Mountain Theatre Company hosts Spotlight event

Mountain Theatre Company at the Highlands Playhouse hosted their annual fundraising benefit event, Spotlight, on July 10, 2022, at Highlands Falls Country Club. They promoted this unique “Interactive Entertainment Benefit” as unlike any other, and the event sold out in only ten days. The evening featured pop-up musical performances, a Dancing With the Playhouse Stars competition, visual art created live during the event by local artist Carol Misner, and silent and live auctions. Executive chef of Highlands Falls Country Club, Shawn Olah, curated a multi-course seated dinner where patrons raised a glass and raised support for Mountain Theatre Company’s bright future on the Plateau.

The evening spotlighted MTC’s mission to “Engage our society by presenting stories on our stage that connect and uplift our audience; Enrich our culture by providing community outreach programs to adults and youth in our surrounding area; Entertain our audiences by bringing quality professional theatre to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau; and Educate our community by inspiring future and longtime arts advocates in the performing arts.”

Multiple performances throughout the event by the current MTC cast of Jersey Boys was a spectacular hit. They performed musical numbers from MTC’s 2022 Mainstage season including a medley of songs from Jersey Boys, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” from Sentimental Journey, and an emotional grand finale of “Heart Behind These Hands” from Brooklyn: The Musical.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of MTC’s inaugural Community Spotlight Awards. Three awards were presented during the evening to recognize and give focus to individuals, organizations, and companies who have been significant supporters of MTC and of the performing arts in the Highlands-Cashiers community. The three awards were given as follows: The Nonprofit Spotlight Award was given to the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC to recognize the significant contributions the Chamber has made to actively develop and restore our community’s arts organizations; the Business Spotlight Award was given to The Laurel Magazine as they have gone above and beyond to support MTC and the performing arts in Highlands in their monthly publication; and the Community Supporter

Spotlight Award was given to Leon Hananel and Susan Cox, two of MTC’s most steadfast volunteers who give of their time and their hearts over and over again for the benefit of Mountain Theatre Company.

MTC was thrilled to launch these new annual awards to shift the spotlight for a moment to individuals and organizations who have gone out of their way to be champions not only of MTC and the Playhouse, but to all performing arts on The Plateau.

At the event, MTC announced their new initiative to launch a Theatre for Young Audiences  program by adding a show to their fall season specifically geared towards audiences of all ages. Their goal is to produce a full-scale professional TYA production and provide school trips to local area schools free of charge to the students who attend. With seed money provided by local grants, MTC is looking to raise additional funds to make this TYA initiative a part of their mission to provide educational outreach programs to the local community.

Mountain Theatre Company’s Spotlight proved to deliver as an interactive and entertaining benefit celebrating the nonprofit theatre company’s exciting future ahead.

Mountain Theatre Company is Western North Carolina’s premier professional theatre company, located at The Highlands Playhouse in Highlands.

- From Staff Reports