By Hailey Blevins
Lees-McRae College’s FORUM 2018 Season performances all begin at 7 p.m. at Hayes Auditorium, Broyhill Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m.
FORUM was organized in 1979 by a small group of summer residents for the purpose of bringing a stimulating series of cultural programs to the area. With the help of Lees-McRae College, one of the region’s most important resources, FORUM has grown significantly and embarks on its 39th year of providing both cultural enrichment and wholesome entertainment to the community.
Lees-McRae’s FORUM is known for its sense of community. FORUM director Sandy Ramsey comments, “I’ve been doing this almost 28 years. You get to see people as they come back every summer and find out what’s been going on with them during the year.”
What started out as a way to “bring people on campus and get them to be more aware and involved with Lees-McRae” now has patrons returning year after year to enjoy not only the performances, but also the people they’ve met at the FORUM.
The FORUM series caters to these patrons, only bringing back programs that their patrons liked the most. But Lees-McRae doesn’t bring back shows often. They have a policy stating that a program can’t be brought back for two years, other than the symphony. This ensures their patrons can always enjoy something new.
Each year, eight programs are selected. The first program for the 2018 season is We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered, which “celebrates one of most successful recording acts of the all time,” The Carpenters.
Proceeds from the shows go towards updating the theater. This year, funds were given to update the men’s and women’s dressing rooms.
More information on this year’s FORUM and becoming a FORUM Patron can be found at lmc.edu/forum. For season ticket information, call 828.898.8748.
Schedule of Upcoming Performances:
June 18: We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered
June 25: Roy and Rosemary with Special Guest Tiffany Desrosiers.
July 2: Western Piedmont Symphony
July 9: Vox Fortura
July 16: Branden & James: “From Bach to Bieber”
July 23: The Dutton Experience
July 30: Glenn Miller Orchestra
August 6: The StepCrew
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