Discover the State Theater of North Carolina!
THIS MONTH ON UNC-TV’S OUR STATE, THE FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE
Third Season Premieres Thursday, Jan. 4, at 8 PM

UNC-TV’s showcase high-definition series Our State kicks off its third season Thursday, January 4, at 8 PM, with a backstage look at the renowned Flat Rock Playhouse, a tour of Tar Heel Towns: Davidson with D.G. Martin, a visit with The Can Joe Man, Herschel Brown, and reflections from a renowned photographer of our state’s beauty on Shutterbugs: Denise Clay.

Roots of the Flat Rock Playhouse date back to 1937 when a group of performers organized themselves into the Vagabond Players. After finding the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1940, by 1952 the vagabonds, and a newly formed board of directors, bought an eight-acre lot in the Village of Flat Rock. This new space and a retired circus tent evolved into the Flat Rock Playhouse. The North Carolina General Assembly recognized its success and officially designated it as the State Theater of North Carolina in 1961. Today its dual mission combines a 10-show professional series with an apprentice and intern program. Tune in to see how the theater does the seemingly impossible: wrapping one show on a Sunday night and premiering a new one the following Wednesday.

January’s show also features Tar Heel Towns: Davidson. Join D.G. Martin sharing highlights of his hometown of Davidson and a return to his alma mater, Davidson College. This historic college claims President Woodrow Wilson and former Secretary of State Dean Rusk among its alumni. It was also one of the few Southern academic institutions to remain open during the Civil War. Martin will guide you down Main Street for a visit to two long-standing fixtures of the Davidson community: The Soda Shop and Raeford’s Barbershop.

Then meet Herschel Brown, known far and wide as The Can Joe Man. Brown believes music should be a part of everyone’s life and he’s created a simple instrument to help that happen. From his love of mountain music, Brown learned to craft dulcimers, eventually giving way to the creation of the one-stringed ‘can joe.’ His simple instrument has put music in all sorts of places—from hospitals to a public school music program. Watch one can joe make its way from Brown’s wood shop to a local school where students present a can joe concert.

January’s program also features Shutterbugs: Denise Clay, featuring reflections from this renowned photographer about her stunning North Carolina images.

And all that’s just in the first show, Thursday, January 4, at 8 PM.

Throughout the month, every Thursday night at 8, enjoy other storied sites from our state’s heritage on UNC-TV. On the 11th, explore the Great Dismal Swamp Canal/Voyage of Elizabeth II/Tar Heel Towns: Bath. Enjoy Asheville’s Grove Arcade/Jon Kuhn Glass/Grist for the Mill on the 18th. And closing out the month, on the 25th, discover Striking Gold/Tar Heel Towns: Warrenton/NC Images: Carolina Quilts.

Inspired by the pages of Our State magazine, UNC-TV's half-hour on-air monthly magazine, Our State, takes you down-home in North Carolina for an in-depth look at the people and places that make our state great! Compelling stories, stunning digital videography and thoughtful narration take you beneath the surface, providing answers to the hows and whys of all things Our State. Each month you’ll find more great things about our state to discover and to love! Discover and celebrate North Carolina’s people, places, traditions and culture through inspiring stories such as you’ll find in the pages of Our State magazine—now on UNC-TV’s on-air magazine Our State.

Based on the stories of Our State magazine, UNC-TV's half-hour on-air monthly magazine, Our State, takes you down-home in North Carolina for an in-depth look at the people and places that make our state great! Compelling stories, stunning digital videography and thoughtful narration take you beneath the surface, providing answers to the hows and whys of all things Our State. Each month you’ll find more great things about our state to discover and to love! Discover and celebrate North Carolina’s people, places, traditions and culture through inspiring stories such as you’ll find in the pages of Our State magazine—now on UNC-TV’s on-air magazine Our State. The new season premieres January 4 and features a new weekly broadcast time of Thursday nights, at 8, on UNC-TV channels across the state. 

In addition to UNC-TV, see Our State throughout the month on UNC-NC, UNC-TV’s digital channel featuring programming about North Carolina, and UNC-HD, UNC-TV’s high definition channel. For more information about Our State, visit Our State online at www.unctv.org/ourstate. Check UNC-TV’s monthly program guide CenterPiece and local television listings for other airdates and times.

Our State is produced by UNC-TV in partnership with Our State magazine and the generous support of BB&T. For more information about this show and other UNC-TV programming, visit UNC-TV online at www.unctv.org. UNC-TV’s 11 stations comprise North Carolina’s only statewide television network, made possible through a unique partnership of public investment and private support. UNC-TV is committed to producing and broadcasting programs for and about North Carolina, making it the state’s most important source of information about North Carolina.