Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
What: Asheville’s Premier Standup Feature & Open Mic comedy
When: Sunday, February 5, 6:30pm (Come early to get your food and drinks!)
Where: Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., Theater 2
675 Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville (onsite parking)
Tickets: $14
Comedy open mic. [signup at the door to get 3-5m. Free entry for performing comics, free pizza at comics table]
Hosted by Morgan Bost featuring Allison Shelnut, Jess Cooley and Larry Griffin
FB: https://fb.me/e/3Yb5s4IfD
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Recommended for Grades 6-12
The fate of a nation hangs in the balance. Journey to a world of conspiracy and betrayal in Aquila Theatre’s striking new production of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Aquila’s nationally-renowned work gives the classics modern relevance and enriches students’ understanding of English literature. With a modern take on ancient themes of war and violence, this production may contain mature content.
Reservations for individuals (10 people or less): $12 each. To reserve, call the box office at 828-257-4530 ext. 1, email [email protected], or complete the Student Series Reservation Form.
Reservations for groups (11 people or more): $11 each. To reserve, download and complete the Student Series Reservation Form. Please note that all group reservations require a deposit of $1 per ticket. Please contact the box office if you have questions.
Learn more about Aquila Theatre here.
Performance Length: Approx. 2 hours, 20 minutes
February 6-April 17 (Spring Break March 13-17)
MONDAY 4:30PM – 5:30
Instructor: Zoe Zelonky
This fun and high-energy 10-week class combines the three fundamentals of musical theater, acting, singing, and dance, in an accessible and exciting way! With a focus on singing technique, musicality, movement, and storytelling, students will learn new skills and make friends as they develop songs from Broadway musicals. No prior experience is necessary. With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times! We will end the semester with a performance for family and friends on Monday April 24 in the evening!
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- Payment plans are available through the Box Office at 828.693.0731.
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A $50 deposit is required to secure the student’s spot in the class. The full payment must be completed by the first day of class.
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Students and families that register for more than one class are offered a $25 discount for each additional class. This offer applies to multiple classes for one student or family discounts for siblings.
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*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
February 6 – April 17 (Spring Break March 13-17)
MONDAY 5:45-6:45PM
Instructor: Zoe Zelonky
In this 10-week session discover the fun and fundamentals of musical theatre technique by integrating acting, singing, and simple choreography in the development of a Broadway repertoire. Students will learn proper vocal technique, story-telling through song, musical theatre-style choreography, and how to work within an ensemble. Apply your skills at the end of class performance for friends and family on Monday April 24 in the evening. With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times.
Dates: February 6 – April 17
Grades: 3rd-5th
Day/Time: Monday 5:45-6:45
Tuition: $190
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- Payment plans are available through the Box Office at 828.693.0731.
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A $50 deposit is required to secure the student’s spot in the class. The full payment must be completed by the first day of class.
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Students and families that register for more than one class are offered a $25 discount for each additional class. This offer applies to multiple classes for one student or family discounts for siblings.
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*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
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February 7 – April 18 (Spring Break March 13-17)
Tuesday 4:30-5:30
Instructor: Christa Matheus
This 10-week class is designed for curious young performers eager to explore the “FUN”-damentals of acting. Through high-energy theatre games, improvisation, pantomime, storytelling, and ensemble-based activities, students will hone their theatre skills, build meaningful connections with other young artists, and discover their creative potential! Showcase what you learned at the end of class performance for friends and family on Monday April 24 in the evening. With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times.
Dates: February 7 – April 18
Grades: 3rd-5th
Day/Time: Tuesday 4:30-5:30
Instructor: Christa Mattheus
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Payment plans are available through the Box Office at 828.693.0731.
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A $50 deposit is required to secure the student’s spot in the class. The full payment must be completed by the first day of class.
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Students and families that register for more than one class are offered a $25 discount for each additional class. This offer applies to multiple classes for one student or family discounts for siblings.
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*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
ACTING
6th – 8th Grades
February 7 – April 19
Tuesday 5:45-6:45
Instructor: Christa Matheus
In this 10-week semester, young artists will learn to create dynamic relationships through theatre games, improvisation, and scene work. With an emphasis on ensemble storytelling, character creation, physicality, and voice and speech, students will leave feeling more collaborative, creative, and confident making bold choices on stage and in life. Apply your skills at the end of semester performance for friends and family on Monday April 24 in the evening. No prior experience is necessary, only an open mind! With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times.
- Payment plans are available through the Box Office at 828.693.0731.
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A $50 deposit is required to secure the student’s spot in the class. The full payment must be completed by the first day of class.
