Fort Mill has seen substantial change over the years. The downtown has been revitalized, large neighborhoods have replaced family farms and the inevitable traffic that comes with growth has quickly followed. Perhaps no area has seen more change than the 2-3 mile strip off Interstate 77 around Carowinds.
Once home to the famed Praise the Lord Ministries (or PTL) of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, the area known for Christian evangelism and the scandal that followed was replaced with a row of seedy gambling dens and check cashing outlets.
It’s here that Rebecca Martin and Yvonne (Birdie) Clark, best friends since meeting at East Tennessee State decades ago, chose to house NarroWay Productions, a Christian dinner theatre celebrating its 30th anniversary this month.
Prior to moving to its current location on SC 51, the team purchased an abandoned amphitheater that had once been a part of the expansive PTL property within what is now Regent Park. “Everyone wanted to associate us with PTL,” says Birdie. “We weren’t from around here, they thought we were a front.” In reality, the theatre had never been a part of PTL, they just happened to be located on land that had been tainted by the scandal.
After 9 years in business, the amphitheater and the land around it were sold forcing Rebecca and Birdie to find a new home. They found an abandoned warehouse a couple of miles down the highway that was for lease called the Carousel. The building had been used for gambling and gaming and the real estate agent who owned the property initially had no desire to sell it. The agent eventually relented because she knew NarroWay and wanted to ensure it stayed in business.
Rebecca said the agent thought it was a “God thing” and “was always proud that she sold to NarroWay .”
With help from friends at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte and a loan from John and Marie King, the pair was able to purchase the property and begin laying down permanent roots. Those roots expanded in 2019 when a $2.5 million dollar loan allowed them to purchase the properties beside them, turning what was once a slot machine mecca into a family friendly haven.
Although the loan has since been paid off, that was not without some tense moments, especially during the Covid pandemic. “Covid shut us down in our high season,” explained Rebecca. “We had no income coming in and then people were asking for refunds.”
Along with the loan, the team had recently signed a contract for a complete set redesign. They were able to survive and move past their challenges with the help of volunteers. “When people do something out of value and love, they’ll do more than is expected. They understand their purpose and calling. We believe God has a purpose for Christian entertainment,” says Rebecca.
As part of their calling to support and expand Christian entertainment, NarroWay also has an education department. Started in 2016 with a homeschool program and summer camps of less than 20 kids, the department has expanded to include 4 summer camps of 250 registrants and a Fall/Spring semester offering 15 classes in various disciplines with over 300 kids attending.
Lindsay Phillips, a cast member since 2000 who met her husband at NarroWay and leads the department, referred to what they do as “unapologetically Christian arts.” Each class starts with a bible study, providing a safe space for the kids to share and be open with one another. Once finished, they transition to theatre training with each class eventually ending in a performance known as a showcase, held on the main stage of the theatre.
“Education is part of our goal, changing lives is as important or more important to us than anything else.” says Rebecca. Lindsay told of one such changed life, describing a girl who attended one of their camps. She had crippling anxiety and was balled up in the fetal position at the feet of her mother prior to drop off. That same girl recently auditioned for a lead part in an upcoming play, having grown in confidence enough to feel comfortable singing, dancing and acting in front of an audience.
Both Rebecca and Birdie see what they do as a calling, one that left little room for thoughts of being married or doing anything else with their time. “We had our opportunities but we just got so busy I guess we both forgot about it,” said Rebecca, with Birdie laughing beside her.
“People are all looking for entertainment. I don’t know that I’ve ever come out of a Broadway show and feel like my life has been impacted or changed. Consistently people walk out of NarroWay shows and say this.” says Birdie.
Surprisingly, over 81% of the people who attend their shows are visitors from outside York County. With prices ranging from $35-55 (a price that includes an onsite prepared dinner and dessert), it’s hard to imagine finding a better deal in local family entertainment and yet, they’re sustained by people visiting outside their community.
To aid in changing this dynamic, NarroWay is hosting a 30th Birthday Festival on Sunday, September 20th from 2-5pm. Free to the public, the festival will feature animals, live music, food trucks, local makers, performances, games and more. Click here to learn more.
Sign up for our Sunday Spectator. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday, with all the news from the week.
