Limited Engagement at NC Stage: “The Elephant in my Closet,” June 25-29

From a press release:

Limited Engagement at NC Stage: “The Elephant in my Closet,” June 25-29

North Carolina Stage Company (NC Stage) is excited to announce David Lee Nelson (writer/performer) and Adam Knight (director) will bring their solo show, The Elephant in My Closet, to NC Stage for a limited engagement June 25th-29th after a sold out run in the 2012 Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC.

Coming out of the closet to your father can be hard.  Especially if you’re coming out to him as a Democrat.  In this new monologue David Lee Nelson (“extraordinary” -London Times) focuses his trademark wit on political identity as he details his journey from a twenty-two year old, Conservative, Shakespearean actor to a thirty-five year old Liberal comedian–all the while maintaining a relationship with his hero and best friend, his very conservative father.

“This elephant is worth your vote” –Charleston Post and Courier
“4 Stars” –Time Out, NY
“Must See!” –Cincinnati Enquirer
“Hits precisely the right notes” –Washington Post
“My dad and I have always been very close,” said Nelson from his apartment in Brooklyn, NY, “and I hated that my political beliefs were something I had been hiding from him.  But it’s a delicate thing.  How do you tell someone you’re a Democrat when they think ESPN is too liberal?”

The show’s co-creator is Adam Knight.  Knight is a co-founder of Slant Theatre Project in New York City.  He has worked at the Folger Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre, and the Strasberg Institute.

This show is the third solo piece from Knight and Nelson.  Their last piece, David Lee Nelson…Status Update, (“GRADE A. Epically heartbreaking, tremendously,  endearing, and painfully funny…” Charleston City Paper) was performed at 59E59 in New York City, The Watertower Theatre in Dallas, TX, The Warehouse Theatre in Greenville and was a part of the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  The show was named Top Touring Show of the 2010/2011 Dallas-Fort Worth Theatre Season.

How do the two longtime friends describe their process?  According to Nelson, “I write about my life, try to make it funny and interesting.  Then I bring it to Adam, and he makes it a play.”

North Carolina Stage Company is Asheville’s only professional theatre celebrating its 12th year producing plays for the Asheville community.  Founded by Charlie and Angie Flynn-McIver, the theatre has been voted best local theatre 8 out of the past 9 years in the Mountain Xpress Best of WNC Poll.  NC Stage was also recently awarded the American Theatre Wing National Theatre Company Grant.

Elephant in My Closet Information:
Where: North Carolina Stage Company, 15 Stage Lane in downtown Asheville, NC
Dates: June 25th- June 29th, 2014
Performance: Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 PM, Sunday at 2:00 PM
Ticket Prices: $18-$24.  Student tickets $10 anytime!  Now with no fees!

Discounts are offered for groups of 6 or more.

Tickets are available by calling 828-239-0263 or visiting us online at ncstage.org.