Three years after her last hit, Magnetic Theatre’s Lucia Del Vecchio presents her latest play through October 24th.
Instead of a musically skewering suburbia, this time she brings her darkly comedic efforts to the office. An ensemble cast filled with regulars on the Asheville theatrical scene, The Employee Handbook Revision Committee begs the question- is there such a thing as a good meeting?
Brad the Temp (Michael Coghlan) joins the staff of an administrative department committee that is revising an out of date employee manual. The committee is helmed by the niece of the company’s boss, DeeDee (Tracey Johnston-Crum), who is off her meds and out for blood. Cal from Human Resources (Scott Bean) takes the committee very seriously and tries to inspire the same among his co-workers. And Sue (Karen Stobbe) trains Brad on who to trust and who to avoid, while hiding secrets of her own that could cost her her job. The show also stars Katie Kasben as DeeDee’s airheaded sidekick Angela, and Stephanie Hickling-Beckman as Beverly, the administrative department head who is the only one who can put DeeDee in her place.
“I’m really thrilled to have such an all-star cast come together for this show,” says Del Vecchio. “It’s certainly a comedy, and these actors will be able to play that superbly well, but while also highlighting the dramatic elements of the show as well.”
The Magnetic Theatre reopened in their new space in May of this year and is one of the most exciting young theatre companies in the Southeast. If you’ve ever felt caged in a cubicle, sourced solace in the solitude of the copy room, or fell asleep during a meeting, The Employee Handbook Revision Committee will feel familiar in ways both tragic and comic.
Written and directed by Lucia Del Vecchio, sound design by Mary Zogzas, set and props by Kehren Barbour, costumes by Barbara Taggart, and lighting by Jason Williams. At Magnetic 375 (375 Depot Street in the River Arts District).
Performances are Thursday through Saturday, through October 24th, at 7:30 pm.
Tickets are $18 in advance and $21 at the door (fees included).
Please visit www.themagnetictheatre.org for additional information.