Bonnie Kate Theater holds first performance since reopening
Published 10:00 pm Friday, March 24, 2017
Star Photo/Curtis Carden The Bonnie Kate Theater was near full capacity Friday night for their first theatrical performance since reopening. The Hopwood Players presented a production of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Marcia Ross, who portrayed Lady Bracknell, serves as the program director for the Bonnie Kate.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden John Worthing J.P. (Andrew Hicks) tries to propose to Gwendolen Fairfax (Rebecca Miller).
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Algernon Moncreiff (right) portrayed by Will Dugger, talks to Lane, played by B.J. Krug.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Attendees had the opportunity to purchase items to benefit the Bonnie Kate Restoration Project.
A local city landmark experienced its first near full capacity performance since reopening.
With a jammed packed theater, the Hopwood Players presented a production of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde Friday night in the building with rave reviews from the public.
John Huber, with the Bonnie Kate Restoration Committee, had nothing but praise seeing the attendees file in to support the theater.
“This shows we can do a pretty good function,” Huber said. “Even though there’s a lot of work to be done, we want to keep the people’s interest and have them excited about what’s to come at the Bonnie Kate.”
As hundreds filed in, Huber praised the success of Marcia Ross, who serves as the program director for the Bonnie Kate.
“She’s just a little trooper,” Huber said with a smile about Ross. “She knows what she’s doing. She put this all together, and all we did was follow her direction. She’s program director, and she did a great job, it couldn’t have gone any better.”
The Bonnie Kate is still accepting usable chairs from the public following the success of Friday’s event.
“We thought we had enough, but we just about ran out,” Huber said. “We can make arrangements for anybody that wants to donate a chair for our upcoming performances.
Individuals can contact Huber at (423) 957-9267.
Other programs on the horizon include:
• The Bonnie Kate Youth Theater will present “Snow White and the Seven and a Half Dwarfs” on Saturday, March 25, at 3 p.m. with free admission.
• Storytime performances with the Knoxville Symphony Strings Ensemble takes place on Wednesday, March 29, at 2:30 p.m. with free admission. The event is sponsored by the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library.
• The Elizabethton High School Advanced Drama group will perform “Once upon a time … Bedtime Stories (As Told by Our Dad) (Who Messed Them Up)” on Friday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 8, at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at the Bonnie Kate for $5.
• “Belle’s Ballet & Tea Time,” a story of Beauty and the Beast, concludes the list of events on Saturday, April 29, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The festivities will take place in the theater area and Sugar Love Cafe with the library and East Tennessee Youth Ballet taking part.
Funds raised throughout each performance will go toward stage lights needed at the Bonnie Kate.
Each show will have a special-made program, which businesses can advertise in. The funds raised through advertisements will go directly into the Bonnie Kate’s fund for future projects. Interested businesses or organizations looking to promote their work can contact Appalachian Printing, who is handling the printing services at no charge, at (423) 543-2600.
Individuals are also encouraged to make monetary donations, if possible, to the restoration project. To make a contribution visit bonniekatetheater.com or contributions can be sent by mail and be made payable to: Elizabethton – Carter County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 695, Elizabethton, TN 37644-0695.
For more information and updates on the progress of the Bonnie Kate restoration, visit their website or check out The Bonnie Kate Theater Restoration Project Facebook page.
