We’re partnering with Oskar Blues Brewery to bring you a free Steep Canyon Rangers Concert on Saturday, May 7 at Pack Square Park. Opening band (to be announced) will hit the stage about 6pm, with the Rangers up at 7pm. Food and beverage sales will begin at 5pm.

A multisensory puppetry experience for all ages that explores what it means to be a human being

Admission is free and seats can be reserved in advance through a form on the ACA website: https://ashevillecreativearts.org/mainstage-productions/.

Visit Asheville Creative Arts’ website for general information (www.ashevillecreativearts.org);

Asheville Creative Arts (ACA), Asheville’s professional children’s theatre, returns to live theatre with a 60-minute, multisensory puppetry experience, the world premiere of HUMAN.  Written, directed and designed by Nehprii Amenii (CLICK, CLACK, MOO), HUMAN features original music by Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby; lyrics by Nehprii Amenii, Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby; choreography by Amparo Chigui Santiago; lights, projections and environment design by Marie Yokoyama; sound designs by Joo Won Park; puppet construction by Dan Jones and Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins; dramaturgy by Dr. Allison Curseen and Philip Santos Schaffer; with outreach from ACA’s Community Development Director, Daniele Martin. HUMAN will run at The Tina McGuire Theatre at The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts (18 Biltmore Ave) from April 28- May 15, with public performances Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 1pm, and Sundays at 3pm, with special performances Thursday 4/28 at 7pm and Saturday 5/7 at 7pm. Admission is free, with a hat passed for donations post-performance. More information and a link to reserve seats is available at www.ashevillecreativearts.org.

Now that Humans are extinct and the world as we knew it has ended, the Octopus has a decision to make…  Will it be willing to give up one of its three hearts in order to create a new, more sensitive human being? Will it be willing to give humanity a second chance?   HUMAN is told through the windows of a sunken submarine, using images of the human heart, and a hybrid of puppetry styles. Meant to be enjoyed by children 5 and older and their families, it consists of projection design, sound design, dance, puppetry, and sensory play that explore what it means to be HUMAN.

The cast features April Tilles, Joshua Chung, Kaylyn Carter, Khalilah Smith, Olympea, Rebekah Babelay and Tippin.

Creator and Khunum Productions Artistic Director, Nehprii Amenii says “in a world increasingly mediated by technology and flattened screens, this piece will offer a space for audiences of all ages to explore humanness, touch, and interconnectedness.”

Adds ACA Artistic Producing Director, ”Nehprii has brought together an incredible, majority BIPOC team who between them have Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional credits, Drama Desk Awards, and the imagination, sensitivity and creativity to guide young people and their adults through a timely, and in the end, joyful exploration of hope in our current moment.”.

This production of HUMAN is supported, in part, with awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the North Carolina Arts Council, The Henson Foundation Family Grant, and has been developed as part of the New Victory LabWorks 2021-22 Season.

ABOUT THE CO-PRODUCERS: 

Asheville’s critically acclaimed, award winning theatre devoted to creating works for children of all ages, Asheville Creative Arts was founded in 2013 and produces, presents and creates innovative works for multigenerational, multiethnic and multidimensional audiences, performed by adult actors. Past productions include CHARLOTTE’S WEB, THE WARP & THE WEFT, BUGS!, and SLUG & SNAIL. “Ostensibly, ACA produces children’s theater, but the company’s ambitious works appeal to both youths and adults.” – Mountain Xpress

Khunum Productions is a New York based production company that produces highly visual narrative-based productions that combine the personal, the social, and the magical to create experiences that transform the human heart, and thus our society. Khunum Productions recognizes itself as a platform for “Creative Anthropology.” This means that we are interested in the study of what makes us human, and the interconnectedness of all people and things. Our work and process of working aims to deepen human connectivity–to one another and to our own selves.  We are not interested in art that drags the human along. Thus the people involved in process and their individual needs are priority. We believe in process and nefer –beauty. We strive to make the  artistic process of creating together equally as beautiful as our productions.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:  HUMAN runs April 28 – May 15, 2022 at Tina McGuire Theatre at The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts (18 Biltmore Ave): with public performances Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 1pm, and Sundays at 3pm, with special performances Thursday 4/28 at 7pm and Saturday 5/7 at 7pm. Admission is free and seats can be reserved in advance through a form on the ACA website: https://ashevillecreativearts.org/mainstage-productions/.  Visit Asheville Creative Arts’ website for general information (www.ashevillecreativearts.org); for school and community groups wishing to book weekday school matinees, contact [email protected] or call 914/830-3000. For more information about Wortham Arts visit https://www.worthamarts.org.