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Students and families that register for more than one class are offered a $25 discount for each additional class. This offer applies to multiple classes for one student or family discounts for siblings.
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*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.
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MUSICAL THEATRE
6th – 8th Grades
February 8 – April 19 (Spring Break March 13-17)
WEDNESDAY: 5:00PM-6:00PM
Instructor: Lauren Hopkins & Ethan Andersen
Build on the fundamentals of musical theatre technique by integrating acting, singing, and basic choreography in the development of a musical revue. Expand on principles of vocal technique, music theory, knowledge of Broadway repertoire, expression of character through movement, and learn how to elevate performances by making specific and unique choices on stage. Apply your skills at the end of semester performance for friends and family on Monday April 24 in the evening. With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times!
- Payment plans are available through the Box Office at 828.693.0731.
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A $50 deposit is required to secure the student’s spot in the class. The full payment must be completed by the first day of class.
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Students and families that register for more than one class are offered a $25 discount for each additional camp. This offer applies to multiple class for one student or family discounts for siblings.
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*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
TEEN ENSEMBLE
February 8 – April 19 (Spring Break March 13-17)
8th-12th Grades
Wednesday 6:30PM-8:00PM
Instructors: Lauren Hopkins & Ethan Andersen
In this collegiate-style class, teen artists will learn from industry experts in a combination of acting and musical theatre training, rehearsal, and performance. Daily classes in acting, movement, and music will challenge students to explore the nuances of theatre technique and provide a framework approaching songs, scenes, and monologues, developed and performed in an original revue at the end of the session. This session is ideal for students who are passionate about theatre, excited to collaborate in a pre-professional environment with peers and industry experts, and looking to grow and develop as artists. Showcase your revue at our end of semester performance for family and friends on Monday April 24 in the evening! With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times.
- Payment plans are available through the Box Office at 828.693.0731.
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A $50 deposit is required to secure the student’s spot in the class. The full payment must be completed by the first day of class.
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Students and families that register for more than one class are offered a $25 discount for each additional class. This offer applies to multiple classes for one student or family discounts for siblings.
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*Need-based and merit-based scholarships are available upon application.
By Duncan MacMillian with Jonny Donahoe
Directed by Charlie Flynn-McIver and Starring Scott Treadway
One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop…There is something tough being confronted here—the guilt of not being able to make those we love happy—and it is explored with unflinching honesty.” —The Guardian (UK)
Content Warning: Although the play balances the struggles of life while celebrating all that is wonderful in living each day, Every Brilliant Thing contains descriptions of depression, self-harm, and suicide. It is recommended for audience members 14 and older. If you or somebody you know is struggling, please call 988, The Suicide & Crisis Hotline.
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February 9-April 20 (Spring Break March 13-17)
THURSDAY 4:30PM – 5:30
Instructor: Eleanor Palmer
This fun and high-energy 10-week class combines the three fundamentals of musical theater, acting, singing, and dance, in an accessible and exciting way! With a focus on singing technique, musicality, movement, and storytelling, students will learn new skills and make friends as they develop songs from Broadway musicals. No prior experience is necessary. With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times! We will end the semester with a performance for family and friends on Monday April 24 in the evening!
Dates: February 9 – April 20
Day/Time: Thursday 4:30-5:30
Grades: K-2
Instructor: Eleanor Palmer
Tuition: $190
Location: Studio 52
1855 Little River Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731
- Payment plans are available through the Box Office at 828.693.0731.
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A $50 deposit is required to secure the student’s spot in the class. The full payment must be completed by the first day of class.
-
Students and families that register for more than one class are offered a $25 discount for each additional class. This offer applies to multiple classes for one student or family discounts for siblings.
-
*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
La Vie Boheme! Join the HS Company in the musical that shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our life in love.
Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent School Edition is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, Rent School Edition follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
Please note, this performance is rated PG-13. This musical contains mature themes that center around the AIDS Crisis.

Written by Carlyle Brown
Directed by Stephanie Hickling Beckman
ABE LINCOLN AND UNCLE TOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE portrays a gripping re-imagination of the the events the night before Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Alone in the Executive Office, President Abraham Lincoln is struggling with signing the Emancipation Proclamation when he is mysteriously visited by Uncle Tom, the fictional character in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s abolitionist novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly. These two iconic characters from life and literature—one real, the other fiction—attempt to understand each other across a chasm of race in the midst of the Civil War. Throughout one late night and into the dawning day, they find themselves crossing over into each other’s world in a tale of suffering, self-discovery, and redemption.
