Tag Archive for: #mcgregorhall

TownTalk: Raleigh Ringers Coming To McGregor Hall

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The Raleigh Ringers are coming to McGregor Hall this weekend for a weekend performance at McGregor Hall. Director David M. Harris and the group of musicians have performed in 39 states, Canada and Europe, delighting audiences with music throughout the year.

But when Harris realized there was an opening in the schedule, he called Mark Hopper. And the rest, as they say, is history. The Raleigh Ringers concert is part of the McGregor Alive! Series.

The Raleigh Ringers performed at McGregor Hall in 2019, and Harris told John C. Rose on TownTalk Wednesday that he was impressed with the acoustics, as well as the overall beauty of the performing arts center. “We were anxious to come back,” he said.

“It’s not often we have a Christmas slot open,” Harris explained, and he and his fellow ringers have a short trip for the Sunday performance. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the concert begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at https://www.mcgregorhall.org/

The concert will include some holiday standards, including “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” juxtaposed with “Blue Christmas” and selections popularized by Siberian Orchestra.

Also in the repertoire are a couple of songs especially written for handbells.

Harris said the group has played original music written by Henderson’s own Dr. Phil Young, who Harris called a “pioneer” in the area of handbell music.

The Raleigh Ringers began in 1990, when different church handbell choirs formed a loose network and would have a summer concert at the end of their performance season.

Once dependent on the kindness of retirement centers for storage of their equipment, the Raleigh Ringers now has its own building where they can keep their bells and all the other things needed for concerts, as well as having their own practice space.

“Ringers can come in off hours and work on their parts,” Harris said, on top of the three-plus hours a week that the whole group comes together to practice.

For those who may not know too much about handbells, there’s more to a performance than just ringing a bell, Harris said.

“There’s so much choreography,” he said, and ringers need to know all their roles, whether it’s moving different bells for other ringers to use during a song, or exactly which ringer is going to turn the page of music.

“All of that has to be worked out well in advance,” Harris said.

Part of the mission of the Raleigh Ringers is to provide education about the instruments to their audiences. Members of the audience often are invited to the stage after the concert to try their own hand at handling the bells, from the giant ones at one end of the table to choir chimes at the other.

Handbell ringers play in coordination with other ringers to produce a complete line of music, unlike other musicians – like pianists – who play the complete line of musical notes to create the desired music.

For Harris, this is just a part of what sets handbells apart from other musical instruments, and he said it’s part of their mission to educate the community about this particular type of music.

“It’s such amazing teamwork when a piece comes together,” he said.

Visit www.rr.org to learn more about Raleigh Ringers.

 

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The Local Skinny! “Little Mermaid” Performance Brings People Together

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Ariel or Sebastian or Flounder or King Triton may not have said it in so many words, but Victoria Huggins did: The story of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is about pursuing your dreams, no matter what.

And in a way, that’s exactly what a stalwart group of local leaders did to make McGregor Hall a reality – they pursued their dream of having a top-notch venue right in the middle of Henderson.

Huggins donned a mermaid’s costume and a wavy, red wig to bring Ariel to life during eight different performances of “The Little Mermaid,” which ended with a Sunday matinee.

In a recent TownTalk interview, Huggins told John C. Rose that she loved performing at McGregor Hall – she also played Belle in the 2019 production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

And although she lives in Moore County, Huggins didn’t hesitate to audition for the role of Ariel – McGregor Hall just keeps calling her back, it seems.

From all reports, audiences thoroughly enjoyed the shows – there were two shows specifically for schoolchildren – that took place over the past two weekends.

As word gets out about the lovely facility and the local – and not-so-local – talent involved in creating live theatre, McGregor Hall is sure to stay on a positive trajectory.

That’s a good thing for McGregor Hall. And for Henderson.

 

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TownTalk: Huggins To Appear As Ariel At McGregor Hall

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As opening night approaches for McGregor Hall’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” Victoria Huggins may be the first to say she’s leading a charmed life.

After all, she’s been preparing for the lead role of Ariel in the upcoming stage performance, but that’s not an unfamiliar place for her to be in – she also portrayed Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” which ran at McGregor Hall in 2018. And she wore a crown in real life just a few years ago, when she was Miss North Carolina.

Huggins spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk and said she is thrilled to be back at McGregor Hall performing in another Disney classic.

