McCree Theatre Moving to New Location

The "New" McCree Theatre is moving. McCree's new home will be in the Urban League of Flint facility at 5005 Cloverlawn at Pierson Road, Flint, Michigan. "In a way, we're going back home," said Charles Winfrey, executive director of the "New" McCree Theatre. The Urban League served as the operating agency for the theatre from 1971 until 1985." He said the move was necessitated by the need to offer more performing arts training programs. "We have certainly enjoyed our five-year relationship with the Christ Enrichment Center," Winfrey said, "their hospitality and graciousness exceeded all expectations. But we felt a need to offer our young artists more in the way of workshops and other performing opportunities, and the space was just not there."

Winfrey stated the move to the Urban League will enable the theatre to offer a wide variety of workshops in dance, theatre, and music, in addition to developing additional performing opportunities for McCree participants, such as a community youth chorus and a traveling dance troupe. "Besides", Winfrey stated, "the Urban League is housed in the former Selby School building which came equipped with a 220-seat theatre and ample backstage space." He further stated that for the first time in its history, McCree Theatre will be performing in a space that was intended for theatre as opposed to the makeshift situations it has had to endure throughout its history.

"With the blessing of the Urban League of Flint's CEO and its Board of Directors, we hope to transform that theatre space into one that the entire Flint community can be proud of," Winfrey said. "We plan to remove the wooden seats the theatre now has, and replace them with cushioned theatre seats donated by National Amusements. We also plan to replace existing carpeting and stage curtains."

Winfrey said he hopes to get all of the improvements completed prior to the 2009/2010 Season's opener on October 2. "On that day, we plan to showcase the venue and our next musical production at our grand opening," he said.

The new telephone number for McCree Theatre is (810) 787-2200. The fax number is (810) 787-2203. The theatre's old number (810) 232-9243 will re-direct callers to the new number. Both theatre websites remain the same, www.thenewmccreetheatre.com and www.buymccreetickets.com.

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