in Edinburgh, Las Vegas, and Australia, before returning to Los Angeles to create the now critically acclaimed production known as STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG.

Henson acknowledges it can be hard for audiences to know what to expect at a STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG show – part of what makes it wonderful is that each show unleashes its own unique, wonderfully absurd form of entertainment. Experience the magic and the laughs for yourself this spring at the Carolina Theatre.

coming unstrung Henson Alternative: STUFFED and UNSTRUNG

Open yOur mind, release your inhibitions and feel free

to shout out the first ridiculous thing

that pops into your head.

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on october 1, after a four month shutdown, fleetwood mac front man Lindsey buckingham took the stage of the completely restored fletcher Hall and launched what would become an exciting and record-breaking season for the carolina theatre.

coNcert PHoto gaLLery

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01 Guitar God Warren Haynes plays to a packed Fletcher Hall 02 Lindsey Buckingham opens the newly renovated Fletcher Hall 03 Comedian Paula Poundstone performs to a sold-out crowd 04 Comedian Adam Carolla 05 Country legend Travis Tritt 06 Aaron Neville is welcomed by a near capacity crowd for his return to the Carolina

27ORDER TICKETS NOW! WWW.CAROLINATHEATRE.ORG

Photo Credit: 01, 02 & 06 by Nicholas D’Amato; 03, 04 & 05 by Josh Hofer

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a personal take from carolina theatre senior director

and film programmer jim carl on moments in his life and the films

that were there with him Find more at carolinatheatre.org/blog

MyTake

the exorcist

I was seven years old when Linda Blair moved into the attic above my bedroom. Still possessed by the Devil, she was. The exorcism hadn’t worked at all. Her demonic being still existed and it was my burden alone to carry for being a sneaky little son-of-a-bitch. It was the year of America’s bicentennial, 1976, and I’d only pretended to be sleeping in the crawlspace of my mother’s prized 1969 Corvette Stingray. And because neither of my grandparents was paying attention, I’d peeked my face between the bucket seats and secretly watched The Exorcist. Luckily for me, my mother hadn’t joined us that particular night at the Rocket Drive-in in Sweetwater, Texas. It would become my first movie-going memory. I was seven years old in 1976 and already scarred for life. I’d also just sinned, real bad.

If there ever existed a school for the imagination, Linda Blair would have been its headmistress. After all, hadn’t I seen her kill those poor Catholic priests inside her bedroom in some place called Georgetown? No doubt about it, the devil was inside her. Never mind I had no idea where Georgetown was actually located on a map; perhaps way down there in anaconda-infested Mexico, but it made no difference. Linda Blair had somehow managed to sneak past the border patrol and the Texas Rangers and into the Lone Star State where she was now roosting in the attic of my grandparent’s ranch-style home in Sweetwater. This, I swear, was happening for real.

My grandparents never suspected a thing, not that I’d seen The Exorcist nor that Linda Blair was now residing over my head on Twelfth Street, hiding in darkness among cobwebs and dusty cardboard boxes and sleeping on a bed of pink, decaying fiberglass insulation between creaky roof supports. Plotting my demise, she was. And I never let loose that the truth was otherwise, because doing so would require me to tattle on myself which – any seven year-old can tell you – ain’t worth all that hollering and cussing from the higher-ups; relatives whose voices you hardly acknowledge. Besides, there would be real hell to pay if my mother found out I’d seen The Exorcist. There was also the subsidiary lesson of realizing at too young an age that you’re in need of toughening up, facing your demons alone, and damning yourself for being born into a family who couldn’t afford to hire a babysitter.

The days I spent at my grandparent’s house in Sweetwater followed no pattern once the sun came up, rain or shine. I could just as easily be handed a five-dollar bill and told to walk to the nearby grocery store for a gallon of milk and a dozen eggs as I could be informed that I should enjoy my afternoon by taking a bike ride through the woods behind the house. My grandmother was proud of her collection of rare Indian artifacts which she’d painstakingly glued together after they’d been smashed in an accident, several years prior. She was especially fond of re-arranging those artifacts atop the six-drawer bureau dresser in her bedroom. It was her special collection, she once told me, protected by the ghosts of the dead. I was never allowed to play anywhere near her dresser and certainly, under no condition, allowed to peek inside. To touch her artifacts was akin to committing a war crime. It was worse than being a Baptist. My grandmother had a nasty knack for

Jim Carl’s

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protecting those artifacts and taking a hard-heeled shoe to anything that slithered, crawled, or scurried within its shadow, including my mother and grandfather, but especially me. With this kind of upbringing, you can understand how a seven year-old West Texan mind doesn’t have to unlock too many doors to imagine that the Devil is living under his roof.

