Performance and fine arts play a crucial role within the fabric of a community, weaving together threads of creativity, expression, and connection. From thrilling theater performances to stirring art exhibitions, art rises far above just entertainment — it helps us cultivate a shared identity, a sense of community, and a space to not only help tell each other’s stories but to explore our own.
In Cumberland County, the arts are flourishing, thanks to the hard work and dedication of arts organizations and the community leaders who champion them.
Jeremy Fiebig is one such leader. As professor of theatre at Fayetteville State University and the founder of Sweet Tea Shakespeare, a local theater company, Jeremy has spent the last 15 years nurturing creativity and community at FSU and throughout Cumberland County, creating spaces where a feeling of belonging is central.
Originally from Missouri, Jeremy attended William Jewell College near Kansas City, majoring in theater while, in his words, he “danced with” a range of other subjects, from music to religion, before eventually earning bachelor’s degrees in both theater and cultural performance studies in 2003. After undergrad, Jeremy earned multiple master’s degrees from Mary Baldwin College in Virginia, focusing on Shakespeare performance and directing.
Before settling in Fayetteville, Jeremy taught at a small college in Iowa, but when the financial crisis of 2008 began to hit his previous institution, he needed to be cast in a new role. FSU gave him a callback.
During his time at Fayetteville State University, Jeremy has played an integral role in expanding and integrating the theater and dance programs, and in creating connections with other departments and community organizations.
“The changes we’ve tried to pursue are ones that get us reaching out in our community,” he notes. The spirit of collaboration led to the creation of Sweet Tea Shakespeare in 2012, which began as a summer project at FSU. Today, the company has become a pillar of Fayetteville’s arts and culture scene.
Many of FSU’s students gain their first professional experiences through the company. As students branch out, connections grow between Sweet Tea Shakespeare, FSU’s performing and fine arts programs, other regional theaters, such as the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, and other institutions around the state. These connections are part of Jeremy’s vision for a vibrant arts community.
“The impulse here over the last 15 years has been to see the program reflect the community, and for us to make an impact together,” Jeremy said.
He believes that many aspects of our social lives can be connected to performance.
“I think that the way people think about theater, generally, is that it’s this thing that happens with the weirdos over in the corner of campus, or on the street corner at the end of downtown, but really it’s everything we do together,” Jeremy explained. “In a way, the ‘weirdos’ who are studying it in a specific way, are calling us to think about how we relate to each other in other settings.”
When Jeremy first came to Fayetteville, he noticed that the town felt a sense of low self-esteem. Fayetteville didn’t feel that it deserved the things a city of its size and composition should have, including “a little Shakespeare company that does plays sometimes,” he mused.
However, he believes that the city is experiencing a “cultural renaissance,” shown in upcoming performing arts facility upgrades for Cape Fear Regional Theatre, which will break ground in fall/winter 2024, and the Crown Event Center, planning to open its doors in 2027.
“We, as a community, are waking up to the idea that the arts really belong here,” he said, noting that much of the credit for that belongs to the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County and other arts organizations in the area.
The journey of establishing Sweet Tea Shakespeare was not without challenges, as there is with starting any organization, but Jeremy emphasizes it is the support he felt in Fayetteville that allowed the company to succeed.
“There’s a freedom in not having lots of expectations,” Jeremy explains about the early stages of the company. This freedom gave them the chance to create something that felt authentic.
Jessie Wise, one of the three community members to nominate Jeremy for this award, said young and adult artists have been able to cultivate their skills thanks to the space Jeremy has created.
“He has created a space where a diverse community can gather and grow in empathy and understanding of one another,” Jessie said. “ … In all he does, he works to unite the community.”
One standout moment for Jeremy came in January 2015 during Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, which he believes marked the moment the company found its voice. The production included not only seasoned artists but also teachers and librarians. He was proud that the company was able to create a place where people, whose day jobs were all about giving, could reconnect with their artistic selves.
“There’s a sliver of my job that’s making the next Broadway star,” he explains. “But there’s much more of my job that’s about making a bunch of people who will do their next spreadsheet in a way that gives life to that situation.”
In other words, he argues that fostering creativity can lead to better professionals, parents, and community members, even if those contributions aren’t easily tallied in an Excel data set.
Jeffery Womble, university ombuds (representative) at FSU and one of the three judges, reflected on the impact Jeremy’s work makes in and out of the classroom. (Jeffery recused himself from voting for Jeremy because they are colleagues.)
“It’s great to see someone who takes their profession and turns it into something to benefit the community, and that’s what Jeremy does,” Jeffery said.
Looking ahead, Jeremy’s mission is clear: He wants to build a sense of belonging within the community while raising the bar for the quality of artistic work.
As Fayetteville’s arts scene continues to evolve, Jeremy Fiebig works to weave connections and foster a vibrant culture through the arts. His belief in the importance of storytelling and collaboration ensures that the stories of Fayetteville’s residents will continue to be told, enriching the community for years to come.
The work is about creating spaces where everyone feels they belong and can contribute. Jeremy explains, “The primary value is actually not the art, it’s the community.”
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Jeremy Fiebig’s title as Associate Professor of Performing and Fine Arts. Jeremy’s official title is Professor of Theatre. This article has been updated with the correct information. CityView apologizes for this error.
Read CityView magazine’s “Giving” November 2024 e-edition here.
