“It’s exhausting to worry about where and when to do a show—and where comes first,” says David Henderson, founder of Honest Pint Theatre Company on finding performance spaces in Raleigh.
Founded 10 years ago, Honest Pint performs in venues all over the city—from North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre and William Peace University to Theatre Raleigh and NC State. And finding a place to perform is a necessity that continues to grow more sparse. Each month, Henderson and co-artistic director Susannah Hough sit down to discuss the shows they hope to schedule for the year—and try to find available space.
“We have to figure out how to adjust what we want to do in the slots available, which unfortunately are few and far between,” explains Henderson. To wit, just because a space is available doesn’t make it feasible. Small theater companies, for example, can’t sell out 700-seat venues.
That lack of a home base while bouncing around from place to place not only takes up time and energy, it makes gaining a following of theatergoers more challenging. “It’s hard to gain a sense of permanence,” says Henderson.
In response to lack of room and parking, for her part, local talent/Theatre Raleigh Producing Artistic Director Lauren Kennedy Brady moved Theatre Raleigh to a new North Raleigh location in 2021 after previously renting at Martin Marietta.
“We have our own autonomy,” says Kennedy Brady of Theatre Raleigh’s current spot. “It’s given us a lot of freedom to grow in the way we’ve wanted for so long—and we’ve also been on the other side where we struggled to find a place to have performances.”
In efforts to assist others seeking a performance setting, Theatre Raleigh offers its venue at low-industry nonprofit rates to myriad organizations, including Honest Pint, in an effort to make theater accessible to performing agencies of all sizes. But booking remains tight and availability fills up fast.
Nevertheless, some organizations are content sans a space of their own. The Justice Theater Project hosts between 80 to 90% of its shows at Umstead Park United Church of Christ. Executive Producer Melissa Zeph appreciates a consistent spot that comes with nominal rental rates without routine ownership expenses and hassles. “I don’t know if I want a space,” says Zeph. “Who wants to own their own theater? Yuck! Although, it would be lovely to have an actual stage.”
While finding areas to perform can certainly be a challenge, there is a silver lining… our creative arts culture is continuing to burgeon. “It’s a gift that we have so much theater in the community,” says Henderson. “The hardest part is the infrastructure.”
While there may not be enough capacity for everybody, Raleigh’s local theater community remains communal. The majority of our local actors, talents and creatives lack a sense of rivalry, instead operating with a mission of sharing what they love and working together to elevate the arts in our city—with many theater professionals hoping to eventually create a theater district/hub for the creative arts Downtown.
“We all want one thing: to do what we love in an area we love. And the more we are able to do that here, the more artists we keep here,” says Henderson. “I think theater as we know it is changing, and if we want to survive, the Raleigh community has to find a way to keep it alive.”
Skillfully handcrafted in screenprint on lightweight material. Worn individually or layered up for a truly unique look! Gold style necklace, $254; multicolor necklace can be worn individually or layered together, $180/ea., C.T. Weekends, ctweekends.com
Select a gift card from $25 to $1,000. Blue Water Spa gift cards may be redeemed on medical spa services, including Botox, dermal fillers, laser treatments, CoolSculpting and spa services. Blue Water Spa, bluewaterspa.com
Alexana Terroir Series 2019 (Willamette Valley, Oregon): Clean acid-splashed nose of crushed apples, cold pears, baked figs, spice and minerality, $24.99; Michele Capdepon 2019 (Languedoc, France): Pale golden bubbles, grilled apricot & toast join apple, pear, hay and minerals on the semicrisp finish, $22.99, BottleMixx, bottlemixx.com
Sweet, cozy and delicious! Hot chocolate mix, $10; Videri coffee mug, $12; hot chocolate pop, $4; housemade marshmallows, $5, Videri Chocolate Factory, viderichocolatefactory.com
These petite huggie hoops lined with diamonds offer a subtle sparkle, perfect for everyday wear! Bailey’s Icon Collection Tiny diamond hoop earrings, $325, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, baileybox.com
Whether you’re looking for healthy houseplants or beautifully made goods, Copperline Plant Co. is filled with unique gifts, perfect for the plant lover in your life! From $5.99, Copperline Plant Co., copperlineplants.com
For the bookworm on your list, grab TheBus to Beulah, E.C. Hanes’ latest work… a riveting read that highlights timely issues pervading our newsfeeds. Grab a copy now. $16.95, Barnes & Noble, local bookstores and online,echanes.com
Indoor-outdoor dining table, available in any size, style or species! Produced locally “from tree to table!” Custom heirloom sapele dining table with matching bench, from $2,000, Oak City Customs, oakcitycustoms.com
