'Carolina Academy of performing arts' first to run Off-Broadway NYC musical
A cast of local actors is now the first to perform a successful "Off-Broadway" production from New York City to Raleigh.
It's called "Between the Lines," appearing at the "Martin-Marietta Center for the Performing Arts" in the Fletcher theater on the night of August 4th and two Saturday, August 5th performances.
The play takes the audience into a world "Between the Lines" of a book. The backdrop of the musical is a huge library of books.
Keetyn Weeks plays the lead character named Delilah McFee. She finds her refuge in books.
Weeks explained her character's issues, "And is figuring herself out through her parents' divorce, dealing with some mean girls at her school."
Melanie Prince is the play's director as well as founder of "Carolina Center for the Performing Arts". She says Delilah has the typical teenage struggles, like feeling alone.
Her daughter, Payton Prince, is assistant director and works with the cast of up to 60 students from ages 6 to 22.
She said, "Oh my goodness, they're so excited to be here in this theater and they are just little professionals, all of them."
Add to that, members of the North Carolina Youth Orchestra led by music director Hunter Browning. He said, "It really sets the tone for a really vocally challenging show. Nothing about this show is easy."
In the musical, Delilah shares her wish in song, "Take the make-believe instead of my reality. Slip between the lines and never look back."
The character of Delilah wants to write her own story. "Through out the course of the story, she actually goes into the book and becomes like this princess," explained Weeks.
That's when it becomes a love story, which includes a prince as well as a villain.
The book was written by Timothy Allen with music and lyrics by Elyssa Samset and Kate Anderson. The creators of the musical gave unique permission to CAPA to perform the show in North Carolina.
Prince says the opportunity to bring the production to Raleigh deserves a full house of theater lovers.
She said, "If you want to support the arts, buy tickets, buy lots of tickets. So support them by going to the theater and yes, you have to leave your house and you have to get out into the world, but come and see a show. Come and support what we're doing."
TICKET INFO: https://www.ticketmaster.com/search?q=carolina%20academy%20of%20performing%20Arts
