Disney’s Beauty and the Beast opened at DPAC Tuesday night, our last Broadway show of the season until the opening of Billy Elliot!  I had flown to see the preview performance in Chicago a few months ago and immediately thought it was going to be a hit…how can it not be when the originial creative team comes back together again. 

It is that feel good show…I grew up watching the VHS, you know the ones that came in those old HUGE Disney movie cases.  It sat right next to The Little Mermaid and Aladdin on my shelf.  I would walk around going “What Mama?” pretending to be Chip!  So if you think it is a story just for kids, you are mistaken….for those of you who grew up with the voice of Angela Lansbury it will take you back in time, for those looking for a great date night, this is it, and for those ready to expose their family to Broadway theatre it is a great place to start.

My favorite on stage, Michael Fatica who plays candlestick sidekick Lefou.  And a treat to see again as he played Roby Heart in the touring show The Wedding Singer.

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Watching the Fans

Gary Allan brought country music to the DPAC stage on Friday night. Finally! I’m not talking low-key country crooning, but soulful, hard-rocking, raise-your-hands, get-on-your-feet country. Before the show, the lobbies came alive with the tapping of cowboy boots and popping of tallboy beers. Fans rolled in with a laid-back swagger, looking around at a venue of red carpet and not quite knowing if this home for world-class entertainment is a home for honky tonkin’ country.

Jason Marks Band blasted through the speakers as guests made their way into the house. The group from Wilmington gave a rockin’ start to a night of real country. (Thanks to Gary for supporting local NC talent!) Jason Marks Band showcased songs from their most recent album “Slow-Down” during a forty-minute set that kick-started the crowd.

Gary Allan hit the stage with his band to flashing lights and heavy guitars during “Get Off on the Pain”. The band’s energy electrified the theatre as fans danced, clapped and cheered. While he performed, he moved across the stage and interacted with his bandmates, making a point to engage the entire audience. He had guests singing along to hits like “Feelin’ Like That” and “Right Where I Need to Be” but also to songs from his new album including “Kiss Me When I’m Down”. (If you have not yet purchased “Get Off on the Pain”, I would suggest you at least start with this song.) After sharing swigs from a bottle of Jack, the band’s new piano player began the intro for “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful”, and Gary gave his most heartfelt and intimate performance of the evening. When he extended the mic out and the crowd sang back, he expressed genuine appreciation. Gary Allan – up close and personal – entertained the audience with outstanding vocals and dynamic guitar skills. When he got into fan favorite “Watching Airplanes”, DPAC rocked out to pumping fists, stomping boots and screaming women.

On my way home, I was listening to WQDR as Billy Dukes took calls about the concert. On the first call a woman asked, “What kinda dog was that?” The answer is a Labradoodle.  During Gary Allan’s encore, his dog Lucy joined the band on stage. (A little strange? More like awesome!) Lucy was born for the spotlight as she interacted with the band members then took her spot on set and lay down. With a full house on their feet, Lucy and Gary exited the stage together to an ovation of hoots, hollers, raised glasses and camera phones.

Up Close with Gary Allan

DPAC’s goal: Something for everyone.
To DPAC, from the country fans: We thank you.
To the fans, from DPAC: Ya’ll come back now, ya hear?

 Emily Dahl
DPAC Group Services Manager and Token Country Girl

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So the show is into town beginning April 21^st for four weeks and tickets are moving fast…ofcourse.  I can’t wait to finally hear the real Elphaba sing Defying Gravity instead of my pathetic attempt in the halls of DPAC.

Line at Wicked On Sale

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The DPAC staff waited around the downstairs podium anxiously awaiting the “lucky winner” who was going to get announced over the loud speaker.  We could not have picked a better person to win, Jenny King, was overly excited and in shock!  We got pictures and took her to the President’s Club for free drinks and snacks.  Next up, 1 millionth patron, what should it be?  A year of concerts, comedy, and Broadway?  Parking included?  With four weeks of WICKED on its way the 1 millionth DPAC attendee could be here before we know it.

DPAC's Golden Ticket Winner with Thorne Daubenspeck (Director of Sales)

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The Phantom of the Opera Thanksgiving Evening

Check out additional photos of The Phantom of the Opera Thanksgiving at DPAC’s flickr page.

