Asheville Community Theatre will stage Driving Miss Daisy, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Alfred Uhry. Set mostly in Atlanta, just prior to the Civil Rights Movement, Driving Miss Daisy shares the story of the relationship between an elderly white Southern Jewish woman, Daisy Werthan, and her African American chauffeur, Hoke Coleburn, over the span of 25 years. […]
“Chosen not only for its easily recognized show tunes, [‘I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair’ and ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ among them] Asheville Lyric Opera hopes to introduce the Asheville audience to the classical stage genius of Rodgers & Hammerstein,” says a press release. The musical South Pacific is set on a remote […]
There’s magic in the theater of the Montford Park Players. Perhaps it’s because the group has been doing Shakespeare in the park for over 40 years, making it the oldest in the state, and the third longest running outdoor Shakespeare theater in the nation. Or perhaps it is the perfection of a surprisingly cool summer’s […]
Western-theme amusement park and movie set for Dean Teaster’s 2007 film, ‘Ghost Town’, is officially opening for the season at 10:00AM on July 4th.
On a magical night — Oscar night in 1952 — the sounds of Hoagy Carmichael’s smooth song stylings fill the tiny Stardust Super Club in Bloomington, Ind. The joint is named for one of Carmichael’s biggest tunes, and the owners have a special connection to the Oscar-nominated superstar. Tony was a close pal, back in […]
Magic, buskers, chase scenes, romantic intrigue, a dark curse and the acting debuts of Free Radio rappers Austin and Johnny (along with other local celebrities): That’s all part of the forthcoming locally made movie, Swag, by award-winning film maker L. D. Donahue. “Whitey and his girlfriend, Lianna are buskers on the sidewalks of Asheville, N.C. […]
Sharyn McCrumb’s best-selling novel, Ghost Riders, comes to life (and after-life) onstage at Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville as its summer season moves into high gear. The tale, the characters and the mood of the play creep like an eerie fog moving along the ridgelines of the Appalachian Mountains.
Theater review by Jeff Douglas Messer If you like Monty Python, if you like tongue-in-cheek musical theater, and you like to laugh, Asheville Community Theatre has the show for you. And, it is likely to become the big-hit stage production of the summer. From a pure entertainment standpoint, this has everything you could ask for, […]
Wedged between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, the ultra-nationalistic Henry V is the perfect choice to launch The Montford Park Players’ 42nd season of free Shakespeare in the park. The play — a tale of one man’s quest to be king — pairs humor, drama and romance with “some of the most patriotic […]
Remember Neil Sedaka? Remember when the Catskills was a legendary place of song and comedy? Chances are, if you do, you’ll be right at home with Haywood Arts Regional Theatre’s new production of the toe-tapping, tuneful jukebox musical, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, featuring the music of Sedaka. Jukebox musicals are gaining in popularity: […]
Oskar Blues and Carolina Cinemas have teamed up for the CANnes Film Festival: A short-film contest. While submissions are still being accepted at press time (the deadline is May 21), the idea is pretty simple: “Make a short film featuring an Oskar Blues beer can (or two, or 10) and win a chance to brew […]
The Golden Age of Hollywood is alive and well at North Carolina Stage Company. All the glamor and some bits of the juicy gossip come to life in an intimate and fun evening, all wrapped in the special event: A Conversation with Edith Head starring Susan Claassen, artistic director of Tuscon, Arizona’s Invisible Theatre. The […]
In a brave new production of Diana Son’s play Stop Kiss, the audience is confronted with the uncomfortable reminder of how recently we, as a society, were far less accepting of same-sex relationships. And, while not as shocking as it may have been a decade ago, Stop Kiss still has major impact. Not so much […]
From a press release: Spencers: Theatre of Illusion at Diana Wortham Theatre, May 9 & 10 An amazing high-tech stage show full of comedy, drama and suspense, The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion enchants and astounds at Diana Wortham Theatre, Friday and Saturday, May 9 & 10 at 8:00 p.m. Described as “Modern Day Houdinis,” this […]
Asheville’s theater season heats up Provocative works and cutting-edge performance collectives are still making their presence felt — and in fact, the arrival of longer days and warmer temps means dramatic offerings can now be presented outdoors. For more local theater, check out our calendar and mountainx.com. Flat Rock Playhouse’s season continues at a breathless […]
The Fox & Beggar Theater debuts with surreal circus experience Animalia “He breathes in the wet dawn through / his mottled skin, soaks in its vitality / until his old heart thumps with delight / and he jumps off his bed of lettuce leaves / and moss hairs / into the ruddy mud.” So goes […]
Music Video Asheville goes big Music Video Asheville is having a banner year. The local event, which marks its seventh year on Wednesday, April 16, received a record number of submissions and moved into a new venue. Produced for the third year in a row by Kelly Denson and Jason Guadagnino of Asheville’s Lush Life […]
Part band, part theatre company, part children’s-book-writing team, PigPen Theatre Co. raises the bar on multitalented. Touring as both a theatre company and a band, the seven-man ensemble will focus on their folksy musical stylings at The Millroom this Saturday.
My friend in Marshall told me of the Rural Academy Theatre performing in Marshall, and although it was nightfall and hard to see, she still recommended it! So it was with interest I read that about this troupe in Mountain Xpress (see “Horseplay,” Oct. 9 Xpress). I tossed around the idea of trying to see […]
Dramady “Steel Magnolias” was first staged in ’87. The story, about a group of women in Natchitoches, La., was written by playwright Robert Harling around the death of his sister. The local production at Asheville Community Theatre is directed by Michael Lilly and runs through Sunday, Aug. 18. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.. Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Mother-daughter reviewers Becky Upham and Cicely Upham discuss.
“Kiss Me Kate” runs on Friday and Saturday evenings with a Sunday matinee through June 30th. This Cole Porter musical opened on Broadway in 1948 and it earned the Tony for Best Musical. The story within a story weaves together a musical production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew with the on and off-stage relationship between Fred Graham, (played by John C. Hall) the show’s director, producer, and star, and his leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi (played by Wendy Morrison.) Mother-daughter reviewers Becky Upham and Cicely Upham discuss the local production.
