Asheville Community Theatre is proud to present The Narrative, a new staged reading series in partnership with Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective. This exciting collaboration amplifies the voices of BIPOC playwrights while fostering paid opportunities for BIPOC performers and directors in Western North Carolina. Tickets for The Narrative are just $10 per event, with 100% of the proceeds going to support the mission of Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective. These catered, one-night-only events promise an evening of storytelling and community connection. The Narrative is proudly sponsored by The Teel Family Foundation and ArtsAVL. Tickets go on sale January 7, 2025.

Date: January 25, 2025
Title: The Hot Wing King
Author: Katori Hall
Directed by: Mikayla Wilson
Description: In Memphis, it’s time for the annual “Hot Wang Festival,” and Cordell Crutchfield is ready to reclaim his title with the best wings in town. Supported by his partner Dwayne and their culinary crew, The New Wing Order, Cordell is set for victory—until family tensions boil over with the arrival of Dwayne’s troubled nephew. This Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy is a heartfelt exploration of love, chosen family, and resilience.

Date: March 29, 2025
Title: Clyde’s
Author: Lynn Nottage
Directed by: Stephanie Hickling Beckman
Description: Inside a truck stop sandwich shop, a group of formerly incarcerated staff members works toward redemption, dreaming of creating the perfect sandwich. Despite their boss’s tough exterior, the team finds hope and purpose in their shared journey. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, Clyde’s is a moving and humorous exploration of second chances and the power of community.

Date: May 31, 2025
Title: Dot
Author: Coleman Domingo
Directed by: Stephanie Hickling Beckman
Description: The Shealy family gathers for a wild holiday season in West Philly, but this year, it’s not just presents on their minds. As matriarch Dotty struggles with memory loss, her three adult children must balance caring for their mother with navigating their own midlife crises. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, Dot offers an unflinching look at aging, family, and the bonds that hold us together.