Temple Theatre

Temple Theatre is a historic performance center and regional theatre company located in downtown Sanford, Lee County, North Carolina. The two-story brick building was constructed in 1925 by Robert Ingram, Sr., owner of the Sanford Coca-Cola Bottling Company, at a time when Sanford had a population of only about 3,500. The name "Temple" derives from its location next door to what was once Sanford's Masonic Lodge. The building is 50 feet wide and 92 feet deep and features cut stone details blending Colonial Revival and Art Deco styles. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and sits within the Downtown Sanford Historic District. For several decades the Temple served as Lee County's principal seat of entertainment. Located half a block from the railroad station, it hosted vaudeville shows and stars, later becoming a touring house for 1930s road shows (including burlesque) and then a movie theater. During the 1960s the Sanford Little Theatre and the Footlight Players used the venue for community productions, but the Temple closed in 1965. Its rebirth began in 1981 when Robert Ingram, Jr., son of the original owner, donated the building to the citizens of Lee County. Through the efforts of Sam Bass, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and received a large challenge grant from the North Carolina Legislature, matched by Lee County citizens and businesses along with a significant grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. After being gutted and refurbished, the Temple reopened in 1984 as a community theater with a production of Chicago. Today Temple Theatre operates as one of North Carolina's premier regional theatres, offering Broadway-quality productions in an intimate, beautifully restored historic setting. Each season blends performers from the nation's top theatre markets with some of North Carolina's most talented local artists. Under the leadership of Peggy Taphorn, Producing Artistic Director since 2007, the theatre has become a must-visit destination for audiences across the region and has expanded its educational programs through the Temple Academy, which offers year-round classes, camps, and performances for students of all ages. The venue also hosts special events and a full mainstage season, supported by a roster of corporate and foundation sponsors including Lee-Moore Capital Company, Tiger Baron Foundation Inc, Wilkinson Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC, FirstHealth, First Bank, Central Carolina Hospital, and the North Carolina Arts Council.

