The Curtain Fell. The Mission Continues.
There are moments when you stand still and take it all in.
Opening night of Annie was one of those moments.
The lights rose. The music swelled. Our students stepped onto the stage — and something extraordinary happened. They did not simply perform. They shone. They commanded the stage with confidence, discipline, and joy. And when the curtain fell, the applause was not polite. It was thunderous.
Despite the obstacles we faced — and there were many — God was faithful. Doors opened. Volunteers showed up. Parents sacrificed. Sponsors invested. The community filled the seats. What could have felt overwhelming instead became a testimony of what happens when a community locks arms around its young people.
Annie was more than a production. It was proof.
Proof that our students rise to the level of excellence expected of them.
Proof that Goldsboro will support high-quality community theatre.
Proof that the arts are not extracurricular — they are transformational.
We are deeply grateful to every sponsor, donor, volunteer, parent, and patron who made this production possible. We are especially thankful to the Dillard Goldsboro Alumni Center and St. James A.M.E. Zion Church for graciously allowing us to rehearse in their space. Their generosity helped make Annie possible.
But here is what Annie also revealed.
We built this production without a home of our own.
We rehearsed in borrowed spaces. We moved sets in and out. We stored costumes wherever we could find room. We made it work — because that is what mission-driven people do.
Now imagine what we could do with a permanent space.
This is not about comfort. It is about capacity.
A dedicated ArtXecute home would mean:
Consistent rehearsal studios
A safe after-school creative environment
Space for set construction and costume storage
Room to expand programming
A true community arts hub
Annie proved something important: we are not asking people to believe in a dream. We are inviting them to invest in something they have already seen succeed.
Because you have seen it.
You saw the standing ovations.
You saw the growth in our students.
You saw the excellence on that stage.
So today, we introduce The Next Act: A Home for ArtXecute.
Our goal is to secure a permanent rehearsal and creative space that will allow us to serve more students, deepen our impact, and continue producing work that makes our community proud.
This is not simply about a building. It is about permanence. Stability. Legacy.
The stage is more than a place to perform. It is a place to prepare. And preparation requires a foundation.
If Annie moved you — if you believe in what these young people are becoming — here is how you can be part of The Next Act:
Give
Make a tax-deductible contribution toward our permanent home campaign here.
Connect Us
Know of available commercial property? Underutilized space? A partnership opportunity?
Email us directly at lisataylor@artxecute.org
Share the Vision
Forward this post. Introduce us to business owners. Invite others to join the movement.
We are not asking you to believe in a dream.
We are inviting you to invest in something you have already seen succeed.
The curtain fell on Annie.
But the mission continues.
And The Next Act begins now.
Alexis Thompson as Annie with Dolly as Sandy
Photo by Terrie Nelson—Radiance Reframed