Stevens Center

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The Roger L. Stevens Center is the primary performance venue in downtown Winston-Salem and is owned and operated by the North Carolina School of the Arts. It is named after the theatre producer and real estate magnate Roger L. Stevens and was opened on April 22, 1983. The venue serves the major NCSA productions, the Winston-Salem Symphony, Piedmont Opera, and many other touring and local productions. All in all the theatre is used for rehearsal or performance all but 70 days of the year.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The Stevens Center was originally the Carolina Theater, a movie theatre, before it was donated to the School of the Arts in 1980 by the Winston-Salem Journal. It was renovated by the School of the Arts using $9.6 million in state bond money and opened on April 22, 2983 with a star-studded gala featuring the NCSA symphony Orchestra with Leonard Bernstein conduction and Isaac Stern as soloist, and Gregory Peck as the master of ceremonies. Guests in attendance included Agnes de Mille, Cliff Robertson, Governor James Hunt, President and Mrs. Gerald Ford and Lady Bird Johnson.[2]

The Stevens Center faced difficulty when the federal Economic Development Administration demanded NCSA pay back $3.12 million because they transferred the title from NCSA to NCSA, Inc. They also faced trouble with Forsyth County over taxes. In 1990 NCSA signed a deal to bring preview shows of Broadway Musicals to the Stevens Center but had to end that relationship because the school was losing money on it.

Currently the Stevens Center is occupied with either rehearsals or concerts all but 70 days of the year.

[edit] Specifications

  • Two levels (Orchestra and Balcony)
  • 1,380 seats
  • 10 Stories


[edit] Building Usage

The building is used by the following groups for their performances:

  • Piedmont Opera
  • Winston-Salem Symphony
  • Something for Everyone Series
  • NC Dance Festival

The building also houses many offices, the NCSA Community Music School, and Camel City Café

[edit] NCSA Performances and Groups

  • The Nutcracker
  • NCSA's fiftieth anniversary production of West Side Story
  • NCSA Symphony Orchestra
  • At least one opera per year
  • At least one major dance production other than The Nutcracker per year

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/apr/27/focus-on-arts-having-survived-early-missteps-today/
  2. ^ http://www.ncarts.edu/library/archhistory.htm

[edit] External Links

North Carolina School of the Arts

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North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA)