HISTORY OF THE GILBERT

Since being founded in 1994 by Lynn Pryer, the Gilbert Theater has provided quality contemporary and classical theatrical productions for our diverse community including: children, the elderly, minorities, and the economically disadvantaged while at the same time giving local and guest artists a venue to display their unique talents.

The theater was founded in the basement of Lynn Pryer’s home in 1994. The theater was also located above the Arts Council building on Hay Street in Downtown Fayetteville before settling into its’ current home on the corner of Green and Bow Streets located near the Market House. The Gilbert Theater is named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette. We are now located on the second floor of the Fascinate U Children’s Museum at 116 Green street in historic downtown Fayetteville.

For many years, the Gilbert has produced classics in theater as well as outstanding contemporary works by noted playwrights such as: Donald Margulies, Eve Ensler, Suzan-Lori Parks, Leroi Jones, Paula Vogel, Christopher Durang, Edgar Lee Masters, Eve Merriam, Jane Martin, Athol Fugard, Moises Kaufman and Dylan Thomas to name a few. The work of many established as well as local up and coming writers such as Stephen Miles, John Merritt, James Dean, Chris Canfield and Jim Geoghan have been presented as well. A benefit performances of Eve Ensler’s, “The Vagina Monologues” was presented to raise funds and awareness for the local Rape Crisis Center and C.A.R.E. Battered Women’s Shelter. The Gilbert is proud to be members in good standing with the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, NCTC and SETC. The diversity of our community is served through our diverse projects and productions which have included, the Gilbert Glee, the Gilbert Conservatory, the Guild, the REP, creation of Commedia dell’Arte actors, a children’s puppet show, a special performance for a blind/non-sighted audience, staged readings, workshops on the various aspects of theater production lead by experts in their fields, creation and implementation of a state-wide original playwriting competition and recognition of outstanding new writers and production of original local/regional plays. We involve students whenever possible both on stage and off.

In June of 2012, Robyne Parrish replaced Lynn Pryer as Artistic Director of the Gilbert. During this transition, the Gilbert graduated to a new level. The Gilbert is now a semi-professional, community-minded company. Parrish worked to create a strong education program by launching the Gilbert Conservatory, the Gilbert Rep and the Gilbert Glee Club. Parrish also made efforts to grow a strong volunteer base for the company through the Gilbert Guild (founded by Tony Valcarcel). Parrish continued the Pryer tradition of giving local actors, musicians and artists a place where they could practice their craft with the added incentive of allowing guest professionals to visit, work and share their wealth of knowledge, doubling efforts to achieve the best possible creative process. With Through her work, the Gilbert now hires a small percentage of union actors and professional designers from around the states to build a stronger and more fully realized company and every artist who works for the Gilbert is compensated in some way for their time and talents.

In February 2017, Matthew Overturf replaced Robyne Parrish, becoming the third Artistic Director of the Gilbert Theater, then in 2019 Lawrence Carlisle III became the fourth and current Artistic Director.

2023-2024 Season

• The Rocky Horror Show October 6 – October 22, 2023
• A Christmas Carol – November 24 – December 17, 2023
• In the Blood – February 2 – February 14, 2024
• Assassins – March 8 – March 24, 2024
• Ivories – April 26 – May 12, 2024

2021-2022 Season

• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – The Musical – October 1 – October 17, 2021
• The Carols – December 3 – December 5, 2021
• The Last Days of Judas Iscariot – January 28 – February 13, 2022
• Othello – March 25 – April 10, 2022
• Fairview – May 27 – June 12, 2022

2019-2020 Season

• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown September – October 2019
• It’s a Wonderful Life – November – December 2019
• Ruins – January – February 2020
• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged – Production Cancelled Due to COVID-19
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Production Cancelled Due to COVID-19

2017-2018 Season

• Evil Dead: The Musical – September 2017
• It’s a Wonderful Life – November – December 2017
• Venus In Fur – February 2017
• Antigone – April 2018
• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – June 2018

2015-2016 Season

• Young Frankenstein – A Musical by Mel Brooks. Sept 2015
• It’s a Wonderful Life – Written by James Rodgers. November – December 2015
• Titus Andronicus – Written by William Shakespeare. February 2015
• Hedda Gabler – Written by Henrik Ibsen. February 2016
• Women of Manhattan – Written by John Patrick Shanley. April 2016
• The Vagina Monologues. – Written by Even Ensler– April 2016

2013-2014 Season

• RENT – Written by Jonathan Larson September -October 2013
• A Christmas Carol – written by Charles Dickens, adaptation by Christopher Schario November -December 2013
• Pan: The True Story of Peter Pan – written by Jeremy Fiebig adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan January – February 2014
• Macbeth – written by William Shakespeare April 2014
• Company of Wayward Saints – written by George Herman May-June 2014
• Sherlock Holmes: The Sleeping Detective written by James Dean May – June 2014

2011-2012 Season

• Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, Book, Music & Lyrics by Richard O’Brien. Sept. 22-Oct 9, 2011
• A Christmas Carol, Written by Charles Dickens, Adaptation by Kent Smith & Marcela Casals. Nov 25-Dec 11, 2011
• Clusters, Written by Stephen Miles – February 2-19, 2012
• As You Like It, Written by William Shakespeare – March 29-April 15, 2012
• Musical of Musicals, Music by Eric Rockwell, Lyrics by Joanne Bogart -May 31-June 17, 2012

2009-2010 Season

• Whispers on the Wind – Book & Lyrics by John B. Kuntz, Music by Lor Crane -September 24 – October 11, 2009
• A Christmas Carol –Written by Charles Dickens, Adaptation by Kent Smith and Marcela Casals – Nov. 27 – Dec. 13, 2009
• Playballs – Written by Mark Brownell – February 11 – 28, 2010
• Lysistrata – Written by Aristophanes – April 15 – May 2, 2010
• Madame Melville – Written by Richard Nelson – June 10 – 27, 2010

2007 – 2008 Season

• DOCTOR DOCTOR – John Jakes
• DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL adaption: Marcela Casals & Kent Smith
• THE BELLE OF AMHERST – William Luce
• RABBIT HOLE – David Lindsay-Abaire
• CABARET – book: Joe Masteroff, lyrics: Fred Ebb, music: John Kander.