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Donna Scott Productions is holding its 3rd Annual Holiday Party with Improv Charlotte to benefit Kids 1st of the Carolinas and the Relocation Fund for the Charlotte Art League!

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Nov 16, 2017 – Are you ready for some holiday fun in South End?! In less than a month, Donna Scott Productions and the Charlotte Art League will celebrate the holidays with their third annual Tacky South End Holiday Party, complete with an Improv Comedy show, tacky sweater contest, and holiday photo booth starting at 9:30PM after the South End Gallery Crawl at 1517 Camden Road on December 1, 2017.

The featured event will be an improv comedy show by local favorite troupe, Improv Charlotte (improvcharlotte.org) starting at 9:30PM, at the Charlotte Art League at 1517 Camden Road. Improv Charlotte performs family friendly, audience interactive comedy, and everyone is welcome! Admission is FREE with RSVP HERE: http://bit.ly/2fsB839 AND a new child’s toy for our Kids First of the Carolinas (or suggested $10 donation). All proceeds from this event will go toward the Charlotte Art League Relocation Fund.

In addition for 2017 Donna Scott Productions will continue spearheading the 3rd year of the #CltArtsGivesBack campaign in which we collaborate with other arts groups and support Kids 1st of the Carolinas (http://kidsfirstofthecarolinas.org) a local, grass-roots non-profit that helps children and families in need around the holidays. This year we will be collecting new, unwrapped children’s toys and clothes at 4 #CltArtsGivesBack locations across the city and we suggest you support these holiday shows from our participating groups and bring a new unwrapped toy along for easy drop off!

• Charlotte Art League/donna scott productions- 12/ 1, 3rd Annual Tacky South End Holiday Party with Improv Charlotte at 1517 Camden Road
  Tix/info– http://bit.ly/2fsB839
  
• Theatre Charlotte A Christmas Carol , Dec 8-17 at 501 Queens Road
  Tix/info- http://theatrecharlotte.org/1718christmascarol.shtml
  
• Actor’s Theatre Santaland Diaries, Dec 6-23 at
  Queens University’s Hadley Center 2132 Radcliff Avenue
  Tix/info- http://www.atcharlotte.org/the-santaland-diaries/
  
• Chickspeare Every Christmas Story Ever Told, Dec 7-16 at
  Noda Brewing 2921 N. Tryon Street
  Tix/info- http://chickspeare.com/chicksmas2017/

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The ASC gets a Sneak Peek at Eat the Runt!

Our founder, Donna Scott, sat down with Bernie Petit of the Arts and Science Council to talk about our upcoming production of “Eat the Runt” – a show that gives the audience the unique opportunity to cast a show in Charlotte. Check out the whole article on the ASC’s blog here: ASC Article Link

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August 7: From “Imposter” to Empowered

Charlotte writer, speaker and “idea whisperer” Valaida Fullwood takes the stage for DSP Women’s Entrepreneurs in Arts and Business Series in August

CHARLOTTE, NC, July 15, 2017– The 3rd 2017 installment of the Donna Scott productions Women Entrepreneurs in Business and Arts Speakers series will be ‘From Imposter to Empowered’ featuring Valaida Fullwood. This event will be held on Monday August 7, 6:30-8pm at the Charlotte
Art League, 1517 Camden Road in South End. This event is free and open to the public but seating is limited and RSVP is required: http://bit.ly/2vfsLgR

IMPOSTER SYNDROME is a very real fear that plagues artists, entrepreneurs and new small business owners alike, many times freezing them in their tracks and stopping their progress. How do we push through this common fear to achieve success?

Valaida Fullwood brings her success story of writing for years but not considering herself a Writer, pushing through and writing her book “Giving Back” and then turning that into a touring museum exhibition that opened Feb 2015:  “Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited” for which she currently serves as vision keeper and principal architect.

Valaida Fullwood Bio:

Described an “idea whisperer,” Valaida Fullwood brings unbridled imagination and a gift for harnessing wild ideas to her work as a writer, public speaker and consultant on various projects and events in the philanthropic sector. Her client base ranges widely and her interests center on social innovation in philanthropy, education and the arts. In short, she helps people and organizations drive bold ideas forward by guiding their projects and by writing their stories. Valaida is the award-winning author of Giving Back, a 400-page hardcover book profiling stories of philanthropy among African Americans that was developed with photographer Charles Thomas. “Giving Back,” her first book, was named one of the 10 Best Black Books of 2011 and received the prestigious 2012 McAdam Book Award, which recognizes “the most inspirational and useful new book for the nonprofit sector.

