OUR MISSION
Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, enriches lives through the art of theatre by sustaining production excellence, nurturing talent, and inspiring creativity in an inclusive safe haven for artistic vision, life-long learning, and creative risk.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive community of artists, patrons, volunteers, students, partners, and supporters where everyone is welcome. At Flat Rock Playhouse, all people – whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, religion, education, or ability – are valued and respected. As storytellers, we strive to tell stories that reflect and illuminate the diversity of our shared humanity.
We are grateful to our community and our audience members for joining us in this shared spirit of inclusion and equity for all.
The History of Flat Rock Playhouse
In 1937, a group of struggling performers, led by Robroy Farquhar, organized themselves as the Vagabond Players. The Vagabonds worked in a variety of places over the course of three years, and in 1940 found themselves in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. The local and tourist community welcomed them with open arms when they presented their first summer season of plays in a 150-year-old grist mill they converted into The Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake.
So successful was that summer, they returned in 1941. After WWII, the Vagabond Players reorganized, came back to the region and opened a playhouse in nearby Lake Summit. The Lake Summit Playhouse thrived during the post-war years and soon the Vagabond Players were looking for a larger and permanent home. In 1952, the troupe of performers, and a newly formed board of directors, made an offer to buy an 8-acre lot in the Village of Flat Rock. This new home made the Vagabonds “locals” and a rented big top gave birth to the Flat Rock Playhouse.
As the beautiful Western Carolina region continued to grow, so did the Playhouse and in 1961, by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, Flat Rock Playhouse was officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940 is now a nine-month season of plays including Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young audiences.
The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a professional series, a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program, year-round classes and workshops for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 100,000 patrons annually and is a significant contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.
