Resilience on The Rock: FRP Rocks Out in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
HELLO FROM JIM BREWER, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE
My name is Jim and I am the newest Vagabond at Flat Rock Playhouse. The 2024 season was enjoying a banner year when Hurricane Helene blew in and devastated much of Western North Carolina. Like our region, the Playhouse was deeply impacted by the storm, forcing us, among other things, to cancel two of our Fall productions. While the Leiman MainStage was sadly put on pause, I got to see the Vagabond spirit rise as the company quickly pivoted to helping our damaged communities through our Playhouse Jr. programming and community outreach.
I invite you to read these stories and experience as I experienced, firsthand and for the first time, the healing power of theatre. As you do, consider supporting Flat Rock Playhouse and our mission to provide not only the magnificent professional productions we are known for, but ongoing educational and outreach initiatives like the ones in the pages to follow.
Playhouse Jr. takes Center Stage
Flat Rock Playhouse was founded with two missions.
– Produce excellent, professional theatre.
– Educate the next generation of artists and arts lovers.
As the current staff / stewards of FRP, we are honored to continue a legacy that has been nurtured and beloved for 72 years. The opportunity to produce Broadway caliber productions right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains has been a dream come true for countless artists over the decades, and patrons far and wide continue to discover with surprise and glee an artistic home in the convenience of their own backyard. The Leiman MainStage enjoys wonderful attention for its storytelling, and we remain proud of our distinction for quality and excellence season after season.
However, during this critical interruption in our production schedule due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, we find ourselves able to center the wonderful impact our educational programming offers our students, our artists, and our community. Playhouse Jr. – Rock Out programming combines our performance /production excellence with our heart and passion for bringing music and theatre to children and families. Whether we are reading to children in schools, leading after school programs, hosting on-campus theatre intensives, or encouraging them to sing and dance along with our Rock Out – in Concert Tour, we are passionate about the healing and transformative power of the arts—particularly during this unprecedented time in our region and history.
Our education work isn’t new. Playhouse Jr. is as essential to our DNA and identity as our lauded productions. It is why we were able to pivot so quickly into serving the community at a distressing time with lively, accessible, uplifting programs for our community. It’s our pleasure to put education center stage and share all the parts that make Flat Rock Playhouse such a special place to be.
Your support encourages and facilitates a positive impact on quality of life at all stages of life, for artists, students, and the community, and we are deeply grateful for your care and commitment.
Jim Brewer, PhD, (–JB) Director of Development
Lisa K. Bryant, Artistic Director
ROCK OUT
READINGS: Engage with the children inside their classrooms through reading. Support literacy and provide a positive learning environment. Bring the pages to life through interactive storytelling.
Flat Rock Playhouse Reading Is FUN damental
The Flat Rock Playhouse team has been actively engaged with the Henderson County community, conducting reading sessions for over 1,500 students. These sessions offer a unique opportunity for our staff and apprentices to interact with students and provide a welcome break for teachers.
Recently, I joined Apprentice Cody Howard for a reading session at Fletcher Elementary’s 2nd grade class. The children were particularly fascinated by Cody’s height, especially when he reached the ceiling! With Halloween just around the corner, the excitement was palpable.
We read “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Bat” and “Spookley, The Square Pumpkin.” The latter, a story promoting body positivity, resonated with the students.
Instead of a traditional reading, we turned the session into a fun, interactive experience. Cody led the children in acting out the story, mimicking shapes and movements, which brought laughter and silliness to the classroom, especially when the teacher joined in the fun by adding special sound effects for the story.
As we left, the students expressed their enthusiasm with high-fives, and the teacher thanked us for the positive impact of these reading sessions. She even extended an invitation for future visits, highlighting the program’s value for both students and teachers. – JB
TO DATE WE HAVE READ TO 78 CLASSROOMS
TOTALING OVER 1,500 students
PLAYHOUSE JR. CLASSES REOPEN ON THE ROCK AFTER HURRICANE HELENE.
