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CFRT presents "Disney's High School Musical"

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Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Written by Katie Herring

12a20 years ago, Disney released a movie exclusively on the Disney Channel, featuring young up-and-coming stars, lots of singing and dancing, and a fun, uplifting story. The movie quickly became a phenomenon, leading to two sequels, a stage show, a Junior version of that stage show, a reality TV show, and launching many of the actors into super-stardom. That movie was High School Musical, and Cape Fear Regional Theatre is bringing the phenomenon to the stage at 1707 Owen Drive!
The Show
The story of High School Musical follows Troy and Gabriella, an unlikely pair of high school students who find themselves part of the yearly musical production. As they and their friends navigate the typical challenges of high school-from cliques and friendships, to competition and rivalries-they find that there is more common ground than they initially realized.
“It's a story about the importance of finding your voice and following your bliss. It's also a story about the importance of arts in education, and how arts programs can break down barriers between cliques and give teenagers agency to access their confidence,” said West Hyler, director.
While this description might make it seem like a serious show about big ideas, that is not at all the case. As implied by the title, the show is wall-to-wall music, with one high-energy bop after another. According to CFRT’s Marketing Director and long-time High School Musical super-fan Ashley Owen, “the show is just stupid funny!” Fans of the film will hear all their favorites-Get’cha Head in the Game, Bop to the Top, Stick to the Status Quo, and We’re All in this Together-with some changes to the arrangements they may be used to from the movie.
Troy and Gabriella traverse the tricky landscape of high school alongside other beloved characters: the dynamic duo of Sharpay and Ryan Evans, twin ingenues with their sights set on leading roles in the musical; the eccentric drama teacher, Ms. Darbus; Troy’s dad and Wildcats basketball coach Jack Bolton; Chad, Taylor, Zeke, Kelsi, and a bunch more Wildcats with all types and quirks, from jocks to geeks, brainiacs to skater dudes. Together, they have to decide whether to “stick to the status quo” or break out of the way things have always been done to make their dreams come true.
The People
CFRT’s production features a large cast of familiar faces and new ones alike, led by director West Hyler, choreographer Lisa “L-Boogie” Bauford, and music director James Clark, Jr., the brilliant team behind CFRT’s 2024 production of Sister Act.
When asked what inspired him to return to CFRT to direct another show, Hyler said, “I love what Mary Kate [Burke, artistic director] and Ashley [Owen] and the whole CFRT team has built in Fayetteville. The productions are high-quality, the actors and creative teams are bursting with talent, and the audiences are some of the best I've encountered anywhere in the world. It's always an honor to helm a show in the CFRT season.”
The two leading roles are played by CFRT newcomers Ben James Tyrell (Troy) and Riley Fincher-Foster (Gabriella). Ben James Tyrell hails from LaFayette, Louisiana, where he did school and community theatre from a young age. He went on to earn a BFA in musical theatre from the University of Arizona and moved to New York City two years ago. He was connected with CFRT by his talent agent and is excited to work with the staff at the theatre and with the rest of the cast and creative team.