Not long after watching The Exorcist, I was prepping for bed one night. My grandmother opened my door and said in a quiet, doomful voice, “Be careful if you get up to go to the bathroom, Jimmy. Someone opened the bottom drawer of my dresser this morning. The ghosts are angry. They’ll be searching the house tonight for whoever did it. Goodnight.”

She blew me a kiss and turned off the light. In the distance, I could almost hear her giggle. Tee-hee-hee. I had to hold onto the mattress edge to keep from falling off.

As I lay awake in the dark, cloaked in gloom, imagination firing on all cylinders and shivering beneath my SuperFriends bed sheet, I could see Linda Blair peering through a knothole in my bedroom ceiling, surveying the land mine of scattered Lincoln Logs and Six Million Dollar Man action figures on my floor until her milky-yellow eyes found me. I could smell the rotten odor of her soiled

white nightgown. I could hear the groan of cheap wood as her body, heavily-scarred from all that Holy Water, leaned forward in anticipation. I could see a smile move across her face as she greedily smacked her blistered lips upon catching my scent. This is what she would whisper: “Sweet dreams.”

What I didn’t know then, but only realized some time after the fact, was that my grandmother had always known I’d seen The Exorcist. My labyrinthine attempt to imitate debris in the Stingray’s crawlspace hadn’t fooled her one bit. You may be thinking to yourself that my grandmother was having a little fun at my expense,

the exorcist

...she was honing my sense of self-preservation the way one might sharpen an axe blade on a grinding stone.

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perhaps playing some sick adult joke, but you would be wrong. Unknowingly, she was honing my sense of self-preservation the way one might sharpen an axe blade on a grinding stone. I doubt she intended this to happen, but that’s how it turned out.

Now let me tell you how I know this is true.

One afternoon, several weeks after Linda Blair materialized in our West Texas attic, my grandmother took me into her bedroom, sat on the floor beside me, and gently pulled open the bottom drawer of her dresser. Hidden beneath her clothes was a photograph of a man I’d never seen. The photo had been torn into pieces and was now held together with yellowed strips of Scotch tape, much like some of the artifacts atop her dresser. This stranger, my grandmother explained to me, was my father. The collection of artifacts atop her dresser were his things. They’d never been smashed on accident, but on purpose. They weren’t of Indian origin at all. They came from a place called Vietnam.

Having lived with my grandparents for as long as I could remember, it never occurred to me that I even had a father. My mother had certainly never spoken of him. My grandfather was the only father figure I’d ever known. I’d worked so hard at keeping secrets that the realization my mother and grandparents had secrets of their own had never entered my mind. The Linda Blair-creature living above my bedroom was imaginary, I now understood, but this implication was real, and twice as terrifying.

Upon divorcing my grandmother’s eldest daughter in 1970 and after completing his tour of duty in Vietnam, James Gary Carl had returned to the United States and

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settled down in Sunnyvale, California. On the fifth day of May 1976, he purchased a motorcycle. He had just turned 29 years old. Unfortunately, he was not a very good driver. He died on his birthday.

Years later, my grandmother explained that the news of my father’s motorcycle accident had been the sole reason why I’d seen The Exorcist in the first place. Neither of my grandparents had realized it was an R-rated horror movie. They’d merely gone to the Rocket Drive-In that night to shield me from my mother’s grief after receiving news of the death of her ex-husband. Protecting me, they thought they were, and how ironic.

