CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The stage lights are back on at Blumenthal’s theaters in uptown after 14 months of being dark.
In addition to preparing for the return of live shows and audiences, a new mural that pays tribute to production workers has been painted outside of the Knight Theater.
“They are getting ready to open back up, and this is the door that all the stagehands enter in through, so we wanted to highlight all the people behind the scenes that are making all the magic happen,” muralist Sydney Duarte said.
According to Blumenthal’s president and CEO Tom Gabbard, there’s a lot to look forward to.
“Oh, it’s a huge season, almost an embarrassment of riches,” he said.
Veteran wardrobe supervisor Brenda Floyd couldn’t be more excited.
“This really makes my heart happy, I have really missed this,” she said.
Gabbard said he and his staff have been working on “Immersive Van Gogh,” an exhibition that opens June 18 at Camp North End, and preparing for Broadway’s “Wicked” that is set to open in September.
In addition to working with state officials on how to safely reopen, Gabbard has been watching his international counterparts.
“Some of our colleagues in places like South Korea and Australia, they have successfully navigated this. And particularly the big shows are playing very successfully, people sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. So we’re trying to learn from them, and not just for the immediate but in many respects, I think, this is preparing us for the future.”
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