Morganton's arts scene gets a new star

A long-held vision for a dynamic community hub became a reality last week in Morganton when the Imagination and Possibilities Theater, a new cornerstone of the Burke Arts Council (BAC), opened to an enthusiastic reception.

The performance/workshop area occupies a portion of the arts council building and adds an additional option for those looking for an intimate theater space. The theater is at full-capacity when 90 patrons occupy its comfortable, navy-blue chairs. The room seats about 40 when staged bistro-style, with tables and chairs.

The room is quite dark, as are most theaters, with midnight blue, black, and a single, cream-colored wall, and is accented with sunny yellow light fixtures that resemble flowers hanging above. The wood floor is original to the building, and has been meticulously repaired, renewed, and repositioned into what is now a highlight of the room.

RIBBON CUTTING

Applause and cheers filled the air on Thursday, June 5, as Arts Council board members joined BAC Executive Director Deborah Jones and donor Maxine McCall to cut a ribbon, officially opening the performance space.

McCall, whose generosity funded much of the project. shared with the crowd her vision of a multipurpose space for community events, theater productions, concerts, and workshops. She told the audience the name for the theater, “Imagination and Possibility,” came to her as she awoke one morning.

“Good things are going to happen here,” McCall said. “We hope this will be the first of many, many times you’ll come back and enjoy the experience in Imagination and Possibilities.”

Jones said the Arts Council is ready to usher in a new era in Burke County theater and performance.

“This is a very proud moment for the Burke Arts Council,” she stated. “For more than 50 years it has been our mission to improve the quality of life in Burke County through the arts. This beautiful space in our amazing new home will provide countless opportunities from live theater to film and everything in between.

“We are so grateful for the generous support of our community and can’t wait to welcome you,” Jones added.

Morganton Mayor Ronnie Thompson recalled the days when the arts council building was a feed and seed store, long before its walls were lined with fine art and its rooms filled with music.

“My wife came home one day and said, ‘Deb is going to turn that (building) into an arts council studio and have a theater,’ and I said, OK, that’s going to take some imagination.

“It’s come to pass, thanks in large part to the people here and of course Maxine’s contribution,” Thompson continued. “We are so excited to have this in Morganton because it will allow art classes, weaving classes, and pottery classes, in one location, without people having to drive all over the county.”

Jones invited guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony to submit ideas for future shows and performances. Suggestions included dinner theaters, a theater workshop space, improvisational performances, guest author speakers and book signings, a comedy zone show, talent shows, and open mic nights. One person even suggested the theater would make an ideal wedding venue.

FIRST PERFORMANCE

The theater will see its debut performance on Thursday, June 19, when The Music Cities of the World Tour, featuring Webb-Tigert from Nashville and Calico from Vienna, Austria will christen the new stage.

Calico, featuring Tina Neiderpold and Julian Stepaniak with their bassist Allbert Stepaniak, are known across Europe for their jazzy pop harmonies and playing skills, with multiple appearances in Austria (their home base), Italy, Germany, Great Britain, and Scandinavia on their resume’.

The Lisa Webb–Bob Tigert Duo has become one of the country’s favorite ukulele performing and recording groups, with 13 festival appearances in the last 14 months. They have released three album projects in the past two years and played 62 concerts in 2024. They are both Nashville songwriters.

Other events currently planned for the space include a string quartet performance and several storytelling festivals. (See the accompanying information box on 5B.)

Tickets for all scheduled shows are on sale at burkearts.org. The Burke Arts Council is at 506 S. Sterling St., Morganton. Business hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.