Asheville Community Theatre Opens 63rd Season with Gore Vidal's The Best Man

Gore Vidal's political nail-biter The Best Man will open Asheville Community Theatre's 63rd season on Friday, September 12th at 8:00 pm. Written with the insight of a true political insider (Vidal ran for Congress in 1960, the same year he wrote the play) and the wit of a grand man of letters, The Best Man remains, as The New Yorker wrote in 2000, "A sophisticated, elegant and damnably entertaining play!" Performances will run for three weekends through September 28, 2008 and are held on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm . Asheville Community Theatre is located at 35 E. Walnut St. in downtown Asheville . On Opening Night, a pre-show complementary champagne reception will be held. The Best Man focuses on the behind-the-scenes dealings at a national political convention. Fighting for their party's presidential nomination are a William Russell, a high-minded patrician liberal who believes politics is a process of educating people about the issues and Joseph Cantwell, a headline grabbing senator who will go to any length to win. Through a series of conversations and compromises, the candidates scheme and scramble for the small bunch of uncommitted delegates who can seal the presidential nomination. The Best Man is surprising in how many, and how few,

things have changed in the past 48 years.

The Best Man is directed by Jamie Nicholson, who most recently staged the compelling drama Match in 35below. The Best Man stars Jim Weyhenmeyer, a newcomer to the ACT stage, as William Russell and Dan Clancy (The Philadelphia Story) as Joseph Cantwell. Also in the cast of 16 are Lora Kole, Susan Fronsoe, Bob Baldridge, Cory Boughton, Zach Blew, Randy McCracken, George Peery, Hanni Muerdter, Robert Nipper, Robert Menard, Jamie Shell, Jeremy McElrath and Jack and LaNita Cloninger, who are appearing onstage together for the first time. The set is designed by Jack Lindsay, with lighting design by Rob Bowen, and costume design by Jessica Short.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $19 for college students and seniors (over 60), and $12 for children (17 and under). Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.ashevilletheatre.org, over the phone by calling the ACT Box Office at 828-254-1320 or in person at the Box Office, located at 35 East Walnut Street. Box Office hours are 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Friday. For more information, please call 828-254-1320.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

- Opening Night Champagne Reception: Help us celebrate Opening Night by joining us for a free glass of bubbly beginning at 7:15 pm on Friday, September 12.
- Presidential Voices Readings: Prior to Sunday matinee performances, The Autumn Players will perform a lively reading of the works and words of American Presidents. Begins at 2:10 pm on Sundays September 14, 21, and 28.
- Salute to American Politics, in the Lobby Gallery: A display of local candidates' posters and Asheville Citizen-Times photographs of national politicians on campaign sweeps through Western North Carolina.
- Voter Registration: The Board of Elections will host a voter registration booth at the theatre during performances.

At A Glance

What: The Best Man, a political drama by Gore Vidal

Who: Directed by Jamie Nicholson

Where: Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut Street, Asheville, NC

When: September 12-28, 2008, with performances Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm.

Tickets: $22 for adults, $19 for college students and seniors (60+), $12 for children (17 & under)

Special discounts for groups of 10 or more

Asheville Community Theatre Box Office

35 E. Walnut Street

828.254.1320

Or online at www.ashevilletheatre.org