Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012

'Voices' founder wins award

Tim Stevens dreamed of bringing Broadway performers to Garner, but he had no idea how big a hit the shows would become.

In the series' first year, all three performances at the Garner auditorium sold out.

"It's been far beyond what I could have envisioned," Stevens said.

Earlier this month, the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County honored Stevens with the Individual Supporter of the Arts Award for creating "Broadway Voices" in Garner.

The series was an immediate success last year, and it's back for another season. Ashley Brown, who played Mary Poppins on Broadway, performed in December. The series will continue in March and May.

Stevens, a sports writer for The News & Observer, which owns the Garner-Cleveland Record, said he's proud to bring big-name performers to his hometown. A theater lover, he has written several plays for local churches. He also wrote a musical that has been performed in several states.

Stevens said he's also proud that "Broadway Voices" has spurred a renewed focus on the arts in Garner. "To me, that's kind of what it was all about," he said.

Last year, after the successful Broadway series, the town changed the name of its 471-seat auditorium to the Garner Performing Arts Center to better reflect the nature of the venue. Also, the town hired a full-time director to run the place, and workers cut down trees in front of the building on Garner Road to make it more visible.

This year, the town is hosting its first performance series, which was scheduled to kick off Feb. 3 with comedian James Gregory. That performance has been postponed. Other performers throughout the year include jazz musicians, an Elvis impersonator and an illusionist.

The town's parks department even changed its name to Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.

Parks director Sonya Shaw, who nominated Stevens for the award, said "Broadway Voices" has proven the arts are valuable in bringing tourists to town. Visitors have come from well beyond North Carolina.

Unlike last season's shows, Brown's December performance wasn't a sellout. But Stevens figures that was because she performed the same day that the Garner High School football team played for a state championship in Winston-Salem. (Stevens managed to attend both events.)

Such arts performances can also help attract new young families to town, Shaw said, and people who already live in Garner can stay in town instead of traveling to Raleigh or Durham for cultural experiences.

But it's not always cheap to get the word out about a performance series.

Stevens created "Broadway Voices" with the help of the Garner Chamber of Commerce, the town and local businesses.

The town of Garner gave about $23,000 for the first season of the series and also gave money this year.

Also for the first season, local businesses gave about $85,000 in cash and in-kind donations, Shaw said.

"It just costs money to get the arts here," she said. "It is definitely worth it."

"Broadway Voices" will continue March 3 with a performance by Susan Egan, who is known for playing Belle in "Beauty and the Beast." J. Mark McVey, who has been in "Les Miserables," will be joined by his wife for a May 5 performance.

Tickets are $50 for a two-show package.

Stevens' award wasn't the first time "Broadway Voices" has been recognized. Last year, the series won a 2011 Arts and Humanities Award as the most innovative and effective new arts program within the N.C. Parks and Recreation Association.