return of the stockings
Roxboro Woman’s Club outside of Long Memorial before the kickoff for the 2024 Red Stocking Photo by Liana Slaughter
Enter the Stocking
One red stocking.
Whether it is a drawing on the iconic posters you see around town or worn on the right leg of a member of the Roxboro Woman’s Club, it signals one thing in Roxboro…
The Red Stocking Revue.
With its first production in 1959, Red Stocking quickly proved itself worthy of becoming a Person County tradition. Occurring every other year, it pulls from local talent under the recent direction of Chris Fettig.
The dedication and drive of the Roxboro Woman’s Club and Roxboro’s talent has taken a show of follies, songs, advertising, and gags and made it an integral part of Person County that raises money for many worthwhile organizations and causes.
A Not-So-Brand New Pair of Rollerskates
The sockhop on the Kirby stage bustled with energy.
Narrow misses on rollerskates. A scripted joke here. An unscripted joke that was even better there.
“You ready to wrap this up?” Bennie nodded. “OK. One more pass around with the tray and then come back center stage.”
A loop of the stage with a slight wobble as he passed the curtain, tray in hand, and back to the front of the stage when he tried to stop.
“What the-”
The crowd looked in amazement as the skated waiter went onto the toe of his skate on one foot, did a 360, regained his balance, caught the tray barely by the edge as it almost slipped from his grip, and even remembered to smile.
It was then that he realized that the stopper on the end of his skate had been removed.
The wall on the right side of the stage stopped him – abruptly.
Applause.
The curtain lowered as the roar grew louder and louder as the crowd marveled and laughed at the finale.
How did he…? That was amazing… I didn’t even know he could…
Bennie looked up from his spot on the floor.
“What I want to know is who took the stopper off my rollerskate!” he said, tray still in hand.
“We thought it would be good for the show.”
The tray flew across the room, cups and plates still glued, as it helicoptered like a Frisbee and clattered against the far wall, as they all laughed.
A History of a People
The first Red Stocking Revue took place in Person County in 1959. Back then, the best advertising for the show was worn by the members of the Roxboro Woman’s Club. For the weeks leading up to the show, each member was required to wear a red stocking around town, and if you were caught without it, there was a 25 cent “fine” (with the only exception being made for church).
The show itself took place in the Old Roxboro School which used to stand where
Huck Sansbury is today.
Names such as Tom Alexander, Doug Newell, Nita Morgan, and Frank Kimbrough (along with many others) became synonymous with the event.
A new version of Mutt and Jeff.
Doug’s attempts to teach in River Dunce.
Will we ever find out who is actually on first and why what is on second?
And Tom’s Song reminds the audience of what comes after “a night out on the town/where they go for some dancing”
Adver-tainment
The lines dimmed as the skit ended.
“Here comes my favorite part.”
Unscripted, the ads and sponsorships started across the stage and through the aisles.
Signs carried around supporting local businesses.
Impromptu skits.
A song here and there.
And if they forget the words, they hum along or do like that one time during the 1980’s show and the cast somehow forgot the lines to the intro to Laverne and Shirley and replaced them with with two and a half minutes of the funniest “Woo wooo woooooos” ever sung on a small town stage.
When out walked a cat woman with a Coca-Cola sign – tail swishing.
A quick lap of the room and she is back behind the curtain.
“Hey! Where’s your pants?”
“Welll…” the cat lady answered. “I got the tights, my tail, and all the rest of the outfit on but didn’t have time to find them.”
“Ja-”
“Besides! I had the sign covering everything else.”
Back in the audience, a woman elbowed her husband. “I wish the ads on TV were this good.”
“I swear, the ads are one of the best parts of the show!”
A Modern Stocking
After taking a break due to COVID from 2019 to 2023, the Red Stocking Revue returned in 2024 – switching from the odd years to the even years.
Themes of the show ranged from The Decades to A Cruise Ship and even more of what you would expect like Broadway, movies, and musicals like The Greatest Showman.
Recent years have also started to include children in the show – pulling in another part of the community.
“It is a lot of work, time and energy. I think we all could take a week’s rest when it is over,” said Gayle Peed, the show’s co-chair.
And the proceeds for the show stay here in Person County. Peed says they “use the profits to fund scholarships and support organizations in our community…Safe Haven, Partnership for Children, Relay for Life, Personality, Jingle on Main, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Cry Freedom Missions, My Life Matters, Backpack Pals, Christian Help Center, Rockets Care, and Cancer Crusaders. I’m sure there are some that I have missed.”
More Than a Kickline…
The line stretched across the stage.
Right hand over. Left hand under.
Kick. Ball. Change. Kick. Ball. Change.
They practiced it a thousand times.
Kick. Ball. Change. Kick. Ball. Change.
It was almost a natural reaction after three weeks of practice.
Kick. Ball. Change. Kick. Ball. Change.
But this wasn’t your average kickline full of athletic females.
Fathers. Mothers. Businessmen. Your dentist.
Even local elected officials.
Kick. Ball. Change.
A community.
Kick. Ball. Change.
One last kick!
A near stumble…but recovered together.
The crowd erupts.
Smile. Bow. Curtain.
Your Next Stocking
The 33rd Red Stocking Revue will take place in February 2026 on the last three days of the month (Feb. 26, 27, & 28) at the Kirby Auditorium in Uptown Roxboro. The theme for the show is Stars, Stripes and Roxboro Nights – a patriotic tribute to go with the 250th anniversary of America.
Dana Blackwell, executive director of the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce, understands what makes this event such a success. “Our county is full of talent – a community shines brightest when everyone shares their spark.”
If you are interested in sharing your spark, the kickoff is Feb. 9, 2026.
Contact Gayle Peed at peedgayle@gmail.com or (336) 504-0330.
Tickets go on sale in January with reserved seating for Patron Tickets.
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