It wasn’t long after my grandmother revealed the true nature of her artifacts, those items protected by the ghosts of the dead, I stopped being afraid of monsters and the things that lived in my attic, including Linda Blair. Overnight, she seemingly vanished. In truth, I would have welcomed her back. I felt sorry for her, as well as all my monsters. All they’d ever wanted, I now understood, was a place to hide, especially at night. Like myself, she was merely trying to survive in this imperfect, mixed-up

I felt sorry for her, as well as all my monsters.

world where fathers you’ve never met die on motorcycles they’ve never been taught to drive. For a seven year-old, such knowledge forever changes you. It should. There’s reason why The Exorcist is my first movie-going memory. A very good one, psychiatrists would probably tell me. Being a sneaky little son-of-a-bitch in a Stingray’s crawlspace, perhaps that would have been better.

Flash-forward thirty-seven years later and I am now in the midst of programming an annual horror film festival called Nevermore. This comes as no great surprise to anyone who knows me. Were the lessons I learned from my grandmother and The Exorcist all those years ago anticipating this festival or merely predetermining it? I have no idea. I do not have a single memory of my father. I also have no memory of ever again having a nightmare over some silly horror movie. Funny thing, I actually met Linda Blair in 1998 at one of those cheap haunted houses that appear around every Halloween. It happened in Tampa, Florida, and was purely my own dumb luck. She was signing autographs for fans. Very nice lady, she turned out to be. And a horse lover, who would have guessed? We chatted for a few minutes. The lines for autographs from aging child actors from the 1970s are surprisingly short. Before I moved on, Linda Blair signed for me a black-and-white still photo from The Exorcist. It now sits atop a dresser in my bedroom, alongside two wooden mugs which once came from Vietnam. It’s part of my special collection.

The inscription reads: “To Jim, Sweet dreams, Linda Blair.”

This is a true story.

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01

the all-new supper club is a great way for carolina theatre fans to have an unforgettable night out while raising money for the theatre. the inaugural dinner was held last december and – thanks to our wonderful fans – was a fantastic success.

greek dinner and a movieTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 | 6:30 PMConnie Moses Ballroom & Cinema 2, Carolina Theatre

dine at the king’s daughters InnTHURSDAY, APRIL 26 | 6:30 PMKing’s Daughters Inn | 204 N. Buchanan Blvd, Durham

summer on the PlazaTHURSDAY, JUNE 14 | 6:30 PMCivic Center Plaza in front of the Carolina Theatre

Limited space is available for each Super Club event. More at carolinatheatre.org/supperclub

All photos by Nicholas D’Amato

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01 Local performer The Kim Arrington Trio entertains during the cocktail hour before dinner 02 The table is set! 03 Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tim Alwran (center) entertains guests 04 [left to right] City Council Member Diane Catotti, joins Board of Trustees Member Scott Harmon, Board of Trustees Member Cecily Durrett and Downtown Durham Inc. CEO Bill Kalkhof

The Carolina Theatre is honored to work with the culinary students of Lake View High School who always work hard to make our Supper Club Dinners truly special events. Thanks guys!

02

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03 04

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With deepest gratitude, the Carolina Theatre of Durham recognizes the contributions from our community. As an organiza-tion that continues to evolve – one constant remains the same…the generous support of our donors and fans. This list acknowledges support for the Carolina Theatre July 2011 through Febraury 15, 2012.

CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, & GOvERNmENT ORGANIZATIONS $25,000+Fletcher Performing Arts Fund

$10,000+Fox Family Foundation

$5,000+Duke Energy FoundationGlaxoSmithKline IncorporatedMeasurement IncorporatedMichael Jordan NissanNorman & Bettina Roberts Foundation, Inc.World Beer Festival

$2,500+American ExpressBlue Cross Blue Shield of NCDuke University HospitalMary D.B.T. Semans FoundationReplacements, Ltd.TLA ReleasingWells Fargo Advisors

$1,000+Accent Hardwood FlooringAlliance ArchitectureAmeriprise FinancialDurham Merchants AssociationDurham Central ParkLGBT Center of RaleighModern Gentle DentistryTony Hall and AssociatesWhole Foods

$500+Center Studio ArchitectureFox50GlaxoSmithKline Employee Matching ProgramDiane Hourigan, DDS, PA Widmark Family Fund of the Triangle Community FoundationWTVD-TV Channel 11