“I hadn’t read the book [Uncle Tom’s Cabin], and I had fallen victim to the mentality that says when you hear the name Uncle Tom you get the picture of the worst individual you could imagine, In reading the book, I found a character of honor and dignity and I thought, maybe this character deserves to be looked at again.” – James A Williams
By Duncan MacMillian with Jonny Donahoe
Directed by Charlie Flynn-McIver and Starring Scott Treadway
One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop…There is something tough being confronted here—the guilt of not being able to make those we love happy—and it is explored with unflinching honesty.” —The Guardian (UK)
Content Warning: Although the play balances the struggles of life while celebrating all that is wonderful in living each day, Every Brilliant Thing contains descriptions of depression, self-harm, and suicide. It is recommended for audience members 14 and older. If you or somebody you know is struggling, please call 988, The Suicide & Crisis Hotline.
2.9.23 The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULP
What: Stand up Comedy at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge
When: Thursday 2.9.2023. 8p-11p, doors at 7:30p
Where: The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $14 (available at door or The Orange Peel website)
Cocktails available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!! .
Open mic comics signup at door get 3-5m. [Free entry for performing comics, free snacks at comics table]
FB Event: https://fb.me/e/3aHkfNBlR
Moira Goree Moira is a comedian from Asheville,NC. With a perfect mix of heavy and humor Moira Goree brings rockstar energy to her intense storytelling and queer comedic presence. She’s a transgender woman who people have called darkly funny and authentic in her delivery. . She performs all over the southeast.She’s opened for Rory Scovel,Myk Caplan & Emma Arnold.
Host Cody Hughes: Cody is a comedian who cut his teeth in Chicago and Atlanta. He is now based out of West North Carolina and tours the Southeast. He has opened for Lewis Black, John Oliver and Maria Bamford among others and hosts the regular Slice of Life Comedy shows at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge.
About Pulp: The speakeasy inspired hideaway offers a cozy space for show-goers to relax and enjoy a beverage during the concert. Boasting over 200 different Bourbons and Whiskeys, alongside a myriad of other spirits, it is a must-visit for cocktail lovers and Bourbon sippers alike. Pulp will also open various other nights to feature local artists and “Slice of Life” open-mic comedy nights. To stay informed with the happenings at Pulp, visit the Orange Peel’s website, and follow @pulp_avl on Instagram.
About Slice of Life Comedy: Slice of Life Comedy is owned and run by long standing Ashevillian Michele Scheve. Michele was the Founder and Publisher of the hit satire newspaper “The Asheville Disclaimer” in 2002 (till 2015). She also Hosts one of 103.3 Asheville FM’ longest running and most popular shows, “Slumber Party AVL”, which began in 2011. In addition to these established platforms, Michele also Co-Founded and Co-Owns Buzz Radio Asheville, which features only local music and comedy 24/7. Slice of Life Comedy began as a partnership, between Michele and comedian Kelly Rowe, doing live shows at Pulp Lounge in 2010, highlighting local up-and-coming comics through Open Mic events. From there, Slice of Life Comedy began booking feature shows, After-Party shows for national headline acts and collaboration with more and more venues and producers in the scene. Today, Slice of Life Comedy is the Premiere Partner for shows at some of Asheville’s most well-known and beloved venues.
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With unrivaled arena production quality, Jurassic World comes to life against a backdrop of captivating scenery where dinosaurs from the iconic franchise, including fan-favorite Velociraptor Blue and a Tyrannosaurus rex more than 40 feet in length, take center stage. The production features more than 24 film-accurate, life-sized dinosaurs, with scale, speed and ferocity, operated by animatronics and performers.
Jurassic World’s unmistakable score combined with projection and practical scenery transforms the arena into the dense jungles of Isla Nublar, where real Gyrospheres roll through the valley and scientists work to unravel a corrupt plan and save anew dinosaur from a terrible fate. With pulse-pounding stunts and an original, authentic storyline, this show is guaranteed to make memories that will last another 65 million years.
La Vie Boheme! Join the HS Company in the musical that shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our life in love.
Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent School Edition is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, Rent School Edition follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
Please note, this performance is rated PG-13. This musical contains mature themes that center around the AIDS Crisis.

Written by Carlyle Brown
Directed by Stephanie Hickling Beckman
ABE LINCOLN AND UNCLE TOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE portrays a gripping re-imagination of the the events the night before Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Alone in the Executive Office, President Abraham Lincoln is struggling with signing the Emancipation Proclamation when he is mysteriously visited by Uncle Tom, the fictional character in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s abolitionist novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly. These two iconic characters from life and literature—one real, the other fiction—attempt to understand each other across a chasm of race in the midst of the Civil War. Throughout one late night and into the dawning day, they find themselves crossing over into each other’s world in a tale of suffering, self-discovery, and redemption.