Students Livy and Roo are 7–year old twin girls enrolled in our after-school classes. We spoke with their mom after she dropped them off about their recent experiences with Helene and its aftermath.
“This class is their first time at the Playhouse. They were taking dance but displayed high anxiety and did not want to perform. They heard about this class because they are friends with another student who’s also taking the class. They love it. Their theatre class has helped them overcome their anxiety and now they’re lively and excited about coming. At home, they rehearse and sing songs from the Lion King all the time.”
“Our friends have a son a little younger than Livy and Roo. He was definitely traumatized by the storm. He’s terrified of trees now. Because of this class, the girls have empathized with him and have taken care of him by getting him to rehearse with them. Soon, they were all singing and carrying on.”
“Playhouse Jr. is helping heal hearts that aren’t here.”
- Livy and Roo’s Mom
Kids need normalcy, to feel love and to be a part of something. The Playhouse really does bring a community together. – JB
ROCK OUT
WORKSHOPS: We’ve had a great time visiting elementary schools and teaching workshops to the awesome kids in the PSPM programs. Students and FRP staff engage in free acting classes and arts workshops after school.
SHARING THE LOAD
The gym at Upward Elementary was buzzing with activity. Children were transforming into fantastical creatures – magic rocks turning into flowers, then suns, then bears. It was clear they were having a blast. These students were part of the PSPM program, an after-school care program for kids whose parents can’t pick them up until after work.
I chatted with the two school employees running the program. “We really appreciate what you (Playhouse Jr.) are doing for the kids,” they said. “It’s so hard to find people willing to help after school. We’re so grateful.”
The three Playhouse staff, Kenzie, Emily and Maddie, were laughing and encouraging the kids to express themselves. Earlier, they had the children make googly-eyed sock puppets and create a story about them. A young girl approached me with her puppet and said, “Her name is Ginger. She has curly hair and a mark by her eye, just like me.” Then she gave me a hug and went back to playing.
I spoke with the staff afterwards about their experiences. Kenzie, the Playhouse’s Props Director, said, “I benefited from theatre education in my school. I know that every child will benefit from what theatre offers.”
Maddie offered another perspective. “We are also helping teachers. They were impacted by the hurricane, too. But they are showing up for the students while carrying the weight of everything that is going on. We are thrilled to step in and share the load so they can have a moment to relax.” - JB
ROCK OUT
CONCERTS: Create community engagement. Kids and families enjoy the power of the arts through song, dance, and live music. Kids are encouraged to let loose, be in the moment and ENJOY the party – like atmosphere.
“It has been a true honor to help coordinate our Playhouse Jr. Rock Out Initiative in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Growing up in this area, I was lucky enough to have access to Flat Rock Playhouse so I know first hand how important it is for a child to have the arts in their lives. It truly helped shape who I am today. I now get to help ensure that our students in and around Henderson County get to have that same experience. Through our reading program, workshops, concerts, and on property classes, we have been able to reach so many people. To see the joy on the faces of teachers, students, and families has been a truly heartwarming experience.
Lauren Hopkins, Director of Education
WE WANT TO DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!
Playhouse Jr. Brings Joy to Displaced Students.
The Playhouse Jr. Artists recently performed a Rock Out Concert for the students of Atkinson Elementary, who were displaced due to Hurricane Helene. The school, heavily damaged by the storm and subsequent flooding, forced the entire student body to relocate to the Boys & Girls Club. Despite the challenging circumstances, the students and teachers have adapted with resilience.
Lauren Hopkins, Director of Education, noticed how resilient the teachers and students were during a Reading session. She was deeply moved after talking to the front office personnel about how the teachers have to pack up their belongings every afternoon and spend their mornings unpacking for a new day. She asked Principal Mark Page if there was anything else the Playhouse could do to help. Mr. Page suggested a performance, which was enthusiastically accepted!
