MONROE, N.C. — The Dowd Middle Theatre, not too long ago renovated and reopened in the coronary heart of downtown Monroe, will maintain one of its very first musicals this weekend.
A youth manufacturing of “The Wizard of Oz” will just take the stage at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday.
What You Have to have To Know
- The Dowd Heart Theatre reopened earlier this year
- The aged film theater went underneath a multimillion-greenback renovation from the city of Monroe and non-public donors
- “The Wizard of Oz” is one particular of first musicals to be done at renovated theater
The old motion picture theater, which was shut in 1991, reopened formally this calendar year soon after a multimillion-dollar renovation by the town and private donors. Now, the revamped performing room is established to host concerts, musical performances, comedy reveals, performs, musicals and other situations.
“The youngsters came in and they were being like speechless. I suggest, so ended up we — it was so enjoyable,” said Lindsey Bennett, a teacher at Lanti Executing Arts, which is in Union County. “I grew up listed here and so I don’t forget driving down the street and it was just an old, vacant film theater that no one was doing everything with.”
She claims she’s not the only one particular enthusiastic.
“One particular of our parent volunteers bought teary-eyed mainly because she was like, ‘I was in in this article 40 decades in the past,’” Bennett mentioned. “So, it’s really enjoyable.”
Sarah Lantigua, the co-operator of Lanti, mentioned she was also thrilled to use the house with her college students.
“They’ve saved the primary brick and so we’re utilizing that in our clearly show for the yellow brick street. And, we’re accomplishing some enjoyable matters with that, so we want to retain the authenticity of what’s going on listed here,” Lantigua explained. “But it is so attractive, and it is a good place. So, we’re very very pleased to be here.”
“We’re thrilled to be utilizing it, yeah” Bennett additional.
Lantigua’s 57 pupils, ages 7 to 18, will acquire the phase to accomplish some very well-known “Wizard of Oz” numbers, as nicely as some new ones. The pupils have been rehearsing due to the fact September, and Lantigua explained this is one of the most significant venues they have performed in.
“It started with smaller phases when we had been just at our studio, and then we started off obtaining some church buildings to do it in and other places,” Lantigua said.
Tickets are readily available on the web and at the box business office. Organizers say a part of the proceeds will go to a superior induce.
Lantigua’s basis, the Lanti Basis, presents scholarships for students in will need to attend lessons of all types at her doing arts centre.
“Kids are involved in a whole lot of routines and from time to time mother and father are not equipped to ship their youngsters to do these matters, mainly because of funds or regardless of what is their case,” Lantigua explained. “So, we help provide some piano lessons, or guitar classes, or theater lessons.”
So much, the Lanti Basis has assisted extra than 100 students, in accordance to Lantigua.
The Dowd Centre Theatre is in the 100 block of South Major Road in downtown Monroe.