18 minute read
Cultural Calendar with Keith Martin
JASON CARTER
Appalachian Theatre of the High Country
CHATHAM RABBITS
ATHC
MACBETH
Barter Theatre
New Hybrid Season Offers Wide Variety of Cultural Events
By Keith Martin
Those of us who are a certain age fondly remember Princess Summerfall Winterspring from the classic children’s television program “Howdy Doody.” She was introduced as a puppet, then played by actress Judy Tyler and, eventually, portrayed by a marionette. Her character’s name comes to mind as I realize that CML’s quarterly cultural calendars have now merged into two distinct seasons: Summerfall and Winterspring.
The former has just drawn to a successful close with a record amount of events and productions, and the latter promises an even greater number of concerts, festivals, plays, musicals, and dance events that will welcome local residents and visitors alike.
Here is a selection of events that have been announced for Winterspring (from now through mid-April), listed alphabetically by producing company, with dozens of productions by our colleges and universities listed separately. PLEASE NOTE that all of the performances, dates, and times are subject to change; readers are strongly encouraged to check individual websites and/or the theatre box offices for the most current information.
See you at the theatre!
With 18 events last month alone, we’ve given up previewing ALL of the offerings at the APPALACHIAN THEATRE OF THE HIGH COUNTRY (ATHC) and are focusing on the highlights. Concert-wise, five-time International Bluegrass Music Association “Fiddle Player of the Year” Jason Carter & Friends: Lowdown Hoedown Tour takes to the Doc Watson stage on January 27. Carter is best known for his three decades with the Del McCoury Band, and the Travelin’ McCourys. On February 24, Chatham Rabbits make their long-awaited App Theatre debut. No Depression, the Journal of Roots Music, said, “When you see [this] NC folk duo on stage, you’re getting the real deal: heartfelt lyrics… an instant connection with audiences, and banter that can only come from a married duo that spends way too much time together but still manages to be in love.”
Dervish, a traditional music group from County Sligo, Ireland, performs on March 11. Described by BBC Radio 3 as “an icon of Irish music,” their album “The Great Irish Song Book” features a selection of classic Irish songs sung by a number of wellknown singers, including Steve Earle, Vince Gill, and Rhiannon Giddens. In 2019 they received a lifetime achievement award from the BBC. On March 24, “The future of Bluegrass” comes home to perform when Deep Gap-based Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road “rock the traditional bluegrass standards they were raised on, yet boldly write original music with roots in the fertile grounds of bluegrass, old-time, and Americana.” - No Depression
Most noteworthy is the new Local Night @TheApp series taking place on the Thursday nights of January 12 and 26, February 9 and 23, and March 9 and 23. This unique and much-needed series showcases the talent of High Country musicians, most of whom are emerging artists making their debut performances at “The App.”
And then there are the films, whose screenings return the 1938 Art Deco venue to its original roots. Each month features a different theme with Staff Picks in January, Classic Romance in February, Classic Sports movies in March, and Classic Fantasy films in April. On February 25, Boone Docs, a one-day film festival, celebrates life in Appalachia by featuring short-format documentaries about the region or made by people who live in the area. For more info, go to AppTheatre.org.
In Abingdon, Virginia, the BARTER THEATRE has announced 12 shows for calendar year 2023 with tickets on sale beginning January 17. “The State Theatre of Virginia” opens the season with The Last Romance by Joe DiPietro. On an ordinary day in a routine life, 80 year-old widower Ralph decides to take a different path on his daily walk, and discovers the beautifulyet-distant Carol on a bench at a dog park. Relying on his boyish charm and a fictional dog named Rex, Ralph begins to woo Carol, thus embarking on a hilarious and heartwarming journey that proves it’s never too late for romance.
“Something wicked this way comes…” when Barter’s resident company tackles Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Returning home from battle, the victorious Macbeth meets three witches on the heath. Driven by their disturbing prophecies, he sets out on an ambitious path to take the crown—a plan that leads to murder and madness.
That drama will be followed by an original musical tale of “America’s First Family of Country Music,” the Carters. Written by Doug Pote, Keep On the Sunnyside follows A.P. Carter as he convinces his wife, Sara, and his sister-in-law, Maybelle, to record with him at the Bristol Sessions. A. P. has no idea he is about to change his life—and the world—forever. Barter promises that audience members will tap their toes to Carter Family favorites like “Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow,” “Keep On the
Photo by DJ Corey
ON YOUR FEET
CoMMA
WINNIE THE POOH
CoMMA
Sunnyside,” “Wildwood Flower,” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Barter’s website at BarterTheatre.com.