“I hadn’t read the book [Uncle Tom’s Cabin], and I had fallen victim to the mentality that says when you hear the name Uncle Tom you get the picture of the worst individual you could imagine, In reading the book, I found a character of honor and dignity and I thought, maybe this character deserves to be looked at again.” – James A Williams
By Duncan MacMillian with Jonny Donahoe
Directed by Charlie Flynn-McIver and Starring Scott Treadway
One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop…There is something tough being confronted here—the guilt of not being able to make those we love happy—and it is explored with unflinching honesty.” —The Guardian (UK)
Content Warning: Although the play balances the struggles of life while celebrating all that is wonderful in living each day, Every Brilliant Thing contains descriptions of depression, self-harm, and suicide. It is recommended for audience members 14 and older. If you or somebody you know is struggling, please call 988, The Suicide & Crisis Hotline.
We invite you to drink in the nectar of our heart’s creative delight… A Love Potion by OMotion!
THE SHOW
A one of a kind unique multi-dimensional event !!!!
Muses & Mocktails is not only a show to indulge the senses; it is also a fundraiser for our next full length production, Cycles of Dance, coming up Autumn 2023!
Join us for an evening of potent performance art & herbal elixirs!
OMotion Collective & featured performers convene to share an infusion of musings woven together.
Highlighting:
- Dance
- Burlesque
- Flow arts
- Comedy
- Poetry
– & –
- Looping Musical Mastery
The mocktails being served are The MerTails curated by local purveyor: The NOHM. These herbaceous libations hold a sweet reminder to savor every drop of this creative healing elixir as we rejoice with a cheers.
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THE AFTER-SHOW DANCE PARTY
The show will be followed by a dance party. Electronic sets by local talents Blacknote and Atum are sure to getcha’ moving once you’re bubbling with inspiration after the spectrum of expressive acts we have brewed up.
TIming conflicts or preference to just come after the main show & shake it on out? If you can’t make it to the main show, you can purchase a reduced price ticket which is only valid for the after-show Dance Party.
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Doors at 6:30pm
Show at 7:30pm
Dance Party 9:15pm
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GENERAL ADMISSION: $33 per person – Full Access Show + Drink + Dance Party
VIP: $88 for 2 persons – Full Access Show + Drink + Dance Party ( with reserved table for 2 with a decadent spread of fruits, nuts & local chocolate)
DANCE PARTY ONLY: $22 per person – Admittance following the end of the main show

Tania, a very pregnant PHD candidate, and Pablo, her high-powered lawyer husband, realize the American dream when they buy a house with a backyard in Washington, DC. Living next door to community stalwarts Virginia and Frank is great – until a disagreement arises over a long-standing fence line between their homes. The conflict spirals into an all-out war of taste, class, privilege, and entitlement. With witty humor and engaging real-life drama, Native Gardens showcases conflict – and the worst and best ways to work it out!
Content Warning: Native Gardens contains mature themes, depictions of smoking, pregnancy/childbirth, microaggressions, and discussions of racism.
Accessibility:
All performances: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating available.
Saturday, Feb 25, 2023: ASL-Interpreted Performance
The Magnetic Theatre is thrilled to kick off its 2023 Mainstage Season with HappyLand, a fun and fantastical new musical by Brayden Dickerson and Zach Knox of Asheville’s blues-fusion band Smooth Goose, featuring live tunes and an exciting ensemble of quirky characters.
This non-stop rock opera tells the tale of a delivery person who doesn’t quite fit into the titular town of HappyLand. Tasked with delivering one last package before the vacation they have been dreaming of, our bicycling box-bearer embarks on an epic journey through the barren Neither, where a host of unsavory characters contrives to stay this courier from their appointed rounds. Nevertheless, our maudlin messenger is determined to make it to SadLand. But what will they find when they arrive? Could the addressee be the love of their life? What message does the all-important package contain? And can our hero deliver the earth from annihilation?
Directed by Jason Phillips and featuring an ensemble cast with rotating lead actors, HappyLand is a delightful extravaganza of song, silliness, dance, romance, and splendiferous space battles.
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TFAC invites all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers & more — to a casual weekly drop-in gathering on Saturday mornings at 9 AM to share your works in progress, alert others, and chat about art and what’s happening in your community.
The first weekly Coffee is Saturday, August 20 at 9 am.
No RSVP needed, just drop by!
Free parking available on Melrose Avenue, behind and alongside TFAC.

