What Were You Doing A Year Ago?

Often, the holidays inspire us to take a look back at the year that's about to end, and remember our experiences.   At NC Stage, we are looking back at 2013 and the experiences that happened here.  At this point last year, we were in the last week of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, (not unlike this year!) and planning the year ahead. 

Since then, patrons had more than 10,000 experiences, in our intimate theatre, watching plays.  Hundreds of students have had the experience of using theatre to learn new skills, from writing and performing in their own plays about North Carolina State history, to a dozen students performing in The Seagull and Alice in Wonderland in our classes.  We had extensive renovations on the lobby, backstage, and auditorium, so the artists and audiences can have an even better experience.  We produced a world premiere play, Stalking the Bogeyman, which many audience members described as the best theatre experience they have ever had. 

Notice a theme?

The world is giving us all more tools to create experiences.  Our phones, tablets, and computers give us a chance to have experiences with distant friends and relatives.  We can use interactive software to make choices that help us achieve greater experiences by telling us where the best restaurants are or how many stars does this or that movie have.  We live in a moment where we can watch a movie instantly on the couch, on the bus, anywhere.

You know what you can't stream, download or tweet?  The thrill of the lights going dark. A performer stepping on stage and saying the first lines that set the world of a play in motion.  The excitement of the poetry, drama, and humor unfolding right in front of you in the original High Definition entertainment.  The vicarious experience of the characters that becomes your own experience.

Think of the experiences you've had at NC Stage this past year.  Does the memory of that experience tug at you longer than the last episode of (insert name of reality TV show here)?

If those types of experiences are meaningful to you, I hope you'll plan on helping to make those experiences a reality for you and others in Asheville by donating to our annual fund.  Because some things you just can't download!  Click the link below to donate online using our secure server. You can also make a donation by calling us at (828) 239-0263 or you can mail your donation to 15 Stage Lane, Asheville, NC 28801.