the goingbarefoot collective

Having sat solo at this goingbarefoot table now for quite some time, it’s a great feeling to add chairs for two longtime industry colleagues and friends whom I so deeply admire and respect. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Sharon Moore and Mr. Tracy Francis to what we’re informally calling ‘the goingbarefoot collective.’

The three of us look forward to serving presenters and educators nationwide in representing masterful actor/playwright Mike Wiley, in addition to other one-time projects that may bubble to the surface now and then.

For me, starting to dig out from partial submersion the past few years as producer of the new feature documentary film SLOANE: A JAZZ SINGER, it warms my soul to now have these colleague’s arms to lean on, to have their incredible breadth of experience, skill, efficiency, judgement and professional integrity expanding the depth of goingbarefoot.

I first met Tracy Francis when he was a projectionist in the dilapidated booth at the pre-restored Carolina Theatre in the mid-1980s. I was working as managing director of that historic venue, and we ventured into presenting a few live performances even when the backstage dressings rooms were condemned, and artists were stuck with a porta-potty in the wings. A few years later, I heard about a newly-formed organization in the state called the NC Presenters Consortium – and Sharon Moore, one of the founding members of that incredible group – became a new sought-after resource and friend. The three of us have been linking arms and lending ears for a long time now. It feels so good to have them on board… SB

Sharon Moore

Sharon Moore recently retired from NC State LIVE where she had the joy of connecting artists and audiences for 37 years with a nationally recognized presenting program that emphasizes visionary artists, relevant content, and community engagement. She worked with PlayMakers Repertory Company on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill before going to NC State in 1986. She was a founding member of the North Carolina Presenters Consortium in 1991, serving on the Executive Board until 1998 and as President 1998-2000. Since 2002 Sharon has served in various capacities with Arts North Carolina (NC’s statewide advocacy organization for the arts) and is currently co-chair of the ARTS Day Planning Committee. She has also participated on the boards of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Arts Access, the North Carolina Jazz Network, and the North Carolina Dance Alliance. During her service on the Arts Access board, she was instrumental in the planning that brought Audio Description to Raleigh. Sharon is the recipient of South Art’s 2015 Mary Beth Treen Award and the 2016 Raleigh Medal of Arts Award. Sharon’s happy place is on the beaches and riverfront of Wilmington NC, which she visits frequently with her husband Lindsey and Billy, the dog.

Tracy Francis

Tracy Francis has always been motivated by stimulating arts and educational programming that inspires audiences of all backgrounds and has been fortunate to have played a part in creating such magic professionally for many years. Tracy serves as longtime Production Manager for Mike Wiley Productions, in addition to production and presenting capacities for the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC, and as showcase production manager with the NC Presenters Consortium’s ArtsMarket conference. Tracy has worked as a Production Manager with organizations including Lotto World Theme Parks in South Korea and Taiwan; with Fiesta Texas Theme Park in Texas; national Broadway tours with Producer Manny Azenberg; with the American Gladiators, and as Production Stage Manager with PlayMakers Repertory Company at UNC-Chapel Hill. Tracy is a native North Carolinian and holds a master’s degree in communication studies from his beloved UNC. Along with his wife Stephanie, he is the proud parent of daughter Alexa who’ll be playing soccer with the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs in 2024. (God help us all if a gig conflicts with a game!)

We look forward to hearing from you.
Stephen Barefoot, stephen@goingbarefoot.com
Tracy Francis, tracy@goingbarefoot.com
Sharon Moore, sharon@goingbarefoot.comm