Let's call this the 11 o'clock number. After more than 20 years, Tom Gabbard, Blumenthal Arts' CEO, announced he will be retiring by the end of 2027.

Editor Maria here. I've had the pleasure of interviewing and getting to know Tom over the years and can say, without a doubt, he is one of the funniest, most down-to-earth, and driven individuals.

Since joining Blumenthal Arts in 2003, Gabbard has helped shape Charlotte's arts scene by:

Opening the Knight Theater, Stage Door Theater, and Blume Studios
Founding The Blumey Awards, the regional high school musical theater competition that helped launch the careers of many professional performers, including Reneé Rapp and Bryson Battle
Launching immersive experiences in Charlotte, such as "Immersive Van Gogh," which attracted more than 300,000 attendees in six months

Gabbard also played a major role in bringing Broadway productions to the Queen City. He's been a member of the Broadway League since 1996 and a Tony Awards voter since 1997.

Editor Maria posing for a photo with three other people. — Editor Maria last spoke with Gabbard before "Dracula: A Comedy of Terror: opened at Booth Playhouse. | Photo by CLTtoday

"The thing that draws most of us to Charlotte is Tom Gabbard because he loves theater, and he's a true supporter," Gordon Greenberg, "Dracula: A Comedy of Horrors" director, previously told CLTtoday.

Gabbard plans to transition into an advisory and consulting role with Blumenthal Arts while working with the board of directors during the search for his successor.

"The cultural vitality that has ignited here, particularly the last 12 years or so, is really quite remarkable," Gabbard told CLTtoday. "I look forward to continuing to advise and support creative entrepreneurs."