From gospel music with The Hoppers and local group Unashamed Southern Gospel Quartet, to the Broadway musical The Buddy Holly Story, to the North Carolina Symphony, the new Performing Arts Center McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson has something for everyone.
Its executive director Tommy Deadwyler wants the public to know there will be a great deal of diversity in the performances and artists it has to offer Henderson and the surrounding areas. The new center has a chance to greatly impact our economy here. It’s about putting people in restaurants and hotels and revitalizing downtown Henderson.
Board member Mark Hopper said, “To be able to impact Henderson’s economy with the performing arts is just phenomenal and I’m really excited about that. In fact, I had nine calls in under three hours alone for restaurant recommendations the night of the Buddy Holly Story Musical. It’s quite inspiring that this facility was built on donations alone. Absolutely no city or county money was used whatsoever.”
It isn’t expected that Vance County will be able to support the center alone, but retirees in the southern Virginia Lake Gaston and Kerr Lake areas who drive right past Henderson on the way to Durham could attend a Broadway show for a fraction of the cost. The goal is for McGregor Hall to be a regional facility.
Chairman of the McGregor Hall Board John Wester said, “Most Broadway shows are at least $85 a ticket and that’s on the lower end. Once you add on gas, dinner in Raleigh or Durham, and parking, well it just makes so much more sense to stay right here in your hometown and see a great show for far less money.”
McGregor Hall doesn’t intend on competing with the DPAC in Durham, but it does have some wonderful upcoming performances to offer:
April 9: NC Symphony
April 30: Vivace, a pop & classical vocal quartet out of Vancouver, Canada
June 18: The Manhattans with NC Music Hall of Famer Gerald Alston & Henderson native Dwight Fields
May 20: The McCartney Years – a Wings Tribute Band
July 7-9: The Henderson Rec Players – Fiddler On the Roof
September 17: Sandi Patty’s Farewell Tour – Contemporary Christian singer and 5 time Grammy Award winner (we are the only theatre in NC to have her!)
The response from the community thus far has been fantastic, and not only does the center have an opportunity for an economic impact on Henderson but has already offered educational opportunities. On March 8, 960 school children from Vance and Granville counties had the opportunity to see the NC Symphony’s performance for kids. Deadwyler said, “I was very impressed by the children’s behavior and the fact that so many of them dressed up for the performance. They were very engaged and excited to see the orchestra perform.”
Reverend Frank Sossamon, who was the Master of Ceremonies on the center’s opening night, echoed this sentiment when he said, “The new Performing Arts Center McGregor Hall is such a breath of fresh air for Henderson. It will allow the community to be exposed to various artists and performances that will challenge our citizens and young people to strive for more through education. We had a great response and large turnout on opening night. It was just a wonderful overwhelming experience.”
Another plus, McGregor Hall Gallery will also have meet and greets with the performers and a cocktail hour before performances.
For rental rates contact Tommy Deadwyler. (The Gallery is also available for rent at a reduced rate for non-profit groups)
For tickets call: 252-598-0662 or purchase online at: www.McGregorHall.org. (Ticket prices vary according to the show.)
The Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday 1pm to 5pm and two hours before show times.
Staff Writer – WIZS
