Staff Spotlight: Steve Lebowitz

After three years at the Carolina Theatre, our Chief Financial Officer, Steve Lebowitz is retiring. Before his last day, we caught up with him to learn about his favorite memories working at the theater and what he looks forward to most about retirement.

CTD: Can you share a little about yourself and how you started working at the theater?

In 2019, after 23 years of living in NYC and working in Corporate Investment Banking my wife and I decided it was time to make a change. We moved to Durham and started looking for jobs. I was hoping to find a job with a connection to the community, and considering my background there were few obvious options. I think Randy (Carolina Theatre’s President and CEO) was convinced that I might work out when he learned that I was married in a historic theater on Broadway.

CTD: What did you like most about your job?

The people. The staff at the Carolina Theatre are incredibly generous and dedicated to the mission of the organization. It has been a pleasure working with the entire group.

CTD: What are some of your most memorable moments of being at the theater? 

There were two very different moments. I brought my wife to the theater to give her a private tour on the weekend just after I was hired. I had not been warned about the alarm or told how to turn it off. A friendly police officer answered the call and then joined us on the tour once we got the alarm turned off. The second was the 10^th Anniversary of the Confronting Change Exhibit. It was memorable for how moving it was and how important it is to share that story with the community.

CTD: How have things changed around the theater and in Durham since you started working here?

The theater was closed due to the pandemic when I started working here early in 2021. Many of the staff returned when we reopened, and things have changed a lot since then. There was a strong base for the organization in place before the pandemic. The team in place now has worked very hard to expand the programming and improve how we operate. One area I am most proud of, that I had absolutely nothing to do with, is the focus on increasing the amount of free and low-cost programming, like the Sensory Friendly Film Series.

CTD: What are some interesting and little-known facts about the theater you can share?  

It’s a non-profit organization. We put on many commercial events, but it is still an organization partially funded by the community through donations. And that the alarm is very loud!

CTD: What is your favorite show or film you saw at the theater?

The Mavericks, they put on an amazing show.

CTD: What are you most excited about for retirement?

I am most excited about the flexibility to do new and different things on my own schedule. I am looking forward to traveling, hanging out at Bulls games, and most importantly spending time with my wife. Of course, coming to shows at the theater is also on the list.