Mission
To engage youth performers and audience members in the power of professionally oriented theatre performances in intimate settings.
Artistic Staff
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Coleman Ray Clark
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Reed C. Carson
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Jacob Benson
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Landon Calhoun
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Sarah Behrend-Wilcox
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Lucy Rossi
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Joseph Porter
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Where are they now? FEATURED SPOTLIGHT
Coleman Ray Clark - attends Marymount Manhattan College in NYC, studying Theatre Directing
Reed C. Carson - attends Columbia College in Chicago, studying Cinema Directing & Screenwriting
Jacob Benson - attends Temple University in Philadelphia, studying Religion and Philosophy
Landon Calhoun - attends Marymount Manhattan College in NYC, studying Acting for Musical Theatre
Madison Carey - attends Oklahoma City University, studying Acting
Sarah Hierholzer - attends Columbia College in Chicago, studying Comedy Writing and Performance
Erin Farrah - attends Drew University in New Jersey, studying Anthropology and Theatre Arts
Macey McDowell - attends Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, studying Writing
Jonah Greene - attends Tufts University in Boston, studying Acting
Hannah Villines - attends the University of Alabama, studying Acting for Musical Theatre
Garrett Wiegel - attends Roosevelt University in Chicago, studying Acting
EJ Ogbeide - attends Harvard University in Cambridge, studying Acting
Gabby Chronister and EJ Chronister - rock out all over Arkansas in their band, Breaking Silence
Macey Charboneau - attends the University of Arkansas and runs her own business
Sarah Behrend-Wilcox - attends Oberlin College in Ohio, studying Theatre and French
There are MANY more names to add to this list! It is just getting started. Please contact Coleman to be added!
Reed C. Carson - attends Columbia College in Chicago, studying Cinema Directing & Screenwriting
Jacob Benson - attends Temple University in Philadelphia, studying Religion and Philosophy
Landon Calhoun - attends Marymount Manhattan College in NYC, studying Acting for Musical Theatre
Madison Carey - attends Oklahoma City University, studying Acting
Sarah Hierholzer - attends Columbia College in Chicago, studying Comedy Writing and Performance
Erin Farrah - attends Drew University in New Jersey, studying Anthropology and Theatre Arts
Macey McDowell - attends Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, studying Writing
Jonah Greene - attends Tufts University in Boston, studying Acting
Hannah Villines - attends the University of Alabama, studying Acting for Musical Theatre
Garrett Wiegel - attends Roosevelt University in Chicago, studying Acting
EJ Ogbeide - attends Harvard University in Cambridge, studying Acting
Gabby Chronister and EJ Chronister - rock out all over Arkansas in their band, Breaking Silence
Macey Charboneau - attends the University of Arkansas and runs her own business
Sarah Behrend-Wilcox - attends Oberlin College in Ohio, studying Theatre and French
There are MANY more names to add to this list! It is just getting started. Please contact Coleman to be added!
NTT Adult Advisory Board
Ben Clark, Morgan Hicks, Sarah Leer, Jonelle Lipscomb, Kassie Misiewicz, Warren Rosenaur, Mark Landon Smith, Jason Suel, Jules Taylor, Gabe Templin, Josh Tillotson, Erika Wilhite, and Kathy Logelin.
The Story of New Threshold Theatre
New Threshold Theatre first came as a far off idea from Erika Wilhite, friend and personal mentor to Coleman Ray Clark in September of 2012. Clark immediately called his best pals, Reed C. Carson and Jacob Benson, and pitched them the idea. They quickly fell in love with the concept of youth produced theatre. As soon as they could, the three began meeting with theatre and business professionals around NWA learn how to take their ideas into reality. NTT was officially founded on November 15th, 2012.
The artistic team then started searching for their first show to produce. After reading, "The Iliad, The Odyssey, And All Greek Mythology In 99 Minutes Or Less" by Jay Hopkins and John Hunter the group fell in love with the challenge of producing a five person fast-paced comedy, a genre no one had given them previous opportunities to explore. As quickly as they could, they began work assembling the creative team for the first production. Only one problem stood in their way.. The company had no money.
