Ensemble Stage gears up for season

BY LILY KINCAID

Located in the Cultural Arts Center at the Historic Banner Elk School, Ensemble Stage brings quality, professional-grade theater performances to the High Country. Ensemble Stage’s story began in Blowing Rock in October 2009. The organization put on a variety of shows, theater camps, staged radio plays, musicals and interactive performances, such as game shows and murder mystery dinners, at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium until 2017, when it moved to Banner Elk for a more permanent location.

The Historic Banner Elk School, located at 185 Azalea Circle SE, now houses the Banner Elk Artists Gallery, the Banner Elk Book Exchange, the box office for Ensemble Stage and Hahn Auditorium, where the organization puts on the majority of its shows. Artis- tic Director Gary Smith and Managing Director Lisa Lamont oversee a handful of Main Stage shows each season, plus additional staged radio plays, holiday variety shows, theater camps, kids’ shows and more.

This summer, Ensemble Stage is presenting four Main Stage productions, plus a kids theater series and one special cabaret performance.

“PUSS IN BOOTS”

This playful children’s show traces the origins of the beloved character Puss in Boots. Full of humor and audience interaction, this show begins at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, June 10, July 8, July 29 and August 12. Tickets are $6.

“DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE”

Scott Douglas Wilson and Laura