$100+Network for GoodTeleflex Foundation

Up to $99Quality Builders Inc. of Raleigh

CAROLINA STAR DONORS

Presidents Circle $1,200+Tim AlwranRichard & Deirdre ArnoldPaul BrockShirley Drechsel & Wayne VaughnDavid Lindquist & Paul HrusovskyDouglas & Syl-Vonna MabieEdie McMillanWill Stroh

Producer $600+AnonymousWendy Baker & Jonathan Wilfong

W. Barker & Cavett FrenchTeresa FinchIn Memory of Curtis LovinsHope LynchGlenna MaynusRebecca Newton

Partner $360+David & Kathy BartlettJohn & Susan DennisDr. & Mrs. Bob DentonSteve & Amy PetersMr. Travis Prater & Mr. Nathan MillerBob StatonMichael & Amy TiemannKay & Doug WellemeyerJean Woods Foundation

Supporter 240+Laura AdrianMichael-Anne & Bill AshmanRichard Balamucki & Susan Hollobaugh James & Beth BarbaMichael Barefoot & Tim ManaleBates BucknerBarry & Jean Marie CurtisDeborah James DobbinsDr. Steven Grambow & Dr. Holly BiolaKaya MansonSusan E. Marshall Erica & Andy OliverSusan Rodger & Thomas Narten Larry & Pat VandawalkerJenny Warburg

Friend 120+AnonymousCarol Anderson Lee & Jenny BennettKenneth L. Bland Jr.Edward & Jane CaffreyCarol Scott Cappelletti Stephen & Christina CelestiniSandra Clemons Connie CowellJack & Tina Deason Wally Diehl Susan & Lee Dreyfus Ed Embree Bob Farber & Penny Brown Amparito Fiallo Bill Fry Calvin & Anne FullerPriscilla GuildKaryn Harrell Carmen HarrisTricia Inlow-Hatcher & Anthony Hatcher Ben Hollifield Phillip & Susan JakesWes & Bonnie JonesPatrick JohnstonRob KnebelSuzanne H. Koenigsberg Law Office of Cheri Patrick Law Office of Kerstin Walker SuttonRobert E. Lawrence Ralph & Marie Liebelt Mark Masercola Jarvis & Norma Martin Michael D. Martz John Matous Jr.Lisa McFarland J. Cameron & Courtney MitchellMichael Lowry & Bonny Moellenbrock

doNor sUPPorted ProgrammINg20112012

Mr. Timothy Moore Joe & Kat MoranMary & John Myers Barry & Tink Nakell John Oakes & Cindy Cooper Thomas Phillips Colonel Dennis C. Porter, USAF (Ret.) & Letrice J. PorterD.V. QuailesFabulosa Rosenbaum Elizabeth SappenfieldAlan B. Teasley Clarke Thacher Duane & Sheila Therriault Lee Ann & Larry Tilley Pamela Umstead Chris van Hasselt & Carol BrookeMeredith Vey & Jose Ortiz Charlotte Walton Barbara & Daniel Ward Julie Shore & Lori White Kathleen Short & John Vespia Jennifer WilburnGil & Nancy Wood Douglas Young & Patricia Petersen Mr. Steve Zetts

Fan $85+Kay Amos Ellen & Thomas Bacon Alastair S. BrowneL.K. Butler Barbara Chremos Jeffrey Collins & Rose Mills Karen & Alvin Crumbliss Carolyn Crump Dale W. Gaddis Donna J. Hicks Joe & Julia Horrigan Bill Kalkhof Ruth Katz Benjamin F. Keaton John Lestina Susan H. Lewis Kathy & Jon Mauney Elizabeth & James Maxwell Gregory McGill Phil & Leslie Myers Beth Owen Glenn & Tina Patterson Robert & Phyllis Golden Andrews Bill Pope Jr.David & Cheryl Rosen Ann McLain & Barry SeaverMargaret R. Sims David & Olivia SingletonDr. Barnetta WhiteLamont Wooten

IN-KIND GOODS & SERvICESAll About Beer MagazineChef Eric Foster of SASChic-fil-aDurham Convention CenterKim Arrington TrioKing’s Daughters InnLakeview High School Culinary Arts StudentsMeasurement IncorporatedMr. Rainbow the ClownMysti MayhemSpartacus RestaurantStone Bros. & ByrdTriangle Business Journal

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THE CAROLINA THEATRE ACKNOWLEDGES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DONORS

WHOSE GIFTS, GRANTS, AND SPONSORSHIPS ARE HELPING TO PRESERVE OUR RICH HISTORY.

