A favorite of High Country visitors as well as local year-long residents for decades has been the treasure that is Lees McRae College’s Summer Theatre series. The stellar presentations featuring some of the most acclaimed performers in the region and nation are a can’t miss for anyone who appreciates and enjoys performing arts.
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Illustration courtesy LMC Summer Theatre
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Since its first production hit the stage in the summer of 1985, LMCST has exposed viewers to a vast array of the best actors, producers and entertainment the world has to offer.
LMCST is committed to producing quality theatre experiences, serving audiences who view the productions, students who are training in their craft and the High Country community as collaborators for the betterment of the area.
Since its inception, summer in the North Carolina Mountains suggests wonderful opportunities to bring communities together, and perhaps there is no better fashion to accomplish this goal than through LMCST.
“Our heritage, our commitment to the ideals of art and humanity, and our great attention to the heart have made our work special,” LMCST artistic director and professor emeritus Janet Speer said. “We may not have the bells and whistles, but we will always have the heart.”
And at the heart of LMCST is Speer, who has been the steadying hand that has brought the series from a fledgling single-show production in its earliest years to a seven-production whirlwind for a period of time to its current three-production model.
“We found that putting together so many performances in a single summer took something away from the quality of our productions,” Speer explained. “We decided that we would be better to do a limited number of productions really well, and that has been most beneficial for our staff, production and cast.”
As well, Speer described the community component of LMCST as a common ground on which people can unite over a similar love of performing arts, as well as a means to attract visitors to the Banner Elk and High Country area.
“Summer Theatre brings folks to Banner Elk and Avery County annually. A lot of individuals, couples and families build their summer vacations around visiting and watching our productions, “Speer said. “There is such a strong community component to our product. The town of Banner Elk has always been so supportive and sees how our program attracts tourism locally. We work hard to emphasize getting to know not just our product, but the community at large as a whole.”
Speer estimates an average of 7,000 people attend LMCST’s summer shows annually, meaning that a rough estimate of more than 215,000 performing arts aficionados have viewed the wide gamut of productions that have graced the Hayes Auditorium stage.
Performances coming to the stage this summer include a Disney classic, a country music legend and a time-tested musical classic.
LMCST officially raises its curtain with the production of “Mary Poppins,” coming to Hayes Auditorium beginning on Sunday, June 26. The timeless Walt Disney classic production speaks to both parents and children, and covers myriad topics pertinent to today’s world.
“’Mary Poppins’ deals with the poor, homeless and looking at the value of people,” Speer said.
Much like last year’s production “Oliver!”, “Mary Poppins” will feature a large number of local children from Avery and Watauga counties among the cast. In fact, the production features a cast of more than 40 children and adults, in addition to a special fly system that will allow characters to take to the sky and float above the audience and stage during the show.
Skyline/Skybest Communications is sponsoring this summer’s production of “Mary Poppins.”
Beginning on July 14, LMCST brings to the stage the production of “Always ...Patsy Cline,” a show based on the true story of Patsy Clline’s friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger. Cline pays a surprise visit to Seger and, as they talk, Cline floats in and out of Seger’s kitchen to reenact her great moments on the stage. Belting out with her trademark voice classics like “Anytime,” “Walking after Midnight,” “She’s Got You,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Crazy,” fans of the classic country and western star will undoubtedly be entertained.
The show combines humor, sadness and reality, and offers fans who remember Cline while she was alive a chance to look back, while giving new fans an idea of what seeing her was like and what she meant to her original fans.
“Always... Patsy Cline” features only a two-person cast, along with a talented orchestra that doubles as Cline’s band. LMCST favorite Kim Krege-Florio plays the role of Louise, while Erica McGee is sure to wow the crowd with her voice that would convince an audience that Cline herself was in the flesh, singing in the room to them.
“You just don’t do a show like this unless you have a convincing Patsy Cline,” Speer said. “You don’t get someone who thinks they can sing like Patsy, and Erica is able to do it all, from the singing voice to the way she talked. Cline’s life is so fascinating and she has such a great catalog of music that appeals to a different group of people. It’s generated a lot of buzz so far going into the season.”
LMCST concludes its season with performances of “The Pajama Game,” beginning Tuesday, Aug. 2. Conditions at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory are anything but peaceful, as sparks fly between new superintendent Sid Sorokin and Babe Williams, leader of the union grievance committee. Their stormy relationship comes to a head when the workers strike for a 7.5-cent pay increase, setting off not only a conflict between management and labor, but a battle of the sexes as well.
The award-winning musical comedy features lots of fun production numbers, as well as standout featured roles and a large ensemble cast, which tailors the production well for the talent-laden production staff, cast and crew of LMCST.
“’The Pajama Game’” is a good, old-faithful production that can be set in any middle-sized town. It was made famous by Doris Day and is set in the 1950s,” Speer added.
The musical will feature a 30- to 35-member cast and serves as the fitting climax to what is sure to be another outstanding summer season of theatre and performing arts in Banner Elk.
Sponsors of LMCST include BB and T, the Town of Banner Elk, Skyline/Skybest. Speer also thanks the individual donors who faithfully give to help maintain the quality of production that LMCST is known for.
Speer is among the first to admit that LMCST doesn’t operate under the auspices of any single individual, but that a talented and passionate team of people make each year’s productions possible. Speer expressed appreciation to Roy and Marion Krege for publicity, playbill assistance and Advisory Board service, as well as production manager Erin Wallace, Pam Joslin, multiple stage managers, as well as Dr. Michael Hannah for his work and upcoming direction of “Always ... Patsy Cline.”
Tickets for LMCST productions range from $35 to $40 for adults and $18 to $20 for students.
Visit the Hayes Auditorium box office to purchase tickets (box office opens June 16), or tickets can be purchased online by clicking to
www.lmc.edu/summertheatre (online ticket fees and taxes apply). For group or season-ticket sales, call (828) 898-8709.
Lees-McRae is kicking off the 31st Summer Theatre season with Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, which runs from June 26-July 3. Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the show delighted Broadway audiences for more than 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The shows will take place in the Hayes Auditorium of Broyhill Theatre.
