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DPAC, Marchael Bayne, Theatre in the Park, partnering to host the ninth annual Triangle

BUSINESS LEADERS AND PUBLIC RESPOND TO EXPLOSION

Miel, a graphic designer who in 2017 raised

16 at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony will spotlight

150th anniversary, collapsed a 94-year-old

free lunch program, set up a GoFundMe site

school musical productions and is celebrated

Kaffeinate coffee shop and killing its

had raised more than $24,000. It will run for a

Theatre Awards.

housed Prescient, a manufacturing and

The SunTrust Broadway’s 2019/20 season

conventional building structures, which moved

the Durham Arts Council and ABC 11 are

Within an hour of the explosion, Rebekah

Rising Stars Showcase and Awards May

The gas line explosion on April 10, Durham’s

more than $74,000 for Durham Public Schools’

Triangle-area student finalists from high

building at 115 N. Duke St., destroying

for victims. As of noon on April 15, the fund

as part of the National High School Musical

owner, Kong Lee, 61. The building also

month after the blast.

technology company that offers alternatives to

after hearing that firefighters were among the

Rebekah said she was compelled to help

injured.

“My parents were victims of a house fire last

at DPAC will open with Disney’s “Aladdin”

its headquarters to Durham two years ago.

includes Broadway’s “A Bronx Tale,” “Come

25 others, including nine

email, “and I have a deep

“My Fair Lady,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and

the windows of neighboring

[firefighters] and other first

“Hamilton” will return to DPAC in the 2020/21

in total were damaged.

The blast injured at least

year,” Rebekeh said in an

From Away,” “Escape to Margaritaville,”

firefighters, and blew out

appreciation of the work

“Mean Girls.” Additionally, the national tour of

buildings. Fifteen buildings

responders do.”

from October 2-26. The new season also

season.

Before dawn on April 12,

Kong’s children, Diana and

It was a blow to the city,

and as emergency personnel

Raymond, who ran Kaffeinate

to the scene, the business

picture on Instagram of the

public responded as well.

the cafe.

of Downtown Durham

wrote.

and the Greater Durham

heart out of anyone we know.

and elected officials rushed

with their father, posted a

community and the general

three of them smiling outside “This is our dad,” they

The presidents and CEOs

“He had the biggest, purest

Inc., Nicole Thompson,

Chamber of Commerce,

PHOTO BY ALEXIS FAIRBANKS

Geoff Durham, said their

organizations were making plans to help. PHOTO BY DEEN VAN MEER

The American Dance Festival returns for

“We are taking count of the buildings that

were damaged and businesses that were

impacted,” Nicole said in an email the day of

He always wanted a cafe

because he loved to serve

people, and we were finally able to build him one.”

A friend of the family set up a GoFundMe

account specifically for them, and as of press

the explosion “and [are] reaching out to our

time, they’d raised more than $139,500.

can do to assist with the rebuilding.”

“outpouring of love and support“ they’d seen.

choreographer Paul Taylor, and the Paul Taylor

damage is still being assessed, we are actively

so happy,” they wrote. “We watched your smiles

classic Taylor masterpieces over three nights.

those businesses affected.”

its 86th season from June 13-July 20. The

schedule features 38 performances featuring 25 companies and choreographers in five

venues. The 2019 season will honor the late

Dance Company will present two programs of

20

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financial partners to see if there’s anything we And Geoff said that “while we realize the

in talks with our partners on ways we can help

Diana and Raymond said they appreciated the “The family we created at Kaffeinate made him

give him strength and joy. Thank you.” – Michael McElroy „