Community Theater in the Triangle has rebounded following the pandemic that saw a lot of the smaller companies without university support go out of business. Just recently the North Carolina Theatre Co. filed for bankruptcy after offering Broadway musicals in Raleigh for 40 years. They simply couldn’t compete with the national touring productions at the Durham Performing Arts Center. DPAC is one of the largest theaters in the nation in terms of gross receipts.

For decades Duke, UNC, and NCSU have supported student production companies with small professional staffs. The smaller schools have had a struggle and do smaller productions. The North Carolina Arts Council and the Raleigh Arts Council have been big supporters of community theater. In Raleigh, the long-term organizations are the Raleigh Little Theatre and Theatre in the Park.

I have been surprised how many of the small suburban community companies have sprouted up in recent years. The exception is the Temple Theatre in Sanford which has been around for more than 40 years of high-quality productions. It is supported by patrons in Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen who travel by bus.

While most of the staff and performers are volunteers, over the decades I have been impressed by the professional level of most productions that I have attended. I’ve seen some great shows and some busts. Some of the busts were due to the material rather than the performers. We may not be New York, but we’re not Podunk either. We have a big advantage over New York in that you can afford to go to the theater in the Triangle. I admit that, except for Cary, I have not attended most of the productions in the suburbs. Most of the high schools have a drama department and produce at least one play or musical a year.

A comprehensive listing: BeltlineToBroadway.org

Playmakers in Chapel Hill is the only repertory theatre company.

With their own facilities

• Meredith College Theatre
• Raleigh Little Theatre
• Theatre in the Park
• North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre
• Theatre Raleigh
• NCSU University Theatre
• Wallace Peace University Theatre
• Burning Coal Theatre

Suburban Theater

• Durham Savoyards, Carolina Theatre
• Firefox Theatre Co., Wake Forest
• Benson Little Theater
• Henderson Rec Players
• Cary Players
• Justice Theatre Project
• Temple Theatre, Sanford
• Neuse Little Theatre - Smithfield
• Stageworks Theatre of Holly Springs
• Switchyard Theatre Co.
• South Stream Productions

Does not include Chapel Hill & Durham

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