A born-and- bred North Carolinian, Valaida has deep hometown roots in Morganton and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in International Studies with a focus in Economics.

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Donna Scott Productions, Harvey B. Gantt Center
and Charlotte Art League
place audience in in director’s seat for fall 2017 show:
Eat the Runt by Avery Crozier

CHARLOTTE, NC, June 26, 2017 – Donna Scott Productions, the resident theatre
company of The Charlotte Art League, announces its fall show of 2017: Eat the Runt, a
comedy by Avery Crozier. This joint production with the Harvey B. Gantt Center for
African-American Arts+Culture and The Charlotte Art League will run September 7-23,
2017. The opening night performance will be held on September 7 at the Gantt Center in
Uptown Charlotte, at 551 S. Tryon Street. All other performances will be at the Charlotte
Art League, 1517 Camden Road in South End. Show time is at 8 pm nightly. Eat the Runt
will be directed by Tonya Bludsworth and features Charlotte based actors Kevin Aoussou,
Tracie Frank, Jennifer Grabenstetter, Andrea King, Ericka Ross, Stephen Seay, Kevin
Shimko, and Stephen West-Rogers.

Providing a completely novel and participatory theatre experience for Charlotte audiences, Eat the Runt requires that all eight actors in the cast learn every role and audition for the audience before each performance. The audience will cast the show using their smartphones and watch as the actors they cast deftly play out one of the over 40,000 possible casting combinations.

The plot of Eat the Runt follows Merritt, a grants manager candidate, through a series of
increasingly bizarre interviews for a position at an esteemed art museum. Eat the Runt
focuses a sharply comedic eye on the themes of political correctness, office politics,
sexual harassment, religious persuasions, and societal and cultural norms related to
gender and race. The result is a unique, hilarious and sometimes surprising performance
that will never be the same show twice.

This production was made possible by our 2017 season sponsors Historic South End,
Next Stage Consulting; our beer sponsor Triple C Brewing and a Cultural Vision Grant
from The Arts and Science Council.

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June 12: Get involved or STFU!

Charlotte Entrepreneur, community leader and Charlotte Native Lesa Kastanas takes the stage for DSP Women’s Entrepreneurs in Arts and Business Series in June

CHARLOTTE, NC, May 17, 2017– The 2nd 2017 installment of the Donna Scott productions Women Entrepreneurs in Business and Arts Speakers series will be ‘Get involved or STFU!’ featuring Charlotte community leader Lesa Kastanas. This event will be held on Monday June 12, 6:30-8pm at the Charlotte Art League, 1517 Camden Road in South End. This event is free and open to the public but seating is limited and RSVP is required: http://bit.ly/2qwtg4s.

Would you like to get involved in your community or neighborhood but don’t know where to start? Do you crave being a part of a group of passionate people that don’t just talk but actually get things done?  Have you wished you felt more connected to your community?

Charlotte native, serial entrepreneur, community organizer and Lesa Kastanas says “If you’re not willing to change it, stop f’n complaining about it!” This has been her motto throughout her life in Charlotte, opening multiple businesses, raising money for local causes like Rain Charlotte and Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, investing in the growth of neighborhoods like Plaza Midwood and creating unique events that have connected Charlotte’s most creative and passionate along the way. Our candid conversation with Lesa is sure to light a fire with anyone who has wondered whether or not one person can truly make a difference.

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Audition Announcement: EAT THE RUNT by Avery Crozier

Produced by donna scott productions in conjunction with The Harvey Gantt Center and the Charlotte Art League

Saturday April 8 10:30a-2pm at the Harvey Gantt Center Uptown
Sunday April 9 5:30-8 at the Charlotte Art League

Synopsis:

Eat the Runt, a ‘play without pronouns’ is a satirical piece which turns its sharp eye on political correctness, office politics, sexual harassment, religious persuasions, and societal and cultural norms. The eight diverse actors learn every part and don’t know which role they will play until the audience decides for them at each performance. The actors forge their own unique interpretations in any one of the 40,320 possible casting combinations that could confront them, creating a unique and hilarious interpretation of the show every night. All roles are compensated. Tonya Bludsworth will direct.

Auditions will consist of cold reads from script playing multiple characters. Seeking actors that can make bold and unique choices and are enthusiastic about the opportunity of playing a different role each night.

Please bring headshot and resume to auditions. 