The perfect gift for that special wine or spirits’ lover in your life. Become a connoisseur. Classes and certifications from $99. Vitis House, vitishouse.com
The Cecilia Ankle dress is the perfect occasion dress. With breathable flowy fabric and a unique silhouette, it will remain a staple in your sustainable wardrobe, $360, Ella Collective, shopellacollective.com
This beautiful custom-designed orchid arrangement makes a great gift—or the perfect complement for your holiday table. $282, Logan’s Garden Shop, logantrd.com
The North Hills gift card is the perfect gift for any occasion! Use it at almost any North Hills store, restaurant or salon. Purchase online, visitnorthhills.com/gift-cards
This is the world’s most perfect signet ring. Engrave for a unique personalized look! Bailey’s Heritage Collection signet ring, $995, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, baileybox.com
New patients receive a $50 gift card to use during their first visit at the med spa. The Aesthetics Lounge and Spa, lookbeautifulraleigh.com
Illume luxury soy candle, $74; Illume ornament candle, $32; Illume balsam & cedar soy candle, $44; Illume winter white candle, $38; Illume balsam & cedar candle tin, $14, Homewood Nursery & Garden Center, homewoodnursery.com
A membership to The Butcher’s Market Steak of the Month Club is a great idea for the foodie or carnivore in your life. With membership, they will get a special handcut premium steak every month for six months, plus some great bonus offers. Gift cards are available in any amount as well. $132–$160, The Butcher’s Market,thebutchersmarkets.com
Make a splash this holiday season and unwrap the pool of possibilities when you give the gift of swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School—life lessons, progress, memories and lifetime of water safety, all soaked in fun! Choose from three Triangle locations. Swim lesson packages start at $235. Goldfish Swim School, goldfishswimschool.com
Kill Devil Rum is the perfect gift for the spirit enthusiast in your life. The flagship line includes award-winning gold, silver and pecan rums. These can be found at your local ABC store or at the distillery in downtown Manteo. From $24.95, Outer Banks Distilling, outerbanksdistilling.com
These organic decadent truffles imported from family-owned farms in Ghana, Haiti and the Dominican Republic are the perfect gift for the chocolate connoisseur on your list. Give a unique, memorable and unrivaled dessert experience to an influential person in your life—because they deserve it. Truffle boxes from $52, Paige Pâtisserie, paigepatisserie.com
Get glowing this holiday season with the Diamond Glow facial featuring 3-in-1 technology that simultaneously exfoliates, extracts and infuses, delivering radiant, rejuvenated skin! From $195, Specialists in Plastic Surgery, specialistsinplasticsurgery.com
Figgins Figlia 2019 (Walla Walla Valley, Washington) sports a nose of vanilla cream soda, blueberry compote, plum, spring garden flowers and sappy herbal nuances. Silky, sultry, broad, $69.99. Pisoni 2019 (Santa Lucia Highlands, California) delivers pure flavors of spiced plum and strawberry compote to the palate, forming a delicate balance with intriguing notes of clove and damp earth. $129.99, BottleMixx, bottlemixx.com
Created to inspire, Spartina 449 necklaces from Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, are worn to live simply and focus on things that matter most. Listen to your heart, follow your dreams and find yourself. Seek 18K gold-plated 18” necklace, $36; Animal Lover 18K gold-plated 18” necklace, $38; Transformation 18K gold-plated 18” necklace, $48, Homewood Nursery & Garden Center,homewoodnursery.com
Give the gift of relaxation with a Skin Sense gift card! Redeem on products, treatments and the Himalayan Salt Cave. It is the perfect gift that never expires! Skin Sense,skinsense.com
14K gold paperclip necklace with diamond pendant (.85 ct.), $2,950, Reliable Jewelry,reliablejewelry.com
Begoña Rentero’s paper jewelry is its own work of art—borrowing beauty from paper’s docility and lightness, its capacity to absorb colors, and its simplicity. Asplenium Viride necklace, $310, C.T. Weekends, ctweekends.com
Ready to spice up your gift giving? Cheeni’s bazaar is curated to delight the senses, from cookbooks to jewelry to coffee to spices! iYURA mini hair oil kit, $30; Vibrant India cookbook, $25.99; Holy Cow filter coffee, $16.99. Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, cheeniraleigh.com
Begoña Rentero’s paper jewelry is its own work of art—borrowing beauty from paper’s docility and lightness, its capacity to absorb colors, and its simplicity. Cuscuta Campestris earrings, $128, C.T. Weekends, ctweekends.com
Holiday gift set (soap, hand cream, aromatic candle), $44.99; aromatic candle, $29.99; Logan’s Garden Shop, logantrd.com
Lumière firm moisturizing illuminating & tightening eye cream, $108; bio serum firm rejuvenation growth factor and peptide treatment, $275; Journee firm revitalizing & refining day cream + SPF 30, $88, The Aesthetics Lounge and Spa, lookbeautifulraleigh.com
