ROCKINGHAM – If you have passed by the Richmond County Theatre in Rockingham since the full-time position as director was left unfunded, you may have noticed the marquee message —“STAY TUNED.” Many people in the community were concerned about the future of the Theatre due to budget cuts by county commissioners. Well, as people in the theater say, the show must go on, and fortunately for Richmond County, Merrie Dawkins has agreed to step into the position of director as the new season begins.
Ms. Dawkins has been a volunteer with the Richmond County Theatre in almost every capacity-assistant director, props, make-up, costumes, scripts, etc.-since she began there over 40 years ago. A graduate of Hamlet High School, Merrie was a theater major at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. She lived in Memphis, Tennessee and Beaufort, South Carolina before returning to Hamlet with her children. Her friend Betty Williamson, at that time a teacher in the Richmond County Schools, and a financial supporter of the Theatre, told Ms. Dawkins about the need for volunteers at RCT. When she first stepped into the Theatre, Dawkins said she felt an instant connection to the facility and told David Ariail, the director at that time, “This is home. I’m home.”
The first production of the 2018-2019 season will be “Sanders Family Christmas,” which Dawkins said was presented quite a few years ago. The story revolves around a rural family of gospel singers in North Carolina during World War II as one of the sons prepares to head off to war. This play is a sequel to “Smoke on the Mountain” and is a popular production in the Christmas season. “There is a lot of music in this play, and the Theatre is requesting that local musical talent step forward to become part of Sanders Family Christmas,” Dawkins stated. “It is a feel good story with lots of Christmas music, hymns, and gospel music.”
Ms. Dawkins continued, “The Theatre also is looking for a musical director, as well as people to take care of the sound and lights and tech support. We are getting Wi-Fi, updating the website, will be on Instagram and Twitter, bringing things more current. Volunteers are needed for cleaning, costumes, makeup, building sets, whatever you feel like contributing to the Theatre. Corporate sponsors are especially needed. Musicals cost more to produce, because of the royalties and extra expenses. We will also be writing grants to gain additional funding.”
Volunteers Alison Franco, Mary O’Kelly, Mia Grace Franco, Valeria Lunceford, and Brian Perry were assisting Merrie Dawkins with cleaning the Theatre, as well as taking on the task of going through the hundreds of costumes—many which could be considered vintage— and to make space for the new clothing this week as they prepare for the 2018-2019 season. The first production is scheduled for November 29, 2018, with a total of six performances planned. As the marquee on the Richmond County Theatre reads –“STAY TUNED”….and we will!!