Tickets are available at https://www.mcgregorhall.org/ for the six performances Oct. 28-30 and Nov. 4-6. Tickets for a special event for young people, “Under the Sea,” also are available. That event will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at McGregor Hall. Tickets are limited, so make your purchase soon!

Schoolchildren from across the state will get first peek at the show with two performances on Thursday – both of which are sold out, Huggins said.

“For some, it will be their first theatrical performance,” she said of the audiences that will be entertained on Thursday.

Ariel will be at Chick-fil-A in Henderson on Tuesday, Nov. 1 for a meet-and-greet of sorts, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. No purchase is necessary, and children will have a chance to have their pictures taken with the beloved Disney mermaid.

For Huggins, the chance to play a second Disney protagonist has been nothing short of magical.

“I have admired these characters my entire life,” she said. Like so many other young boys and girls, Huggins said she learned wonderful life lessons from watching Ariel and Belle – “they continue to teach us as we become adults,” she said.

Everybody loves Ariel for so many reasons, Huggins explained. “She was courageous to follow her dreams…we all relate to her,” she said.

Huggins was Miss North Carolina in 2017-18 and she said that she recently completed her master’s degree from UNC-Pembroke debt-free because of the scholarships she received.

She now works for the NC Chapter of the Alzheimers Association, her own dream being realized because she is turning a passion into a career. Huggins is keenly interested in the influence of music and the therapeutic effect it has on Alzheimers patients.

Call the McGregor Hall box office at 252.598.0662 to learn more.

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TownTalk: McGregor Hall Continues Positive Impact With Upcoming Shows

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From the stage, actors delight and entertain audiences with their performances. But the way Mark Hopper sees it, the local and regional actors who perform at McGregor Hall have important roles off-stage as well – Hopper sees them as ambassadors for the regional venue and for the community of Henderson, too.

Rehearsals have begun for the upcoming production of “The Little Mermaid” and Hopper old John C. Rose during Monday’s TownTalk that close to 100 people are – or will be- coming into Henderson seven nights a week for rehearsal. “And that’s just the cast that’s participating,” he said. When cast members go back to their home communities and talk up the shows or just the beauty of McGregor Hall, they promote ticket sales and more visitors to the area.

“The reach of that cannot be overstated,” said Hopper, who serves as McGregor Hall’s director of operations and heads the board of directors.

Henderson residents should be proud to say that McGregor Hall brings world-class entertainment right into the community. “It’s extremely important to us that we be a venue for all in the community…it’s part of our mission that we provide something for everyone, and do it affordably,” Hopper said.

The McGregor Hall Live! Series kicks off later this month with a show called “Smokey & Me,” featuring Charl Brown, who performs the biggest hits of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles on Sept. 25.

“This guy is pretty amazing,” Hopper said, calling Brown “the real deal.”

McGregor Hall patrons can purchase tickets to all five shows in the 2022-23 series for $115, which Hopper said is a real bargain.

How can the venue attract such a high caliber of talent? Lots of agreements with national companies that license productions and lots of phone calls with agents and other groups that represent touring companies and musical groups.

“We have to pay a pretty good chunk of change just to have permission to present it,” Hopper said of the Disney production. But these large-scale, professional productions help to showcase the talent on the stage, and also, well, the stage itself. “We’ve really made a name for ourselves here,” Hopper said of McGregor Hall.

“We really have an all-star cast,” he continued, adding that 2017 Miss North Carolina Victoria Huggins returns to McGregor Hall as Ariel. Jonathan O’Geary has the role of King Triton.

In addition to the Smokey Robinson tribute and the fall production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” Hopper said McGregor Hall will host a holiday concert by the Raleigh Ringers and America’s Got Talent finalists and audience favorites Sons of Serandip in February, followed by Ballet Magnificat in April.

Although it’s not a part of the McGregor Hall Live! Series, a special concert, sponsored by Mast Drug, is set for January 28, 2023, Hopper said. The Oak Ridge Boys will perform at McGregor Hall and tickets will go on sale later this week, he said.

“That was a big catch,” Hopper said, adding that it’s taken several years to land the group, because they continue a rigorous touring schedule. “They do a lot of touring with The Gaithers,” Hopper said. “They haven’t slowed down one bit.”

Visit https://www.mcgregorhall.org/ for a complete listing of show dates and times, and to view videos of some of the groups that will take the stage locally during the 2022-23 season.