THIS LIST RECOGNIZES SUPPORT FOR THE HISTORIC ExHIBIT.

$5,000+In Memory of Floyd Fletcher

$2,000+Durham Arts Council

$1,000+Thomas S. Kenan, Foundation

$500+Jon E. Jones

$250+Mary Thorn & Kristi Creamer Matthew E. Desvoigne Shirley Drechsel & Wayne Vaughn David Dwyer Barbara & Peter Fish Joe A. Garza Eddie HighThomas & Elizabeth Jochum Reginald J. Johnson, Esq.Suzanne H. Koenigsberg Douglas & Syl-Vonna Mabie Jim & Beth Maxwell Glenna Maynus Edie McMillan Prof. Norman E. Pendergraft In Memory of Don Ruegg Alice SharpeWill Stroh Brady & Carolyn Surles

$100+Diana Bello Joe and Melinda Bowser GlaxoSmithKline Corporate MatchCarlisle & Joseph Harvard iContact Corporate Match

Up to $99Pat & Steve Bocckino Arturo & Ellen Ciompi George Gillis Priscilla Guild Victor & Anne MoorePaul Siceloff

2012 CAROLINA THEATRE HISTORIC ExHIbIT KICKSTARTER.COm CAmPAIGN DONORS

$2,500+Tim Alwran

$1,000-$2,499Bob Nocek and Matt Tomko

$500-$999Bull City MobileJon E. JonesPeter and Ellen Hollis

$250-$499Alice L. SharpeBill and Kim DuvalBrian HopkinsCarolyn and Thomas WileyDesignhammerDoug & Syl-Vonna MabieJames Steele III in memory of Maggie DentKeith and Rene HumphreyLarry and Lee Ann TilleyMarion Youngblood and Robin ScottMarybeth Dugan and Kenny DalsheimerMichael StoneMr. J. Travis Prater and Mr. Nathan M. MillerPaula Pritchard Breedlove in memory of Ike BreedloveRebecca NewtonStephen Barefoot in memory of Monte Moses

$100-$2492012 Carolina Theatre Audience Services StaffAlison McPhersonCameron and Courtney MitchellCynthia CooperDeborah McRobertsDiane and Chuck CatottiDiane and Steve WoodwardDiane Hourigan, DDSDon SliceDonna and Larry SperoEdward & Suzanne SklootGary RobinsonJamie HagenbergerJohn Carlson and Cait FenhagenJohn Oakes & Cindy CooperJohn VeyJohn WarasilaJulia BambachKathy CarterKen BlandKONTEK Systems, Inc.Marcia AngleMarilyn ThayerMark AscherlMary Leigh LewisMeredith Vey and Jose OrtizMichael G. Parker and Linda PragerqbRichard M. HillScott and Sara RobertSudi SwirlesSusan Blackwell and Jeffrey CrawfordTreat Harvey and Regina deLacyWes Hare

$50-$99Andy RothArturo & Ellen CiompiBarbara Haight and Shane JonesBenjamin KeatonD. David ChildressDaniel ArmandoDaniel PlancarteDr. Kerry S. HavnerEllen and Arturo Ciompi

Erik T. PetersonGeorge and Betty CohenJames W. BrittonJane and Michael BethelJennifer Skahen and David NolenJulie ChappellKaren BobbittKit StaplefordL. Susan ZhangLisa SchimmerLiz McDonaldMatthew CraverMr. Gregory SimsPaul and Mary SchrotPenny PoteatRandolph UmbergerRespite Cafe / Courtney BrownRuss and Liz DeanSandra CenceSarah FickeSaundra FreemanTheus and Pat Armistead

