JANUARY 14, 2010 ISSUE
The Hayes Center in 2009
In a sad bit of entertainment news in 2009, the Hayes Performing Arts Center suspended operations in September to restructure and reorganize in order to overcome financial woes. The resident Blowing Rock Stage Company and the Hayes Center cancelled the remaining performances scheduled for 2009.
But before temporarily closing its doors, the Hayes Center turned out several stellar months of performances, and then-Blowing Rock Stage Company Director Ken Kay said the 2009 season was their proudest yet.
We’re all looking forward to a successful return of the Hayes Center in 2010. Until then, take a look back at the venue’s diverse slate of shows in 2009.
January 23
Winter Blues Festival
The popular blues-rock trio The King Bees makes its third appearance on the Hayes Center stage to headline the Winter Blues Festival, a fan favorite. Pop Ferguson and Roy Roberts joined in.
January 24
John Cowan
John Cowan
Bassist and vocalist John Cowan, formerly the lead singer of the New Grass Revival, once again played to a full Hayes Center auditorium as part of Blowing Rock’s Winterfest.
February 28
Mike Cross
As with Cowan, the Hayes Center was wise to bring back another successful performer from 2008—Mike Cross. An American singer/guitarist/fiddle player who first took up guitar during his college years, Cross blends multiple styles, from singer-songwriter to acoustic blues to humorous novelty songs.
March 15
Tea for Three
This one-woman play painted a witty and intimate portrait of the often theatrical and always dramatic lives of three consecutive first ladies—Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon and Betty Ford.
March 26 to 29
Cosi Fan Tutte
ASU Opera: Cosi fan tutte
The talented performers of the ASU opera workshop in the Hayes School of Music once again brought the art form to the High Country on the Hayes Center stage, presenting the famous Mozart opera Cosi Fan Tutte, set in 1700s Naples.
April 13 to May 15
HayesGrass
In its second year, the HayesGrass bluegrass competition proved to be a sophomore success. Diana & Sarvis Ridge took home the 2009 honors and had the pleasure of opening for the Lonesome River Band on May 16.
April 17
John McEuen
Founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and multi-instrumentalist John McEuen returned to the Hayes Center to showcase his diverse acoustic skills on banjo, fiddle, guitar and mandolin.
April 18 and 19
Fire on the Rock
All the excitement and fun of television’s “Iron Chef” came to life in Blowing Rock as part of the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival. Chef Dominic Geraghty of Hound Ears and Chef Bill Green of Artisinal worked culinary wonders with Carolina blue crab, the final round’s secret ingredient. After tallying their scores, the judges announced to the audiences that Geraghty and Green had the same score, resulting in a tie.
April 25
Livingston Taylor
Livingston Taylor
The younger brother of James Taylor, a notable singer-songwriter in his own right, made a stop in the High Country in April.
April 30 to May 10
High School Musical 2
The Rocket Players Youth Theatre, a part of the Blowing Rock Stage Company, followed up a performance of High School Musical two years earlier with its sequel in 2009.
June 10 to 28
Shear Madness
Shear Madness
In a collaborative effort between the Blowing Rock Stage Company and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, Lees-McRae College alumna Juliana Black thrilled as the sassy, sharp-witted Barbara Jean Deveraux in this fun, interactive murder mystery comedy set in a salon.
July 3 to 12
Suite Surrender
The Blowing Rock Stage Company actors nailed the timing in this hilarious new farce by Michael McKeever making its North Carolina debut. Kim Cozort and Elizabeth Dimon were absolutely fabulous as two feuding Hollywood divas.
August 23
Chicago City Limits
New York City’s legendary improv comedy show performed smart, topical humor at a breakneck pace.
July 17 to August 2
Bye Bye Birdie
Bye Bye Birdie
The Blowing Rock Stage Company took its turn at this popular 1960 Broadway musical, starring BRSC veterans Jim Ballard and Chris Kent.
August 7 to 16
Angel Street
The Blowing Rock Stage Company took on a straight play with a serious mood and a compelling story in Angel Street, one of the longest running non-musicals in Broadway history. The psychological thriller takes place in Victorian England and follows a sensitive, hapless woman—Bella Manningham—whose domineering husband has all but convinced her that her sanity is disintegrating.
August 21 to September 6
Hank Williams: Lost Highway
Hank Williams: Lost HighwayIn its final performance before the Hayes Center hiatus, the Blowing Rock Stage Company opened up the songbook of the great Hank Williams, Sr. for a musical biography of the legendary singer-songwriter credited with significantly influencing the country music genre.
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