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Temple, and while various shows continued to use unpaid, local, actors and tech crew, many in those positions were paid union wages. In 1990, David Almond, who had been the musical director (MD) for the community theatre was replaced by Bert Fox. Fox stayed as MD until the summer of 1994, after which musical directors were contracted show by show. In the fall of 1994, Serena
Ebhardt became the general manager. She remained in that position until 2000 when she left to pursue other theatre activities. Kathy Stallings replaced Ebhardt, and she left in 2001. Wicker retired in 1996, and the box office was filled with various part-time help.
543:. Ticket prices for an individual show were $ 3 and $ 4. A season ticket of four shows was $ 12. All shows were produced by the Footlight Players, and The Temple paid the bills and sold the tickets. The staff of the Temple at that time was Kathy DeNobriga, director; Trip May, tech director; Sheila Brewer, office manager, Frank Nunally, bookkeeper and Corrina Wicker, box office. In April 1986, Trip May took another position, and Tim Morrissey was hired as technical director. One of the first things he did was enlist the help of Sam Bass, and the two of them built the cover over the orchestra pit, which is removable.
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Roots, and
Morrissey was named Executive/Artistic Producing Director. In the summer of 1988, another professional show was done. In the Spring of 1990, Wally Eastland was hired as the technical director and Frank Nunally retired. Brewer took over the duties of the bookkeeper and office manager. Eastland left in 1993 and was replaced by Bill Freeman. Freeman left in 1996 and was replaced by Ron Smith. Smith left in 2000 and was replaced by Brad Sizemore.
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The Temple
Theatre Company produces six main stage shows per season ranging from musicals to dramas, with each show running for three weeks. All the actors are paid professionals brought in from across the country. The Temple Theatre is also a Comedy Zone venue and has hosted a number of high-profile
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For the marquee sign, the copper letters 'TEMPLE', were constructed by the metal workers at King
Roofing in Sanford in 2000. They used an old sign that had been made of galvanized steel. Morrissey found the old sign while rummaging around in the underground part of the theater. The new copper sign
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In the summer of 1987, the Temple embarked on its first professional theatre venture, producing three shows in the summer of 1987 using casts and crews that were all paid. There were no union contracts at that time. In
February 1988, DeNobriga moved to Atlanta where she took a position with Alternate
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Along with the six main stage shows, Temple produces six student conservatories. During the summer, Temple offers one musical conservatory for ages 8 to 18, a straight play conservatory for ages 8 to 18. Their intensive musical for ages 13 to 18, and their
Shakespeare intensive for ages 13 to 18. In
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are superb – highlighted by an ornate, painted tin ceiling, and audience members have a good view of the stage from every seat. In the spring of 2012, the Temple unveiled a new concession and restroom area. In the fall of 2023, they completed a new VIP area to the left of the main concessions area.
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In 1986, the first "Temple
Theatre Day" was instituted and was held around April 1. It was a community and patron focused fundraiser. Patterned after The United Way's fund-raising organization, the first one was chaired by local businessman Lamar Beach. Funds raised by this scheme were designated
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For teenagers, Temple has a performance ensemble called the Temple Teen
Ensemble. The Temple Teen ensemble consists of almost 20 of the best young performers Temple has to offer, ranging in age from 13 to 18. Temple Teens go around the Sanford area to perform songs for whatever holiday it is. They
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Temple has many education opportunities for young performers. During the school year, they have many different classes, such as dance (tap and jazz), acting, auditioning and voice. Taking these classes help the young performers be ready to perform on full-scale productions and also have more of a
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backstage, an advanced communication network, and a computer-controlled lighting (last updated in 2010) and sound system (lasted updated in 2014), making the theatre practical and workable. Originally, the Temple seated 500. During the 1980's renovation process, seating was reduced to 334. The
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In the summer of 1989, another professional show was produced using contracts with Actors' Equity. In the spring of 1990, the Temple Board of
Directors voted to accept a budget that included salaries for actors during the regular season. This was essentially the end of 'community' theatre at the
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The roof on the theatre was completely replaced in the summer of 1998. In the spring of 1996, the balcony was reconfigured, removing two rows of seats and converting the tech office into a reception room. The capacity of the theatre was reduced, and with the addition of computerized box office
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areas on a regular basis. Around 40,000 people visit the Temple each year. All funds raised during the annual fund drive go to the maintenance and operation of the facility (utilities, insurance, equipment, security, etc.). Production expenses come from ticket sales, sponsorships, grants, and
488:. The following quote ran in a 1925 issue of the Sanford Express, "In erecting this modern theater, he has spared no expense to make it an up-to-date playhouse." The two-story, brick building is 50 feet wide and 92 feet deep and is decorated with cut stone details in a blend of
537:. The building was gutted and the vandalized shell of Temple Theatre was refurbished with the comfort of both the patron and performer in mind. In 1984, Temple reopened as a community theater under director Kathy DeNobriga. The first show at the newly renovated Temple was
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have several sets ranging from
Halloween to Christmas to love songs. The main purpose is to promote the main stage productions. When not performing seasonal songs, they perform one song from all of the main stage musicals to draw interest towards the shows on the mainstage.
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for the theatre's staff salaries, insurance and utilities throughout the year. It continued to be an annual event although the date was later changed to accommodate the theatre's fiscal year change to July 1 to be in line with the State's Art Council grant cycle.
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can be best appreciated. Backstage, the actors enjoy comfortable dressing rooms, a kitchen, and a lounge area – an improvement, considering the original structure had one bathroom for the performers and it was located in the basement. There is a full
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Morrissey left the Temple in Oct 2001, becoming the Executive/Artistic Director at The Highlands Playhouse in Highlands, NC and was replaced by Jerry Sipp. Staff at that time was Sipp, Sizemore, Brewer and part-time help in the box office.