Riley Fincher-Foster is a little closer to home, coming from Greenville, South Carolina. She has been performing since she was four, with her first professional job coming at age 12 in the national tour of A Christmas Story. She has done some film work and a few productions with director Hyler. She explains that she really loves working with Hyler because of his creative approach to theatre and the kind of collaborative environment that he creates in the rehearsal room.
The company is rounded out by an energetic group of performers, both local and visiting artists, some returning to CFRT for repeat appearances, others stepping on the stage for the first time.
12bThe Events
Previews begin on Jan. 29, with Opening Night happening on Saturday, Jan. 31. The show closes Feb. 22. For a show with so much nostalgia and such a high-energy environment, CFRT couldn’t resist planning lots of fun events that will help the audience feel even more connected with the fun on the stage.
The first special event is the very first weekend of the show. On Jan. 30, there will be pre-show karaoke. Audience members are invited to grab a mic and show off their pipes, singing pop favorites or nostalgic Disney classics. Sign up at cfrt.org/high-school-musical/ ahead of time to secure your spot. Karaoke will kick off at 6:45 p.m. and go until 7:15 p.m., leaving you plenty of time to get to your seat before the show starts.
Wednesday, Feb. 4 is Spirit Night, when everyone is encouraged to dress in red and white, the colors of the fictional Wildcats from High School Musical. Starting at 6:15 p.m., there will be free food and drinks in the lobby before the show.
The next night, Feb. 5, they’re “throwing it back to the golden age of Disney Channel! Come dressed as your favorite Disney Channel (movie or TV!) character, enjoy free drinks, and compete for a costume prize before the show. It’s nostalgia at its finest!!”
Finally, on Feb. 13, CFRT is throwing it all the way back to the early 2000s, when High School Musical made its debut, by inviting audience members to dress in the finest Y2K-inspired looks. Prizes will be awarded for the most iconic, most fierce and nostalgic look.
Another date that might be helpful for some to mark on their calendar is Feb. 15, which will be the sensory-friendly performance. In their ongoing effort to ensure that theatre is accessible to as many as possible, this performance will feature adjustments that will hopefully help some folks who may otherwise struggle to enjoy theatre.
Changes for that performance include a Cool Down Zone if folks need a break during the action, adjusted lighting and sound effects, lower audience density, house lights on low, a shush-free environment throughout the performance and ASL interpretation. This performance will also feature a special appearance of the Friends from The Friendship House as part of the ensemble!
Check the full production schedule at cfrt.org/high-school-musical/ for more details, such as “Bedtime Friendly” performances for younger audiences and discounted performances in appreciation of teachers and military personnel. As always, CFRT strives to make high-quality theatre that is accessible to as many people as possible.
Tickets are available at the theatre’s box office online at cfrt.org or by calling 910-323-4233, but don’t delay, they are selling fast. You won’t want to miss what is sure to be a huge hit on the Cape Fear Regional Theatre Stage!

