The Carolina Theatre of Durham Welcomes a New Education Director

Shana Adams Joins Theater Staff With a Wealth of Arts Education Experience in Durham 

DURHAM, August 23, 2022 — The Carolina Theatre of Durham has hired a new senior director of education and community outreach, Shana Adams. Adams will succeed former director, Noel James, who has retired.  

Adams will be responsible for leading the Carolina Theatre’s two educational programs, Arts Discovery Educational Series and Family Saturday Series. Arts Discovery Educational Series brings high quality performing arts experiences to more than 16,000 schoolchildren annually. Family Saturday Series offers a low-cost option for families to enjoy a diverse array of artists. 

Adams has a long history of working with children in the arts, including working closely with the Carolina Theatre’s education programs while directing the Durham Arts Council’s Creative Arts in Public and Private Schools Program (CAPS) for the last 16 years. Through the CAPS program, Adams collaborated with James to create ArtsConnect, a menu of curriculum, supporting teaching artist led residencies and workshops for students attending performances at the Carolina Theatre. These in-school residencies added to students’ experiences by providing more in-depth and hands-on opportunities. 

“We’re grateful to have Shana with us. After an exhaustive national search, we found the perfect candidate right here at home. We can’t wait to see how she will continue to shape and grow our education programs,” says Randy McKay, President and CEO of the Carolina Theatre of Durham. 

Adams’ experience also includes the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, the Arts Education Institute at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, and the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts in Asheville.  

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About The Carolina Theatre of Durham: 

Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which manages the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region. More information at carolinatheatre.org. 

Contact: Jordan Hewitt Beard 

Senior Director of Marketing, Carolina Theatre of Durham 

(919) 560-3040 | jordan@carolinatheatre.org