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The rebirth of the Temple Theatre began in 1981 when Mr. Robert Ingram, Jr., the son of the theatre's original owner, donated the building to the citizens of Lee County. Through the efforts of Sam Bass, the building was listed on the
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For several decades, the Temple served as Lee County, North Carolina's principal seat of entertainment. Located half a block from the railroad station, the Temple was a frequent locale for the shows and stars of
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513:), and then a movie theater. During the 1960s, the Sanford Little Theatre and the Footlight Players used the Temple for their community productions. In 1965, the Temple Theatre closed.
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The sound equipment was moved to the balcony in the rear. It was later found to be unsatisfactory, so a special booth was built out over the audience from the balcony.
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For younger children, Temple also offers a theater opportunity called rising stars. The age range is 4 to 7, and these children work four weeks to put on a show.
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In the fall of 1995, the Temple sponsored a community theatre named "The Community Playhouse". They produced one show a year each September from 1995 – 1998.
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Bottling Company), at a time when Sanford had a population of only 3,500. The name "Temple" comes from being located next door to what was once Sanford's
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ticketing, the theatre seating could be adjusted to allow only 299 seats to be sold, fulfilling an agreement with Actors' Equity for a special contract.
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In the fall of 1997, a temporary light truss was added to the down stage for the show 'The Invisible Man'. It was still there in the fall of 2001.
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The lobby's richly painted walls and wooden trim flank the original multi-colored floor of hexagonal tiles. Above hangs a crystal
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The Temple is a cultural center and the top year-round attraction in Lee County. The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, the
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the fall, the conservatory is a straight play, and in the spring a conservatory that is a musical, both are for ages 8 to 18.
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597:, which is utilized by musicians, but can be covered to create a larger stage. Because it was designed for vaudeville, the
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accented in gold, while twin staircases sweep up on either side of the lobby leading to the balcony where the restored
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Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in North Carolina
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533:. Lee County citizens and businesses matched the grant, along with a significant grant from the
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may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience
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509:. Years later, the Temple became a touring house for the road shows of the 1930s (including
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480:. The Temple Theatre was built in 1925 by Robert Ingram, Sr. (owner of the Sanford
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any relevant information, and removing excessive detail that may be against
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658:. Special events at the Temple range from pop concerts to dance recitals.
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Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina
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National Register of Historic Places in Lee County, North Carolina
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are among the artists who have performed at the Temple Theatre.
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National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory
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Buildings and structures in Lee County, North Carolina
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
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758:. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office
572:was paid for as a donation by Dave and Kelly Kurz.
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87:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1460:Tourist attractions in Lee County, North Carolina
1440:Colonial Revival architecture in North Carolina
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96:"Temple Theatre" Sanford, North Carolina
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638:stand-up comics in recent years, including
50:Learn how and when to remove these messages
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821:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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691:chance to join the Temple Teen Ensemble.
259:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
228:Learn how and when to remove this message
210:Learn how and when to remove this message
147:Learn how and when to remove this message
1445:Art Deco architecture in North Carolina
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178:Specifically, people in staff positions
719:"National Register Information System"
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674:advertising. The Temple Theatre is a
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472:is an historic performance center in
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785:National Register of Historic Places
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519:National Register of Historic Places
85:adding citations to reliable sources
531:Downtown Sanford Historic District
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441:Colonial Revival, Modern Movement
31:This article has multiple issues.
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72:needs additional citations for
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521:in 1983 and received a large
341:Show map of the United States
535:Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
240:United States historic place
192:Knowledge's inclusion policy
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1450:Theatres completed in 1925
527:North Carolina Legislature
478:Lee County, North Carolina
316:Show map of North Carolina
289:Temple Theatre, March 2007
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747:Tom Butchko (June 1983).
529:. It is located in the
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402:0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
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268:U.S. Historic district
859:National Park Service
839:Contributing property
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383:35.48111°N 79.17889°W
272:Contributing property
81:improve this article
593:Temple also has an
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780:The Temple Theatre
625:, The Embers, and
354:120 Carthage St.,
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663:Research Triangle
615:Glenn Miller Band
611:The Kingston Trio
607:Red Clay Ramblers
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1218:New Hanover
1193:Mecklenburg
656:Pauly Shore
633:Productions
619:Count Basie
585:tin ceiling
386: /
362:Coordinates
1429:Categories
1363:Washington
1298:Rutherford
1288:Rockingham
1253:Perquimans
1243:Pasquotank
1203:Montgomery
1023:Cumberland
762:2015-01-01
702:References
676:non-profit
669:, and the
623:Mark Wills
581:chandelier
507:Vaudeville
374:79°10′44″W
371:35°28′52″N
188:relocating
107:newspapers
36:improve it
1118:Henderson
1088:Granville
1058:Edgecombe
1028:Currituck
1008:Cleveland
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903:Alexander
891:by county
686:Education
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599:acoustics
525:from the
511:burlesque
482:Coca-Cola
430:Architect
200:July 2024
137:July 2024
42:talk page
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898:Alamance
648:Jon Reep
496:styles.
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453:83001895
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978:Caswell
540:Chicago
500:History
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412: (
121:scholar
1393:Yancey
1388:Yadkin
1383:Wilson
1378:Wilkes
1358:Warren
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1313:Stanly
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1208:Moore
1173:Macon
1153:Jones
1078:Gates
1043:Davie
953:Burke
923:Avery
913:Anson
889:Lists
752:(PDF)
407:Built
128:JSTOR
114:books
1353:Wake
1268:Polk
1263:Pitt
1213:Nash
1133:Hyde
1128:Hoke
1033:Dare
1003:Clay
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492:and
468:The
414:1925
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399:Area
100:news
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823:in
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