(Photos:Top-Ben James Tyrell, left, and Riley Fincher-Foster play the two leads Troy and Gabriella in Cape Fear Regional Theatre's production of High School Musical. Bottom: Keivana Williams, left, and Mikey Corey Hassel, play Sharpay and Ryan Evans, twins who are trying to get the leads in the school musical. Photos courtesy of CFRT)

Fourth Friday Fright Night: Black Christmas scares at Cameo

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Tuesday, 16 December 2025
Written by Adam Taylor

This December, the Cameo invites you to unwrap a different kind of holiday classic: a classic filled with tension, terror and tinsel.
On Friday, Dec. 26 at 9:30 p.m., the Cameo’s Fourth Friday Fright Night series will present Black Christmas (1974), one of the most influential and chilling horror films ever made. If you think the holidays are all about joy, laughter and family gatherings, Black Christmas will make you think again.
A Dark Night In December
Released in 1974 and directed by Bob Clark, Black Christmas follows a group of sorority sisters played by Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, and Andrea Martin.
They are preparing for winter break in their cozy home. It’s Christmas time, the lights are glowing, the snow is falling, and everything seems right with the world. But then the phone rings.
The caller doesn’t wish them a merry Christmas. Instead, what they hear is disturbing, obscene and fragmented; a voice that shifts between childlike whispers and guttural screams. The mysterious calls are at once menacing and strangely personal. The sisters begin to fear that they’re being watched.
This simple premise became one of the most terrifying in cinema history. Clark uses long, quiet takes, eerie sound design and the killer’s perspective to pull audiences into the horror. The opening sequence, shot through the killer’s eyes as he climbs into the attic, was groundbreaking for its time, a technique later borrowed by John Carpenter for Halloween (1978).
A Cast That Makes You Care
Unlike the disposable characters of later slasher films, the women in Black Christmas feel real. Olivia Hussey’s Jess Bradford is intelligent and composed, a woman struggling not only to survive, but also to make her own choices in a world that tries to make them for her. Her decision to end her pregnancy, a bold subject for a 1974 film, adds unexpected emotional weight to the story.
Margot Kidder, who would go on to star in Superman and The Amityville Horror, is unforgettable as Barb, the sharp-tongued, hard-drinking sorority sister who masks her pain with sarcasm. Andrea Martin brings warmth and humor as Phyl, grounding the group with a quiet strength. Supporting them is John Saxon, who later terrified audiences again in A Nightmare on Elm Street, as a compassionate police lieutenant, and Keir Dullea from 2001: A Space Odyssey fame, as Jess’s increasingly unstable boyfriend, Peter.
Each performance adds to the slow-building dread that makes Black Christmas so effective.
From A Christmas Story To A Nightmare
It’s hard to believe that the same director who gave the world the heartwarming holiday staple A Christmas Story (1983) is also responsible for one of the darkest Christmas films ever made.
Yet that’s the brilliance of Bob Clark. His range as a filmmaker and his understanding of how holidays can stir both comfort and chaos.
Clark uses familiar Christmas imagery, such as snow, carols, lights and gifts, to heighten the fear. The contrast between the season’s cheer and the film’s creeping horror makes every moment more disturbing.
In one chilling scene, a Christmas carol plays outside as a murder unfolds inside, the two tones overlapping in perfect, horrifying harmony.
The film’s visual design, crafted by cinematographer Reginald H. Morris, is both beautiful and claustrophobic. The use of red and green lighting throughout becomes a macabre take on Christmas decor, bathing the scenes in an unholy glow.
A Pioneer Of The Slasher Genre
Black Christmas is widely regarded as one of the first true slasher films, predating Halloween, Friday the 13th, and When a Stranger Calls. But unlike many of its successors, it’s less about gore and more about mood. Clark’s restraint and his refusal to reveal the killer’s identity make the film feel disturbingly real.
The mysterious “Billy,” whose deranged phone calls echo through the house, remains unseen throughout. We never learn his backstory, motives or connection to the victims. That ambiguity makes the fear timeless. Evil, the film suggests, doesn’t always have a reason; it just exists.
A Cult Classic That Still Inspires
When it was first released, Black Christmas received mixed reviews. Some critics found it too disturbing; others dismissed it as sensationalist. But over time, the film gained recognition as a masterwork of suspense and a major influence on the horror genre.
Today, it’s celebrated as both a terrifying experience and a surprisingly progressive film for its time. Modern audiences appreciate its focus on women’s experiences, its critique of authority figures who dismiss their fears and its willingness to leave questions unanswered.
The movie’s legacy can be seen everywhere from Carpenter’s Halloween and Craven’s Scream to more recent works like It Follows and Barbarian. Filmmakers continue to cite it as a model for building tension and psychological realism.
So, after you’ve unwrapped your gifts and sung your carols, join The Cameo the night after Christmas for something a little more sinister. Grab your friends, settle in with some hot cocoa or popcorn and prepare for a holiday film that will haunt you long after the credits roll.
For more information, visit https://www.cameoarthouse.com/

Celebrates A Dickens Holiday with screening at Cameo

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Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Written by Adam Taylor

