News

Thank you to Kathy Gruer and Brian Shawcroft for a lovely gift to the Raleigh Little Theatre! Architect Brian Shawcroft designed the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre (completed in 1989) and the lobby addition to the Sutton Theatre (completed in 2000). Brian passed away in December of 2017. Kathy and Brian have been committed members of our theater family for many years. Amid many accomplishments throughout the Triangle as a teacher, friend, artist and architect Brian is remembered particularly for his close friendship and partnership with Al Wolfheimer, a longtime RLT board member and volunteer. (Read his obituary here from the News & Observer).

Through their generous financial support, Kathy and Brian secured a commission for local sculptor Paris Alexander to create a carved limestone relief for the facade of the Sutton Theatre. Based on the classic comedy and tragedy masks associated with theatre arts, this new piece echoes the original facade of the Sutton Theatre which featured a relief panel by James August McLean, a gift of playwright Paul Green to RLT for its grand opening in 1940.

Since 2000, when the Sutton addition was completed, the portal had been filled by a piece of plywood until last week, when the new piece by Paris was installed by Carolina Stone Setting. This work was approved by the Raleigh Historic Development Commission as RLT is a designated historic site by the City of Raleigh.

Thank you again to Kathy and Brian. Please make sure to visit the new masks on your next visit to RLT!