BEANSTALK COMMUNITY THEATRE
continues to celebrate their 10th anniversary season with Dearly Departed, a comedy by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones. It is a Southern-fried comedy of caskets and country craziness that puts the “fun” in funeral. In the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt, the beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and always hilarious. Performances take place at the App Theatre from March 30 through April 1. For info, visit www.BeanStalkNC.com and for tickets, go to AppTheatre.org.
At press time, the newly-elected board of BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY THEATRE was in the process of approving their 2023 season; check out their website for their pending announcement at blueridgecommunitytheatrenc.com.
The same applies at the BENTON HALL COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER in North Wilkesboro, home to the Wilkes Playmakers; their calendar year season is pending, but updates will be posted on their website at www.wilkesplaymakers.com.
No fewer than eight offerings are on the winter season schedule at the CITY OF
MORGANTON MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM
(CoMMA). On January 26, Disney’s Winnie The Pooh is a musical stage adaptation of A. A. Milne’s iconic characters using lifesized puppetry in a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood. The percussion group STOMP will shake the rafters on January 30 with an eight-member troupe using everything but conventional percussion instruments—matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps—to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. On February 9, the ZuZu African Acrobats from Tanzania celebrate the 2,000-year-old Bantu culture of East Africa by performing ancient traditions passed on by elders, with acrobatics, drumming, singing, dancing, and gravity-defying stunts while displaying the grace, beauty and strength of the African culture.
Award-winning storyteller and comedian Kelly Swanson stars in “Who Hijacked My Fairytale?” on February 23. This “twisted journey to a happier ever after” covers everything from muffin tops to age spots to “the girls” gone wild as Swanson laughs about being a woman in today’s world. But underneath the humor is a lot of heart and a powerful message about embracing what makes you unique. March 10 brings Fairytales on Ice to CoMMA, featuring Beauty and The Beast and friends as they skate through adventures, magic and celebration… all on ice. That event is followed on March 25 by the Hiplet Ballerinas from Chicago, a company that fuses classical pointe technique with African, Latin, HipHop and urban dance styles rooted in communities of color. Promoting inclusivity in both their cast and audience, the Hiplets feature true-toned tights, modern music, and dancers of all shapes, sizes and colors.
Yesterday & Today: The Interactive
Beatles Experience on March 31 features a cover band that leaves the song choices completely in the hands of the audience through request cards filled out prior to the show on which they state the reason why they chose that song. Those reasons make up the narrative of the evening, proving “that The Beatles music truly is the soundtrack to our lives.”
Tony Award-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo’s outstanding dances—and the music, of course—are the most memorable aspects from the Broadway production of the jukebox musical On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan. The show is billed as “the inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talent—and each other—to become an international sensation.” There is one performance only, on April 3. Additional information and tickets are available at www.commaonline.org or by phone at 800-939-SHOW (7469).
For those of you picking up a copy of this magazine “hot off the press” in December, please go to our website for a listing of
holiday events and other seasonal per-
formances, several of which were teased in our last issue. These include A Banner Elk Christmas 4 at Ensemble Stage; A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas in Boone; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Blue Ridge Community Theatre; Elf, the Musical by the Wilkes Playmakers; Nochebuena at CoMMA in Morganton; the Barter Theatre’s productions of Over The River and Through The Woods and It’s A Wonderful Life in Abingdon, VA; Frosty the Snowman and Christmas With Elvis at the Appalachian Theatre, as well as numerous classic holiday films including
A Christmas Story, A Muppet Christmas Carol, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Scrooged, The Polar Express, The Star,
and White Christmas at the historic 1938 venue in downtown Boone. For details, go to CMLmagazine.online.
PHOTO BY JIM MCGUIRE BELA FLECK Schaefer Center Presents
APPALACHIAN DANCE ENSEMBLE
Colleges and Universities Offer a Wealth of Performance Opportunities
Diverse Line-Up of 30 Events Scheduled from January through Mid-April
By Keith Martin
During the winter months here in the High Country, performing arts enthusiasts always count on the exceptional cultural programs that are produced and presented at our institutions of higher learning: Appalachian State University, Lees-McRae College, and Wilkes Community College. Their academic year calendar nicely complements seasonal offerings by our vital community and professional companies, with thirty (count ‘em!) on-campus events that welcome community audiences and visitors with plays, musicals, dance, and innovative programming that enriches the quality of life in our region.
Here is a brief overview of what to expect in the upcoming months.
