Stand-up comic, writer and director Ellyn Daniels stars in new series filmed in Raleigh.
“I’ve found Raleigh to be a really rejuvenating place—somewhere I could be creative, where I could write or perform stand-up at Goodnights. I just loved being there.” So says Ellyn Daniels, who is neither a native nor current resident of Raleigh… she’s just a big fan (!).
Calling the City of Oaks home for about 18 months during the pandemic, Daniels penned, directed and now stars in a production titled This Little Show of Mine, which originally dropped episode 1 on YouTube before catapulting to Apple TV and Amazon Prime. Filmed in Raleigh, the series follows a “kinda famous but not really” former sitcom star, Hayley Harris, who returns to her hometown in the wake of her mom’s death to attempt to find the artistic inspiration to create a one-woman show.
You’ll be able to recognize local gems and landmarks throughout the series as Daniels’ character strolls down Hillsborough Street past Jubala Coffee, visits the Carolina Ballet (fun fact: Daniels is close friends with Carolina Ballet’s Zalman Raffael), overlooks Boylan Bridge or roams around her house nestled in Cameron Park. … And while Daniels would’ve loved to see Hayley hitting up the DTR nightlife scene and taking the stage at Goodnights or Duke Energy Center, filming during 2020 meant working with a more limited selection of settings (but maybe we can contend to see those spots in a second season?!).
To boot, a handful of the actors featured in the series aren’t TV actors at all. From stand-up comics to local business owners, the show includes myriad cast members who “were available and wanted to do it,” laughs Daniels—and most of the faces you’ll find on camera are locals.
“I hope people find it funny, entertaining and potentially moving—depending on their life experience,” she says. “It’s a funny, small and interesting show.”
After her stint in Raleigh, Daniels moved to London and now resides there with her husband. The duo’s production company, Burn These Words, will be debuting a film titled Reality starring Sydney Sweeney at the Berlin International Film Festival this year. Daniels is also currently working on another series, The Mentor, and expecting her third baby in May.
While her stay in our city was short, Daniels liked Raleigh life so much that she’d planned to make it her home base before meeting her other half and moving across the pond.
“Raleigh life is very digestible—it’s just the right size,” says Daniels. “Time expands there, and there’s an appetite for cool things.”… And speaking of cool things, you’re gonna wanna peep Daniels’ perspective of the City of Oaks by streaming This Little Show of Mine—or just for a good laugh. thislittleshowofmine.com
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As live in-person productions return to the stage, three Raleigh theater companies reflect on how they pivoted their productions over the past year… and look ahead to the future. Plus, your local theater calendar.
Despite the hardships of the last year for live productions and the arts, local production organizations both large and small pivoted and adapted their operations, putting the “show must go on” sentiment to the ultimate test—from streaming to shifting (think literal move) to airing live shows and more.
Theatre in the Park’s Brent Simpson recalls switching gears and hopping on the digital streaming bandwagon at the onset of the social-distancing era. “We had smaller casts; we picked shows that were broader and could be filmed and produced with the minimum number of people; and then we had to find a platform to stream shows,” recalls Simpson.
Theatre in the Park’s A Christmas Carol | Photo by Curtis Brown Photography
Theatre in the Park ran four virtual shows last year, instead of their regular six annual productions. Now, as live audiences return, Simpson is enthusiastic to have people back in the building—and to tackle some current themes. He is especially excited for the return of the theater’s signature seasonal production, A Christmas Carol.
“It’ll be bigger and better this year,” says Simpson. “There’s a lot to poke fun at and still be thankful for at the same time—because at the heart of the show is the meaning of Christmas, the universal message that will carry special meaning into this Christmas season.”
Across town (ultimately), North Carolina native and Broadway alum (and local theater legend) Lauren Kennedy Brady decided to move her theater company, Theatre Raleigh, from its home base of Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown to North Raleigh during the pandemic.
“When the start of the pandemic happened, we pivoted and canceled our season,” says Brady. “We decided in June to take up a space in North Raleigh and to put time, work and love into it.”
Brady and her husband were directly involved in the construction process, laying floors and painting walls, and they are looking ahead to another round of construction in October.
