HRT

Harnett Regional Theatre will present Irving Berlin’s very entertaining musical, “ANNIE GET YOUR GUN” at the Stewart Theatre in Dunn, NC May 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, and 18th.  The curtain will go up at 8:00pm on the first four shows and 2:30pm on the 18th show.  “ANNIE GET YOUR GUN” is the story of Annie Oakley and Frank Butler, two sharpshooters who feel each one is a better shot than the other.  Annie joins the Buffaloe Bill Wild West Show as an assistant to Frank Butler but quickly becomes a competitor.  Frank joins Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show rather than stay with Annie.  After traveling abroad the two meet again in Madison Square Garden and renew their competition with each other.  After a questionable shooting match Annie and Frank admit to falling in love and the Buffaloe Bill and Pawnee Bill shows merge into one.
 
The show is famous for many Irving Berlin songs, “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun”, “Anything You Can Do”, and “They Say That Falling In Love Is Wonderful” to name just a few.  The show is directed by Vicki Wade.  Kate Avery plays Annie Oakley and Eddie Miller is Frank Butler.
 
The show is being sponsored by Central Carolina Community College.  Tickets are:  Adults–$12.00, Senior Citizens–$10.00, Students (K-12)–$8.00, and groups of 10 or more–$8.00/person.  They can be purchased at the door before each performance or at the Dunn Chamber of Commerce, Elmore Furniture, or First Citizens Bank.  For more information call 910-892-0952.

TO THE 2008
HARNETT REGIONAL THEATRE
SUMMER WORKSHOP
 
Time:   Monday – Friday, 1:00-5:00 PM
June 30th– July 19th (with Performances on the 18th & 19th)
 
Place:  Stewart Theatre
114 N. Wilson Avenue
Dunn, NC
 
Director:  Jim Martz, Drama Teacher, Wake County Schools
 
Cost of one student:  $150.00
Cost of two or more students in same family:  $150 + $100
for each additional student.
 
“Workshop Pool Party”:  Keith Hills Swimming Pool
Friday, July 11th, 7:00-9:00 pm
 
Please submit payment with student application!
Applications are available in the lobby or they can be obtained by calling 910-892-0952 or 910-897-7188.

A question we often get asked is “Why do you charge so much to see one of your shows?”.

While the price of a ticket to one of Harnett Regional Theatre’s productions may seem steep to some, it would be worth knowing that in comparison to other live theatres within our area are ticket prices are just about the lowest to be found.

It is interesting to note that HRT, like any other community theatre, rarely if ever makes any profit from ticket sales. The Board of Directors is eternally optimistic that ticket sales will cover the cost of the production. They are ecstatically overjoyed if there is any so called profit. The money we take in from ticket sales from one show goes right back into the “kitty” in order to start paying for the expenses of the next show. This is why is it so hard to make improvements to the theatre in the area of sound and lights. This is why capital improvements such as leaking roofs, worn out carpet, antiquated restrooms, and paint that is peeling from the walls has to take a back seat and wait for available funds. Money for new equipment and major repairs has to come from donations, grants, and other generosities, not from ticket sales (unless the theatre would be packed to capacity every night of every performance).

Most playgoers are amazed to find out just what it costs in order to put on a show at Harnett Regional Theatre. Most straight plays (dramas and comedies) cost somewhere in the neighbor hood of $3,000. There are royalties and scripts to pay for. Set construction, director’s fee, costumes, advertisement, and security are other costs that go into the total cost of one of these productions. In order to break even figuring an average paid ticket of $8 per person, it takes 375 people to attend the five performances of one of our productions. That is an average of 75 people per performance. That does not seem like a lot of people but that is just about what attendance has averaged for straight shows over the last two to three years.

Now a musical is an entirely different ball of wax. The royalties are usually higher. There is the actual cost of purchasing the music and the scripts. There is the added cost of paying for a musical director, a rehearsal and performance pianist, members of the pit band, and a choreographer. The cost of costuming for most musicals is far more than a straight show and sometimes these costumes have to be rented from professional costume rental companies. The average cost for most musicals is somewhere between $6,000 and $8,000. The most expensive musical to date for HRT to put on was “Hello, Dolly” which cost close to $15,000. The math is easy to figure here also. Taking an average ticket price for a musical of $10 per person, a $6,000 show takes 600 attendees, an $8,000 show takes 800 attendees and a $15,000 show takes 1500 attendees. And this is just to break even.

We hope this will help explain the question of, “Why do you charge so much to see one of your shows?” Also we hope it will help you realize that when it comes to live theatre in the area we certainly are competitive when it comes to price. And we think you will agree, if you are a person who does attend other community theatres and some professional ones in the area, Harnett Regional Theatre puts on a show that is fairly comparable entertainment wise also.

Join the Food Lion Shop and Share Program and help your local community theatre. Just by shopping at Food Lion and using your MVP card, Food Lion will donate money to our organization. It does not cost you anything and could help us so much. Please register your MVP card and choose us for your charity and then all you have to do is your regular shopping at Food Lion and they will do the rest. Thank you for your support.