Art lovers and representatives of Cape Fear Regional Theater gathered at Monday evening’s Fayetteville City Council meeting to show their support for Theatre leadership as they petitioned the city for financial support for the continued expansion of their facilities. 

After finishing the first Phase I of renovations to their auditorium in 2021, the Theatre is moving into Phase II,  which will feature two new classrooms, additional event spaces, updated accessibility, and “a new-and-improved customer experience” according to information on the project. 

Supporters of the Theatre showed solidarity with CFRT representatives who came forward to speak during a public hearing concerning the City Manager’s recommended budget for the fiscal year of 2024. 

In January, the theater submitted a request for $500,000 a year for 5 years to the City Council to fund further expansions for a new building. 

Currently, the unapproved budget has a commitment of $250,000 allocated annually to the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

The Theater began fundraising in 2020 which brought them $1 million to complete Phase 1 of their renovations. Since then, the Theatre has raised $10.5 million for their new building and speakers came forward to urge the Council to adjust their budget to help them fully fund the project, citing the economic impact the new facility could have in the area. 

“The Phase II project will generate $47 million in direct and induced spending and contribute toward creating a vibrant place for economic recruitment and retention. With your $2.5 million commitment now CFRT will reach its full potential as a world class theater ensuring that world class art won't be a world away,” shared CFRT Managing Director Ella Wrenn. “The renovated building will be a jewel for our community. It will take our cloistered former movie theater and make it into a transparent beautiful hub for the arts. We have grown 15 percent and now serve 50,000 people annually, the same as organizations with two and three times our operating budget.” 

The Theatre needs $15 million in order to break ground on the new building and an overall total of $20 million to build it as originally designed. CFRT representatives said they are confident they can raise the remaining $2 million that would still be needed to begin construction  should the Council approve their request for increased funds. 

“We have the first pass of bids back from a cost estimator, and we can actually build the building that we designed for just about $20 million,” shared CFRT Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke. “We have a three year plan that will enable us to continue producing and teaching our classes while the building is under construction. With your support at $2.5 million, we will break ground at this time next year on route to opening this incredible facility in the fall of 2025. But without the fully funded request for this project, it will be delayed.” 

Councilman D.J. Haire informed the public before the hearing began that the Council wouldn’t be voting whether to adopt the current budget at the time, citing concerns in other areas that will need further review before a decision is made.

A full recording of Monday's City Council meeting is available online here. 

*** More on the Cape Fear Regional Theatre's new building project will be featured in our upcoming issue coming out on June 23 focusing on "Business in the Arts.