Introducing Cameo Collective: Historic movie theater in downtown Fayetteville under new management

By Emily Ruth Perry, posted Jan 22, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

Located at 225 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville, Cameo Art House Theatre has two auditoriums and screens films ranging from classics to new releases. The theater also prioritizes spotlighting local and up-and-coming filmmakers. Photo by James Throssel

New directors of the Cameo Collective, Brian Adam Kline and James Throssel, are carrying the torch forward for one of Fayetteville’s first motion picture theaters.

The Cameo Art House Theatre started in 1908 as the Dixie Theatre. After the building fell into disrepair, Chris and Nasim Kuenzel and Eric Lindstrom acquired it in 1998 and utilized their architectural knowledge and passion for the arts to revitalize the theater. When the Kuenzels announced their retirement in August 2024, Kline and Throssel saw an opportunity to grow the legacy of the Cameo Theatre.

“When Chris and Nasim announced their plans to retire, that night I started to write the bylaws for the nonprofit,” shared Kline.

It’s been a great deal of hard work and patience leading up to the official transfer of ownership in January 2026.

For Kline and Throssel, this endeavor is personal; the Cameo Theatre has become a hub of community and meaningful relationships for them. Kline, the artistic director of the Cameo Collective, came to Fayetteville specifically for the theater; the Kuenzels were looking for a projectionist, and he had just completed his studies in acting and directing at West Virginia University.

James Throssel grew up in Fayetteville and worked at the Cameo Theatre in high school. He then found his way back after earning his degree in visual arts in New York. Throssel has been working as the manager of the Cameo for the past five years and is now the managing director of the Cameo Collective. Throssel and Kline worked together at the theater before Kline moved into full-time teaching at the Capital Encore Academy, where he serves as their high school theater and film teacher.

There has been a healthy transition of leadership from the Kuenzels to Brian and James.

“We’ve met with [the Kuenzels] weekly for the past few months to go over everything from operations to booking movies and events, getting their knowledge, input and thoughts. And they’re always a phone call away,” said Kline.

Throssel added, “We are extremely grateful to have them and their support.”

Along with this, Kline and Throssel understand the importance of cultivating existing and new partnerships and support.

“We really want the community involved. We want community input… There are too many stakeholders to not have the community involved,” said Kline. “We want [the Cameo] to live forever. The dream is for this place to keep going long after we are gone,” added Throssel.

Kline and Throssel want the Cameo Art House to be a destination known throughout the state. They want people to come to Fayetteville from all over North Carolina and beyond for the experience of the theater. They see this as possible by providing quality motion pictures, unique live performances and community events for a memorable date night or friend outing.

The Cameo has a diverse event calendar and continues to innovate with new ideas. On Jan. 10, they had a Human Trafficking Awareness Movie Screening. Throssel emphasizes that, while educational films like these are still a valuable staple in their event calendar, they’re expanding into other fun events. On Jan. 31, they’ll partner with the Fayetteville Marksmen to show their away hockey game on the big screen. They’re encouraging businesses to sponsor things like Fright Nights, movie series and special events.

Throssel suggested, “something like a bookstore sponsoring a movie night of a popular book-to-film. But really, we are open to any ideas.”

Kline and Throssel will also be launching a new program which will share their passion and knowledge for the craft of filmmaking with Capital Encore Academy high school students. They will use downtown locations for filming, and they’ve converted their loft space into a full editing studio where they will train students to make their own movies.

“Imagine a high school student shooting their own films and then having an official viewing event here,” explained Kline.

The goal is to spark interest for the next generation of filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts.

Becoming a nonprofit allows them to really lean into their values of providing community events and arts programs to people of all ages in Fayetteville. It also allows them to adapt their business model and accept donations. They’re currently at 40% of their initial fundraising goal of $75,000, which would cover initial acquisition and operational costs for the theater. They have an Oscar Party Fundraiser coming up on March 15, in which patrons will watch the Oscars on the big screen. They hope to have a formal dinner at a separate venue prior to the watch party, with more planning and details to come soon. This party is a thank you to the current donors and an invitation to new ones.

Kline and Throssel say every day is a fundraiser for the Cameo Collective. For those interested in supporting the legacy of the Cameo, memberships are available for donations of anywhere from $50 to $250,000, with various perks and benefits depending upon the level of support.

For more information, patrons can go to the website at cameoarthouse.com/ membership or stop into the Cameo at 225 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville.

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