Before CoMMA's opening 40 years ago, there were two girls with a petition

Growing up on the outskirts of downtown Morganton, neighbors Lorie (Rader) Rehberger and Ellen (Anderson) Gazjuk were always on a mission. From selling lemonade to learning how to ride a double bike down Walton Road, the two were inseparable, but certainly determined.

Perhaps the most notable of their adventures appeared in a 1982 News Herald article titled “Girls not afraid to tackle city hall,” spreading word of the girls’ fear that the former Grace Hospital site would turn into another dreaded parking lot.

With 167 signatures on a petition that called for a theater for dancing and concerts, their work grabbed the attention of then-Mayor Andrew Kistler, who presented the petition to the city council. Now, more than 40 years later, the site is home to one of Morganton’s most distinctive community spaces, the CoMMA Performing Arts Center.

Rehberger and Gazjuk, who both still live in the Morganton area, reunited recently to reflect on their childhood determination to bring something special to their hometown as the city plans to celebrate CoMMA’s 40th anniversary this fall.

Rehberger was in seventh grade at Morganton Junior High when she remembers seeing the wrecking ball tear the old Grace Hospital down on South College Street. Gazjuk was a grade younger at Forest Hill Elementary School. By the end of that summer, all that was left of the hospital was a big pile of rubble. At the time, the girls became worried that the city hadn’t made any plans for the site.

“We were like, ‘well, I hope it’s not going to be another parking lot,’” Rehberger said, also laughing about Gazjuk’s alternative plan if the theater didn’t work out, referencing a line in the 1982 news article.

“A beautiful park there would be OK, too, where old people could go and sit or children can play,” she said at the time, according to the article by Linda Phillips.

Rehberger said the idea for the petition was the brainchild of Ellen Anderson, adding that she was along for the ride.

“We were in Ellen’s living room, it was summer, and we were trying to think of what we wanted to do for the day, what was going to be on our agenda for the day,” Rehberger said. “Ellen said, ‘I know, let’s start a petition.’”

They both canvassed their neighborhood, going door-to-door down Walton Road, Silver Creek Road, Rockview Lane, and other streets between St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and First Presbyterian Church. Rehberger even took the petition to school, getting signatures from both teachers and students.

It wasn’t until the following June that the petition got media attention from the News Herald, but both women remember the making of the classic photo, captured by Chuck Liddy, in front of the former hospital site.

“They said make sure you cross your arms and look really mad,” Gazjuk said. “We were shocked that they would even call and ask about it.”

Both women remember being shocked when they learned their vision would turn into reality.

“I think we’ve kind of joked around ever since then, that it was because of those two little girls on Walton Road,” Gazjuk said.

“I don’t know what kind of difference we made, but I felt empowered as a young person to try to be able to make a difference,” she added. “I love the arts, and I know Lori does, and it’s an amazing facility.”

Gazjuk participated in ballet, studied vocal performance, and plays piano. Rehberger has always appreciated the arts and attending concerts, remembering how excited she was when Ray Charles came to perform at CoMMA, one of her favorite shows. She also enjoyed seeing the Smothers Brothers and Béla Fleck. Gazjuk’s favorite was when the musical “Hairspray” came to town.

“Our community is incredibly blessed to have such an amazing performing arts center,” Gazjuk said. “I’m so thankful Lori and I were encouraged and supported by our parents and neighbors to be advocates for the arts in our community, even at such a young age. We felt heard and it was a great reminder that we can all make a difference in our community.”

Gazjuk said the 40th anniversary is a great opportunity for the community to thank the city leaders, CoMMA staff, and volunteers for all they continue to do each day to help support the arts in the Morganton community.

“I’m glad we have a place for cultural diversity,” Rehberger said. “I think that’s really important, and I’m glad we have a place that supports that.”

PLANS FOR A MAKEOVER

As the city celebrates 40 years of arts and entertainment, Sharon Jablonski is planning for a new era for CoMMA, one marked by upgrades in three different phases, including work to the front of house, auditorium, back of house, and exterior. Jablonski is the director of creative and cultural development for the city.

In June, the city council applied for $6.7 million in federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program, where the project is eligible through commercial revitalization.

The first phase of improvements intend to better accommodate performers and their crews, including plans for a new loading dock facility, which will contain crew restrooms, a crew lounge, offices, and storage. It also includes the addition of ADA-compliant front doors and, in the auditorium, a new color scheme is coming that will bring new life to dated carpet and seats.

The city council previously awarded an engineering contract to Szostak Design for $208,000, with the goal to have phase one bidding and contracts by the start of November 2027. Outlined in the engineering contract, the plan is to have construction completed in October 2028.

Once the first phase is finished, the city will focus on lobby modifications, changing the flow of the concession stand, and adding a stairwell behind the concession stand to lead to the second floor. Phase two includes adding bathrooms to the second floor. Another step would include adding a 2,000- to 2,500-square-foot room for art shows, dance shows, teaching/breakout sessions, and more intimate performances.