Character Breakdown:

8 characters, ages 21+, any gender, any race

Must be available for all show run dates: Sept 7, 8, 9, 13, 14,1 5,16, 20, 21, 22, 23

Rehearsal period will start July 24

Please email donnascottproductionsinfo@gmail.com for an audition time or with any questions. When you email, please state if you have an audition date preference.

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The Ghost of (I Hate) Hamlet Returns With A Vengence
Women Playing Hamlet Reviewed! 

Thank you so much to Perry Tannenbaum, who joined us on opening night last week, for reviewing Women Playing Hamlet. He writes that “Braininess and silliness play well together at Charlotte Art League…”Check out the entire review at Broadway World Charlotte: BWW Link

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Chatting with the Away Team
of Guardians of The Geekery

Our post-fab-opening-night giddiness truly shines through in this fun, quickie interview with the cast of 💀❤️Women Playing Hamlet ❤️💀 with the Away Team lovelies of 💫Guardians of the Geekery! Check out the interview here: GG Mini Podcast Link

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Women Playing Hamlet Featured in C5!

Donna Scott sat down with Joanne Spataro for Charlotte Five to discuss our most recent production, feminism, and being a female actor in Charlotte. Check out the whole article here: Charlotte Five Article.

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Hanging Out In Wilson’s World

 3/6/2017:
Did you catch us this morning on WCCB with Wilson’s World? Lots of fun chatting it up about our comedy ‘Women Playing Hamlet’, our joint project with Chickspeare, opening this week at the Charlotte Art League in Historic South End, Charlotte. Check out the whole clip here: Wilson Link

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Jan. 20: #stillwithher

Donna Scott Productions stages reading
of satirical ‘The Taming’ on Inauguration Day

CHARLOTTE, NC — The 2016 political season was inspirational and/or motivational, depending on which way your personal politics lean.

The outcome of the presidential election ignited a spark in Lauren Gunderson, creator of “The Taming,” a satirical, feminist play that addresses political and gender stereotypes on the backdrop of the Miss America Pageant. The playwright announced she’d waive staging fees for her political farce for any company if they staged a reading of the piece on Jan. 20, 2017 — Inauguration Day.

Charlotte’s Donna Scott Productions jumped at the opportunity. The free reading is scheduled for 7p.m., Friday, Jan. 20 at Charlotte Art League, 1517 Camden Rd., Charlotte. DSP had included “The Taming,” in it’s Spring 2016 lineup, not knowing at the time just how prescient that decision would be.

“We loved that it turned a stereotypical female trope on its ear by having the intellectual mastermind be a feminist beauty queen,” says Donna Scott, DSP founder/executive director. “When we chose the play in August of 2015 we had no idea just how timely it would feel with the heatedrhetoric of the 2016 election. And so much has happened even since then.”

The Charlotte Inauguration Day staging will feature the March 2016 cast reprising their roles: Glynnis O’ Donoghue as Bianca/Pinckney, Katherine Drew as Catherine, Donna Scott as Patricia/Madison.

Gunderson, among the top 10 of American Theatre Magazine’s most produced playwrights of 2015 and recipient of the Dramatist Guild of America Award, was motivated in 2013 to create the play “to unpack the deep frustration of a divided and obstructionist patriarchy,” she wrote on Playscripts.com, “to laugh with the painful truth about extremism on both sides, to toy with our country’s history and wrestle with its foundational imperfections, and to make manifest a dream of reason and understanding prevailing in America. That feels more necessary now than three years ago.”

The Jan. 20 event is free, but space is limited and RSVPs are required through Eventbrite or through this URL: http://bit.ly/2hFyd5k

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Selling Your Strongest Self: Cut The Bullsh*t!
was a huge hit! Did you miss it?

If you missed the event, check out some of Rachel’s tips for cutting the bullsh*t and selling your strongest self in this piece by Katie Toussiant from CharlotteFive! Thank you everyone who came. Be sure to follow us on all social media platforms to keep up with what we’re doing next!

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Selling Your Strongest Self: Cut The Bullsh*t!

PR expert Rachel Sutherland takes the stage on October 17th  for
2nd DSP Women’s Entrepreneurs in Arts and Business Series

CHARLOTTE, NC, September 6, 2016 – The second installment in the Donna Scott productions Women Entrepreneurs in Business and Arts Speakers series will be ‘Selling Your Strongest Self: Cut the Bullsh*t!’ featuring Rachel Sutherland of Rachel Sutherland Communications. The event will be held on Monday October 17, 6:30-8pm at the Charlotte Art League, 1517 Camden Road in South End. This event is free and open to the public but seating is limited to RSVP is required: http://bit.ly/2cEcAoD

Do you find it easier to talk about all the things your counterparts and friends are doing rather than your own business, artistry or non-profit? Do you find that you can sell the heck out of something you’ve found that really love but find it difficult to speak succinctly when the topic turns to you and the things you are doing?