New works and regional premieres highlight the upcoming semester in the
Department of Theatre and Dance (T&D) at
Appalachian State University with a variety of playwrights from Asia to America to Great Britain. Original choreography by both student and faculty members, along with a dozen first-time directors making their theatrical debuts promise a variety of experiences for audience members. T&D is proudly housed within the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Appalachian, one of seven departments in the college. The box office numbers are 828262-4046 or 800-841-2787 and their website may be found at www.theatreanddance. appstate.edu.
A Fable for Now
by Wei Yu-Chia Translated by Jeremy Tiang Directed by Kin-Yan Szeto March 1 – 5 in the Valborg Theatre n Winner of Taiwanese Literature Award, A Fable for Now tells the tales of war, love and regret as mankind hurtles towards a surreal apocalypse in the company of a combative duck, an intelligent polar bear, a charming panda, and a sleuth of bears, not to mention a fun-loving geneticallyengineered chicken. Produced by special arrangement with Laertes Books.
The Hundred Dresses
by Ralph Covert and G. Riley Mills
Appalachian Young People’s Theatre (AYPT)
Directed by Gordon Hensley April 14 – 16 in the Greer Studio Theatre n Based on the beloved Newbery Honor Book by Eleanor Estes, this acclaimed musical adaptation masterfully handles such topics as bullying, friendship and forgiveness. Packed with humor and filled with colorful characters and memorable songs, The Hundred Dresses is a timeless tale that explores the bonds of friendship, the willingness to be yourself and the courage that it takes to stand up to others—even when you’re standing alone. Produced by special arrangement with the Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. As You Like It by William Shakespeare Directed by Derek Gagnier April 26 – 30 in the Valborg Theatre n Shakespeare’s 1599 comedy As You Like It follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle’s court, and seeks to reunite with her exiled father. She is accompanied on her journey by her loving cousin, Celia, and their flamboyant jester, Touchstone. The trio disguise themselves and find safety and eventually, love, in the Forest of Arden. During the course of their stay, all three grow in understanding of human nature as they look through the lenses of their disguises and empathize with the rustic people of the forest. The play features a variety of memorable characters including shepherds, wrestlers and, most notably, the melancholy traveler Jaques, who speaks many of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches (such as “All the world’s a stage…” and “too much of a good thing…”).
Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble (SADE) 2023
Coordinated by Susan Lutz March 29 – April 2 in the Valborg Theatre n This popular concert features Appalachian faculty and students showcasing their talents in choreography and performance. Dance Studies faculty members creating original works for the program include Marianne Adams, Regina Gulick, and Lutz herself. In addition, four student choreographers will be chosen to stage new works for SADE for a total of seven original dance pieces for your enjoyment. Continued on next page
KODO TSUZUMI Schaefer Center Presents
Photo by Myriam Santo
MAVIS STAPLES Schaefer Center Presents
Spring Short Play Festival
Coordinated by Dr. Paulette Marty May 6 – 7 in the Greer Studio Theatre.
As part of a Stage Directing Techniques course, a dozen junior and senior class students stage two evenings of short plays. These works are funny, eccentric, thoughtprovoking, and moving—it’s a grab bag of stories each night designed to showcase the talents of students in the Department of Theatre and Dance.
The Performing Arts Department at Lees-McRae College, housed in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Education, has smartly-scheduled a show created by two of the most respected theatre artists in America: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known together as Pasek and Paul. This American songwriting duo and composing team works in musical theater, films and television, and their collective works include “A Christmas Story,” “Dogfight,” and “Dear Evan Hansen.” Their original songs have been featured on NBC’s “Smash” and in the films “La La Land,” for which they won both the Golden Globe and Academy Award, and “The Greatest Showman.” Performances are given in the Broyhill Theatre of Hayes Auditorium on their idyllic campus in Banner Elk, NC. The box office phone number is 828-898-8709 and their website is www.lmc.edu/theatreshows. James and the Giant Peach, Based on the book by Roald Dahl Words and music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Book by Timothy Allen McDonald Directed by Dr. Michael Hannah February 23 - 26 in the Broyhill Theatre n When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach...and launches a journey of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach, among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities, but after it falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James’ quick wit and creative thinking, the residents learn to live and work together as a family. The dangerous voyage is a success, but the adventure takes a whole new twist once they land on the Empire State Building.
The Schaefer Center Presents is a performing arts series presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs (OACP). It offers students, faculty, staff and the community a diverse array of music, theatre and dance designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the campus and surrounding area. This season features a veritable “Who’s Who” of artists, a lineup of both rising stars and living legends who will entertain audiences at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. The box office numbers are 828-262-4046 or 800-841-2787 with additional information available online at www. TheSchaeferCenter.org.