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McGregor Hall

TownTalk: Love Of Performing Keeps Alston And Manhattans On Stage

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The smooth, sultry sounds of The Manhattans is a balm for anyone who grew up listening to R&B and Henderson’s own Gerald Alston has helped to create that sound for, well, a few years now.

Alston will perform this Friday evening, Sept. 2 at McGregor Hall alongside Troy May and newcomer Lawrence Newton, with the band East Coast Connection providing the accompaniment.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. Purchase tickets at https://www.mcgregorhall.org/

Alston, now 70, talked with WIZS’s Bill Harris on Wednesday’s Town Talk, and said he is always happy to perform in the place where he got his start.

“Over the years that I’ve been singing, we’ve always been well supported by my hometown,” Alston said. “It’s a joy to me to be able to come home and perform for friends, family and fans.”

Earlier this month, the group celebrated its 60-year anniversary. Although the faces may have changed over those six decades, the sound remains true. Alston joined the group at the young age of 17 and he said his love of singing is what keeps him going. “My love of singing and love of family,” he said.

He became lead singer in 1970 and has never looked back. Concert goers can expect to hear some of the group’s biggest hits – think “Shining Star” and “Kiss and Say Goodbye,” just to name a couple.

“We’ll be adding a couple of songs that we don’t usually do,” but are regional favorites, he hinted.

Over the years, as vinyl albums made way for cassettes, CDs and now streaming platforms, Alston said he and his group have enjoyed how the “old” fans come together with new fans to appreciate the music they create.

“Social media and Internet radio have been our friend,” he readily acknowledged, adding that fans can download particular songs to create their own playlist and don’t have to depend on traditional radio stations or other traditional formats.

If all goes according to plan, the Manhattans will have 35 or 40 shows this year, bouncing back after the COVID-19 pandemic. Their latest single, “Get It Ready,” climbed high on the soul independent charts, and Alston said he expects the group’s touring schedule to continue to pick up speed.

“The point is that we love singing and God has granted us the ability to still be doing it,” he said.

Having said that, however, Alston did suggest that touring the country and the world to perform can be tiring.

They recently did a two-day gig with the O’Jays down in Florida, he said, playing Tampa one night and then Miramar the next. “Believe me, the traveling is what gets you,” he said. “Traveling takes its toll on you at times.” Between early flights and late check-ins, sound checks and finding a spot to eat – and then heading back to the venue for a two-hour show, Alston said it’s not as easy to bounce back at 70 as it was earlier in his career.

As for Friday night’s venue, McGregor Hall, Alston is seriously pumped.

“Mark Hopper… has done a wonderful job,” he said. “McGregor Hall is one of the best venues that we’ve played – the sound is great, the hall is beautiful…and the staff there is top-notch.”

McGregor Hall is on the smaller side of venues where the Manhattans have performed – dwarfed certainly by the Houston Astrodome and the Atlanta Braves Stadium, where the group has performed to crowds of between 30,000 and 40,000.

 

Alston said he prefers the smaller venues because of the closer, more intimate setting they provide – there’s literally less space between the fans and the stage. “I love being close to my fans and the audience,” he said.

But whether in an intimate setting or a cavernous sports arena, the response from the audience is the same. “They give you that energy,” Alston said, “their appreciation for our music and their support” pumps up the performers and makes it all worthwhile.

“At some point, I may slow down with the work,” Alston said, perhaps picking and choosing performances. “But I think I’ll always be singing.”

 

 

Chamber In Search Of Cheerleaders For Aug. 23 Event

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Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess invites fellow Chamber members to break out the pom-poms and turn out on Aug. 23 to cheer on Vance County Schools’ teachers as they return to begin a new school year.

Teachers will arrive by bus around 8 a.m. and the Convocation Kick-off begins at McGregor Hall.

“We are asking for anyone in our business community interested in celebrating and cheering on our educators, to join us outside of McGregor Hall from 7:50 a.m.- 8:20 a.m,” Burgess said in a statement to WIZS News Friday.

Plan to come out and bring some associates or employees to join in the fun, Burgess said. The group will line up in front of McGregor Hall, and individuals are invited to bring company signs, mascots and any other business-related swag to show some “loud hometown spirit” for teachers as they arrive from their individual schools.

School officials said this year’s convocation is the first time the entire VCS staff has been together since 2019.

