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Tuesday, 18 November 2025
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Written by Amber Little
The holiday season has officially started. Shopping lists are being made, menus are being prepped, traditions are being locked in on the calendar, and the Gilbert Theater is preparing for its annual Christmas production. Last year’s production sold-out shows and brought an aura of nostalgia so overwhelming that they had to do it again.
For the second year, the classic family tale of a boy and his journey to secure the most coveted gift on his list, a Red Ryder BB gun, is coming to the stage. Based on the classic 1983 Christmas film of the same name, and adapted for the stage by Philip Grecian, this funny and still relatable story set in 1940s America follows Ralphie, a young boy with big hopes to secure the BB gun of his dreams. But much to his dismay, all the adults he talks to, including a memorable department store Santa, consistently and loudly declare, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
A Christmas Story runs from Nov. 21 to Dec. 7. Tickets are available at the box office located at 116 Green Street or online at https://ci.ovationtix.com/36002/production/1236835.
Choosing to do A Christmas Story again as the holiday season production was a no-brainer for Artistic Director Matt Lamb. After seeing such success last year, including guests dressed as their favorite movie character, packed shows, and the pure joy the show brought, there was no denying the love for this production.
“We had a lot of great compliments last year where audience members said that ‘it wasn't Christmas until I watched this movie, and now I get to see it live.’ And we did have a lot of patrons that left that said, ‘This is better than the film, because of the way they get to experience [it].’ We had audience members dressing up, and we had audience members who were literally moving their mouths to what the actors were saying,” Lamb said.
This year’s production will have all the favorites from last year but with some slight differences, with Lamb handing over the Director’s chair to industry veteran Malissa Borden. He will instead be taking on his first role since an accident sidelined his onstage presence. Ralphie is a ten-year-old local actor and rising star, Oliver Benander. Sydney Dukic, local thespian and teacher, will play opposite Lamb as Mother. The incredibly witty, eleven-year-old Renny Westmoreland will be playing the role of Ralphie’s younger, more whiny brother, Randy. Rounding out the cast is a Gilbert Theater newbie, Fritz Barnes, playing Ralph, the present, much older version of the story’s protagonist and narrator.
Although Barnes is fairly new to acting (just around 5-6 years), he’s excited to join the Gilbert family and bring such a beloved production to the stage.
“I am playing Ralph. I'm not playing the old man. I am the old man. There's nobody in the room who couldn't be my child or younger. I didn't get into acting until I was in my late 50s. I've been acting for five or six years now and am having a good time with it. This is my first show at the Gilbert, and I'm just really happy to be here,” he explained.
With such a beloved classic in their hands again, the cast and crew are working hard to repeat the magic and create some new, in this year’s production. Westmoreland is excited about his role, being that he’s a huge fan of the classic film.
“What made me really want to audition for this show is that it's like my favorite movie ever! I have a Red Ryder BB gun, and I was very, very excited to be put in that gigantic snowsuit and see that lamp sitting on that table over there. [And] to have my mom do it with. My mom [being in it] has just made me love it even more,” he said.
Lamb, whose performance will mark his grand and brief return to the stage, is equally excited about the show.
“I wanted to do something this season, and I thought, you know what, why not this one? As the season progresses, my job's going to get a lot crazier with all the projects we have coming and some new things that we are working on. And just being on the director's side of the table and knowing I wanted to work with Malissa, flip-flopped it this year, and it's been a lot of fun,” he said.
“I keep going back to this is my first full production back… There were things that I have gone back within, you know, I'm basically here around the clock, but I actually listened to Gene Shepard's old radio broadcasts while I'm at work. And I've discovered things that I thought I knew about this show or the movie that I didn't realize are spun differently. I've been learning a lot, and I deeply love what this show is, what it really is. And I think this is a great way to be able to do something. I'll be back to the other side of the table as soon as the show closes.”
Dukic, a longtime Gilbert Theater actor and the co-star of last year’s hit production, Stop Kiss, sees parallels between her character, Mother, and herself.
“Being cast as a mother, I see so much of her in my day-to-day job, when I'm working with my students. I see so much of the ‘let's go, let's go.’ [As] a mother, you're the heart of the family. Being a teacher, you're the heart of the classroom. It's been such an enjoyable experience being able to just recognize that, both in here and in the classroom. I'm really excited to be part of it,” she said.
The Gilbert Theater isn’t just bringing the nostalgia with this show. They are bringing food security to the Cumberland County community. For a second year, the theater will be partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank to collect donations of nonperishable food items and toys.
Anyone interested in donating can do so at one of the shows, Friday through Sunday, or during office hours, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only. There will also be a mailbox to drop off letters to Santa during the production.
The Gilbert Theater is a true Fayetteville gem and downtown staple. For more information about the upcoming season, visit https://www.gilberttheater.com/.