Brett Naucke and Bana Haffar
May 7th, 7pm
at Revolve, 821 Riverside Drive #179, Asheville, NC 28801

Recent Chicago transplant and contemporary experimental electronic artist Brett Naucke makes his Asheville debut on May 7th at Revolve!  Opening the night is fellow local experimental electronic musician Bana Haffar.  Both will be playing new compositions against a background of projections in Revolve’s cavernous performance space.  Not to be missed!

$10 suggested donation, masks required.

Brett Naucke: https://www.bnaucke.com/
Bana Haffar:  https://banahaffar.bandcamp.com/
Revolve: https://www.revolveavl.org/

Under Timothy Verville’s baton, three brilliantly orchestrated works showcase the HSO in an evening of overcoming overwhelming odds. Daugherty’s Red Cape Tango pits Superman against his most powerful adversary ever, Doomsday, in a battle to the end. Canadian pianist Carter Johnson joins the orchestra performing Ravel’s Concerto for the Left Hand, a work composed for a WWI veteran who lost an arm in battle. Love triumphs evil as the evening concludes with Rimsky-Korsakov’s dazzling Scheherazade.

by William Shakespeare Directed by Mandy Bean Opening 5/6/2022 – 6/4/2022

This was the show we were about to produce just as the world went into lockdown. Perhaps it’s appropriate that it’s a comedy about the end of the world. If you haven’t yet had enough of the real end of the world, feel free to join us for some real belly laughs at its expense.

The play brings together Jules, a grad student in marine biology, and Jo, a journalism student, for, supposedly, a casual sexual encounter. Jo soon comes to realize that her planned-on one-night-stand is actually a ruse, perpetrated by Jules, to find an Eve to his Adam after he has discovered a pattern in fish behavior that portends the end of all life on earth. Stuck in Jules’ laboratory, they wait out their impending doom. A third character, Barbara, serves as our guide to the end of civilization as we know it.

Featuring the Young Artist Orchestra and the Philharmonic. The Young Artist Orchestra will present the world premiere of Wide Open by local composer and musician Jon Jeffrey Grier.

In the sequel to Nunsense and Nuncrackers, Dan Goggin’s endearing, eccentric nuns sing zesty tunes with a country-and-western twang. Sister Amnesia (a.k.a. Sister Mary Paul), having discovered her true identity and desire to be a country singer, finally records her debut country album, “I Could Have Gone to Nashville,” and goes on tour to promote it. The show, filled with hysterical one-liners and infectious comic songs, is sinfully funny.

Sister Amnesia’s Country Western Nunsense Jamboree’s production team includes HT’s Artistic Director Victoria Lamberth as director, the musical direction of Laura Williams, choreography by Matilyn Hull and Dru Dykes as stage manager. WNC actors Karen Covington-Yow, Leisa Foronda, Sarah Henby, Hogan McLamb and Allison Starling complete the cast.

Tickets are not on sale yet. Please check back closer to the event date.

Starbright is the story of Grace, an astrophysicist who lost her daughter Abby nearly a year ago. As Grace’s life spins out of control, Abby appears to her and begins making predictions about the cosmos. Grace must determine if her daughter’s appearance is a sign of her dwindling sanity, or proof that there’s more to the universe than even she understands.

When Grace’s visions from beyond the grave start seeping into her reality, husband Calvin and aunt Margaret must put aside their own struggles and come together to assess Grace’s stability and safety. In light of her family history of mental health issues, can Grace persuade them to trust in her conviction that Abby is speaking to her?

Starbright is Sean David Robinson’s first full-length play. It was selected by the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival in New York City and made its original debut Off-Broadway in 2018. Starbright was named the winner of the 2018 North Carolina New Play Project and the Centre Stage New Play Festival in Greenville, SC. It was also shortlisted as a semi-finalist for the inaugural New Works Festival at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank, CA.