Although there’s not enough space inside McGregor Hall for the business and community “cheerleaders,” it should be a lot of fun to show the educators in our community that we value their work and effort as they kick off a new school year.

Aug. 13 Gala To Celebrate 50 Years Of Live, Local Theater By Henderson Rec Players

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Fifty of just about anything is a lot. Chaperoning 50 children on a field trip is a lot and so is 50 miles ‘til the next rest area when you’re traveling along the interstate.

But 50 years of providing live local theater is a special milestone that the community joins the Henderson Rec Players in celebrating this summer.

And there’s a special gala event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration. The gala begins at 6:45 p.m. – before the 8 p.m. performance of “The Fantasticks,” the final play of this golden anniversary season.

Tickets are on sale now for the play, which opens Friday, Aug. 12. In addition to the two evening performances, the Sunday, Aug. 14 matinee begins at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the gala are $50 each, which includes an opening reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, one show ticket, dessert after the show and a backstage tour of HRP memorabilia.

“The Fantasticks,” was also the final show of the 1972 season.

Call the box office 252.598.0662 or visit www.mcgregorhall.org/

TownTalk: Northeast Piedmont Chorale Presents Free Concerts

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The Northeast Piedmont Chorale is scheduled to perform two free concerts this weekend; the first one is in Raleigh and the second will take place Sunday afternoon right here at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson.

A number of chorale members call Henderson home, including the group’s director, Cindy Edwards. Edwards, along with fellow Henderson resident and chorale baritone Tom Burleson joined chorale president Judy Miller on Wednesday’s Town Talk.

They talked with John C. Rose and Bill Harris about the upcoming performances, as well as what goes on behind the scenes to make their concerts special. The local performance is Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m.; the first concert will be on Friday, Apr. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh.

The theme of these concerts is “Home Is Where the Heart Is,” and it celebrates our nation’s history through a selection of musical renditions that highlight the arrival of the first European settlers to Lincoln’s Gettsyburg Address, as well as some familiar folk tunes – all sandwiched in between two iconic songs to begin and end the concert: “America the Beautiful” and Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”

Edwards said the seeds for this theme were planted back in the fall of 2019, with plans for a May 2020 performance. Since it was an election year, the planners had settled on a patriotic theme. “But we know the rest of that story,” Edwards recalled, when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered theaters and cancelled performances across the globe.

Edwards said it was the opening song, “America the Beautiful,” that served as a catalyst for her and others to create the complete list of songs to include.

The particular arrangement that the chorale will perform includes narration, full orchestral accompaniment and a cappella, “which really shows off the voices” of the chorale members.

The order of the songs is intentional, she said, to tell the story of what Americans have experienced, from early settlers crossing the ocean with “Song of the Tall Ship” to Neil Diamond’s “America.” The concert uses music to portray moments in this country’s history.

The “America” piece is arranged almost exactly as Diamond performed it, she explained, but this rendition will be done with a choir, an electric bass, synthesizer and electric guitar.

The chorale members are a dedicated group of individuals that take seriously practice and rehearsals as they prepare for performances. But Miller, the chorale’s president, said the group is lucky to have Edwards as its director, citing her talent, commitment and drive which serve to make the chorale even better. “As Cindy tells us, preparation doesn’t start and stop at rehearsal,” Miller said.

As Burleson pointed out, a performance takes a lot of preparation and he said his mind has to be engaged from the beginning to the end. “The last two (songs) are as important as the first two,” he said, which requires a performer’s full attention throughout the concert. He is a relative newcomer to the chorale and said he has been impressed with the high level of professionalism among the chorale members.

Being a member of the chorale, in whatever capacity, requires dedication and commitment. And money. Members pay a small tuition to be a part of the group. But Edwards said that shows “that they love music and they want to perform it, and they are willing to commit to rehearsals and practice.”

And when that effort is combined with the talent that the chorale members possess, “it is a beautiful process,” Edwards said.

Miller said the group’s camaraderie only complements the talents of the individuals. “We sing together and perform together,” she said, “and the love of music comes through.”

Miller said Edwards reminds the group that if they really feel the music as they are singing, that feeling is conveyed to the listening audience.

It’s not just the voices of the singers that are needed for a performance – the musicians that provide accompaniment are an important part for a successful concert. Kristen Allred accompanies the chorale on piano.

