Blowing Rock NC Theater History – Producer Director Mark Wilson with Tim Baxter – Summer Season 1994

THEATER HISTORY: The original Blowing Rock Stage Company Founder and Theatre Producer-Director Mark Wilson is interviewed by veteran broadcast personality Tim Baxter. Wilson brought the visionary proposal to start a new tradition of theatre excellence to the town of Blowing Rock, North Carolina in 1986 – a bold professional model in the tradition of Flat Rock Playhouse and the Barter Theatre.

In this video, Mark’s outlines in 90 focused seconds the dynamics of targeting the audience, making the mission clear and important personally for the viewer, and providing direction for Blowing Rock theater’s meteoric success. His infectious enthusiasm and authoritative positivity was credible and sincere. (But what was he thinking with that “mullet” hair back in ’94? …Cue the old Magnum PI theme song!)

Mark was a powerful promoter, communicator, salesman, educator and motivator. He articulated the mission of the theater in a manner inclusive of rich and poor, residents and tourists, those who sought art and those seeking just an occasional good-time entertainment. He mobilized the Town of Blowing Rock and appealed to the greater Watauga County and Blue Ridge region, embracing and giving ownership to the community at large.

Under Mark’s artistic direction and fiscal leadership, the theater proceeded to sell out 6 consecutive seasons, establishing the first union professional theater in northwest North Carolina, rapidly growing a reputation for the newest, best and newly-developing shows, Off-Broadway style. By 1989, Wilson was appealing to his audiences in his popular nightly curtain speeches the instability and at-risk community status of being an orphaned company as temporary summer theatre residents of Blowing Rock’s school auditorium.

From the first season in 1986, Mark understood that casting professional actors made the difference in his success. These artists made a full-time career commitment to perfecting their work. They were not locals, students, academics or marginally talented entertainers, and the Blowing Rock audiences appreciated and embraced this bold initiative for distinctive excellence. In fact, audiences expected it.

“We understand where you’re headed – stay on track and we will support this,” said one committed patron during the inaugural 1986 run. “We have plenty of community and college theatre choices here already.”

Within three years, Mark adopted a union contract, gaining access to the nation’s greatest resource of top-level professional talent, bringing a meager but dignified personnel wage, and more importantly: retirement and health benefits to adult professionals. Within the the theater’s first decade, Blowing Rock summer theatre became a reputable and cherished destination in the New York professional network.

The Blowing Rock Stage Company produced 24 consecutive seasons, establishing the regional standard for professional excellence AND providing the seminal inspiration for Blowing Rock North Carolina’s lavish permanent performing arts center.

Tim Baxter, veteran broadcaster and local personality, conducted this 15 year old VHS interview for local cable promotion. He was easy-going, and easy to talk to, bringing the best out of his varied community guests, and he was a generous promoter of all community events.

Tim was an enthusiastic supporter of this theater, and a driving force for the broader tourism economy of Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock. He was a huge factor in bringing community information to the year-round residents of the region, and a vital force in making the Blowing Rock theater project a success.

Tim remains an asset in the hearts of the Boone Blue Ridge Mountain community today with Baxter Mountain Properties. http://baxtermountainproperties.com

Duration : 0:1:40

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