Triangle theater has expanded exponentially in the last decade, with something for almost every taste, and new companies cropping up with each season.
MAJOR PLAYERS
The biggest draw is Broadway Series South, which hosts splashy touring Broadway shows such as “My Fair Lady” and Disney’s “The Lion King,” as well as some scaled-back productions making their umpteenth visit here (think "Rent," "Cats," etc.).
Most Broadway Series South shows are in Raleigh’s 2,277-seat Memorial Auditorium, where you can also see Broadway musicals staged locally by N.C. Theatre. Don’t expect locals in N.C. Theatre’s lead roles, however. More often, producers cast their leads in New York — or use household names from pop culture, such as film star Lou Diamond Phillips or rocker Sebastian Bach.
PlayMakers Repertory Company, the professional arm of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Department of Dramatic Art, performs during the school year in the 500-seat Paul Green Theatre at the Center for Dramatic Art. The shows have top-notch production values and feature a mix of staff and students along with guest actors. PlayMakers also recently launched a second-stage series for its 200-seat Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre, with locally produced and touring shows intended to generate interesting post-show discussions.
Theater Previews at Duke helps develop high-profile Broadway-bound productions such as "Little Women: The Musical" and "A Thousand Clowns." And it also stages workshops of new or little known plays that may or may not have legs.
SMALL WONDERS
But the bulk of the Triangle theater scene is composed of smaller semi-professional companies, which can vary dramatically in quality but frequently outshine their Goliath competitors. Among the most reliable are Chapel Hill’s Deep Dish Theater, Paperhand Puppet Intervention and StreetSigns Center for Literature and Performance, Raleigh Ensemble Players, Burning Coal Theatre, and Durham’s Manbites Dog Theater and its many guest troupes (among them Durham’s inventive Both Hands Theatre Company and Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern). Stillwater Theatre, a professional company based at Meredith College, has also made its mark quickly.
The area’s community theaters — including the 71-year-old Raleigh Little Theatre — also have large followings. The college theater scene is active and ambitious, the schools’ educational missions making for interesting and daring play selections. And improv is booming in the area, from the veteran troupe Transactors to area newcomers like Carrboro’s DSI Comedy Theater.
Read N&O reviews of local theater productions.
THE COMPANIES
RALEIGH
Free Association Theatre Ensemble (FATE)
North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre
Opera Company of North Carolina
DURHAM
Alternative Perspective Ensemble Theatre
Find the Light Repertory Company: 876-6866
Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern
New Traditions Theatre: Email: BGJ111@hotmail.com
N.C. Central University Theater
CHAPEL HILL
Free Association Theatre Ensemble
PlayMakers Repertory Company
StreetSigns Center for Literature and Performance
ELSEWHERE
Arising Light Productions
Cary Players
Three Blind Mice: EMAIL: threeblindmiceproductions@gmail.com
Towne Players of Garner
Triad Stage
VENUES AND PRODUCERS
RALEIGH
N.C. State University Center Stage
Pittman Auditorium, St. Mary’s School, 900 Hillsborough St., Raleigh. 424-4045
Progress Energy Center For The Performing Arts Includes Memorial Auditorium, Meymandi Concert Hall, Fletcher Opera Theater and Kennedy Theatre.
Shaw University Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Thompson Theatre (closed for renovations)
DURHAM
Duke University Theater Studies
CHAPEL HILL
Center for Dramatic Art at UNC: Includes the Paul Green Theatre, Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre and outdoor Forest Theatre.
UNC-Chapel Hill Includes Memorial Hall, Center for Dramatic Art, Sonja Haynes Stone Center, Great Hall,
Hill Hall, PlayMakers Theatre, Person Recital Hall, Swain Hall.
Swain Hall, Studio 6, 101 E. Cameron Avenue, UNC-Chapel Hill.
CARY
ArtsCenter, Carrboro
Garner Historic Auditorium: 661-4602.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park, Cary.
Paul A. Johnston Auditorium, Smithfield
Shakori Hills Farm And Festival Grounds, Silk Hope