$25-$49Andrew WirtanenAnne and Jonathan KotchArneta Wicker, Owner, A Wicker RealtyBarbara V. BraatzCarol CappellettiChuck Samuels and Phoebe LawlessCora, Maya and Marcus BryantDavid and Kathy BartlettDeena BodoDrs. Aneil and Karen MishraEdward ElliottElisabeth BraniganErik JollesEve CunningFireStream MediaIra and Linda GoldfarbJamie McRobertsJennifer ConnersJennifer ConnorsJennifer LongeeJo Ann and Herb AmeyJohn and Janine McGee and FamilyKenny CapertonKent ParksLamont WootenMarlene and Rob LeavellMattew and Tracey CoppedgeMegan and Peter PatnaikMelanie J. StimelingMs. Chandra MosleyNancy HillsmanNathaniel ParkPatrick and Rachel ClarkePaul MarshPhil LeePhilip SemanchukRebecca DanielsRichard LevineRyan ShivarSean PuchtaSusan M. AndresenSusan MathiasTiffany and Chris MaloryTrevy McDonald

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Q: WHAT DOES THE CAROLINA THEATRE MEAN TO MICHAEL JORDAN NISSAN?

A: The culture of our community is very important to us at Michael Jordan Nissan. It’s important to the growth and prosperity of Durham. We feel like the Carolina Theatre is a very big part of that.

Q: WHAT INITIALLY BROUGHT MICHAEL JORDAN NISSAN TO THE CAROLINA THEATRE?

A: The opportunity to partner with a landmark in the community is an opportunity we cannot and should not resist.

Q: YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHAT KEEPS MICHAEL JORDAN NISSAN RETURNING THEIR SUPPORT TO THE THEATRE?

A: Ongoing programs that offer cultural enrichment to a wide range of the population.

Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CAROLINA THEATRE TO SOMEONE NOT FROM THE AREA?

A: Rich, diverse and engaging entertainment options in a classic setting.

Q: ARE YOU ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN OTHER WAYS?

A: Yes, we support numerous civic and charitable endeavors. Given Michael’s athletic heritage, we are very active with UNC, NCCU, Duke and NC State.

Q: WHAT DIFFERENTIATES YOUR ORGANIZATION FROM OTHERS – WHY SHOULD FOLKS BUY A CAR FROM MICHAEL JORDAN NISSAN?

A: We would like to think that our commitment to customer satisfaction and community involvement differentiates us from everyone else. That, plus an outstanding selection, great values, an award winning service facility, state-of-the-art Collision Repair Center and great people.

Q: WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT MICHAEL JORDAN NISSAN?

A: We’re right down the street - 3930 Durham Chapel Hill Boulevard.

DONOR spotlightmichael jordan Nissan

Jeff Lintz (Michael Jordan Nissan) and Carrie Pfingst (Nissan North America) with Travis Tritt before his solo acoustic show in January.

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HOW TO ORDER

www.carolinatheatre.org/tickets (919) 560-3030

The more you buy – the more you save!

PICK 3 Pick any three Star Series events and save 15% on your total ticket purchase before convenience fees.

PICK 5 Pick any five Star Series events and save 25% on your total ticket purchase before convenience fees.

GROUP TICKETS Groups of 10 or more can save 15% on most Star Series events. Call the Carolina Theatre box office for more information. LEGACy bOx SEATS Experience the elegance of the past in the Carolina Theatre’s recently renovated box seats. Enjoy great music, comedy and performing arts with a unique perspective of the stage and the newly-restored Fletcher Hall. Packages include two tickets to all Star Series events, access to our new VIP lounge, parking and more.

tIckets & seatINg

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ADvERTISER’S INDExSupport the organizations that sustain your downtown theatre!

sUPPort oUr mIssIoN

For 86 years fans, friends and donors of the Carolina Theatre have played a supporting role in downtown Durham. Their contributions sustain our performing arts and cinematic programming.

Become a Carolina Star donor and keep the shows you love in the historic Carolina Theatre.

CAROLINA STAR DONOR LEvELS

Fan ....................................................................... $85

Friend ........ $120 or $10/month sustaining donation

Supporter .. $240 or $20/month sustaining donation

Partner ....... $360 or $30/month sustaining donation

Producer .... $600 or $50/month sustaining donation

President’s Circle ...................$1,200 or $100/month .....................................................sustaining donation

Choose to make your pledge sustaining. Divide your annual donation over twelve months.