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ABC 11 began by dedicating much of their time to creating a backstage special on what it is like to create a Cirque performance.  The producer and crew flew down to the training center in Ft. Lauderdale Florida in May, when Andre, the chair balancer, was still only balancing on 2 chairs.  Last night he was 30 feet in the air!  In June, Neil Goldberg, the artistic director and creator, and 4 of his cast members, flew to Durham to announce they would be opening the tour at DPAC, followed by a trip to Foxwoods Connecticut where I watched the closest performance I could to the real thing, but after last night was pleasantly surprised that it was a brand new show.  I spent yesterday morning on a usual press run, but realized through these past few months these people are now my friends; it was the most stress free press day since I started working in this business.  The cast and crew have been here all week pulling 16-17 hour days making sure the DPAC audiences see a top notch opening week, and in my opinion last night proved no other.

I don’t know which act I find most amazing

• 1) A drumming juggler that plays his drums with almost 10 balls.
• 2) The So You Think You Can Dance popper, Robert Muraine, who twists his body in some “akward” yet amazing ways. I would like to challenge him on the dance floor!
  

  Robert Muraine with Clique Chicks

• 3) Or Andrey Moraru, the chair climber, who began his act in Ukraine at age 11 and really has a passion for what he does!

I don’t want to write a review of the show, because I know there will be many of those and well I work here so of course I loved it.  The best part is realizing that these are real people dedicated to giving us quality entertainment.  All seemed to enjoy themselves at a fantastic cast party at our new ATC restaurant Cuban Revolution and DPAC staff are extremely proud to have opened their first Cirque Tour!  Neil Goldberg may have been creating Cirque Dreams performances since 1993, but based on the creative genius work on stage last night I would say this is just his beginning.

And major applause to the audience members that got pulled on stage, fantastic job, BEWARE, that could be you!

Check out Ginny from the Blog’s perspective of the show or Raleigh Native Review; Cirque Dreams Illumination.

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DPAC Staff with John Legend

With the first “DPAC Season” behind us and nearing my “One Year” anniversary at DPAC (August 11^th) I am looking back and trying to rank my top ten moments of why I love my job; yet, there are so many!

If anyone has followed DPAC on Twitter or read previous blogs than they know my #1.

1. Spending the day with Topol! The man is a legend, sang to me in the car, touched my heart as he performed on stage, and takes home the prize for my BEST day on the job this past year. It was amazing to spend time with such an accomplished artist!

2. Watching the installation of 2,800 seats. Yes, each arm rest was screwed in one at a time…over a three week process I watched DPAC come to life from concrete to crimson red. 

Adam & Anthony on Press Day

3. The lighting of the Plensa/aka Grand Opening evening. Performances on all three lobby levels, Jaume Plensa in person turning on his sculture, hundreds of people there to celebrate DPAC in Downtown Durham….finally coming all together.

4. Being part of 25 Sell out Shows! The first year has been such a success and a great beginning for what DPAC plans to bring for years to come.

5. Meeting John Legend, watching the crowd dance and in the meantime falling in love with Raphael Sadiq’s music in the opening performance.

6. Eight Broadway shows in six days! A dream come true when I attended the Broadway Theatre League conference in May. It was one of the most eye opening and learning experiences of my life thus far meeting theatre producers, owners, marketing teams from other cities.

7. Taking some of The Color Purple cast members to Durham School of the Arts and teaching the dance students a “master class” was a exciting educational outing I of course watched from the sidelines and took photos, but these kids were incredible. 

Installation of Seats

8. I instructed our house photographer, Noah, at the Morrissey concert to get as close as he could in the first two numbers and boy did he…I remember looking up and seeing him being swallowed by the crowd in the pit. I laughed for a good ten minutes; anything for quality photo!

9. Hanging out with the Cirque Dreams Illumination performers at the announcement of the world tour at DPAC and meeting the incredibly talented producer Neil Goldberg who is so well spoken and believes 100% in his work.

10. Having a snow storm (1/2 inch) on opening night of RENT and Broadway at DPAC in general was an interesting dilemma, but finally seeing the voices of Adam Paschal and Anthony Rapp on stage versus in my CD player! And both are super down to earth people which always makes for an enjoyable press day.

11. One more, the blogger bash with @30Threads on stage!  It was fun to put names with faces and have all the local bloggers tour the theatre.  Should make it an annual event. 

Hanging Out With Stormey at Grand Opening

At the risk of sounding dorky, having the chance to work with so many people that enjoy entertainment, music, theatre, and have a passion to bring quality shows that the Triangle public wants to see makes the first year a blissful one.  May the second one be as memorable as the first.

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 She ate breakfast every morning at this place called Julian’s right across from her hotel in Times Square. She talked every morning to the restaurant manager. When he found out she was from Raleigh, he said, “Raleigh-Durham?” He said he knew lots of theatre people in New York, and the word circulating among them is that DPAC in Durham, NC is THE theatre for performing.

Pretty crazy to be known so far away!  Keep the positive stories coming! Broadway is right around the corner, Cirque begins September 15th.

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