THEATER HISTORY: The original Blowing Rock Stage Company Founder and Theatre Producer Mark Wilson knew that the best human resources were the root of success. He surrounded himself with top talent, and resisted compromise, including never producing a single one of many great musicals without as much live instrumental accompaniment as financially possible. In fact, he knew everyone in the theatre was instrumental.
Jim Dowd was Director of Theatre Operations in 1989 and 1990, and had the distinction of being the only Box Office Manager to return to Blowing Rock for consecutive employment. He managed the transition from the open seating of the first three seasons (1986-1988) to numbered reserved seats. Wow - such innovation...yep!
Prior to 1989, where you sat depended upon what time you arrived, and the Sunday matinees were notorious for the Banner Elk NC Floridian retiree migration that pushed up against the front door like sardines waiting to ooze in. The company had a volunteer in those days who was an elementary school teacher. She took all the Sunday matinee duties and would stand at the top of the stairs, hold up a hand and say: "Ok now, now were NOT going to open the doors until EVERYONE moves slowly back away down the stairs, and let's come in safely and orderly" ...as though commandeering a kindergarten class. God bless her.
It was all about the seats. "Where are my seats?" When Jim took over in 1989, the friction was electric. He was one tough native New Yorker and he was responsible solely for the success of that transition. Popular? Maybe not. Do New Yorkers always exude the surface warmth that Southerners pretend? He was a soldier, a Lieutenant General that paved the customers' way from purchase to performance. The Box Office will make or break a theater. It is the introduction. An aggravated path can largely influence the public's perception of a show. Jim Dowd kept the theatre management operations of the Stage Company intact during the summers of 1989 and 1990. Together, Mark and Jim sold every seat in the theater for every performance in those seasons, and if the buyer didn't show up, they resold it. It's all about the seats! ;)
Every year, Mark would interview approximately 250 young candidates for all the seasonal staff positions and the most difficult to hire was the Box Office Manager - typically a summer college job. He would tell them candidly: "This is the most difficult job you will ever have. This is the most difficult customer base you will ever experience. You have to be tough, but if you can survive this, you will be able to handle anything anywhere in any career in the service industry." By July 15 of EVERY single season for 12 years, the Manager would come to Mark and say: "You were honest with me in the interview - these are the rudest, most difficult, most ungrateful people I have ever encountered and I won't quit now, but I will never come back to this town." And they didn't. Except Jim.
Jim was a graduate of American University in Washington, DC, with a Masters Degree in Arts Management and extensive prior management experience. A condition of his returning in 1990 was that he would direct his first professionally cast musical, and begin reinvention of himself as an accomplished stage director. Jim and Mark selected STARDUST, which was being remounted for the Broadway stage that same year. Jim surrounded himself with the great Musical Director Michael Rice and Choreographer Teri Gibson, and achieved huge success with eight powerful stage voices, including Loren Harper.
STARDUST is a musical of romantic poetry set to some of the greatest music of the early twentieth century. Mark gave Jim a 7-piece band and additionally, the legendary Mike Craver doubled keyboards with Michael Rice. The banjo you hear is Mike's synthesizer.
Jim Dowd never looked back. His success was unquestionable. He directed shows across the United States, founded his own theatre company in New York City, and was a principle in a company specializing in Industrial Shows and cruise ship productions.
Jim was a principle player and policy maker in the early first five year groundwork struggle to form a theatrical institution in Blowing Rock. He has a permanent and fond tribal space in Mark's heart and memories, and this video restored lovingly from 20 year-old archive footage is the ideal tribute to Jim's contribution to Blowing Rock Theater success. This fair-use educational documentation proves Carolina Rolling Stone is a forgotten treasure for most, and will be a wonderful find for many. The words of Mitchell Parish: "The ones I love the best" - the perfect homage indeed.
The Blowing Rock Stage Company produced 24 consecutive seasons, ultimately establishing the regional standard for professional excellence and providing the seminal inspiration for Blowing Rock North Carolina's lavish permanent performing arts center.
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Blowing Rock NC Theater Casting History for Stage Producer Director Mark Wilson and Tim Baxter (P2)by marskat75892 views
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