(Photo: The cast of A Christmas Story at The Gilbert are excited to bring the production back to the stage. Photo courtesy of Matt Lamb)
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Tuesday, 04 November 2025
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Written by Amber Little
Sweet Tea Shakespeare is bringing its November production of The Crucible to downtown Fayetteville. The traveling theater, a group of community actors, artists, designers, and musicians, is setting up camp at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, with shows on Nov. 6-9, 13-16, and 20-23. The show starts on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online at https://sweetteashakespeare.thundertix.com/events/249888.
In true Sweet Tea fashion, the production of The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a mesmerizing, thought-provoking experience that can’t be missed. A tale of hysteria, morality, justice, and relevance, The Crucible is a fictional tale set in Massachusetts during the Salem witch trials. The play was written in 1953 by American author Arthur Miller in response to the McCarthyism that had led to the public interrogation and condemnation of those believed to be Communists. An allegory of the American political climate, the story centers around an isolated Puritan colony at odds with the indigenous tribes of the land.
“We were looking for something on the spooky side for this slot in the season. Witches that may or may not be real and a witch hunt in Salem felt just right for this time of year. It also may not be a Shakespeare play, but there is something of a Shakespearean tragedy to this story. And we always like to consider what our actors are interested in performing in when we plan out a season, and this was on the list for several people,” said Jessie Wise, executive director and CEO of Sweet Tea Shakespeare.
The Crucible is a story of mischievous children, lies, and the ultimate repercussions of judgment and mass hysteria. The two-hour performance will feature live music, leading the audience on an auditory and visual journey. And one can always expect a contemporary twist when it comes to anything Sweet Tea Shakespeare.
“I think the heart of The Crucible is that classic 'what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive,' as well as 'be sure your sins will find you out.' Our lies and misdeeds don't exist in a vacuum but impact many people around us, as we see in the community of Salem. Attempts to hide mistakes and seek revenge don't just hurt the targeted person, but all those around,” said Wise.
This production does have strong violence, strong language, and death content warnings. Because of the location of this production, attendees should be prepared for a short descent downstairs leading to the Arts Council basement. There is no elevator access.
“We will be performing in the basement of the Arts Council, which provides an intimate performance space. Audience members can feel like they are right in the middle of the action,” Wise said.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare is truly a labor of love, and collaborations with organizations such as the Arts Council are important to make the theater's season happen.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s dedication to community engagement shines through this collaboration with the Arts Council of Fayetteville, offering a unique, intimate space for audiences to connect deeply with the material and each other.
The driving mission of the collaboration is “gathering diverse communities around a common table to delight in the magic of story, song, and stagecraft.” Every individual pours their time and talent into making sure that each production is unique and unrepeatable. No show is like the other, because the audience is part of the show. Sweet Tea Shakespeare is a call back to a time when theaters hitched their stages to horses and traveled all over, bringing entertainment, merriment, and storytelling to every corner. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to making theater accessible and serves as the training ground for individuals in the theater industry and beyond.
As for Wise, she is looking forward to the performance of The Crucible, saying the courtroom scene is her favorite.
“I love a good interrogation, and John Proctor's moment of confession and sacrifice is so rich,” she said.
Founded in 2012, with summer productions held at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Sweet Tea has gradually grown and expanded to year-round productions that span all over the city. The organization can’t do what they do without the support of the community. There are several ways to get involved with the theater and be a part of an organization that emphasizes inclusion. Sweet Tea Shakespeare also has a children’s program called Green Tea. The program includes monthly workshops and ensemble sessions, a production camp experience (day and night), college, community, and professional audition and portfolio prep, participation in main stage productions for Sweet Tea Shakespeare, free tickets to all performances, and guaranteed membership into the adult Sweet Tea company. For more information, visit https://sweetteashakespeare.com/youth-acting-company/registration/.
Become a volunteer and help with all aspects of production, from set design to passing out flyers in the community. Sweet Tea is the perfect place to find a home for theater skills and passion. Find out more at https://airtable.com/app0pbGqTe7nVjffU/shr6skf2z7XRGyf4M. For anyone who has been thinking about starting their stage journey, picking it up again after years, or looking to expand the stages they currently perform, audition for a show. To sign up for an audition, visit https://airtable.com/app16UjZ5uJeGkIQE/shrwBNnWtktWRytEm. Become an STS Sponsor and help fund a season of theater. Visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/2dd8a552-268d-4ab0-b9b2-3f0fde68c377 to become a sponsor.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare couldn’t do what they do without the help of its community sponsors: Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County, Blue Star Theaters, The Capital Encore Academy, and Theater Communications Group. To learn more about STS, its impact, and upcoming shows, visit https://sweetteashakespeare.com/.
(Photos courtesy of Sweet Tea Shakespeare)
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