History
In 1983, Raleigh's City Manager, Mr. L.P. Zachary, created a directive that formed the Carolina Regional Theatre. This new entity, with the deft direction of De Ann Jones, made its permanent home in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium under a contract with the City. The Mission was written to reflect the Theatre's focus on producing major Broadway musicals of universal appeal as a way to help revitalize Raleigh's downtown. Under an agreement with the Actors' Equity Association (the union for national performers), the Theatre committed to hiring a significant number of Equity performers for each production. Using the highest level of professional talent supported the Mission's goal of maintaining a professional theatre company in North Carolina. Opening with 825 season tickets sold and a total audience of 24,000, Camelot marked the beginning of the Theatre's new direction. With this new direction as inspiration, the name was changed to North Carolina Theatre.