On the Mainstage

Peter Pan

A musical based on the play by James M. Barrie
Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Music by Mark Charlap and Jule Styne

Directed by Jerry Crouch

Musical Direction by Chuck Taft
September 11– 27, 2009
Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30

Celebrate 50 years of Tanglewood Youth Theatre this fall with one of the most beloved musicals of all time! First produced on Broadway with Mary Martin and Cyril Richard and more recently a major hit starring Cathy Rigby, this charming musical is perfect for all ages! Revisit the charm of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, the children Wendy, Michael and John, pirates and Indians, along with show-stopping songs, “Never Never Land”, “I Won’t Grow Up” and “I’m Flying.” And yes, there will be flying!

The Hallelujah Girls

By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten

Directed by Jessie Jones

November 20 - December 6, 2009
Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:30

Hilarity erupts when the feisty women of Eden Falls, Georgia, rebel against their everyday routines and inspire one another to reach for their dreams, with surprising and sid-splitting results. A laugh out loud, joyful comedy from the playwrights who have brought us Dearly Beloved, Christmas Belles, Southern Hospitality and ‘Til Beth Do Us Part.

The Big Bang

Music by Jed Feuer. Book and Lyrics by Boyd Graham

Directed by Eric Mills

January 15 – 31, 2010
Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:30

A musical staged as a backers’ audition for an 83.5 million dollar twelve hour stage history of the world from creation to the present. Eighteen side splitting numbers portraying Adam and Eve, Attila the Hun, the building of the pyramids, Julius Caesar and Columbus, among others, give potential investors a taste of the impending extravaganza. In the process, the opulent Park Avenue apartment “borrowed” for the occasion is trashed as the two snatch its furnishings to create makeshift costumes while singing and clowning their way through the show.

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The Boxcar Children

By Barbara Field, based on the books by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Directed by McKenzie Kanipe

March 5-21, 2010
Performances Fridays at 7:30, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30

(Note: Saturday performances for this production will be at 2:30 pm)

Generations of young readers have cherished the spirited Depression-era adventures of The Boxcar Children, and now the Alden children’s story comes to life on stage. Orphaned and in danger of being sent to different foster homes, the four siblings run away and make their home in an abandoned railroad boxcar. Pursued by the authorities and a mysterious stranger, the children discover the rewards and perils of life on the run, as well as the joy of keeping their family together.

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Little Shop of Horrors

Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken

Directed by Mark Jones
April 30 - May 16, 2010
Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:30

A down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination! One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a house-hold name.

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Noises Off

By Michael Frayn

Directed by Josh Batenhorst

July 2-18, 2010
Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:30

Called the funniest farce ever written, Noises Off depicts the onstage and backstage antics of a fifth-rate acting troupe touring in an awful sex farce called Nothing On. The curtain opens on the dress rehearsal of the first act of Nothing On the night before it opens and with things not going well. The second act shows us what’s happening backstage during the first act of Nothing On, after the show has been running a month. The third act takes us back to the first act of Nothing On yet again, after two months of touring. It is, deliciously so, a disaster.

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Downstairs in 35below

I Am My Own Wife

By Doug Wright

Directed by Andrew Gall

October 1-24, 2009
Performances Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30

Based on a true story, and inspired by interviews conducted by the playwright over several years, I Am My Own Wife tells the fascinating tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a real-life German transvestite who managed to survive both the Nazi onslaught and the repressive East German Communist regime. Winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize and the 2004 Tony Award. “I Am My Own Wife is … both moving and intellectually absorbing.” - NY Times. Recommended for mature audiences.

Short Order Durang

Short Plays and One Acts by Christopher Durang

Directed by Jason Williams

February 4-27, 2010

Performances Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30

An ensemble cast performs an evening of one-acts and shorts from Christopher Durang, a contemporary playwright renowned for his outrageous and absurd comedy. Titles include The Actor’s Nightmare, For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls, Funeral Parlor, DMV Tyrant, Medea, The Book of Leviticus Show, and The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of Where Babies Come From. Contains adult language and situations. Recommended for mature audiences.

Chipola * NC Premiere!

By Waylon Wood

Directed by Jack Lindsay

April 1-24, 2010

Performances Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30

When the power goes out after a July storm in a small town in the Florida panhandle, Wanna June Duke is determined to enjoy a languid evening under the stars by the light of the full moon. But her son Roy Boy picks up (literally) their persnickety neighbor Miss Bailey and deposits her in a lawn chair in the yard; her eldest daughter Dot arrives after leaving her husband; and her younger daughter Jewel, fresh from a rendezvous at the river, has secrets to spill. Like the river for which it is named, this play meanders, revealing a family’s history and the skeletons in their closets that could finally tear them apart. Written by local playwright and actor Waylon Wood.

Special Events

The Santaland Diaries - on the Mainstage!

By David Sedaris, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello

Directed by Josh Batenhorst
December 16-19, 2009
Performances Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 pm

This holiday show has become an Asheville tradition! Tom Chalmers returns to star in David Sedaris' dark comedy following a Macy's department store elf throughout the Christmas season. Sedaris, who rose to fame on NPR's This American Life, comments on the best and worst of people and culture during the holiday season. Our production of The Santaland Diaries has become an Asheville holiday tradition - for seven years in a row, we've been selling out for every performance, so don't wait until the last minute to book your tickets! Tickets to The Santaland Diaries make a great present for friends, family, and co-workers. All tickets are only $15.

The Santaland Diaries is recommended for mature audiences.

Diva*licious 2010

May 28-29, 2010

Join us for a concert unlike any other where "American Idol" meets "VH1's Divas Live." Watch local Ashevillians compete for the title of ACT Diva! Your votes will determine the winner! By donating money to support ACT's ongoing programs and operations, you vote for your favorite ACT Diva - whoever raises the most money wins the title! Pre-concert catered reception, raffles and door prizes. Diva*licious 2010 sold out - don't miss this year's event!

Friday, May 28, 2010: The Concert - Concert begins at 8:00 pm

Saturday, May 29, 2010: The Concert + Gala Reception - Pre-concert reception at 7:00 pm, Concert begins at 8:12 pm

Tickets for Diva*licious TBA.