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Run Amok Productions presents "plays from the li'l Nashville" by Waylon Wood through Saturday as part of North Carolina Stage Company's 2008 Catalyst Series. Set in a bar in the panhandle of Northwest Florida, "plays from the li'l Nashville" deals humorously with the "cracker" culture of the region. A bar fly, a lawyer's wife, a golf pro and a redneck or two, journey through an evening of longing, disappointment and beer drinking. All set to a soundtrack of good country music. Audience members with an affinity for their southern roots certainly won't be disappointed. Waylon Wood says, "People in the panhandle of Florida are mostly forgotten in the southern tradition. This is one opportunity to set the record straight. It is my hope that audiences will be moved to laughter and tears."
The "plays from the li'l Nashville" premiered in Pensacola, Florida. They were first produced by the West Florida Playwright's Project in repertory with Nancy Hasty's Florida Girls. Since then they have seen full readings at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Dramatist's Guild in New York City. They have seen productions at Illinois State and Pensacola's Loblolly Theatre. Irene, a one-act from the series, was a finalist in North Carolina State's Young Playwright competition. Run Amok Productions is the latest incarnation of the theatre company once known as Plaeides Productions. Ben and Betsy Puckett 'inherited' the company after many of the original members' lives took them in different directions. "We really felt it was important to keep the company going," said Ben Puckett, "because they filled a sort of 'theatre of the odd' niche in Asheville. And Plaeides had built a nice following – our patrons were loyal to the risks we were willing to take." You may remember some of the success Plaeides Productions had with Psycho Beach Party, Fat Men in Skirts and La Bete. "Plaeides was always willing to work with whomever was willing, no matter what their experience, and when we heard there was nobody who was really able to take on the task of reviving the company we thought we'd take a stab at it," explained Betsy Puckett. "Also, it's how Ben and I met," she added, smiling, "so it just seemed fitting that we should take it over and try to slowly rebuild what was once a positive force in the local theatre community." "Plays from the li'l nashville" will be the second production mounted by the Pucketts and other founding member Waylon Wood. Judy Blume's Forever: A Parody was well received last year with four sell out performances at the Bebe Theatre. The Pucketts are taking it nice and slow in hopes that Run Amok will be around to contribute to the Asheville arts community for years to come. Betsy Puckett directs a local all-star cast including Zach Blew, Peter Brezny, Sarah Carpenter, Dan Clancy, David Ely, Lori Enish, Delina Hensley, Jane Porterfield, Muriel Smith, Robin Tynes and Carla Pridgen. The cast has resumes that boast stand out performances from virtually every stage in Asheville and notable shows such as; The Wizard of Oz, Philadelphia Story, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Match and Backyard Fruit. Waylon Wood, playwright, graduated with a BA in Theatre from the University of West Florida. While in residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, he studied with polish playwright, Janusz Glowacki. With the plays from the li'l nashville, he was named Artist of the Year by the Pensacola News Journal. Waylon is a founding member of the Loblolly Theatre Company in Pensacola, Florida and Run Amok Productions here in Asheville, NC. He will be seen simultaneously playing the ghost of John Barrymore in I Hate Hamlet at the Asheville Community Theatre. "Plays from the li'l nashville" is a part of North Carolina Stage Company's Catalyst Series. Now in its fourth year, the Catalyst Series features performances from local, grassroots theatre companies. NC Stage collaborates with these exciting companies to expand its own programming while providing resources for innovative theatre. Visit www.ncstage.org for more information about the series. (Images provided by the NC Stage Company)
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