“She’s been a real asset to the chorale,” Edwards said. “She does a beautiful job playing – her role is to know every note, to be able to follow the director…play the parts and to provide that support, that foundation.”

Other orchestra members also are band directors at area schools and some play at DPAC – indicating the high level of professionalism in the orchestra. “It is an inspiration to play with them because they have done their preparation,” Edwards said.

This performance will include an unusual instrument for several selections – banjo and guitar will be played by local musician Wayne Kinton.

Concertgoers are sure to recognize those songs as they are performed, including “Shady Grove,” “Shenandoah” and “Get Along Home Little Cindy,” all representative of a time when settlers were moving farther and farther West and exploring the new land that would become known as the United States of America.

One selection from Gustav Holst’s ‘Jupiter’ from The Planet Suite will be dedicated to the people of Ukraine, she said.

“This is a song that a lot of people will recognize.”

Learn more about the Northeast Piedmont Chorale, including how to make a tax-deductible donation, at https://www.npchorale.org/

 

McGregor Hall

McGregor Hall Presents “Living with Ruthie Mae” Sunday At 2 PM

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Tickets are still available for Sunday afternoon’s performance at McGregor Hall of Garrett Davis’s play “Living with Ruthie Mae,” and patrons are reminded that the mask mandate has been lifted for indoor spaces.

The show had to be rescheduled from mid-January, and all tickets from that original date will be honored with the same seat selection. The show begins at 2 p.m.

“Living with Ruthie Mae” is a comedy about that one sweet family member who doesn’t know when to go home – the most recent work of the North Carolina playwright – and features Shirley Jones of The Jones Girls and American Idol finalist Scott Savol.

According to information from McGregor Hall, “per our local and state health guidelines, we are no longer requiring masks to be worn in our facility. However, we do encourage our patrons to exercise their personal judgment on what is best for the health and safety of you and your family when visiting McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center.”

Visit https://www.mcgregorhall.org/ to purchase tickets online.

McGregor Hall

The Local Skinny! McGregor Hall — A Lot To Look Forward To

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That familiar saying “the show must go on” holds true for the way Mark Hopper feels about upcoming events at McGregor Hall. Events that had been put on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are being rescheduled and Hopper said there’s a lot to look forward to.

Garret Davis’s “Living with Ruthie Mae” has been rescheduled for Sunday, Mar. 20 at 2 p.m.

Ticketholders need only show up and will be honored at the door, Hopper told John C. Rose during Tuesday’s Town Talk.

Tickets are still available for “Living with Ruthie Mae” at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11557.

On April 22, the Duke Ellington Orchestra will bring the Big Band sound to McGregor Hall. On this date, Margaritas with Mazatlán will take place, he said, noting a change in the original schedule. The program begins at 7:30 p.m.

A “constant string” of dance competitions are scheduled to be held starting in March, Hopper said. A smaller, more local competition was held last weekend, setting the stage for the upcoming events.

“They’ll start in earnest in March,” Hopper said, adding that they will get a lot of people here in the motels and spending money in the community.”

Events at McGregor Hall help to increase visitors to the area, which in turn pumps some extra dollars into the economy. That was part of the vision since McGregor Hall’s inception.

As chair of the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation, Hopper said he couldn’t be prouder of the way the community has supported McGregor Hall during its first five and half years in operation.

“We should have been bankrupt in two years,” Hopper said, reflecting on the early days of the cultural arts center. “But we’re solvent and paying our bills and still able to bring good quality entertainment to the area. Some funding is pandemic-related and comes from grants from entities like the N.C. Arts Council, the N.C. Community Foundation and the John W. Polk Foundation.

But it’s the support from the local business community that Hopper said has been something special. “It’s been extraordinary,” he said. And when events were suspended or cancelled because of the pandemic, Hopper said that’s when the business community stepped up.

“They know what we’re offering and what we bring to the community,” he said. “They value what we’re offering.”

One offering will be observing the 50th anniversary of the Henderson Rec Players. This group has become a regional operation, drawing actors from towns like Hillsborough, Fayetteville and Fuquay-Varina. Hopper said it’s a wonderful opportunity for children in the community to get to work alongside semi-professional and amateur actors.

In true dramatic fashion, Hopper left us with a cliff-hanger: stay tuned for a major announcement coming up this summer…

Visit https://www.mcgregorhall.org/ to learn more.