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By Julie Mackie
julie.mackie@clemmonscourier.net

A team effort between a local playwright, Visualize Productions, the Clemmons Rotary Club, the Historic Broyhill and the Clemmons Food Pantry not only brought community theatre back to Clemmons, it also raised $4,000 for the food pantry.

In late October, the premier of a play written by Clemmons resident Lynn Hall made its debut at the Historic Broyhill. Ticket sales and concessions helped raise the funds.

“I had a benefactor who provided the funds to stage the play,” Hall explained, “and so it seemed like a good idea to use ticket sales as a way to give back to the community. My producer, Melissa Peller, and her company, Visualize Productions, made contact with Scott Spillman, president of the Rotary Club of Clemmons. Scott, along with Chuck Houska and Celeste Stanley, helped us with volunteers and marketing and also suggested the proceeds from the play be donated to the Clemmons Food Pantry.”

Hall, along with Peller, delivered a check to Kathy Kovack, executive director of the Clemmons Food Pantry, on Nov. 21. The organization is in the midst of efforts to construct a new facility as they have outgrown the current building. The food pantry was established in 2004 by a Sunday school class at Clemmons United Methodist Church and has continue to grow. It is now an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit with some 275 volunteers. Kovack said the pantry serves more than 9,000 households annually.

She said the food pantry board and volunteers were grateful for the donation. “We are always appreciative of help in meeting our goals of serving those in need,” Kovack said.

Kristin Johnson, director of the Historic Broyhill, said she and her staff were pleased with the success of event at their venue and look forward to the possibility of other opportunities to bring audiences to this historic landmark in Clemmons.

Peller said the venue worked well for a community theatre production. ‘This is a beautiful facility, and we found staging a play there a wonderful experience,” she said. “We had a lot of positive comments, not only about the play itself, but also staging it at the Broyhill.  The cooperation of Kristin and her staff, and that provided by both the Rotary Club and the food pantry board members made this an exciting opportunity for all of us. We are so grateful to all of those who attended the productions and their support of not only the food pantry, but also of arts in our community.”