Montgomery Is Lucky to Have the Alabama Shakespeare Festival

Guest Opinion by Perry Hooper Jr.

As Judy and I walked out of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival after seeing Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, we found ourselves saying something that surprised even us: we enjoyed this production more than the one we had seen on Broadway.

That is not faint praise. The Broadway production was excellent, but the performance we saw in Montgomery felt more intimate, more heartfelt and, in many ways, more alive. The music was wonderful, the cast brought tremendous energy to the stage, and the story connected with the audience in a deeply personal way.

At the center of it all was Julia Bogdanoff as Carole King. She gave an exceptional performance, capturing both the vulnerability of a young songwriter trying to find her place and the growing confidence of an artist discovering her own voice. Julia has a remarkable voice, a natural stage presence and the rare ability to make a large theater feel intimate. She is a true rising star, and I believe audiences will be hearing much more about her in the years ahead.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Julia’s parents. Their pride in their daughter was unmistakable and entirely understandable. Speaking with them added a special human connection to an already memorable evening. It was a reminder that behind every talented young performer are parents, teachers, mentors and friends who encouraged a dream and helped make a moment like this possible.

Our experience at Beautiful also reminded me of the extraordinary history behind the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and of the vision that brought it to Montgomery.

The festival began in Anniston, where it grew from modest beginnings into an increasingly important theatrical institution. By the early 1980s, however, its success had created challenges. The festival had outgrown its facilities and was facing serious financial difficulties. Its future was far from certain.

Carolyn Blount, who had a deep love for Shakespeare, theater and the classics, recognized the festival’s importance and its potential. She encouraged her husband, Winton “Red” Blount, to become involved. Together, the Blounts did far more than simply support the organization. They helped rescue it, paid its debts and made possible its move to Montgomery.

Their generosity led to the creation of the magnificent theater complex that opened in 1985 and bears Carolyn Blount’s name. At the time, their contribution was reported to be the largest private gift ever made to an American theater company. The theater became the centerpiece of Blount Cultural Park, a setting whose beauty and scale reflect the ambition of the vision behind it.

The Blounts understood something that remains important today: the arts are not an extravagance. They are an essential part of a healthy, educated and thriving community. Theater brings people together. It introduces us to different lives and different points of view. It entertains us, challenges us and reminds us of the experiences we share.

Because of the Blounts’ foresight, Montgomery became home to a nationally respected professional theater. Their gift created opportunities not only for audiences but also for actors, musicians, directors, designers, craftspeople and young performers seeking to build careers in the arts.

That legacy comes alive every time the curtain rises.

Productions such as Beautiful demonstrate that memorable theater does not belong only to Broadway. Exceptional artists are creating work of the highest quality right here in Montgomery. The festival gives established performers a place to shine, provides emerging talents such as Julia Bogdanoff with an important stage and allows audiences throughout our region to experience professional theater without traveling hundreds of miles.

Judy and I will remember Beautiful because it was an outstanding production. We will remember Julia’s performance, the warmth and energy of the cast, and the pleasure of meeting her proud parents. But we will also remember the evening because it renewed our appreciation for what the Alabama Shakespeare Festival means to this community.

The festival enriches Montgomery’s cultural life, strengthens its identity and carries forward the remarkable legacy of Carolyn and Red Blount. Their vision continues to educate, inspire and entertain new generations.

Montgomery is extraordinarily lucky to have the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and productions such as Beautiful give us every reason to celebrate it, support it and never take it for granted.

Perry O. Hooper Jr. is a longtime Alabama Republican figure, former Alabama Legislator and Montgomery businessman. He served as Co-Chair of “Alabama Trump Victory” in 2016, and served as an at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention. He is a noted civic leader in Montgomery with deep family roots in Alabama’s legal and political history.

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