“We are doing it for ourselves and for the community; we wanted to turn a bad situation into something positive and utilize that forced downtime to create a new space,” says Brady. “It was a bold move, but COVID pushed us to that point.”
Carolina Ballet’s The Nutcracker | Photo by Armes Photography
And making a pirouette of its own, Carolina Ballet (one of the biggest ballet organizations in the Southeast) streamed virtual live shows and classes, maintained employment of all its dancers, and even teamed up with WRAL to air The Nutcracker on Christmas night.
Carolina Ballet Artistic Director and CEO Zalman Grinberg emphasized the importance of keeping their dancers working and shows airing—even if they were virtual.
“The dancers were able to continue to work, so they were able to continue to develop,” says Grinberg. “It’s exciting for them to get out there with more regularity and perform. Dancers and patrons are in a symbiotic relationship. That’s what keeps everyone engaged.”
Now, with live audiences returning, Carolina Ballet is bringing their best stuff this season, with shows that both “ballet people” and people new to the ballet can recognize, resonate with and anticipate attending—shows like The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet and Snow White, to name a few.
So, here’s the big-ticket question: Why come watch a live local show this fall? Simpson says it best: “Theater is life. It inspires and it lets you escape. I think what people most need right now is an escape from what’s going on in the world. Even if it’s for two hours watching people on a stage.
WEB EXCLUSIVE With the Carolina Ballet‘s annual holiday performance of The Nutcracker comes a host of special Nutcracker-themed drinks and desserts from local restaurants and bars.
This year, more than ever, this collaboration serves to support both the arts and the local establishments who are all experiencing difficulties due to COVID. Stop by one (or two, or three!) of these Triangle locations for a delicious holiday treat in honor of the Nutcracker.
While Carolina Ballet is unable to perform The Nutcracker for a live audience this year, WRAL and Capital Broadcasting Company have partnered together with PNC to stream a special performance right to the TV in your living room. Catch it on air December 25th at 7 p.m. on WRAL-TV.
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This contemporary patisserie in the heart of downtown Raleigh has become well-known for the sweet, artful work of owner and pastry chef Daniel Benjamin. Keep an eye out over the next couple days to see what delightful dessert he has created to contribute to the Nutcracker-themed lineup.
WEB EXCLUSIVE The Carolina Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker is one of the most anticipated events of the holiday season here in Raleigh. For many families, it’s tradition to dress up and see the show in the days leading up to Christmas. This year, due to COVID, the Carolina Ballet has unfortunately cancelled their live, in-person performance of The Nutcracker, however, they will still be holding a special broadcast of the popular production on WRAL-TV on Christmas night in order to continue the wonderful holiday tradition, with the hope that it will reach a broader audience as well.
“Our company has long valued and supported traditions that make our community special and this year is no exception,” said Joel Davis, Vice President and General Manager of WRAL/FOX 50. “We could not think of a better time and place—Christmas night on WRAL—to make The Nutcracker available to our viewers and our community. It is an honor to share this highly anticipated performance with our viewers.”
In another effort to share the holiday magic with the community, Carolina Ballet will be opening up some of the rehearsals to the public. Subscribe to their e-newsletter and you’ll automatically receive a link each week to sign up to watch the rehearsals in person. Rehearsals will be shared on the Carolina Ballet’s YouTube channel as well, so that anyone, anywhere can watch them online. Filming for the WRAL broadcast of The Nutcracker will begin in just a couple of weeks.
Additionally, the ballet is asking that those who had already bought their tickets to the live performance convert them into a donation to the Carolina Ballet. They have not been able to hold any performances since the pandemic hit in March, so your support is more important to them than ever. Unused ticket holders can also exchange their tickets for next year’s performance of The Nutcracker or for one of their Spring performances (Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto, Four Seasons, Macbeth, or Cinderella), or they can turn Nutcracker tickets into a gift certificate to be used in the ballet’s 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 season.
The Nutcracker premiere broadcast will air December 25 at 7 p.m. on WRAL-TV, with encore performances to be scheduled throughout the holiday season.
