When I stepped onstage at Greenbrier Valley Theatre for the first time at age 10, I didn’t know that moment would change my life. I was just a kid taking a theatre class after school, but in that space, under those lights, something clicked. I felt seen. I felt brave. I felt like I belonged.
Now, years later, I have the incredible honor of serving as GVT’s Producing Artistic Director. As I walk through these familiar hallways, I see the faces of students stepping into the same journey I once did. I see what this theatre made possible for me, and what it continues to make possible for so many others.
That’s why I’m inviting you to join me in supporting A Beautiful Legacy.
This isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s a celebration of everything GVT stands for: professional theatre, transformative education, and a community built on creativity and connection.
In 2025, we’ll bring Beautiful: The Carole King Musical to life, one of our most ambitious productions yet. At the heart of it will be Lillie King, a talented young artist who also grew up in our education program. I had the joy of teaching Lillie just as I was once taught by Cathey Crowell Sawyer, GVT’s former Producing Artistic Director and the visionary who built this theatre into what it is today. Now, Cathey returns to direct this production, closing a beautiful circle that connects generations of artists shaped by GVT.
Lillie. Cathey. Me. We’re just three threads in a much larger story. A story that now includes you.
When you give to A Beautiful Legacy, you’re not just helping us stage a show. You’re helping us mentor the next Lillie. Teach the next 10-year-old dreamer. Build the next bold season. You’re preserving a cultural cornerstone of this region, and you’re proving that small towns deserve world-class theatre, too.
I hope you’ll consider making a gift to this campaign. Every donor of $500 or more will be permanently recognized in our lobby on a commemorative plaque. A lasting tribute to the people who made this next chapter possible.
I came back to GVT because I believe in what this place can do – I’ve lived it. With your support, we can keep that door open for the next generation of storytellers, students, and dreamers.
With deep gratitude, Courtney Susman-Frye, Producing Artistic Director
