National Black Theatre Festival Adds $10 Million to Winston-Salem Economy

National Black Theatre Festival Adds $10 Million to Winston-Salem Economy

August 12, 2011 |

National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF) organizers say its 2011 event generated about $10 million for the city of Winston-Salem, according to preliminary ticket sales figures. This is a slight drop from 2009. At that time, the festival pulled in about $13.4 million. Last week, the festival produced more than 30 plays from around the world. Executive Producer and President of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin says in addition to long-time supporters attending the festival, a number of first-time theatre goers came. As a result, seven plays sold out during their run and several others were close to selling out. Festival organizers estimate about 60-thousand people attended last week's events. Every two years, NBTF produces plays in addition to workshops, a film fest, an international colloquium and a number of youth and teen programs. In past years, the positive economic benefit of the festival has been overshadowed by unruly crowd incidents and fights. So Sprinkle-Hamlin says festival organizers and the Winston-Salem Police Department began crafting a safety plan as early as last January. The National Black Theatre Festival is the international program of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company. The first festival was produced in 1989.