On with the Show: Command of Choreography

Three local women are taking Wilmington’s theater scene to new heights with their work both on stage and behind the scenes.

Professional performer and dancer CARSON HOBBS has garnered acclaim for her exciting choreography and directing. BETH STOVALL is a soprano who enchants both opera and musical theater fans. And MYRA GRAHAM QUINCE is a singer and actor who mesmerizes audiences with her bold voice and vivid character portrayals.

By passionately pursuing their dreams, each of these women has overcome whatever obstacles lay in their way to make it on the big stage.

I like to bring a fresh energy and edge to everything I work on. That’s the bar I set for myself. – Carson Hobbs

Wilmington native CARSON HOBBS has had a ten-year career dancing and performing in hit shows across the country. Now Hobbs is sharing her passion with her hometown, and she is branching out in new directions as she does so.

Hobbs’ new theater roles include choreography and directing, and she serves as the director of education for the Opera House Theatre Company.

“My career is like riding a wave,” Hobbs says. “I definitely seek opportunities to evolve. I’m a big yes person, and I seize opportunities, sometimes to a fault.”

Hobbs was bit by the theater bug when she was a child and watching a musical at Thalian Hall. To pursue her dream, she earned her bachelor of arts degree from New York City’s The New School, then landed roles in well-known musicals such as A Chorus Line, Cats, The Full Monty, 42nd Street, Anything Goes, Funny Girl, and Wicked. Hobbs also acted in several national commercials.

Hobbs’ success didn’t come easily. Unlike some who get that “lucky break,” Hobbs says her accomplishments came from hard work. Then, her career was sidelined by an injury. After dancing in Wicked for just a few months, Hobbs broke her foot. Post-injury, she became Wicked’s first universal female swing dancer, traveling from New York to Los Angeles to fill in when a dancer was out for a performance.

After Hobbs moved back to Wilmington in 2020, she choreographed the dances in local productions of Newsies and Kinky Boots. She also recently directed The Prom.

Hobbs strives to breathe new life into shows and help the performers showcase their talents.

“I like to bring a fresh energy and edge to everything I work on,” Hobbs says. “That’s the bar I set for myself.”

Hobbs also taught at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s dance program, and she developed and teaches professional-level classes at Opera House Theatre for students who want to pursue theater. The program includes singing, dancing, working with original choreography, and more – anything that might be thrown at them at an audition, Hobbs says.

“My goal is to put Opera House Theatre Group’s training on the map, to provide strong training for theater and maybe TV,” Hobbs adds.

Hobbs is excited to help local performers fulfill their potential and grow Wilmington theater.

“I want them (audiences) to appreciate the caliber of talent and the level of theater in town because it’s amazing,” Hobbs says, “and I want them to come back.”

To view more of photographer Daria Amato’s work, go to dariaphoto.com