In the 1950s and ’60s, Leiber and Stoller were on the top of their game, knocking out hit after hit, recorded by the likes of Elvis, The Drifters, The Coasters and many others.
Theater review: Stupid F**king Bird at the Magnetic Theatre
The best advice here is to hold on tightly and be prepared for a wild ride. At its essence, this bunch is mostly seeking romance with other characters from the script, but not finding that sentiment returned.
Theater review: “The Nerd” by Attic Salt Theatre Company
There’s some Bob Newhart-ensemble vibes mixed with a “Laverne and Shirley” sensibility, wedged into a late-in-its-run episode of “Mork And Mindy.” It’s odd, quirky and filled with manic flourishes.
Theater review: ‘The Little Red Riding Hood Show’ by Asheville Creative Arts
Asheville Creative Arts bravely tackles a show for children that is also designed to appeal to adults. It runs through Sunday, April 9.
UNCA’s Arts Fest activates ‘Arts for Social Change’
This year’s Arts Fest features visual artist, writer and photographer Clarissa Sligh; singer-songwriter and peace activist David LaMotte; and found materials artist and lecturer David Hess. The three-day event includes lectures, exhibits, readings and much more.
Comedy ‘The Nerd’ comes to Asheville
When Attic Salt founders Marci Bernstein and Jeff Catanese moved their company to Asheville from New York, officially relaunched in 2013, The Nerd was hot on their radar. “We tried to get the rights and got turned down,” Bernstein says.
Smart bets: The Little Red Riding Hood Show
Asheville Creative Arts performs The Little Red Riding Hood Show at The Magnetic Theatre April 7-9.
Theater review: Peter And The Starcatcher
Directed by Chanda Calentine, the show is a wonder of motion and energy. The Belk space lends itself to clever staging. A cast of 13 actors play more than 100 roles, from members of the Royal British Navy, to pirates, islanders and orphans of an assortment of ages and genders.
ACT and UNCA team up to produce ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’
Asheville Community Theatre and the UNC Asheville the drama department collaborate on Peter and the Starcatcher, a Tony Award-winning prequel to Peter Pan. It opens on Thursday, March 30 at UNCA’s Carol Belk Theatre.
Theater review: A Picasso at HART Theatre
The intellectual play is onstage through Sunday, April 2.
{Re}HAPPENING projects take cues from Black Mountain College alumni
This year’s {Re}HAPPENING, taking place Saturday, March 25, at Camp Rockmont (the location of BMC, which shuttered in 1957), features a number of performance taking cues directly from alumni of the institution.
Theater review: “Classic Nashville Roadshow” at Flat Rock Playhouse
This is pure country music that was originally performed by stars of the 1950s through the early ’70s. Many big acts are represented, starting with Willie Nelson’s blockbuster hit “On the Road Again.”
Asheville Symphony’s Amadeus festival returns
Asheville Amadeus — held Friday, March 10-Sunday, March 19 — is about music, of course, but it also includes art, wine, comedy, sing-alongs, theatrical productions and a symphony-meets-hip-hop EP.
Smart bets: The Merchant of Venice
The 2017 rendition, featuring Steve Samuels as Shylock and Devyn Ray as Portia, will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., March 10-26, at The BeBe Theatre.
The Magnetic Theatre presents a new play about a fictional rocker
The production straddles a line between comedy and drama. “The director and I went back and forth on how to market it,” Jamieson Ridenhour says. “Most of the play is like a comedy and there’s a lot of funny dialogue. But it is quite dark. I tend to be a horror writer, but this is not a horror play.”
Theater review: “The Foreigner” by Hendersonville Community Theatre
Larry Shue’s play The Foreigner — onstage through Sunday, March 5 — has been a popular staple of community theaters for nearly 30 years. Good comedies are hard to come by, especially ones that stand the test of time.
Anam Cara creates ‘devised’ theater around the Orlando nightclub tragedy
The production will open at Toy Boat Community Arts Space on Friday, Feb. 24.
Smart bets: The Vagina Monologues
The local production, benefiting Helpmate, takes place at The Orange Peel on Saturday, Feb. 25.
Theater review: The Submission by Different Strokes!
The Submission is a foul-mouthed, menacing play by Jeff Talbot, which aims to hold a mirror up to our prejudices. Different Strokes!’ production is staged at the BeBe Theatre through Saturday, Feb. 25.
Where to celebrate, laugh about or find romance this Valentine’s Day
in and around Asheville, there’s also plenty of music, comedy, dancing, dining, volunteering and even Drag Queen Bingo to commemorate the occasion.
Different Strokes opens its season with the provocative play ‘The Submission’
The tale centers around the character of Danny, a struggling playwright whose years of rejection might have come to an end. His new show seems destined for greatness. But should he hide behind a false identity and go forward with the production hoping that no one will catch on that he is white?