- Stevens Center
The Roger L. Stevens Center is the primary performance venue in downtown
Winston-Salem and is owned and operated by theUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts . It is named after the theatre producer and real estate magnateRoger L. Stevens and was opened on April 22, 1983. The venue serves the major UNCSA productions, the Winston-Salem Symphony, Piedmont Opera, and many other touring and local productions. All in all the theatre is used for rehearsal or performance all but 70 days of the year. [ [http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/apr/27/focus-on-arts-having-survived-early-missteps-today/ Focus on Arts: Having survived early missteps, today's Stevens Center thrives 25 Entertaining Years ] ]History
The Stevens Center was originally the Carolina Theater, a movie theatre, before it was donated to the School of the Arts in 1980 by the
Winston-Salem Journal . It was renovated by the School of the Arts using $9.6 million in state bond money and opened on April 22, 1983 with a star-studded gala featuring the UNCSA symphony Orchestra withLeonard Bernstein conducting andIsaac Stern as soloist, andGregory Peck as the master of ceremonies. Guests in attendance includedAgnes de Mille ,Cliff Robertson , Governor James Hunt, President and Mrs.Gerald Ford andLady Bird Johnson . [ [http://www.ncarts.edu/library/archhistory.htm Library | Archives History ] ]The Stevens Center faced difficulty when the federal Economic Development Administration demanded UNCSA pay back $3.12 million because they transferred the title from UNCSA to NCSA, Inc. They also faced trouble with Forsyth County over taxes. In 1990, UNCSA signed a deal to bring preview shows of Broadway Musicals to the Stevens Center but had to end that relationship because the school was losing money on it.
Currently the Stevens Center is occupied with either rehearsals or concerts all but 70 days of the year.
pecifications
*Two levels (Orchestra and Balcony)
*1,380 seats
*10 StoriesBuilding Usage
The building is used by the following groups for their performances:
*Piedmont Opera
*Winston-Salem Symphony
*Something for Everyone Series
*NC Dance FestivalThe building also houses many offices, the UNCSA Community Music School, and Camel City Café
UNCSA Performances and Groups
*
The Nutcracker
*UNCSA's fiftieth anniversary production ofWest Side Story
*UNCSA Symphony Orchestra
*At least one opera per year
*At least one major dance production other than The Nutcracker per yearReferences
External Links
[http://www.ncarts.edu North Carolina School of the Arts]
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