Mavis Staples
Saturday, February 25 in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts n Hailed by NPR as “one of America’s defining voices of freedom and peace,” Mavis Staples, the queen of R&B and gospel, is the kind of once-in-a-generation artist whose impact on music and culture would be difficult to overstate. She brings her powerful message and equally powerful voice to the Schaefer Center for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “Her voice has only gained texture and power over the years.” — Pitchfork “[She] provides the comfort of a higher power.” — People
LA Theatre Works Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom
Wednesday, March 8 in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts n Playwright Gregg Oppenheimer—son of “I Love Lucy” show creator Jess Oppenheimer— spins this witty tale of Lucy and Desi’s battles with CBS, from who would play Lucy’s husband to whether Lucy could really be seen pregnant on TV. With their daughter, Lucie Arnaz, serving as advisor, this hilarious, behind-the-scenes, true story of TV’s iconic sitcom brings as much heart and humor to the stage as an episode of “I Love Lucy” itself.
KODO (Tsuzumi)
Thursday, March 23 in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts n KODO is a group of Japanese artists, musicians and performers dedicated to the
APPALACHIAN ROAD SHOW Walker Center
re-creation of traditional Japanese performing arts. The group, whose name can be translated as “heartbeat,” uses many musical instruments in performances, focusing primarily on taiko, traditional Japanese drums. To commemorate KODO’s 40th anniversary in 2021, they created two touring productions based on their name, whose characters mean “drum” and “child.” This tour, Tzuzumi, takes its name from the drum character and traces the group’s origins back to the beginning, reflecting on the history and reaffirming what has shaped KODO.
Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer with Rakesh Chaurasia
Saturday, April 22 in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts n There’s a bit of the sorcerer in Béla Fleck (banjo), Zakir Hussain (tabla), Edgar Meyer (double bass), and their special guest Rakesh Chaurasia (bansuri – Indian flute). Most musicians hope at most for proficiency in their chosen form, but these gentlemen move from bluegrass to Western classical to Indian classical to jazz, transmuting genres into something uniquely their own as though they’d gotten hold of the alchemist’s tools that legendarily changed lead into gold. In any case, it’s music that transcends description—ineffable, indefinable, and very beautiful.
The Schaefer Center also presents the APPlause! K-12 Series at Appalachian State University, offering affordable music, dance, film, and theatre events to students and their teachers from K-12 classrooms across the region. Students experience everything from high-energy acrobatics and Appalachian music to international dance and literary classics brought to life through theatrical productions. In recent seasons, more than 8,000 students across our region have attended APPlause Series events. For a complete listing of the school performances this season, visit their website at TheSchaeferCenter.org/ applause.
The John A. Walker Community Center on the campus of Wilkes Community College (WCC) in Wilkesboro “is proud to be the premier venue for cultural experiences in Wilkes County and surrounding areas.” It was created to address WCC’s mission components of culture, business, industry, and training. Dedicated in 1984, the 33,000 square-foot building features an 1,100 seat auditorium and was renovated in 2000 to expand the ballroom, provide additional restrooms, and create a full production kitchen. Programmatically, WCC is best known for hosting MerleFest, but the Walker Center presents a full season of shows for both its community and local schools. The box office number is 336-838-6260 with additional information available online at www. WalkerCenterOnline.org.
Karen Mill, Comedian
Thursday, February 23 in the Walker Center n Karen’s comedy special “Pink Pants” has been viewed over 21 million times. She has appeared on Season 12 of America’s Got Talent and has had numerous appearances on The Grand Ole Opry. Karen’s smart, funny, and keen observations will keep you laughing as you relate to her experiences.
Malpass Brothers, Appalachian Road Show, and Teea Goans
Friday, March 10 in the Walker Center n If you like cornbread & hush puppies, you’re gonna love the Malpass Brothers. With sincerity, honesty and an utter ease on stage that belies their years, their smooth vocal blend and skillful musicianship layer infectiously into the deep respect they pay to legends who have paved the way. Appalachian Road Show is a visionary acoustic ensemble, bringing new-generation interpretations of traditional Americana, bluegrass and folk songs, as well as offering innovative original music, all presented with a common thread tied directly to the heart of the Appalachian regions of the U.S. Teea Goans is a Nashvillebased country music singer who has appeared several times at the Grand Ole Opry. She brings energy and exuberance to her original songs through her creativity, perceptions, and observations.
