Peggy Taphorn

Peggy Taphorn is in her sixteenth season as the Producing Artistic Director of the Temple Theatre! An award winning actress, director, and choreographer, Peggy spent 22 years based in New York City and has six Broadway shows to her credit. 

Over the years, she’s worked with theatre luminaries like George Abbott, who cast her to star on Broadway in the revival of Broadway! Other Broadway shows followed, including the Tony Award winners Me And My Girl, directed by Mike Ockrent, Showboat, directed by Hal Prince and choreographed by Susan Stroman, Smokey Joe’s Café, directed by Jerry Zaks, and Urinetown, directed by John Rando. Peggy was the dance captain of the first National tour of Little Women – The Musical, starring Maureen McGovern, and Directed by Susan Schulman and Choreographed by Michael Lichtefeld – who were the creative team for Stardust Road 2019! 

Peggy also appeared Off-Broadway, on London’s West End, and toured the U.S., Canada, South America, and the Far East. She portrayed Velma in Chicago in Macao, China – the first “book musical” ever produced in that region. Her Off-Broadway credits include Johnny Guitar, nominated for the Lucille Lortel, Obie, Drama Desk, and Drama League Awards for Best Musical; No, No Nanette, and The Space. Peggy has many regional theatre credits and has sung at countless prestigious venues including The Rainbow Room, The Russian Tea Room, Tavern On The Green, The QE2, Danny’s Skylight Room, and The Hudson River Club.

Peggy left the National Tour of Sweet Charity, starring Molly Ringwald, in May 2007, to take the helm of Temple Theatre. During her tenure, she has earned many accolades, including the Kevin Kline Awards at Stages St. Louis for Charity in Sweet Charity and Lola in Damn Yankees, and for her production of Showboat at the MUNY. Drammy and Pamta Awards for Hairspray, The Music Man, West Side Story and The Addams Family at The Broadway Rose Theatre in Portland, OR. She was chosen to direct, choreograph and produce The Music Man and Annie selections with the North Carolina Symphony. 

Peggy is a NC Mainstreet Champion for her work on, and dedication to, the revitalization of downtown Sanford. In 2016 she was honored with the Sanford Herald Lifetime Achievement Award for her work at Temple Theatre where she has produced over 100 shows, providing Broadway caliber shows to Central North Carolina at a fraction of the cost!