PHOTOS BY JOAN MARCUS
Cleavant Derricks in the North American Tour of WICKED
Bailey said. “I think everyone can identify with a character that they see onstage at some point in their life which I think is so wonderful. It really resonates for ages eight to 80.” Bailey said that she feels the play is still relevant 18 years later, especially when it comes to bullying. “It’s (bullying) a huge deal right now whether it be with social media or at school, for so many ages. It’s also important to not judge a book by its cover and to accept people for being different. I think that’s a huge theme of the show,” Bailey explained. “That’s what’s so great about the show. Even though WICKED started 18 years ago, it still carries the same message now, and it could not be more relevant.” The Steven Tanger Center for the PerSharon Sachs as Madame Morrible
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forming Arts, which opened at the beginning of this month, was scheduled to open in March 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. The estimated $93 million state-of-the-art facility has a seating capacity of more than 3,000 seats, and is located in downtown Greensboro at One Abe Brenner Place on a site bounded by North Elm and East Lindsay Streets and Summit Avenue. The center is projected to host approximately 150 events per year and will be managed by the staff of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The variety of those events may include but are not limited to concerts, Guilford College’s Bryan Series, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and Greensboro Opera performances, comedy shows, regional and local productions, and
Amanda Fallon Smith & DJ Plunkett
all types of family entertainment, including national touring Broadway shows and other live theatrical productions. “Hosting an annual Broadway series featuring the very best touring productions will be a cornerstone of the Tanger Center’s success and its impact on our community,” said Matt Brown, Managing Director at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. “With over 17,000 season tickets sold, the public’s response to the spectacular lineup of shows that our Broadway partners Nederlander and PFM have provided has been nothing short of phenomenal. We can’t wait for WICKED to begin an incredible, record-setting first season.” The center will also offer a Ring of Light structure that will consist of 60 three-foot by 12-foot illuminated pieces that will provide a timed countdown to the start of every Tanger Center performance and a ballroom on the third floor. The ballroom will host a variety of pre-show functions, including receptions, artist lectures, and other special events. Planning for the Tanger Center first took shape in 2012 when the Community Foundation convened an unprecedented 82-person task force to examine what type of performance space was needed to meet a diverse range of community needs. The task force included community members, local businesses, and arts groups,
as well as top-performing arts consulting firms and performing arts center promoters. In addition, the Community Foundation sponsored public design workshops and meetings as part of the process. Based on the input and direction from the task force and the public, the Community Foundation then helped spearhead a campaign to raise $38.5 million in private funding to match the City’s investment of $39.6 million to build the Tanger Center. For more COVID-19 performance procedures, tickets and show schedules, and other information, please visit www. tangercenter.com. ! CHANEL DAVIS is the current editor of YES! Weekly and graduated from N.C. A&T S.U. in 2011 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She’s worked at daily and weekly newspapers in the Triad region.
WANNA
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Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts Broadway Season WICKED: October 6 – 24, 2021 Beautiful – The Carole King Musical: November 9-14, 2021 Dear Evan Hansen: December 7-12, 2021 Come From Away: December 28, 2021 – January 2, 2022 Disney’s The Lion King: February 23 – March 6, 2022 Mean Girls: September 13-18, 2022 SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2021 YES! WEEKLY
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