By Ashley Elver
Guest Writer
Ever wonder how a season at the Peacock Performing Arts Center comes together? It’s a massive puzzle of finding the right plays, booking dynamic concerts and making all the dates align. We spoke to the team members who make the magic happen: Artistic Director Laurel Adams and Operations Manager Britney Rice.
Selecting the plays is a year-round passion for Laurel, who oversees our theatrical season. "I am always reading reviews to determine what titles/themes/genre are current and what might suit our demographic," Laurel says. "I generally read around 40 such scripts before culling them down into the four categories I have found to be successful at the Peacock: comedy, farce, musical and thriller/mystery."
Once Laurel has a "short list," a reading committee of veteran theatre goers votes on the options. After a decision is made, the complex task of securing licensing begins a process requiring advance planning and backup titles.
How do concerts and other events fit in? That’s where Britney’s operational skills come in. She fields countless inquiries from bands, agents and fans, deciding which favorites to bring back while vetting new acts, a process that can take years.
"On the concert side of things, we work around the theatre schedule and try to
vary the offerings," she explains. It's a complex juggling act. The stage is a constantly shared resource, home to actors rehearsing, sets being built, plays, events, concerts
and more, all while accommodating our vibrant two-week Children's Summer
Camp in June and Winter Showcase in December.
"We only have the ability to do full bands up till the stage is beginning to be set for the next play," Britney notes. "Then we move to shows that can make use of the apron (the part of the stage in front of the main curtain), such as Songwriter Showcase."
The result is a year-round effort of research, planning, and passion. "We strive to bring diversity and variety to our programming to bring in old and new audiences, and we hope that shows in our 2026 season offerings.” Britney adds.
Stop by the theater at 301 Church Street in downtown Hayesville to grab a 2026 season flyer or see the full lineup on-line at thepeacocknc.org. The Peacock is a nonprofit and equal opportunity provider and employer.