Clark estimated the show would cost $1,000. Erika Wilhite (with the Artist Laboratory Theatre) suggested looking into a funding website called "Kickstarter". The young founders filmed and edited a video to show the world what NTT was all about. On September 20th, 2012 they launched their Kickstarter campaign. They set a goal of $1,000 and a 25 day time limit. They were to get at least $1,000 in pledges in 30 days otherwise they'd get nothing. The group began rehearsals, unsure if they would meet their goal. The Kickstarter would determine if the company was to live or be put to rest before producing anything at all. On December 13th, 2012 (day 22) they passed their $1,000 goal! Rehearsals for NTT's first production continued! After a nearly sold out opening night, NTT's first show played, as planned, two more performances to completely sold-out audiences. To say the company could continue was an understatement. Clark, Carson, and Benson knew NTT must continue.
After the unfortunate news that founder Jacob Benson would be moving to Pennsylvania just one year after the start of the company, Clark and Carson began the search for a new addition to the NTT artistic staff. They sought out the passionate and talented actor Landon Calhoun. With his knowledge of musical theatre and varying experiences, Calhoun was able to push NTT to the next level starting in the fall of 2013. Between 2012-2015, NTT reached over 4,000 audience members.
The artistic team then started searching for their first show to produce. After reading, "The Iliad, The Odyssey, And All Greek Mythology In 99 Minutes Or Less" by Jay Hopkins and John Hunter the group fell in love with the challenge of producing a five person fast-paced comedy, a genre no one had given them previous opportunities to explore. As quickly as they could, they began work assembling the creative team for the first production. Only one problem stood in their way.. The company had no money.
Clark estimated the show would cost $1,000. Erika Wilhite (with the Artist Laboratory Theatre) suggested looking into a funding website called "Kickstarter". The young founders filmed and edited a video to show the world what NTT was all about. On September 20th, 2012 they launched their Kickstarter campaign. They set a goal of $1,000 and a 25 day time limit. They were to get at least $1,000 in pledges in 30 days otherwise they'd get nothing. The group began rehearsals, unsure if they would meet their goal. The Kickstarter would determine if the company was to live or be put to rest before producing anything at all. On December 13th, 2012 (day 22) they passed their $1,000 goal! Rehearsals for NTT's first production continued! After a nearly sold out opening night, NTT's first show played, as planned, two more performances to completely sold-out audiences. To say the company could continue was an understatement. Clark, Carson, and Benson knew NTT must continue.
After the unfortunate news that founder Jacob Benson would be moving to Pennsylvania just one year after the start of the company, Clark and Carson began the search for a new addition to the NTT artistic staff. They sought out the passionate and talented actor Landon Calhoun. With his knowledge of musical theatre and varying experiences, Calhoun was able to push NTT to the next level starting in the fall of 2013. Between 2012-2015, NTT reached over 4,000 audience members.
What are people saying?
"Since its establishment, NTT produced shows which were entertaining, thought-provoking, moving and challenging. From established works to original works to original adaptations, each has been brought to life with thoughtfulness and a clear vision. As a youth-lead theatre company. NTT excelled." - Mark Landon Smith (Arts Live Theatre & Actors Casting Agency)
"I think of the work required, the drive and ambition to make NTT so successful and I am amazed" - John Furlow
"I was so impressed how NTT found a space and put on a high paced show that was witty and full of energy and life! The evolution from that night of young arts wanting to push themselves and easing the bar each performance to producing full scale musicals in performing arts centers still blows my mind... My biggest praise of NTT is the leadership, the laughter, the love and the loyalty it's founders had for its community, it's members, and it's homage to theatre." - Trevor Cooperescue (Fayetteville High School Drama)
"I think of the work required, the drive and ambition to make NTT so successful and I am amazed" - John Furlow
"I was so impressed how NTT found a space and put on a high paced show that was witty and full of energy and life! The evolution from that night of young arts wanting to push themselves and easing the bar each performance to producing full scale musicals in performing arts centers still blows my mind... My biggest praise of NTT is the leadership, the laughter, the love and the loyalty it's founders had for its community, it's members, and it's homage to theatre." - Trevor Cooperescue (Fayetteville High School Drama)
