| By Katie Eaker | Photos courtesy of the Cary Players |
In the evenings of late August, a creative buzz can be felt radiating from the Cary Arts Center. These end-of-summer rehearsals signal the start of another season for the Cary Players Community Theatre Company, an all-volunteer community theater company that has been impressing local audiences since 2003. Their season kicked off this year with the beloved classic Grease, which ran from September 27th through October 6th.
With public auditions for all four productions each season, Cary Players prides itself on its diverse casting and ability to offer youth performers a chance to be on stage. Young performers often get their first taste of the spotlight with Cary Players, while older actors provide guidance and mentorship along the way. This multigenerational mix intertwines a tapestry of voices and experiences—a living reflection of the Cary community itself.
That spirit of philanthropy and community is highlighted in every part of Cary Players’ work. Behind the curtain, countless hands keep the magic alive. Board members trade office desks for sewing machines and paintbrushes. Parents and teenagers spend their evenings side by side, hammering nails, adjusting costumes, or helping with ticket sales. These silent behind-the-scenes roles are essential to bringing stories to life.
Jeri Summer, a board member and volunteer coordinator for Cary Players, emphasizes the importance of a balanced presence between volunteer and professional expertise. “Our actors, board of directors, and many of the behind-the-scenes helpers are volunteers. We do, however, hire professional directors, set designers, and costumers to ensure a high-quality production,” says Summer.
To ensure artistic quality, the company partners with seasoned professionals for key creative roles. Director Amanda Jenkins, having recently moved from England, has a background in drama education and youth theatre and is known for making theatre accessible to all. Jenkins is also a member of Applause! Cary Youth Theatre, where she recently directed Tuck Everlasting. Set designer Joel Soren brings an equally impressive resume, with work spanning off-Broadway productions, local stages, and even the New York Hall of Science. His recent designs for The Trip to Bountiful and Sonia Flew with Cary Players wowed audiences, and he’s eager to transform the Cary Arts Center stage once again.
For over two decades, the company has staged musicals, mysteries, comedies, and heartfelt dramas.
But it’s their annual holiday production that shines brightest, becoming a cherished tradition for families across the Triangle. On December 4–7, Cary Players will perform The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a family-friendly play based on Barbara Robinson’s beloved children’s book. With a cast of nearly 30, the production offers opportunities for seasoned actors, first-time performers, and plenty of youth roles, showcasing the collaborative experience the company treasures.
The production tells the tale of the mischievous Herdman children, who unexpectedly find themselves cast in a local church’s Christmas pageant. What begins as chaos transforms into a lesson about empathy, kindness, and the true spirit of the holidays.
“This will be the third time we’ve presented the play,” Summer says. “Our past productions sold out and received standing ovations. It’s a show that resonates.”
Even with expert guidance, the bulk of the work remains in the hands of volunteers. “We build our sets off-site, and then just days before opening, we load everything into the Cary Arts Center,” Summer explains. “It’s an enormous effort, but when the curtain rises and we hear the audible gasps and ‘Wows’ at the quality, it makes every minute worth it.
For Cary Players, the holidays are more than twinkling lights and free lobby raffles. They’re about gathering the community in one room, neighbors shoulder to shoulder, to share a story of kindness, laughter, and belonging. Cary Players also offers something increasingly rare: an in-person connection. In a world dominated by screens, a live performance encourages conversation. “It nurtures communication and interaction in a safe, welcoming environment,” Summer says.
Once the holidays pass, Cary Players will continue their season with Fortune or Fate?, a collection of clever one-act comedies by Mark Harvey Levine, staged in February at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center. In April, the company will mount Deathtrap, Ira Levin’s darkly comedic thriller, directed by longtime Cary actor and director Mark Zumbach.
Whether it’s a child auditioning for the first time, a retiree rediscovering the stage, or a business sponsoring a show, Cary Players thrives because of the many hands that lift it up.
Tickets, volunteer opportunities, and more information can be found at caryplayers.org.
