Becky Schultz: Play It Forward with NCTC 2023

What is Play It Forward?

Play It Forward is an annual campaign to raise money to support one of the most impactful arts organizations in our state- the North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC)!

A Little Something Extra

I hope you will consider making a donation towards my campaign. Each and every gift counts – and is 100% tax deductible as a contribution to NCTC. 

As an extra bonus- for every $50 you donate you will get one entry into a drawing to win a Three Bone Theatre Season 12 Flex 8 package! 

This package isn’t available for sale yet, so you could be the first person to hold season tickets to our incredible 2023-2024 season. Full season details will be announced in August.

Why Am I Raising Money for NCTC?

Theatre is a unique art form that has the power to entertain, educate and enrich our community. It creates a shared experience for the performers and the patrons that can’t be duplicated. 

From the middle schooler who learns teamwork and partnership in their first production, to the high schooler who finds their voice on the stage, to the college student pursuing a degree in the field, to the producers of tomorrow who are pushing boundaries and telling crucial stories, the North Carolina Theatre Conference ensures that we have a vibrant theatre community across our state.

The last few years have been ROUGH for our industry, but we have come out the other side with a renewed appreciation for theatre arts and education. I’ll admit, as a theatre creator there were times when I wasn’t sure if this industry that I love would ever return. 

One of the main reasons that theatre in North Carolina is alive and well today is the dedicated support and advocacy that the NCTC staff provided at the state, regional and national level:

• We have them to thank for ensuring that theatre organizations were considered and included in the critical PPP and SVOG funding. 
• They also worked with advocacy partners to help secure the largest ever state funding allocation for the arts by the NC legislature
• We recently celebrated success after more than 10 years of advocacy, with the signing of a new law mandating NC’s first high school graduation requirement for the arts.
• NCTC’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) work serves as a model – other service organizations/performing arts competitions have contacted NCTC for advice on implementing similar initiatives with their own programs.

They also continue to support theatre educators, students and artists across the state. In the last year alone:

• Nearly 4,000 students participated in the Middle School and High School Play Festivals
• 200+ high school students and their parents attended College Day, where they met theatre professors from 25 colleges/universities
• 30+ emerging leaders and college students attended the Theatre Admin Intensive
• 90+ theatre practitioners reconnected at the 2022 Producing Gatherings

Personally and professionally, I have received so much value from my involvement with NCTC.  I attended my first NCTC Producing Gathering in 2013 and, as a new theatre producer, I learned more in those three days than in months of online research. This event provides valuable networking and education opportunities to theatre producers- both new and industry vets! 

Play it Forward donations are mission-critical for NCTC and help sustain the organization. I hope you will consider a contribution to my Play It Forward campaign in support of the annual Producing Gathering so we can continue to help develop excellent theatre talent around the state! 

What Is NCTC?

The North Carolina Theatre Conference strengthens NC’s vibrant theatre industry and engages tomorrow’s artists, audiences and advocates. 

Play It Forward and you'll help support NCTC's four flagship programs: 

College Day, where current high school students interested in pursuing theater in college can meet schools, audition, present portfolios, and receive scholarships.

Middle School Play Festival and High School Play Festival, for current middle and high school students enrolled in theatre programs or clubs to showcase their work and meet fellow thespians.

Theatre Admin Intensive, where Emerging Leaders & College Students see how successful theatres are built from the ground-up, get hands-on training in key administrative areas, and learn directly from prominent industry leaders

Producing Gathering, an annual professional development conference for theatres throughout the state. 

Thank you for your generosity!