Black Box theatre
OCT's Black Box Theatre
Our Black Box space has been developing and growing over the past few years. An intimate, underground space with unique ambiance and uses, the Black Box is now home to many celebrated OCT events: The Living Room Reading Series, Papa Capp’s Variety Show, The 10-Minute Play Festival, The Winter Series, Post-Mortem Players smaller productions, and OCT Summer Camps. When not in use for performances, the space can be used for rehearsals and meetings.
OCT views this venue as an opportunity to offer productions and events that call for a more intimate environment, as it holds fewer than half the seats of the main stage. Such a space allows us to explore lesser-known titles and sometimes ‘edgier’ subject matter.
Recently, the Black Box has seen facility improvements, such as isolated heating and air conditioning units, dedicated lighting and sound systems, and updated seating. OCT continues to dedicate resources to further developing and improving the Black Box space for exciting future endeavors.
OCT's 10 Minute Play Festival
The 10-Minute Play Festival at OCT began in 2013, and the board immediately embraced the concept. The festival has been an annual fund-raiser event at OCT ever since. With goals of encouraging and showcasing local writing talent and helping develop beginning talents in directing, acting, and all things theatre, the festival events begin with a call for original 10-minute plays, written by playwrights from the Southeastern part of the country. The ultimate hope is the playwright might be able to attend the event and see his/her work produced live. The plays are distributed to the members of our play reading committee, who then choose 6-7 plays to produce for our festival. Directors are chosen, auditions are held, rehearsals are conducted, and the festival is produced.
Although in the past a few of our events have traveled to other venues, most of our festivals have been performed on-site at OCT. We have settled into the Black Box venue and look forward to holding this event in the Black Box space now and in the future.
Living Room
Reading Series
An Interview with Jonathan Ewart, Director of LRRS.
Why did you start Living Room Reading Series? I had come back from living in Los Angeles in 2008/2009 and had worked with a theatre company out there that did a workshop of a new play each month. I had thought, with my knowledge and love of scripts that there were a ton of plays that are not being produced in the Charlotte/Concord area that should be. It is usually the same 4 or 5 plays and musicals that every theatre company does and I wanted to bring some new works to our audiences!
What type of plays do you produce? We try to use a common theme for our shows. We also have been producing at least half of our season with plays that have never been produced in our area. Since 2022 out of the 22 plays so far that we have done, 11 plays have been regional or state premieres.
What is a reading series? A reading series is where a group of actors perform the script by reading it. There is no memorization, no sets, lights, costumes… The whole show is portrayed with actors standing at a music stand and reading the show. I always say it is like the old radio shows form the. 1930's and 1940’s that you would listen to in your living room. That is why I came up with the name of our group, Living Room Reading Series.
Papa Capp's
Music
Papa Capp pitched the idea of a variety show to the Old Courthouse Theatre Board of Directors about two and a half years ago. Since then, we’ve produced the event over 24 times and still going strong!
All acts and performances are welcome to offer their art in a safe and supportive environment. We’ve seen many singers showcasing their original and cover tunes, improvised skits, comedians, story tellers, poets, jugglers, clowns, mimes, Karaoke artists, and much more!
Papa opens the show with a “family friendly” first hour. After a short intermission, Papa comes back with the ‘Stupendously Hilarious Incredible Talent Show’ where anything goes, as long as it’s legal!
Papa Capp’s variety show runs the first Tuesday of each month in the Black Box Theatre. Admission is free (we ask for a small donation if you’re able.) Concessions are available.
Make plans to come out and enjoy a rare evening of a variety of performances. You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. We hope to see you the first Tuesday of the month! Papa Loves You!”
Post Mortem Players
STAGE FRIGHT IS OUR BUSINESS
Founded in 2022 by horror fan, Charlotte native, and long-time performing arts professional, Chris Stonnell, Post Mortem Players is a new theatre company that specializes in stage works of horror, the macabre, and things that go bump in the night.
Representing the Charlotte, North Carolina region, productions take place at the Old Courthouse Theatre in Concord.
Each season consists of three hair-raising productions: our annual "Christmas Spirits" ghost story in December, and two other classic or contemporary horror plays and musicals, one in October for Halloween and the other in late spring/early summer.