The Temple Theatre was built in 1925 by Robert Ingram, Sr., owner of the Sanford Coca-Cola Bottling Company, when Sanford had a population of only about 3,500. The name "Temple" comes from its location next door to what was once Sanford's Masonic Lodge. A 1925 issue of the Sanford Express quoted, "In erecting this modern theater, he has spared no expense to make it an up-to-date playhouse." The two-story brick building is 50 feet wide and 92 feet deep, decorated with cut stone details in a blend of Colonial Revival and Art Deco styles. For several decades the Temple served as Lee County's principal seat of entertainment. Located half a block from the railroad station, it was a frequent locale for vaudeville shows and stars. Years later it became a touring house for the road shows of the 1930s (including burlesque), and then a movie theater. During the 1960s, the Sanford Little Theatre and the Footlight Players used the Temple for their community productions. In 1965, the Temple Theatre closed. The rebirth of the Temple Theatre began in 1981 when Robert Ingram, Jr., son of the theatre's original owner, donated the building to the citizens of Lee County. Through the efforts of Sam Bass, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and received a large challenge grant from the North Carolina Legislature. It is located in the Downtown Sanford Historic District. Lee County citizens and businesses matched the grant, along with a significant grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The building was gutted and the vandalized shell was refurbished with the comfort of both patron and performer in mind. In 1984, the Temple reopened as a community theater. The first show at the newly renovated Temple was Chicago. Ticket prices for an individual show were $3 and $4; a season ticket of four shows was $12. All shows were produced by the Footlight Players, and the Temple paid the bills and sold the tickets. In 1986, the first "Temple Theatre Day" was instituted, held around April 1. It was a community and patron-focused fundraiser patterned after the United Way's fundraising organization, first chaired by local businessman Lamar Beach. Funds raised were designated for the theatre's staff salaries, insurance, and utilities throughout the year. It continued as an annual event, although the date was later changed to accommodate the theatre's fiscal year change to July 1 to align with the State's Arts Council grant cycle. In the summer of 1987, the Temple embarked on its first professional theatre venture, producing three shows with casts and crews that were all paid; there were no union contracts at that time. In the summer of 1989, another professional show was produced using contracts with Actors' Equity. In the spring of 1990, the Temple Board of Directors voted to accept a budget that included salaries for actors during the regular season. This essentially ended 'community' theatre at the Temple, and while various shows continued to use unpaid local actors and tech crew, many in those positions were paid union wages. The box office was filled with various part-time help after a retirement in 1996. In the fall of 1995, the Temple sponsored a community theatre named "The Community Playhouse," which produced one show a year each September from 1995 to 1998. The roof on the theatre was completely replaced in the summer of 1998. In the spring of 1996, the balcony was reconfigured, removing two rows of seats and converting the tech office into a reception room. The capacity was reduced, and with the addition of computerized box office ticketing, seating could be adjusted to allow only 299 seats to be sold, fulfilling an agreement with Actors' Equity for a special contract. The sound equipment was moved to the balcony in the rear; later found unsatisfactory, a special booth was built out over the audience from the balcony. In the fall of 1997, a temporary light truss was added down stage for the show 'The Invisible Man'; it was still there in the fall of 2001. For the marquee sign, the copper letters 'TEMPLE' were constructed by the metal workers at King Roofing in Sanford in 2000, using an old sign that had been made of galvanized steel. The lobby's richly painted walls and wooden trim flank the original multi-colored floor of hexagonal tiles. Above hangs a crystal chandelier accented in gold, while twin staircases sweep up on either side of the lobby leading to the balcony where the restored tin ceiling can be best appreciated. Backstage, actors enjoy comfortable dressing rooms, a kitchen, and a lounge area. There is a full counterweight fly system backstage, an advanced communication network, and computer-controlled lighting (last updated in 2010) and sound system (last updated in 2014). Originally the Temple seated 500; during the 1980s renovation, seating was reduced to 334. The Temple also has an orchestra pit, which can be covered to create a larger stage. Because it was designed for vaudeville, the acoustics are superb, highlighted by an ornate painted tin ceiling, and audience members have a good view of the stage from every seat. In the spring of 2012, the Temple unveiled a new concession and restroom area. In the fall of 2023, they completed a new VIP area to the left of the main concessions area. Under the leadership of Peggy Taphorn, Producing Artistic Director since 2007, Temple Theatre has become a must-visit destination for audiences across the region. She has expanded the theatre's educational programs through the Temple Academy, offering year-round classes, camps, and performances. The Temple is a cultural center and the top year-round attraction in Lee County.

• 2023

  New VIP area completed

• 2012

  New concession and restroom area unveiled

• 2007

  Peggy Taphorn becomes Producing Artistic Director

• 2000

  Copper 'TEMPLE' marquee letters constructed by King Roofing

• 1998

  Roof completely replaced

• 1996

  Balcony reconfigured; capacity reduced

• 1995

  Sponsors 'The Community Playhouse' community theatre

• 1990

  Board approves budget including actor salaries for regular season

• 1989

  Professional show produced under Actors' Equity contracts

• 1987

  First professional theatre venture with paid casts and crews

• 1986

  First 'Temple Theatre Day' fundraiser held

• 1984

  Reopens as a community theater with Chicago

• 1983

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

• 1981

  Robert Ingram, Jr. donates the building to the citizens of Lee County

• 1965

  Temple Theatre closes

• 1925

  Temple Theatre built by Robert Ingram, Sr.

One of North Carolina's premier regional theatres, offering Broadway-quality productions in an intimate, restored historic setting in downtown Sanford.

• Mainstage season

  Broadway-quality productions blending national and local artists.

• Temple Academy

  Year-round classes, camps, and performances for students of all ages.

• Special events

  Concerts and seasonal specials such as A Very Embers Christmas.

1. 1Home - Temple Theatre Companytempleshows.org
2. 2About - Temple Theatre Companytempleshows.org
3. 3Lee-Moore Capital Company - Temple Theatre Companytempleshows.org
4. 4Adcock Real Estate Services - Temple Theatre Companytempleshows.org
5. 5Temple Theater - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Temple Theatre (Sanford, North Carolina) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org