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brock, Payne & meece | www.bpm-law.com .........................................................................................................4

bull City Connector | www.bullcityconnector.org ..................................................................................................4

bull City burger & brewery | www.bullcityburgerandbrewery.com.......................................................................6

King’s Daughters Inn | www.thekingsdaughtersinn.com .......................................................................................8

Durham Arts Council | www.durhamarts.org .......................................................................................................22

Durham Convention Center | www.mydurhamcc.com ........................................................................................33

Dos Perros | www.dosperrrosrestaurant.com .........................................................................................................6

Forest at Duke, The | www.forestduke.org ..........................................................................................................43

Flowers by Gary | www.flowersbygaryofdurham.com .........................................................................................17

Hamilton Hill | www.hamiltonhilljewelry.com .......................................................................................................32

Jewelsmith | www.jewelsmith.com ................................................................................................................44, BC

measurement Inc. | www.measurementinc.com ....................................................................................................3

michael Jordan Nissan | www.michaeljordannissan.com .....................................................................................12

Ninth Street Dance | www.ninthstreetdance.com ...............................................................................................40

Opus 1 | www.opus1inc.com ................................................................................................................................30

Pulley Watson | www.pulleywatson.com ..............................................................................................................22

CAROLINATHEATRE.ORG/GIvE

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FULL FRAmE DOCUmENTARy FILm FESTIvALThe Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is an annual international event dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of non-fiction cinema. Each spring Full Frame welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from around the world to historic downtown Durham, North Carolina for a four-day, morning to midnight array of over 100 films as well as discussions, panels, and southern hospitality. Set within a four-block radius, the intimate festival landscape fosters community and conversation between filmmakers, film professionals and the public.

fullframefest.org

THE DURHAm SAvOyARDSCreated in 1963, Durham’s amazing homegrown theatre troupe, The Durham Savoyards, has brought fun and beauty to the Triangle by presenting the brilliant works of William S. Gilbert & Arthur S. Sullivan. For nearly 50 years, this hardworking group of local theater lovers has entertained a community and greatly enriched the local arts scene. This spring, the Carolina Theatre is proud to host the Savoyards’ production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe March 29 - April 1, 2012.

durhamsavoyards.org

TRIANGLE yOUTH bALLETWith a passion for training the next generation of dancers and instilling a deeper understanding of dance arts in our community, the Triangle Youth Ballet offers aspiring dancers workshops and performance opportunities. Founded in 1995 with the specific mission to produce family performances with local talent, the company quickly grew into one of the area’s top dance schools. This season, the troupe will perform Peter and the Wolf as a part of our Arts Discovery Series on April 26, 2012.

triangleyouthballet.org

DURHAm SymPHONy ORCHESTRAThe Durham Symphony is a semi-professional orchestra composed of a combination of volunteers and professionals, all classically trained. Throughout its 36 year history, the Durham Symphony’s mission has been to foster the appreciation of music through the production of high-quality music for and by the residents of Durham and surrounding communities. The Symphony’s programming reflects a commitment to familiar, American, and popular music. The Durham Symphony Orchestra also seeks to introduce classical orchestral music to young people in the school system through a variety of outreach programs. Traditionally, between October and May, the DSO performs several classical concerts at the Carolina Theatre.

durhamsymphony.org

CHAmbER ORCHESTRA OF THE TRIANGLEConsidered one of the finest professional ensembles in North Carolina and the Southeast today, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle boasts an elite corps of musicians presenting a well-chosen and unusual repertoire that delights audiences and evokes high praise from critics. That standard of excellence has become the hallmark of the orchestra and has distinguished it from its peers. The orchestra performs throughout the year at the Carolina Theatre. Season tickets are available through the Carolina Theatre box office.

thecot.org

NC yOUTH TAP ENSEmbLEThe North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble presents performances featuring cutting edge contemporary choreography and traditional rhythm tap as it was danced in its prime. The company has performed or collaborated with many jazz musicians around the nation and world, has toured internationally and regularly appears at the two largest tap festivals in the United States, the New York City Tap Festival (Tap City) and Chicago Human Rhythm Project.

ncyte.org

GUEST PRESENTERS

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