Charlotte public relations expert Rachel Sutherland has been there, but emphatically says “Get over it!” Learning to speak strongly and clearly about what you love and what you do is imperative to the success of your brand and your business. In this question and answer style interview session Rachel will provide actionable takeaways that you can start instituting now to help you cut the B.S. and sell your strongest self, always.

Before founding Rachel Sutherland Communications, Rachel was a journalist for more than 13 years, most recently as the Style Editor at the Charlotte Observer, the largest daily newspaper in the Carolinas. RSC was launched to help lifestyle brands and nonprofits streamline their stories using marketing strategy, branding, social media and public relations. RSC has worked with Vineyard Vines, Studio C, Habitat Metrolina ReStores, Project One Scholarship Fund, Shine Salon, Cupcrazed and fashion stylist Erica Hanks, among others. Her clients have been featured in the pages of Southern Living, Food & Wine and Oprah Magazine, as well as on The Food Network and The Today Show.

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ANNOUNCEMENT:

• Oct. 17: DSP Women in Business and the Arts Speakers Series: Selling Your Strongest Self with Rachel Sutherland of Rachel Sutherland Communications. 6:30p, The Charlotte Art League, 1517 Camden Road, Ticketing information to come soon.
• Dec. 2: Second Annual South End Holiday Party at the Charlotte Art League to benefit Kids 1st of the Carolinas with Improv Charlotte after the South End Gallery Crawl. Ticket information to come soon.

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Donna Scott Productions’ Announces Women Entrepreneurs in Business and Arts Speaker Series with media sponsor Creative Loafing Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC, July 5, 2016 – Donna Scott Productions is proud to announce the DSP Women Entrepreneurs in Business and Arts Speaker Series. This series will explore the opportunities, successes and challenges of being a savvy entrepreneur and will be focused on women in Charlotte, NC and surrounding area. The goal of the series will be informal networking along with educational sharing of information from experts in their field. The 1^st event will be held in conjunction with the Charlotte Art League at their space at 1517 Camden Road in South End. Creative Loafing is the series media sponsor and Treehouse Kitchen (The Summit Room, The Mayobird, The Pack House and Joe and Nosh) is the wine and food sponsor for the series. 

The first installment in the series will be on Monday July 25 6:30-8pm and the topic is ‘Non-Traditional Spaces and Partnerships: How to Make them Work For You.’ This session will be a panel discussion moderated by Anita Overcash, Editor of Creative Loafing. The panel will consist of 3 examples of successful business/arts collaborations: Suzie Ford(NoDa Brewing) and Sheila Proctor (Chickspeare), Carolina Cook- Frers (Frock Shop) and Nicia Carla (Paperhouse Theatre Company) and donna scott (donna scott productions) and Cindy Connelly (Charlotte Art League) and will be focused around the benefits of a shared space partnership using a pop-up model.

The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited to RSVP is required: http://bit.ly/28ZsNAa . The second event in the series for 2016 is Monday, October 17 and will feature Public Relations expert Rachel Sutherland of RS Communications.   

Donna Scott Productions celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2015 with a successful series of theatre events designed to bring live theatre back to the Historic South End neighborhood of Charlotte and in 2016 was named the resident theatre company of the Charlotte Art League. Five events were offered with audiences and comedy The Book of Liz won Creative Loafing’s Best Theatre Show of 2015 and South End being dubbed “The New Arts District of Charlotte” with the addition of theatre by Charlotte Magazine. Event is produced with the help of our sponsors, Sleepy Poet Antique Mall, Next Stage Consulting and Triple C Brewing Company.

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The Show Must Go On for Women in Theater!

We loved being a part of this article about Charlotte women in theatre for Creative Loafing Charlotte along with PaperHouse Theatre, FROCK Shop, Chickspeare, NoDa Brewing Company & Paige Johnston Thomas for Theatre Charlotte- and big thanks to Page Leggett!

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‘The Taming’ is Political Hilarity!
Review by Lydia Arnold of Artsy.com

“Wherever your political leanings take you, this show offers both humor and hilarity, along with more than a soupçon of history.” Thank you so much to Lydia Arnold for coming out to review our show! Read the whole thing here.

