The Magnolia Arts Center: Greenville's Thriving Community Theatre
By: Megan Daniel, Honors College Junior
Theatre. It can seem distant, something that only exists in metropolitan areas like New York or Chicago. But theatre is everywhere. Locally, theatres can consist of underfunded high school programs. In a college town like ours, there can be academic theatre. Beyond that, there’s community theatre. Many people may not realize that Greenville has an established and constantly growing community theatre—Magnolia Arts Center.
Magnolia was founded in June 2005, having just recently celebrated its tenth year. I first became involved with Magnolia Arts Center last year. I was cast in Amanda Higgins’ (recent Honors College and Musical Theatre graduate) Well Water: A Parable. We rehearsed in one of the theatre classrooms, so it wasn’t until about three quarters into the rehearsal process that we even saw Magnolia. I can remember walking in as a cast member and looking at all the props and costumes on display in the lounge, imagining how well Amanda’s musical would fit into the intimate stage area. It was shocking to me that I had never been there before.
After closing Well Water, I looked forward to what I thought would be a nice summer off. But only a couple weeks after it had closed, I was itching to be a part of another production. I received an email about Magnolia producing Godspell over the summer, but auditions were the same night as another audition I had already signed up for. I almost didn’t go. I can remember pulling up, hastily putting on my heels and grabbing my repertoire book, my previous audition not leaving me much time before Godspell auditions closed. I walked back into the intimate stage area. When I saw the black walls, memories of Well Water came flooding back. Those feelings of nostalgia quickly faded as I passed the audience seats and greeted the audition panel, which was made up of unfamiliar faces. I took a deep breath, handed the accompanist my music and sang, performing again in the space of a show past. Two weeks later, I got an email saying I was cast.
My time in Godspell truly cemented my love for Magnolia Arts Center. Janice Schreiber, the director, made me love coming to rehearsal every day. Seeing my cast members, some with a lot of theatre experience, and some with very little, have theatre touch them in the same way as it touches me was rejuvenating. It reminded me why I do theatre in the first place. Theatre’s significant impact was evident with the audiences’ reception—our show sold out. Greenville has an audience for all it’s theatre outlets, whether it’s academic or community based.
Since then, I’ve continued to work with Magnolia. Here at ECU, I’m a part of the East Carolina Theatre Association and 5th Street Players, a student-run theatre company created by Honors College and Musical Theatre students Brandon Fillette and Matthew Johnson. Magnolia has welcomed 5th Street Players with open arms, allowing us to use their space for four shows this semester. I’ve coordinated a pre-show made up of East Carolina Theatre Association members for their Christmas show and am in the process of coordinating another pre-show for their Valentine’s Day production.
Not every town is fortunate enough to have community theatre. With the collaboration between university and community theatre, theatre is flourishing in Greenville now more than ever. Below is a list of dates for upcoming Magnolia Arts Center performances. The next time you’re looking for an enjoyable way to spend your evening or weekend, pop in to Magnolia and experience something great. You won’t regret it!
Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam and Eve
(with a preshow by ECU School of Theatre and Dance students at 7:00pm)
February 11, 12, 13, and 14th at 7:30pm
A Tree is a Tree/Revolting: An Electrifying Comedy
(a 5th Street Players production)
February 19th at 7:30pm
February 20th at 7:30pm
Swish
(an ECU theatre improvisation troupe)
February 21st at 2:00pm
Sabrina Faire
March 4th at 7:30pm
March 5th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm
March 6th at 2:00pm
March 11th at 7:30pm
March 12th at 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Proof
(a 5th Street Players production)
March 18th at 7:30pm
March 19th at 7:30pm
March 20th at 2:00pm
Spring Awakening
(a 5th Street Players production)
April 15th at 7:30pm
April 16th at 7:30pm
April 17th at 2:00pm
Aint Misbehavin’
June 3rd at 7:30pm
June 4th at 2:00pm and 7:30pm
June 5th at 2:00pm
June 9th at 7:30pm
June 10th at 7:30pm
June 11th at 2:00pm and 7:30pm