NC Stage earns organization’s first Shubert Foundation grant

Currently in its 13th year of operations, North Carolina Stage Company has received its first Shubert Foundation grant — a fund “dedicated to sustaining and advancing the live performing arts in the United States, with a particular emphasis on theatre.”

“We are honored and privileged to be a recipient of a Shubert Foundation grant,” says NC Stage executive director Steve Hageman. “It is recognition of the significant work that North Carolina Stage Company does in Asheville and Western North Carolina.”

Here is the full release from NC Stage:

North Carolina Stage Company (NC Stage) has received a Shubert Foundation Grant for the first time in the organization’s history.

The Shubert Foundation is dedicated to sustaining and advancing the live performing arts in the United States, with a particular emphasis on theatre. In service of this mission, they provide general operating support to not-for-profit, professional resident theatre and dance companies, as well as arts-related organizations that help support their development. Grant recipients must have track records of artistic achievement, administrative strength and fiscal responsibility.

As the only professional theatre in Asheville eligible for this funding, NC Stage joins the ranks of other established professional theatres in North Carolina including Triad Stage in Greensboro, NC and Playmakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, NC. Nationally, other recipients include Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati, Ohio; The Lincoln Center Theatre, NYC; McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ; The Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN; and The Court Theatre in Chicago, IL.

This is the 3rd nationally competitive grant NC Stage has been awarded. NEA Shakespeare in American Communities grant in 2007. American Theatre Wing National Theatre Company grant in 2012. NC Stage was also recognized by the US Federal Government as an Americorps VISTA site in 2009 and 2010.

Of this award, Executive Director Steve Hageman says, “We are honored and privileged to be a recipient of a Shubert Foundation grant. It is recognition of the significant work that North Carolina Stage Company does in Asheville and Western North Carolina.”

Charlie Flynn-McIver, Artistic Director, says, “Since there really is little to no institutional support in Asheville for an arts organization to apply for an operational grant, it is really important to be competitive for grants like this. I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to build NC Stage to the point where we can be competitive on a national level in order to help provide the kind of quality professional theatre Asheville deserves.”

North Carolina Stage Company is Asheville’s only professional equity theatre celebrating its 13th year producing plays for the Asheville community. Founded by Charlie and Angie Flynn-McIver, the theatre has been voted best local theatre 9 out of the past 10 years in the Mountain Xpress Best of WNC Poll. Previously, NC Stage was awarded an American Theatre Wing National Theatre Company Grant and was nominated for an American Theatre Critics Association’s annual ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award. NC Stage receives funding from the North Carolina Arts Council through State Arts Resources funding.