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‘Taming’ the Political Beast: Charlotte Observer Preview

Check out this great preview of our timely political comedy in the Charlotte Observer! Page Leggett gives a sneak peak into this hilarious show and some insight into our fabulous playwright, Lauren Gunderson. Read the whole article here – get your tickets here!

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The Taming: Unraveling Today’s Political Gridlock

Check out this fantastic interview where our playwright Lauren Gunderson dishes about The Taming and Shakespeare, current political rhetoric and the value of farce to Charlotte View Point. Read it here and grab your tickets here!

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“Political Comedy Pops Up in South End”

We’re featured on Historic South End’s blog! Thanks for helping us get the word out about our upcoming show. We love producing theatre in this part of town! Read the post here.

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Donna Scott Productions announces residency with Charlotte Art League in South End and spring show: The Taming by Lauren Gunderson

CHARLOTTE, NC March 16, 2016 – Donna Scott Productions and the Charlotte Art League announce their official ongoing partnership in South End to produce live theatre events in 2016. Donna Scott Productions, the resident theatre company of the Charlotte Art League, will present The Taming by Lauren Gunderson as its 2016 spring show. The political comedy will open March 31 and run through April 16 at the Charlotte Art League. Tonya Bludsworth will direct. Tickets available through CarolinaTix.org and are $22 in advance: http://bit.ly/1Sd8Ab2 and $25 at the door.

The Taming, a satirical farce that addresses political and gender stereotypes on the backdrop of the Miss America Pageant, was deemed “a laugh riot with food for thought’ by the San Francisco Chronicle. Lauren Gunderson was named in the top 10 of American Theatre Magazine’s most produced playwrights of 2015 and was the recent recipient of the Dramatist Guild of America Award. This will be her inaugural Charlotte production. Ms. Gunderson will make herself available for interviews via special request; please inquire for appointment.

What happens when people of different races, gender and even political positions gather in the same space and decide to listen to each other? Join Donna Scott Productions, the Red Boot Coalition as we share a Red Boot meeting experience where people listen without judgement and an agenda. Red Boot Meetings are a place where people come together to share honestly and listen compassionately. What happens when people of different races, gender and even political positions gather in the same space and decide to listen to each other? Come witness it for yourself! We are excited to offer this post show interactive discussion immediately after The Taming on Sunday April 3 and Wednesday April 6, hosted by Red Boot Coalition, Founder Molly Barker. For more about the Red Boot Coalition please go to theredbootcoalition.org

Donna Scott Productions celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2015 with a series of theatre events designed to bring live theatre back to the Historic South End neighborhood of Charlotte. Their first 2015 event was a reading of Carrie Ann’s Kiss by Charlotte playwright and Donna Scott Productions’ Co-producer Tonya Bludsworth, held at the Charlotte Trolley Museum in January. The spring show was a fully staged production of Shiloh Rules by Doris Baizley, held at the Charlotte Art League in March 2015. The August show was the David and Amy Sedaris’ Comedy The Book of Liz, directed by Donna Scott Productions’ Co-producer Glynnis O’Donoghue in the same space, which ran for eleven shows, brought sold out audiences to the Charlotte Art League and won Creative Loafing’s Best Theatre Show of 2015. A Backwards Broadway collaboration with Theatre Charlotte (as part of their Grand Nights for Singing Series) had a standing room only audience in September, and a sold out collaboration with Improv Charlotte for a holiday event brought new audiences to the Charlotte Art League and South End. The pop-up theatre experience at the Charlotte Art League includes an active intermission during which the audience gets to shop the galleries for visual art from local Charlotte artists; 97 pieces of art were sold in 2015 as a result of the collaboration between Charlotte Art League and Donna Scott Productions in South End.

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Donna Scott Productions is celebrating a year of successful theatre events in South End with a holiday party that includes Improv Charlotte at the Charlotte Art League, one night only and FREE!

CHARLOTTE, N.C.  Nov 18, 2015 – How do you celebrate a successful year of bringing live theatre back to the Historic South End neighborhood in 2015? With a big party of course! And we’re inviting all of Charlotte to come check it out for FREE!