24As downtown Fayetteville fills with the festive bustle of A Dickens Holiday, the Cameo Art House Theatre is inviting the community to take a step back in time to the earliest days of cinematic storytelling. On Friday, Nov. 28 at 11:30 a.m., the Cameo will offer a free drop-in screening of the 1910 silent short film A Christmas Carol, produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company. That’s right, by Thomas Edison.
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the theater’s doors will remain open for guests to come and go freely while the film plays continuously throughout the hour. At just around 10 minutes in length, this century-old adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday tale serves as a rare glimpse into the origins of narrative filmmaking and the early artistic ambitions of American cinema.
Film historians often point to the 1910 A Christmas Carol as one of the earliest surviving screen interpretations of Dickens’ work. Created at a time when motion pictures were still an emerging art form, the short is notable for its hand-tinted visuals, theatrical staging and innovative use of early camera techniques.
Though brief, the film captures the essential spirit of Dickens’ novella: Ebenezer Scrooge’s chilling encounter with Jacob Marley’s ghost, his journey with the three spirits of Christmas and his eventual transformation from miser to benefactor. Its charm lies not only in its historical value but in its earnest and atmospheric retelling of a story that continues to resonate across generations.
The Cameo chose this short film specifically for its connection to the larger A Dickens Holiday celebrations taking place downtown. As downtown fills with Victorian costumes, holiday vendors, carolers and craftspeople, the theater’s offering becomes a warm and nostalgic complement to the day’s events.
Throughout A Dickens Holiday, guests at the theater can take advantage of a Buy One, Get One free small popcorn deal, making it easier than ever to share a classic movie treat with friends and family.
Whether staying the full hour or stopping in for a few minutes between downtown activities, visitors can enjoy a warm snack while absorbing the quiet charm of early silent cinema.
For many Fayetteville residents, the Cameo's popcorn offerings are as iconic as the films themselves. The BOGO promotion adds a fun, family-friendly incentive to swing by the theater, even for those who may have never experienced a silent film before.
Silent films, especially short subjects from the early 1900s, rarely receive theatrical showings in the modern era. The Cameo’s choice to present the 1910 A Christmas Carol underscores its continued commitment to film education, historical preservation and accessible arts programming.
While today’s audiences are accustomed to dazzling visual effects, surround sound and digital clarity, silent cinema invites a different experience, one grounded in atmosphere, imagination and the expressive power of gesture.
A Dickens Holiday has become one of Fayetteville’s most beloved annual traditions, drawing visitors with its mix of Victorian flair, community spirit and warm holiday nostalgia. The Cameo’s contribution offers an opportunity for locals and out-of-town guests alike to step inside a historic theater and immerse themselves in a different era.

Gremlins claws back onto screens, visits Cameo

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Tuesday, 02 December 2025
Written by Adam Taylor

23Get ready for a dose of festive mayhem as Gremlins (1984) returns to the Cameo for one special holiday screening on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m. Few films capture both the magic and the madness of the holiday season quite like this cult classic: a film where snow falls, Christmas lights twinkle and adorable creatures turn into chaotic little monsters.
Directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg, Gremlins is a darkly funny blend of horror, comedy and Christmas charm that has become a beloved holiday tradition for audiences around the world. Written by Chris Columbus, who would later direct the first two Home Alone films and the first two Harry Potter films, the film strikes a perfect balance between nostalgia and anarchy, reminding us that sometimes, the most memorable gifts come with unexpected consequences.
The story begins when a struggling inventor, Rand Peltzer (Hoyt Axton), stumbles upon a small, furry creature called a mogwai in a mysterious Chinatown shop. Hoping to find the perfect Christmas present for his son Billy (Zach Galligan), Rand brings the adorable creature home, naming it Gizmo. But this isn’t your average pet. The shopkeeper issues three strict rules: keep it out of bright light, don’t let it get wet and never, never feed it after midnight.
Of course, those rules don’t last long. One accidental splash of water leads to a surprising reproduction and before long, the peaceful town of Kingston Falls is besieged by mischievous gremlins wreaking havoc on Christmas Eve. From sabotaged traffic lights to a disastrous carol-singing scene, the chaos that follows is both terrifying and hilarious.
Gremlins became an instant hit when it was released in 1984, grossing over $200 million worldwide and redefining what a “holiday movie” could be. With its mischievous tone and groundbreaking creature effects by Chris Walas, the film walked the line between family adventure and fright-filled comedy. It also helped inspire the creation of the PG-13 rating, along with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, proving that even “family films” could deliver a good scare.
At its core, though, Gremlins remains a film about responsibility, compassion and the consequences of ignoring the rules. Gizmo’s gentle nature contrasts sharply with the chaos of his offspring, creating a surprisingly heartfelt story amid the destruction.
One of my favorite scenes is the scene with the mother in the kitchen, and who can forget Phoebe Cates' famous speech about Santa Claus? The movie theater scene is great, too.
Featuring a memorable cast including Hoyt Axton, Keye Luke and John Louie, along with unforgettable puppet performances that still hold up four decades later, Gremlins continues to enchant new generations. The film’s offbeat humor and holiday setting have cemented it as both a Christmas favorite and a timeless piece of ’80s cinema.
For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit https://www.cameoarthouse.com/special-events/

SHAZAM! CFRT brings back "Best Christmas Pageant Ever!"

