Arts
Enloe Magnet High School is the first school (and regional/community theater) to produce Jack Murphy and Frank Wildhorn's musical WONDERLAND anywhere. The Enloe Magnet High School production of WONDERLAND is postponed TBA. For more information visit the https://enloetheatre.wixsite.com/enloetheatre/current-production (Enloe Theatre website). About the Guests Koko Thornton - After graduating from the Wake County Public School System in 1993, Miss Thornton received the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship to UNC-Charlotte where she received her BCA in Theatre Education and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1997. While in college, she worked as an actor and professional costumer including being a dresser for the National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. After teaching theatre at Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte where she was the recipient of an NCTC award for Outstanding Direction, Miss Thornton returned home to Raleigh and served on the NC Department of Public Instruction’s committee to rewrite the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Theatre Education. The 2018-2019 school year marks her 19th year teaching Theatre at Enloe Magnet High School. Some of her directing credits include: SWEENEY TODD (2007 Capital Award for Outstanding Musical), LITTLE WOMEN (2008 Capital Award for Outstanding Direction), ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (2013 TRS Award for Best Musical), THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (2014 TRS Award for Best Ensemble), MISS SAIGON, INTO THE WOODS (2016 TRS Award for Best Musical), and RAGTIME (2018 TRS Award for Best Musical). She is double certified in theatre and music and is a certified mentor teacher. She loves to sing, play the piano, bake, and serve at her church. In what little free time she has, she may be found hanging out with her 18 nieces and nephews at Lake Gaston and riding a jet ski. Miss Thornton is the immediate past President of the North Carolina Theatre Arts Educators and the Arts Department Chair at Enloe Magnet High School. She is also the North Carolina Theatre Arts Educators 2017 Teacher of the Year. Lauren Kennedy is the Producing Artistic Director at Theatre Raleigh, where she has directed such shows as DRIFT, TRUE WEST, VANITIES, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE WOLF and more! As an actress, Lauren appeared on Broadway in SPAMALOT (Lady of the Lake), LES MISERABLES (Fantine), SIDESHOW (Daisy Hilton, original cast), SUNSET BLVD. (original cast). Off-Broadway: VANITIES (Mary/Second Stage), GOOD OL’ GIRLS. National Tour and London: SOUTH PACIFIC (Nellie Forbush), SUNSET BLVD. (Betty Schaefer). Favorite Original Work: THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Cathy), THE RHYTHM CLUB (Petra/Helen Hayes Award nom. for Best Lead Actress), WHITE CHRISTMAS (Judy Haines), and ZELDA (Barrymore Nomination for Best Actress/Flat Rock Playhouse/LENAPE). Recordings: VANITIES, SOUTH PACIFIC (Original London Cast), SUNSET BLVD, GOOD NEWS (with The London Symphony), THE PAUL SIMON ALBUM (Varese Sarabande). Ms. Kennedy’s solo recordings are available on the PS Classics. Visit laurenkennedy.com The Theatre Raleigh production of BUD, NOT BUDDY runs March 13 through March 29 at The Kennedy Theatre. The Theatre Raleigh production of BUD, NOT BUDDY has been canceled. Chloe Calhoun is a senior at Enloe Magnet High School. Indy Week Award Nomination Links Click any of the links below to help RDU on Stage make the shortlist of nominees in Indy Week's Best of the Triangle 2020 contest. https://indyweek.secondstreetapp.com/og/0942cb52-bfc1-4c57-b189-8b8be1726b79/gallery/217735061 (Best Local Podcast) https://indyweek.secondstreetapp.com/og/0942cb52-bfc1-4c57-b189-8b8be1726b79/gallery/219932064 (Best Local Facebook Page) https://indyweek.secondstreetapp.com/og/0942cb52-bfc1-4c57-b189-8b8be1726b79/gallery/219931690 (Best Instagram Account)... Support this podcast