Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1438837
12 UCW DECEMBER 22-28, 2021 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM FEATURE Cape Fear Regional Theatre completes renovations by ELAINA J. MARTIN After nine months of renovation, the Cape Fear Regional eatre is good to go. Demolition started in March, and everything is to be complete just in time for the "e Wizard of Oz" show in January. "We had our first indoor performance in 21 months on Dec. 4," Ashley Owen, marketing director at CFRT, said. "Our last performance inside our theater was March 15, 2020." e theatre's 285 seats are now wider with more legroom, but that is not all that has improved. "Renovation highlights include brand new seats that are wider, rows that are deeper, a brand-new sound system designed by TONY- Award winning Sound Designer Rob Kaplowitz," said Owen. "ere also is a new fresh-air intake HVAC, upgraded energy-efficient lighting, new flooring, new paint and upgraded ADA accessibility. Pretty much, if you can name it, it's new." Marc de la Concha, the education director at CFRT, has been at the the- atre for two and half years. "CFRT is special because of the relationship we have with our com- munity," de la Concha said. "Whether here as audience members, class par- ticipants or volunteers, the theater is always full of people who share their love and passion for the arts." "People come back to the theater because our productions are the perfect blend of local and out-of- town talent. Each production that we present is an entirely new experience in terms of content, diversity and tal- ent," de la Concha said. Owen agrees, "CFRT is special in so many ways. We are a professional theater that is deeply rooted in its community, and you can feel that when you walk in the front doors. It has a magical essence to it that sticks with you the entire time you're there." e productions at CFRT are home- grown, providing the community with unique and quality events. "People should come to the CFRT because the performances you see on our stage are created here and feature people who live and work in this com- munity," Owen said. e theater offers unique quality shows for value and honors military and educators. "Depending on the show and the night you come, tickets range from $15-$32. $32 is our top ticket price. We have military discounts for every performance and host military ap- preciation nights where tickets are 25% off for service members. We also host educator appreciation nights where educators receive 25% off ticket prices," Owen said. Productions are not the only thing that CFRT offers the community. ere are multiple classes for various ages, summer and single-day camps for children and special educational programs for military children. "In addition to our productions, we offer a wide range of educational op- portunities for all ages," de la Concha explained. e CFRT has a range of programs scheduled for 2022. Based on the classic film everyone knows and loves, the 60th Anniversary Season at CFRT will kick off with "e Wizard of Oz" featuring a cast with both new and familiar faces and amazing spe- cial effects, including flying charac- ters and pyrotechnics. e "Wizard of Oz" runs from January 20, 2022, to February 1, 2022. CFRT will follow that up with "Wel- come to Arroyo's" (March 10 - 27, 2022),"Clue" (April 7 - 24, 2022), and "e Color Purple" (May 5 - 29, 2022.) ELAINA J. MARTIN, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910- 484-6200. La'reine Nailz Bar & Spa opens with support of NCCEED by ELAINA J. MARTIN La'reine Nailz Bar & Spa at Cross Creek Mall celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 17th. Glenise Lesane, the new La'reine Nailz Bar & Spa owner, grew up fasci- nated with nail art. "I had an aunt that would apply acrylic to her nails, and she explained to me what she was doing. As I grew older, I would join my older cousins when they would go to their nail appoint- ments," Lesane said. "Watching this take place [right] before my very eyes was amazing to me, and I knew that nails was what I wanted to do." Lesane was licensed in 2003 from Sheer Pleasure Academy and is also a licensed cosmetologist. La'reine Nailz Bar & Spa may not have been able to open their doors if not for the support offered by North Carolina Center for Economic Empowerment and Development (NCCEED). "ey provided me with the tools needed to invest into my business and assisted me with financial planning," said Lesane. NCCEED began in 1990, and its mission has been to promote growth, productivity, well-being and the eco- nomic development of small businesses throughout the Sandhills Region of North Carolina. NCCEED accomplishes this through counseling, education, information and advocacy programs. NCCEED works with other community agencies to achieve this goal and has a solid history of helping women and families through specialized programs. ese programs include the Small Busi- ness Administration's Women's Busi- ness Center Program, credit counseling, financial literacy training, and one-on- one consulting. NCCEED also offers a loan program, microloans and assis- tance with grant programs available through the City of Fayetteville. e NCCEED office is located at 230 Hay St. in the heart of downtown Fayetteville. Sara Marada became a member of e Women's Business Center of Fayetteville at NCCEED in November 2020. As a business consultant, she helps clients during different stages of their business development plans. She focuses on sharing the skills needed to build their customer base through the art of lending. "We strive to support the start and growth of all small businesses and their owners," said Marada. "Our services are provided at no cost to our clients, thanks to funding provided by the Small Business Administration, e City of Fayetteville and various channels such as community donations, pledges, fundraising and government grants." Marada, through her role at NCCEED, helps businesses in finding funding op- portunities. "rough NCCEED's ability to sup- port clients through the application process for various sources of funding and financial support," Marada said. "I helped Glenise locate and obtain approval for the funding she needed to help start, supply and establish her business." e purpose of the funding secured by La'reine Nailz Bar & Spa is to help grow the local economy. "Glenise was able to access fund- ing designed to spark the growth and economic impact within our city, which helped her bring her services to the Cross Creek Mall located right here in Fayetteville," said Marada. With the new shop's location in Cross Creek Mall, LEsane hopes to take ad- vantage of the mall foot traffic. "It is an ideal place because there are so many different types of patrons that shop the mall," Lesane said. "So, my business will not just service one type of clientele." La'reine Nailz Bar & Spa will be of- fering manicures, pedicures, gel polish, dips and powders, artificial nails and the latest trends in nail art, specializing in natural nails. "La'reiene means queen in French. So, my nail and spa bar will make my clients feel like the queen or king that they are," Lesane explained. Her goal is to help support her clients' sense of well-being through self-care. "People (not just women) need an outlet to feel better about themselves, especially now," Lesane said. "Mental health is important. So, if a new coat of gel polish or a new set of nails can help someone feel a little bit better, then I feel like I have done my job." ELAINA J. MARTIN, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910- 484-6200. e theater seats are back in place at the Cape Fear Regional eatre after nine months of renovations. (Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Regional eatre.) Photo courtesy of Pexels