CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A theatre company in Charlotte is on the brink of collapse. It comes after they were forced out of their rental venue in uptown so apartments could be built.

  • They now have secured a location at Queen’s University, but they are not sure how long it will last. Decker said each show they put on usually costs $20,000-$60,000, and tickets cover only half that amount
  • Musician Willis Hickerson says Charlotte is a fast-growing city, and it would be unfortunate if arts weren’t a part of that growth
  • For more information on Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, click here

“We had 15 years or so of really good growth when we were at our location on Stonewall Street,” Actor’s Theatre Executive Director, Chip Decker said. “That location is now giant condo apartments. It’s beautiful, right?”

Decker said they were forced to move in 2016 and struggled for several years to find another place suitable. During that time, they were still putting on shows where they could, but their cash reserves were slowly dwindling. They now have secured a location at Queen’s University, but they are not sure how long it will last. Decker said each show they put on usually costs $20,000-$60,000, and tickets cover only half that amount.

“Tickets only make up about 50 or 55 percent of any production budget,” Decker said. “If I made it, so it was 100% of my budget, then a large number of people in Charlotte would not be able to take advantage of it.”

Musician Willis Hickerson says Charlotte is a fast-growing city, and it would be unfortunate if arts weren’t a part of that growth.

“If we don’t support that type of theatre, not only will wonderful, young talent, not bloom from this city, but these wonderful stories won’t get told,” Hickerson said. “You don’t want people to say, ‘oh, but if you want to see it, you have to go to New York.’ You want people to say, ‘if you want to see it just go over to Actor’s Theatre, it is going to be good.’”

Actress Janeta Jackson plays the lead role of Billie Holiday in the group’s production “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.” She says acting is how she makes money in Charlotte, so some of her livelihood could be on the line.

“It would just be disheartening to lose an organization like this that is producing great work,” Jackson said. “We are telling true stories, not just fluff. They take into consideration the type of stories that should be told.”

For more information on Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, click here.