Temple Theatre (Sanford, North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Temple Theatre
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Temple Theatre, March 2007
|
|
 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 120 Carthage St., Sanford, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1925 |
| Built by | Joe W. Stout Co. |
| Architect | Flanagan, Eric G. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Modern Movement |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001895 |
| Added to NRHP | September 8, 1983 |
The Temple Theatre is a cool old performance center in Sanford, North Carolina. It was built way back in 1925 by Robert Ingram, Sr., who owned the local Coca-Cola company. Back then, Sanford was a small town with only about 3,500 people. The theatre got its name "Temple" because it was right next to what used to be Sanford's Masonic Lodge.
When it was built, a newspaper called the Sanford Express said, "In erecting this modern theater, he has spared no expense to make it an up-to-date playhouse." The building is made of brick, about 50 feet wide and 92 feet deep, with two stories. It has cool stone decorations that mix two styles: Colonial Revival and Art Deco.
Contents
A Look Back: Theatre History
For many years, the Temple Theatre was the main place for fun and shows in Lee County, North Carolina. It was located very close to the train station. This made it a popular stop for Vaudeville shows and famous performers.
Later, in the 1930s, the Temple hosted touring shows, including different types of stage acts. After that, it became a movie theater. In the 1960s, local groups like the Sanford Little Theatre and the Footlight Players used the Temple for their community plays. Sadly, the Temple Theatre closed its doors in 1965.
The Theatre's Rebirth
The Temple Theatre got a new chance in 1981. Robert Ingram, Jr., the son of the original owner, gave the building to the people of Lee County. Thanks to the efforts of Sam Bass, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This helped it get a big grant from the North Carolina Legislature.
Local citizens and businesses also helped by matching the grant money. The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation also gave a lot of money. The building was completely redone inside. In 1984, the Temple reopened as a community theater. Kathy DeNobriga was the director. The very first show at the newly fixed-up Temple was the musical Chicago.
At first, tickets were super affordable, just $3 or $4 for a show. A season ticket for four shows was only $12! The Footlight Players produced all the shows. The Temple Theatre handled the bills and sold tickets.
Building Improvements
In 1986, Tim Morrissey became the Technical Director. He and Sam Bass built a special cover for the orchestra pit. This cover can be removed when musicians need to use the pit.
In 1998, the theatre's roof was completely replaced. In 1996, the balcony area was changed. Two rows of seats were removed, and a technical office became a reception room. This reduced the number of seats. With a new computer ticketing system, the theatre could sell exactly 299 seats. This helped them meet an agreement with Actors' Equity, a union for actors.
The sound equipment was moved to the back of the balcony. Later, a special booth was built out over the audience from the balcony for better sound. A temporary light structure was added in 1997 for a show called 'The Invisible Man'.
New Marquee Sign
In 2000, new copper letters for the 'TEMPLE' sign were made by King Roofing in Sanford. The old sign was made of galvanized steel. Tim Morrissey found the old sign in the underground part of the theater. The new copper sign was a gift from Dave and Kelly Kurz.
Inside the Temple Theatre
The lobby of the Temple Theatre is really beautiful. It has richly painted walls and wooden trim. The floor has cool, multi-colored hexagonal tiles. A sparkling crystal chandelier hangs above, decorated with gold.
Two staircases go up from the lobby to the balcony. From the balcony, you can best see the restored tin ceiling. Backstage, actors have comfy dressing rooms, a kitchen, and a lounge area. This is a big improvement from the original building, which only had one bathroom for performers in the basement!
The theatre has a full counterweight fly system backstage. This helps move scenery and lights. It also has a modern communication network. The lighting system was updated in 2010, and the sound system in 2014. This makes the theatre very practical for shows.
Originally, the Temple could seat 500 people. During the 1980s renovation, the seating was reduced to 334. This makes it a more cozy and personal place to watch a show. The Temple also has an orchestra pit for musicians. This pit can be covered to make the stage bigger.
Because the theatre was designed for vaudeville, the acoustics (how sound travels) are amazing. The beautiful painted tin ceiling helps with this. Also, audience members have a great view of the stage from every seat. In 2012, the Temple opened a brand new concession stand and restroom area. In 2023, a new VIP area was added next to the main concessions.
A Cultural Hub
The Temple Theatre is a major cultural center and a top attraction in Lee County all year round. Many famous artists and groups have performed there. These include the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, the Red Clay Ramblers, The Kingston Trio, the Glenn Miller Band, Count Basie, Mark Wills, The Embers, and Nantucket (band).
Productions and Shows
Today, The Temple Theatre Company puts on six main stage shows each season. These shows include musicals and dramas, and each one runs for three weeks. All the actors are paid professionals who come from all over the country.
The Temple Theatre is also a Comedy Zone venue. It has hosted many well-known stand-up comedians recently. Some of these include Jimmie Walker, Carlos Mencia, Jon Reep, James Gregory (comedian), and Pauly Shore. The theatre also hosts special events like pop concerts and dance recitals.
People come to the Temple from areas like the Research Triangle, the Piedmont Triad, and the Sandhills. About 40,000 people visit the Temple each year! The money raised from yearly fundraisers helps pay for the theatre's upkeep, like utilities, insurance, and equipment. Money for shows comes from ticket sales, sponsorships, grants, and advertising. The Temple Theatre is a non-profit organization.
Student Conservatories
Besides the six main stage shows, the Temple also offers six Student Conservatories. These are special programs for young performers.
- In the summer, they have a musical conservatory for ages 8-18.
- There's also a straight play conservatory for ages 8-18.
- An intensive musical program is offered for ages 13-18.
- A Shakespeare intensive is available for ages 13-18.
- In the fall, there's a straight play conservatory.
- In the spring, there's a musical conservatory. Both of these are for ages 8-18.
You can find the full schedule of events at Temple Theatre by visiting templeshows.org.
Education Programs
The Temple Theatre offers many chances for young performers to learn and grow. During the school year, they have different classes. These include dance (Tap and Jazz), acting, auditioning, and voice lessons. Taking these classes helps young performers get ready for full-scale productions. It also increases their chances of joining the Temple Teen Ensemble.
Rising Stars
For younger children, the Temple has a program called Rising Stars. This is for kids aged 4-7. These children work for four weeks to put on their own show!
Temple Teen Ensemble
For teenagers, there's a performance group called the Temple Teen Ensemble. This group has almost 20 of the best young performers from the Temple, aged 13-18. The Temple Teens perform songs around the Sanford area for different holidays. They have several sets, from Halloween to Christmas to love songs. Their main goal is to promote the main stage productions. When they aren't performing seasonal songs, they perform one song from each of the main stage musicals. This helps get people interested in the shows.
Meet the Team
Here are some of the people who help make the Temple Theatre great:
- Peggy Taphorn as Producing Artistic Director
- Gavan Pamer as Director of Education and Associate Artistic Director
- Seth Hoyle as Marketing Director
- Jacob Barton as Technical Director
- Tabitha Whitlow as Business Manager
- Patrick Holt as Facilities Manager
- Debbie Raulerson as Production Stage Manager
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors helps guide the Temple Theatre. Here are some of its members:
- President: Bill Gross
- Vice President:
- Secretary: Justin Smith
- Treasurer: Shay Benton
- Dr. Mindy Deason Marlowe
- Terry McMillian
- David Morse
- Dr. Karyn Rahn
