The Lincoln Theatre Guild is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

community theater organization founded in 1981. The Guild serves

Lincoln County, North Carolina Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,810. Its county seat is Lincolnton. Lincoln County is included in the Charlotte-Concord- Gastonia, NC- SC Metropolitan Statist ...

, United States, and the surrounding Piedmont region.

History

The Lincoln Theatre Guild was formed in 1981 with 15 members. The first guild activity was an acting workshop, which was followed by the first production, ''Harvey''. The first guild president was Barrie Howard. A notable early production was ''Prelude to Victory'', a musical drama telling the story of the a revolutionary war battle fought nearby. In 1983, a successful production of ''Scrooge'', a musical adaption of Dickens' ''A Christmas Carol'', helped give the guild a stable financial base. The group grew throughout the 1980s, performing dramas, comedies and musicals. Some shows included ''Mouse Trap'', ''Harvey'', and ''You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown''. In 1988, the group moved their offices and productions to the Lincoln Cultural Center, a renovated former church in

Lincolnton, North Carolina Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,486 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River. The city i ...

. By 1990 the guild was producing a large summer musical each year at the nearby Lincoln Citizens Center as well as 3-4 smaller plays at the Cultural Center. In 2007 the guild board was restructured. A new president and several new board members were appointed. Recent shows include ''Alice in Wonderland'' and ''Dearly Departed'' in 2007 and ''

The Actor's Nightmare ''The Actor's Nightmare'' is a short comic play by Christopher Durang. It involves an accountant named George Spelvin, who is mistaken for an actor's understudy and forced to perform in a play for which he does not know any of the lines. Inspira ...

'', ''

Li'l Abner ''Li'l Abner'' is a satirical American comic strip that appeared in many newspapers in the United States, Canada and Europe. It featured a fictional clan of hillbillies in the impoverished mountain village of Dogpatch, USA. Written and drawn ...

'', and ''

And Then There Were None ''And Then There Were None'' is a mystery novel by the English writer Agatha Christie, described by her as the most difficult of her books to write. It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 6 November 1939, as ...

'' in 2008.

Productions

The guild presently produces 4-5 shows per year. Most shows are held at The Lincoln Cultural Center or the auditorium at

North Lincoln High School North Lincoln High School is a public school in Lincolnton, North Carolina, United States. North Lincoln was completed in 2003, and the total student population is approximately 1,050. The school mascot is the Knight, and the school colors (as or ...

. The guild also holds an annual summer

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

camp in two locations in the county.

Partnerships

The Lincoln Theatre Guild belongs to the Lincoln Arts Council and is a member of the

Metrolina Theatre Association The Metrolina Theatre Association (MTA) is a non-profit organization based in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, established in 1985 to strengthen arts awareness and to be an advocate of the performing arts in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region. MTA rep ...

. The guild also receives financial backing from local government and businesses.

Board of directors

The guild has a board of directors that meets monthly and is responsible for show selections, technical production and fundraising.

References

*Grano, Sarah (April 12, 2007)
"'Alice' takes the stage"
''Lincoln Times-News''. *Grano, Sarah (January 18, 2008)
"Guild seeking actors of all ages"
''Lincoln Times-News''. *Grano, Sarah (January 27, 2006)
"Lincoln Theatre Guild caters to eastern end"
''Lincoln Times-News''. *"Guild Gets Permanent Home, Seeks To Grow" (1988). ''Lincoln Times-News'', p. 1 * *(June 3, 1988)
"Lincoln Theatre Guild Brings Agatha Christie's Classic to Stage"
''The Lincoln Tribune''. *(September 15, 2008)
"Man of many hats would like to hit the road on tour"
''Lincoln Times-News''. *Turbyfill, Diane (October 1, 2004)
"Lincoln Theatre Guild Earns Three Nominations"
''Lincoln Times-News''. *(January 16, 2008)
"Theatre Guild Holds Annual Dinner Theatre "
''The Lincoln Tribune''. *(March 21, 2008)
"Lincoln Theatre Guild: Cast & Dates for Li’l Abner "
''The Lincoln Tribune''.

External links