Donna Scott Productions is teaming up again with Historic South End, Charlotte Art League and new partner The South End Neighborhood Association and to host the 1^st South End Holiday Party on December 4, 2015. The evening will start at 9:30 after gallery crawl with apps and drinks and includes a tacky sweater contest, live music, holiday photo booth, door prizes and shopping; the feature event will be an improv comedy show with Improv Charlotte (improvcharlotte.org) starting at 10pm at the Charlotte Art League at 1517 Camden Road. Improv Charlotte has been performing as a group since 2006 and performs family friendly improv comedy-everyone welcome! This event is co-produced with Historic South End and is free and open to the public; seating is limited, RSVP HERE: http://bit.ly/1GWzomM

In addition Donna Scott Productions has facilitated the 1^st #CltArtsGivesBack campaign where four Charlotte arts group have collaborated to support our charity around holidays: Kids 1^st of the Carolinas, a grass roots local non-profit that helps children and families in need. (kidsfirstofthecarolinas.org). We will be collecting new unwrapped children’s toys and clothes at three #CltArtsGivesBack locations: Charlotte Art League (1517 Camden Road), Theatre Charlotte (501 Queens Road) and Actors Theatre (605 E Stonewall) until December 15. Please help us support children in need by bringing a new unwrapped toy or clothing item to donate.

Donna Scott Productions is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a series of theatre events designed to bring live theatre back to the Historic South End neighborhood of Charlotte in 2015. Their first 2015 event was a reading of Carrie Ann’s Kiss by Charlotte playwright Tonya Bludsworth, held at the Charlotte Trolley Museum in January. The spring show was a fully staged production of Shiloh Rules by Doris Baizley, held at the Charlotte Art League in March 2015. The August show was the David and Amy Sedaris’ Comedy The Book of Liz in the same space, which ran for eleven shows, brought sold out audiences to the Charlotte Art League and won Creative Loafing’s Best Theatre Show of 2015. The third event was a free event, a Backwards Broadway collaboration with Theatre Charlotte as part of their Grand Nights for Singing Series that had a standing room only audience in September. The pop-up theatre experience at the Charlotte Art League includes an active intermission where the audience gets to shop the galleries for visual art from local Charlotte artists at the performances; 85 pieces of art have been sold in 2015 so far as a result of the collaboration between Charlotte Art League and Donna Scott Productions in South End.

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The Book of Liz Named ‘Best Theater Show of the Last 12 Months’ by Creative Loafing!

We were thrilled to learn that our production of The Book of Liz was named the “Best Theater Show of the Last 12 Months” by Creative Loafing in their “Best Of” issue! They also picked the brain of our founder and fearless leader, Donna Scott about her picks of Charlotte’s best! See her feature here. For the full list of winners, check out Creative Loafing’s site!

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Donna Scott Productions on a South End Heater! 

We are so excited to be featured on Historic South End’s blog! HSE writes that “In the past year alone, DSP has made a splash in the South End arts scene with a growing portfolio of successful pop-up theatre performances in unexpected locations, each one bigger and better than the last.” To read the full article, visit their blog here! Thank you so much, Historic South End – we wouldn’t be able to make all of this happen without a great community partner like you!

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Donna Scott Productions Collaborates with Theatre Charlotte and Charlotte Art League to bring Backwards Broadway Event to South End- one show only!

CHARLOTTE, N.C. August 18, 2015   – Donna Scott Productions is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a series of theatre events designed to bring live theatre back to the Historic South End neighborhood of Charlotte in 2015.

The group is collaborating with Theatre Charlotte’s Grand Nights for Singing to present a one-show-only “Backwards Broadway” musical revue on Saturday September 19 at 2pm at the Charlotte Art League at 1517 Camden Road. The event has a cast of some of Charlotte’s best voices and is free and open to the public as a part of the Arts and Science Council’s Connect with Culture event series. Doors will open at 1pm so that audience members can browse the galleries pre-show. Backwards Broadway is an exhilarating and spirited performance featuring men singing show tunes traditionally sung by women, and women singing show tunes traditionally sung by men. This gender-bending performance celebrates musical theatre in a unique way. The cast includes: Dani Burke, Chris Chandler, Abby Corrigan, Kayla Ferguson, Jenn Grabenstetter, Ben Henley,Vivian Tong Howell,Matt Kenyon, Marvin King, Meredith Owen, Megan Postle, Kevin Roberge, Tyler Smith with Music Director, Zachary Tarlton!

Donna Scott Productions’ first 2015 event was a reading of Carrie Ann’s Kiss by Charlotte playwright Tonya Bludsworth, held at the Charlotte Trolley Museum in January. The spring show was a fully staged production of Shiloh Rules by Doris Baizley, held at the Charlotte Art League in March 2015. The August show was the David and Amy Sedaris’ Comedy The Book Of Liz in the same space, which ran for eleven shows and brought sold out audiences to the Charlotte Art League. A part of the experience at the Charlotte Art League is an active intermission where the audience gets to shop the galleries for visual art from local Charlotte artists at the performances. These events were co-produced with Historic South End and made possible in part with a grant from the Arts and Science Council. South End neighborhood businesses Triple C Brewing and Common Market provided product sponsorship and marketing support.