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Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Written by Katie Herring

“The Herdmans were the worst kids in the whole history of the world.” Thus begins one of the longest-standing holiday traditions in Fayetteville: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Since 1991, Cape Fear Regional Theatre has produced this adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s book by the same name. The play brings to life the story of one church’s annual tradition gone awry when the neighborhood tough kids show up for the free cookies and stay for the pageant.
The show starts with an introduction to the Herdmans, the five siblings who wreak havoc on the fictional town:
“They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids.” After Mrs. Armstrong, the long-standing director of the church’s annual Christmas pageant, is put out of commission with a broken leg, Grace Bradley gets drafted to take over. On the day planning for the pageant begins, the Herdmans show up, curious about this event that is the subject of so much fascination. Chaos ensues as Christmas Eve draws near, and everyone waits to see what the Herdman kids will do next and if they will ruin the pageant.
This year’s cast is made up of about 160 kids, between the ages of 5 and 18. That number is divided into four groups of around 40 kids, each group identified by a different holiday-related flavor: Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, and Nutmeg. Joining the kids onstage are three grown-ups: Amber Dawn French as Mrs. Bradley, Matthew Jackson as Mr. Bradley, and Joyce Borum as Mrs. Armstrong.
As is the case each year, some of the young actors in BCPE, as the little show with the long title is often abbreviated, are seasoned veterans of the show. For example, Zoe Washington (14) plays Beth (the show’s narrator) in the Ginger cast, is in the show for the third time, though this is her first time in the role of Beth. Others, of course, are taking the stage for the first time, like Charlotte Bittner (9), also in the Ginger cast.
After years of watching her older brother onstage in the show, she decided it was high time that she joined the fun; Charlotte is part of an adorable herd of sheep in the pageant. Both young ladies expressed that, while rehearsals can be hectic, the whole experience is a lot of fun, and they enjoy being part of the antics onstage.
While the story, characters and dialogue are the same year after year, the show has undergone many evolutions over the years. This year marks the second year that the show will be onstage at 1707 Owen Drive, Cape Fear Regional’s home away from home, as their location on Hay Street is undergoing an extensive renovation.
The hotel ballroom-turned-theatre is a different configuration than the Hay Street theatre, with seating on three sides of the stage (an arrangement called a thrust). The arrangement of the audience creates a more intimate, up close and personal feel in which the audience feels as if they are part of the action.
The whole space at the Owen Drive theatre has been turned into a winter wonderland for this time of year.
Marketing Director Ashley Owen says, “It feels like you’re stepping into a snow globe.”
So, how does the same show keep selling out for 32 years running? In a word: tradition! The Fayetteville community loves a tradition, especially one at Christmas time. As Owen points out, BCPE is one of the tentpole holiday traditions in the Fayetteville area. For many people, the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without the Holly Day Fair, or the Singing Christmas Tree, or The Nutcracker; and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a crucial part of the holiday season for many families.
Additionally, with such a long run of continuous productions, BCPE has become a multi-generational event. Parents have the unique experience of seeing their kids do the same show they did when they were younger, or they remember going to see it on a field trip in elementary school.
Whether you’ve never experienced The Best Christmas Pageant Ever or you’ve never missed a year, this year’s production is not to be missed. Don’t wait to buy tickets, though; at the time of printing, the opening weekend is nearly sold out, and the second weekend is sure to be, too. Tickets can be purchased at cfrt.org or by calling the box office at 910-323-4233.

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  3. Back again: The Gilbert presents "A Christmas Story"
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