BOSTON, MA: Josiah A. Spaulding, Jr., President and CEO of The Wang Center for the Performing Arts, and Jon Kimbell, Artistic Director and Executive Producer of North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT), announced today that two NSMT shows – ABYSSINIA and CAMELOT – will play at The Shubert Theatre in Boston. NSMT’s Beverly, MA venue was damaged in a fire on July 14 and must undergo repairs before any shows can be presented there.
Each show will play at The Shubert Theatre: ABYSSINIA will run August 23 through September 11 and CAMELOT will begin performances September 20. Full details, including performance schedules, will be released soon.
‘After hearing about NSMT’s fire, we offered The Shubert Theatre to them rent-free’ said Mr. Spaulding. ‘Our mission at The Wang is ‘making art ‘ making art possible’ and this commitment to NSMT is a way for us to do just that. Not only do they have a new temporary home, but it is also our hope that new audience members will discover NSMT’s work for the first time. In recent years, The Wang Center, a non-profit organization itself, has developed collaborative relationships with a number of non-profits, from co-producing shows, such as ‘The Little Prince’ with Boston Lyric Opera to ‘Dance Across The City’ the Bank of America Celebrity Series; this is the first step in collaborating with NSMT.’
William Poduska, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Wang Center observed, ‘It’s important that we all work together as a community; this is an obvious need and one that can be shaped into a positive and strong opportunity for both companies. A great example of a non-profit supporting a non-profit.’
In the theater world, everyone knows ‘The Show Must Go On,’ and that’s the direction North Shore Music Theatre’s Executive Producer and Artistic Director Jon Kimbell is taking. ‘We feel strongly that North Shore Music Theatre must continue to produce musical theater during this challenging time, and The Shubert Theatre provides us with a wonderful opportunity to do so,’ said Kimbell. ‘Through the generosity of Joe Spaulding and The Wang Center for the Performing Arts, we will be able to offer both our own patrons and Boston audiences two exciting productions as part of our 50th season.’ According to Kimbell, North Shore Music Theatre and The Wang have been looking to collaborate on a project for several years, and current events at the Beverly theater jumpstarted their plans. ‘In times of need, the theater community is there for one another, and all of us at North Shore Music Theatre feel very fortunate to be offered a temporary home at The Shubert Theatre for our productions of ABYSSINIA and CAMELOT.’