“In the arts community you seek partnerships where you can move the needle for each other and provide more audience for both but it’s easier said than done. In working in South End with the

Charlotte Art League we think we’ve found something special,” said Donna Scott. “We’re thrilled to be offering theatre where there was none previously and to be doing it with the support of both local South End businesses’ and Charlotte’s visual artists. Collaborating and paving a way for other theatre companies to produce and extend their brand here is the next natural step.”

Donna Scott Productions seeks to provide creative opportunity for audiences, artists and collaborating partners to participate in unique and engaging theatre in Charlotte. For more information about the 2015 offerings please check www.donnascottproductions.com for details.

This project was made possible, in part, with funding from the Arts & Science Council.

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BWW Review: The Book of Liz

Thanks so much to Perry Tannenbaum for coming out and laughing with us! On Broadway World.com he writes that “…the whole story turns out to be very much like a secret recipe revealed.” For the complete review, click here!

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Donna Scott Productions and Historic South End stage production of The Book Of Liz by Amy and David Sedaris at Charlotte Art League

CHARLOTTE, N.C. July 28, 2015 – Donna Scott Productions is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a series of theatre events designed to bring live theatre back to the Historic South End neighborhood of Charlotte in 2015. The group will present the fully staged comedy The Book of Liz by NC natives Amy and David Sedaris, co-produced with Historic South End and presented at the Charlotte Art League at 1517 Camden Road on August 6-22. All shows will be at 8pm, except on August 7th, which will be at 9:30 after the South End Gallery Crawl. Tonya Bludsworth, Matt Corbett, Field Cantey, Tania Kelly and Donna Scott comprise the cast. Glynnis O’ Donoghue will direct. Tickets will be $22 and areavailable in advance from Carolina Tix: http://bit.ly/1TMk6JX

The first event was a staged reading of the critically acclaimed play Carrie Ann’s Kiss by Charlotte playwright Tonya Bludsworth, held at the Charlotte Trolley Museum in January. The follow-up effort was the fully staged production of Shiloh Rules by Doris Baizley, held at the Charlotte Art League in March 2015. These events were co-produced with Historic South End and made possible in part with a grant from the Arts and Science Council. The excitement over having theatre back in the neighborhood has engendered many community partnerships. A Charlotte Art League artist Ráed Al-Rawi has provided set painting for the show and community partners TripleC Brewing and Common Market are back as beer and wine sponsors. A cheese ball contest will also be a part of the August 6 opening night festivities with Savory Spice Shop, Beverly’s Gourmet Foods, The Common Market South End, Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen and The Mayobird contributing entries that the opening night audience will get to sample at our post show party.

“In the arts community we often give lip service to crossing our audiences and building community…you seek partnerships where you can move the needle for each other and provide more audience for both but it’s easier said than done. In working in South End with the Charlotte Art League we think we’ve found something special,” said Donna Scott. “We’re thrilled to be offering theatre where there was none previously and to be doing it with the support of both local South End businesses’ and Charlotte’s visual artists.”

Donna Scott Productions seeks to provide creative opportunity for audiences, artists and collaborating partners to participate in unique and engaging theatre in Charlotte. For more information about the 2015 offerings please check www.donnascottproductions.com for details.

This project was made possible, in part, with funding from the Arts & Science Council.

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DSP Makes the Queen’s List!

We are so thrilled to be chosen for Today’s Charlotte Woman’s Queen List! And we love being in the issue with brilliant Historic South End Charlotte creative Varian Shrum! Pick up the August/September issue all over Charlotte, or check out their website.

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DSP featured in Charlotte Five!

Katie from Charlotte Five came and got a sneak peek of our set and chatted with us about the life lessons you can learn from “The Book of Liz.” She even got to meet Mr. Cheese Ball (he seemed to like her a lot)! Check out the complete article here!

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South End is Hot for Donna Scott Productions 

A huge thank you to Anita Overcash of Creative Loafing for this write up about “The Book of Liz” and the changing climate of the theatre scene here in the Queen City.  Read the whole article, here!

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 The DSP3 Get Cheesy With Wilson!

On Tuesday, 8/6, the DSP3 joined Wilson of Wilson’s World as he previewed The Book of Liz, explored the Charlotte Art League, and judged our local cheese ball contest! Catch the whole video here!

