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8 questions with Lauren Kennedy Brady 🌟

8 questions with Theatre Raleigh’s Lauren Kennedy Brady

Theatre Raleigh’s new Main Stage opened in July. | Courtesy of Theatre Raleigh

Longtime Raleighite and Broadway alum Lauren Kennedy Brady is settling into Theatre Raleigh’s permanent North Raleigh location. The professional, nonprofit theater company performed in Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts for well over a decade before moving into a former church space at 6638 Old Wake Forest Rd. in June 2020.

Now transformed into a modern performing arts hub, the theater is gearing up for its 2023 Main Stage Season with Lauren at the helm as artistic director. We asked Lauren eight questions about upcoming performances, auditions, and her favorite local spot to grab a bite before a show. Keep reading for a preview of what’s to come in the new year.

First up is “Jersey Boys” in April. Where are you in the production process?

We’re gearing up for auditions in January. We’ll have awesome Broadway talent and some amazing local regional artists as well. I’m so excited because Matt Bogart, who starred as Nick Massi in “Jersey Boys” on Broadway for five years, will be directing it.

A rehearsal at Theatre Raleigh — Theatre Raleigh is heading into its 14th season.

What show are you most looking forward to in 2023?

I’m really excited about “The Prom.” It’s a feel-good musical with amazing music — it’s so delightful and funny. It also has really great messages about acceptance and inclusivity. A film version is on Netflix with Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Ariana DeBose (who performed at Theatre Raleigh in 2019).

What’s something that most people don’t know about Theatre Raleigh?

We have four performance spaces, not only for our shows, but for other performers like up-and-coming theater companies, singer-songwriters, comedians, or really anyone.

Where’s your favorite spot in Raleigh to grab dinner before a show?

Lafayette Village — they have a lot of great restaurants, coffee shops, and wine bars.

Click below for a look into auditions, next season’s theme, and more.

4 MORE QUESTIONS WITH LAUREN

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Tuesday, Dec. 13

NC State vs. Furman | Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 6:30 p.m. | PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh | $10-$20 | Watch the Wolfpack’s men’s basketball team take on the Paladins.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

¡Feliz Navidad! | Wednesday, Dec. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 East South St., Raleigh | $10-$20 | Join the NC Symphony to celebrate the holidays with a family-friendly, festive concert full of holiday favorites with Spanish language narration.

Thursday, Dec. 15

Artspace Holiday Jukebox | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Artspace, 201 East Davie St., Raleigh | $20-$250 | Sip holiday-themed cocktails, explore current exhibitions, and enjoy a live music performance by Yolanda Rabun.
Neptunes Comedy Presents: Mike Mulloy | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Crafty Beer, Wine & Spirits, 2005 Fairview Rd., Raleigh | $12-$15 | Los Angeles-based comedian Mike Mulloy (as seen on Comedy Central) will perform.

Friday, Dec. 16

Holiday Cookie Decorating | Friday, Dec. 16 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 131 South Wilmington St., Raleigh | $65 | Create Instagram-worthy Christmas cookies with Oakwood Cookie Co.
Christmas Movie Trivia | Friday, Dec. 16 | 8-10 p.m. | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | $0-$10 | Wear a festive costume and test your knowledge of Christmas movies.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

49º | Mostly sunny | 6% chance of rain ☀️

Coming Soon

Garland chef Cheetie Kumar plans to open a new restaurant in the Anisette Sweet Shop building this spring. Chef Cheetie will collaborate with the bakery to serve Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes alongside Anisette’s pastries. The pair is currently renovating the building. (Axios Raleigh)

Concert

Clay Aiken will join fellow “American Idol” veteran Ruben Studdard in concert at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on April 29, 2023. The concert will benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and tickets go on sale this Friday, Dec. 16. 🎶

Eat

GetReef — the virtual food hall in RDU — just added four new brands to its lineup. Travelers can now order food and drink items from The Cheesecake Factory, Daily Harvest, Milk Bar, and Neighborhood Grove for pickup in Terminal 2. Place an order on the go.

Drink

Meow available: The Cat House Blend. Bad Cat Coffee Co. is now producing its own coffee at a roastery in Raleigh. Look for the one-pound bags at Morgan Street Food Hall or online. ☕

Holiday

Don’t delay, send your letter to Santa today... or at least by tomorrow. This Wednesday, Dec. 14 is the last day to drop off letters to the North Pole at select Raleigh community centers. Responses will be available for pickup on or after Friday, Dec. 16. ✉️

Sports

After 42 seasons with UNC field hockey, head coach Karen Shelton is retiring. Coach Karen has led the Tar Heels to 10 national championships — an NCAA record — including the title in November after an undefeated season. (The Daily Tar Heel)

Seasonal

The perfect gift doesn’t exi — meet our local makers gift guide. Browse unique, handmade gifts crafted right here in Raleigh by sellers on Etsy. We’re talking holiday tic tac toe sets, personalized coloring books, and adult and child-size matching ear warmers. Get shopping.

Featured Deal

Frustrated by your chronic health condition? (Talking to you bloat, headaches + fatigue). Nourished Life Wellness uses both science-based lab testing + holistic approaches to get to the root cause — all it takes is a 60-minute Integrative Health Assessment to get started. Bonus: RALtoday readers get 10% off with coupon code RALTODAY.*

Travel

You haven’t seen turquoise until you’ve seen this Turks and Caicos oceanfront pool. Top it off with walks on the beach, horseback riding, locally-caught seafood, and a five-star review for the property, and you’ve got yourself a dream Vrbo vacation. 🐬*

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Inside Nice Price Books & Records — Pick up a new or used book at Nice Price Books & Records.

What’s better than a good book? A good book written by your neighbor (or former neighbor). Here’s a handful that we love.

Fiction: “Big Fish” by Daniel Wallace | Release date: October 1998 | This story of a man’s life, told from father to son, was adapted into a film by Tim Burton.
Learn something new: “Native Places: Drawing as a Way to See” by Frank Harmon | Release date: September 2018 | This Raleigh architect paired watercolor sketches with mini-essays about the delight found in ordinary places.
Personal stories: “Mergers and Acquisitions” by Cate Doty | Release date: May 2021 | This memoir takes readers behind-the-scenes of the weddings section of The New York Times.

If you ask us, where you read the book is almost as important as the book itself. Share your go-to reading spot.

10+ MORE LOCAL BOOKS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anne.

Editor’s pick: Don’t sleep on Nice Price Books & Records. Yesterday, I brought in an armful of books and records to sell and I left with a brand new record and some cash. I could spend hours sifting through the shop’s collection. 📚

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Cheeni was named the NC Restaurant of the Year.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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