The concert was a surprise for the students. I could tell they were puzzled by the Playhouse Jr. backdrop and all these people running around. It certainly was not a typical school assembly. When the performers came out and the music started, all the children stood up, uncertain about what to do. But when they saw their teachers dancing, soon most of them were dancing and hopping and moving. I could tell they were having a great time.
The principal, Mark Page, was thrilled about the concert. “It’s great. The kids and we (the teachers) needed this.” A young teacher, Mykayla, added, “The kids are resilient and flexible but I know they are struggling with lots of issues. This was a good outlet for them.” Two experienced teachers, Beth and Sherri, were also excited by the concert. “Normally in an assembly, I’m standing there worrying about missing Math or English lessons. But when the music started, I forgot all about that and just started having a good time. I didn’t realize how tense I was. We’re so glad you (Playhouse Jr.) did this.”
After the concert ended, many students came up and hugged the artists or gave them high fives. Then they walked back to their temporary classrooms, smiling and laughing. I realized that our concerts and other activities are not a panacea. Healing will take a long time for everyone affected by the hurricane’s devastation. But, for today at least, the kids and teachers were able to relax, have a good time, and know better days are coming. – JB
The Arts, particularly Performing Arts, have the extraordinary CAPABILITY to uplift individuals and strengthen communities.
The Arts, and especially the Performing Arts, have the ability to help individuals harness the power of self-expression and self-reflection, and to bring communities together through shared experience. As you’ve read throughout this brochure, Jim has learned this first-hand through Playhouse Jr. outreach. But ofcourse, I would be remiss not to quickly spotlight our production excellence on the Leiman MainStage. Until Hurricane Helene, our 2024 season was promising to be a great success. While we are thrilled to be leaning into Playhouse Jr. and our outreach work, we were equally disappointed to have lost the opportunity to bring two powerhouse productions this fall in THE MOUNTAINTOP and CATS. We love making theatre and we especially love entertaining you. The Leiman MainStage is back for A FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS, so please join us, and in the meantime check out some highlights of our successes this year.
Samantha Goodrum, Managing Director
Due to Hurricane Helene, Flat Rock Playhouse saw a financial impact of over $500k in damages and revenue loss.
Flat Rock
Playhouse is a producing theatre. Each element of our productions has been built, crafted,and rehearsed right–here in Flat Rock, NC.
Over 300 volunteers help make sure “The Rock” is rockin’, serving as ushers, gardeners, parkers, and more.
In 2024, FRP far surpassed pre-pandemic records for season subscribers, with over 1,700 participants.
Studies show that during live theatre experiences, audience members’ hearts beat together at precisely the same rate, synchronizing as one.
we HAVE WElcomed over 54,000 patrons in 2024.
Healing Through TheatRE:
As you’ve read, theatre can be a powerful healing tool for recovering from traumatic experiences like Hurricane Helene. I hope you learned, as I did, how our Playhouse Jr. programs and excellent MainStage productions can help children and adults process their emotions, express themselves creatively, and build community. – Jim Brewer, PhD, Director of Development
Your Support Makes a Difference
Your donation helps make our work possible. Every gift, no matter the size, has a significant impact.
Here are some ways you can help:
• Concierge Club:
Become a member and enjoy exclusive perks while supporting our mission. Your $2,500 donation provides flexibility for our team to meet urgent needs and seize opportunities.
• Greatest Benefit:
Your donation will be used where it can help the most.
• Education and Outreach:
Help us continue our vital work in the community. Your support ensures that children will continue to have access to the therapeutic power of theatre.
• Dave Hart Scholarship:
No child should be denied the opportunity to participate in our programs due to financial constraints. Your donation will help us provide scholarships to those in need.
HOW TO DONATE
• Mail a Check: Use the enclosed envelope to send your donation.
• Donate Online: Scan the QR code to make a secure online donation.
• IRA Donations: If you’d like to make a donation from your IRA, The Vagabond School of The Drama, Inc. is a qualified charitable organization. Our Tax ID is 56-0571518.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Your generosity will help us provide hope, healing, inspiration and entertainment for our region. We are grateful for your belief in our mission.