A huge thanks to the great ‪#‎cltlocal‬ businesses that made the delicious cheese balls: Beverly’s Gourmet Foods, Savory Spice Shop • Charlotte • South End/Dilworth, Common Market, Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, & The Mayobird!

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More South End Theater by Enterprising DSP Company

We were lucky enough to have journalist Kim Lawson attend one of our ‪rehearsals during July. In her preview of The Book of Liz for Charlotte ViewPoint,  part of the Charlotte Arts Journalism Alliance (CAJA), she really did a wonderful job of capturing what it’s like producing pop-up theatre in South End. Read her whole preview here.

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Cheeseball Sedaris play opening in Charlotte

Check out this fantastic preview of our upcoming production “The Book of Liz” in Sunday’s Charlotte Observer. Page Leggett sat down with us to talk about the show, comedy, and (of course!) cheese balls. Read the whole article here!

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The Book of Liz tops Charlotte Agenda’s Theatre Picks!

“The Book of Liz” tops Charlotte Agenda’s August list of theatre picks in Charlotte. Collin Beck says that “theatre is popping-up everywhere” and we couldn’t be more excited! Check out the great sampling of shows here!

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DSP on WFAE!

On Friday, July 23rd, Donna Scott joined Ryan Deal of the Arts and Science Council and co-producer Tobe Holmes of CCP Historic South End on Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins. They discussed the work that we’ve been doing in South End, as well as the general theatrical climate in the Queen City. Missed the broadcast? Check it out here!

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DSP3 Featured in Charlotte Agenda:
Is Historic South End the next arts district?

donna scott productions was recently featured in a great piece by Collin Beck of Charlotte Agenda. Beck writes: “Is Historic South End the new Arts District? With movers and shakers like Donna Scott Productions and Charlotte Art League, it may soon just be the place to see innovative theatre.” We’re so thrilled to help spread local art through out great city!  Read the whole article here on Charlotte Agenda.

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The reviews are in – Shiloh RULES!

We’re so grateful to all the publications and reviewers who supported our first fully staged production, Shiloh Rules. Check out the reviews and articles below!

Reviews

• Mark Pizzato of Charlotte Viewpoint says that our production can work “… magic on the Charlotte audience, evoking laughter and insights…” For the rest of the review, click here.
• Creative Loafing is one of our favorite Charlotte publications – read Perry Tannenbaum’s review of our “historic” production here.
• Lawrence Toppman writes in the Charlotte Observer that “There are many remarkable things about ‘Shiloh Rules.'” See the rest of his review here.

Articles/Previews

• Our own Donna Scott was named one of Creative Loafing’s “People to Watch in 2015,” and we couldn’t agree more! Emiene Wright’s article profiles our company’s founder and gives you a taste of what we’re planning for the year! Full article here.
• Page Leggett of the Charlotte Observer profiled our company right before our staged reading of Carrie Ann’s Kiss and really captured the spirit of what we want to accomplish with our work. We love her and this piece – read it here!
• John Schacht at Charlotte Viewpoint wrote an amazing article about our company and how we fit into the creative history and community of Charlotte. Read the piece here.

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Donna Scott Productions and Historic South End stage production of Shiloh Rules by Doris Baizley at Charlotte Art League

CHARLOTTE, N.C. February 23, 2015 – Donna Scott Productions is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a series of theatre events designed to bring live theatre back to the Historic South End neighborhood of Charlotte in 2015.

A full production of the historic comedy Shiloh Rules by Doris Baizley will run March 5-14 at the Charlotte Art League on 1517 Camden Road in Charlotte. The Charlotte Art League celebrates its 50th of the Monthly South End Gallery Crawl and Food Truck Friday. (HistoricSouthEnd.com) Tickets are $25 in advance from CarolinaTix.org: http://bit.ly/1BVVx3N and $27-32.50 at the door on the night of the event. There will be an accompanying gallery show featuring historical sites from North Carolina. Photographs by Charlotte artists Marcee Musgrove and Rob Yaeger will be on display at the Charlotte Art League during the month of March to coincide with the show.

“One of South End’s great secrets to success is our people,” said Tobe Holmes, Director of Historic South End. “There are lots of generous business owners and residents that have come forward to support this effort with everything from marketing to sponsorships.”

Donna Scott Productions seeks to provide creative opportunity for audiences, artists and collaborating partners to participate in unique and engaging theatre in Charlotte. For more information about the 2015 offerings please check www.donnascottproductions.com for details.

This project was made possible, in part, with funding from the Arts & Science Council.