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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