Directed by Ashleigh Goff, Starbright features Courtney DeGennaro Robinson as Grace, Scott Voloshin as Calvin, Ivy Voloshin as Abby, and Janet Oliver as Margaret. Performances run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 4:00pm. For tickets and more information, visit https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=132323.

Actor and comedian, Mike Epps, is set to bring the laughs to Greenville once again with the NO REMORSE COMEDY TOUR. Performing at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena on May 7 at 8 p.m., Epps will deliver non-stop laughs along with some of comedy’s most talented and sought-after entertainers, including Sommore and Tommy Davidson. Tickets go on sale to the general public 10 a.m. on Dec. 17 at Ticketmaster.com. The all-star lineup will be sure to bring down the house with non-stop laughter for an unforgettable night of comedy!

Epps is generating an extraordinary amount of buzz among his peers for being not only one of the funniest comic actors in town, but also for his burgeoning dramatic talent. Epps is currently starring in the Netflix comedy series “The Upshaws” with Wanda Sykes. His recent film credits include “The House Next Door,” sequel to the 2016 film “Meet The Blacks,” the Amazon feature “Troup Zero” with Viola Davis, Allison Janney, and Jim Gaffigan, in addition to the Netflix comedy “Dolemite Is My Name” with Eddie Murphy. Epps is currently working on a new one-hour comedy special, a follow up to his 2019 Netflix special “Mike Epps: Only One Mike.” Up next, Epps will be starring in “Last Friday,” and portraying comedy legend, Richard Pryor, in Adam McKay’s untitled L.A. Lakers drama series for HBO.
The No Remorse Comedy Tour is presented by North American Entertainment Group Inc., one of the leading independent promoters of entertainment tours and live events in the United States.

NC State Parks’ Year of the Tree continues with a celebration of spring trees. Break out your camera and capture the transformation of trees from winter to spring as they show off their gorgeous blooms throughout the next few months. You may even win a prize for your efforts!

GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES

1st Prize: The winning photo will be our Facebook cover photo for two weeks, and the photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park, two boat tour tickets from Lake Lure Tours, and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

2nd Prize: After the first place photo, the second place photo will be our Facebook cover photo for one week. The photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

3rd Prize: The third place photographer will receive two adult day passes (or one family pack of day passes) to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

CONTEST RULES:

1. There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between April 1, 2022 – May 31, 2022.
   The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers.
2. Up to three photos per person can be submitted via any of the following ways to be eligible to win:
   • Facebook: First, like the Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park page. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
   • E-mail: If you don’t have access to social media, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
3. Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
4. Photos should be available at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels (1 MB minimum) to be eligible to win. Photos taken via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are welcome if they meet minimum requirements.
5. For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
6. Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of the theme. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
7. Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
8. Finalists will be chosen by Chimney Rock staff and the winner will be voted on by the public. Decisions regarding winners are final.

Winners will be notified personally and announced on Chimney Rock’s social media. For more information, call 1-828-625-9611, ext. 1812 or email us at [email protected].

It can be ruff out there for our canine companions, but we have pawsitively great news. Buncombe County’s first-ever dog park is now open at our Sports Park in Candler. While this is a soft open, the park features two fenced-in play areas; one for large dogs and one for smaller pups. “We do have plans to add other amenities and water fountains,” exclaims Recreation Services Program Coordinator Mac Stanley. “People are very excited about this new opportunity. Since it was announced, we have gotten letters of support as well as many emails questioning when will the project be completed.”

So join us in a round of apaws as we celebrate the opening of this new venue for hot dogs and cool people. “It’s an amazing place to bring your dog to run free without a leash and interact with other dogs,” says Stanley. “One of my favorite aspects of this new dog park is being able to cultivate a community. Hopefully, this dog park will be instrumental in connecting dogs as well as people within the community.” Paw-yeah, sounds great.

Location: Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Circle

Hours of operation: Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (same as the Sports Park)

Dog park drools rules
Dogs must be:

• On a leash at all times until safely in the fenced-in dog park area
• Vaccinated, licensed, and in good health
• At least four months old to enter
• Wearing a collar with ID tags
• Under voice control of their human and not aggressive

Humans must:

• Be with dogs at all times
• Remove dogs at first sign of aggression
• Pick up poop and dispose of it in receptacles provided
• Be liable for any and all injuries caused by their dogs

Not Allowed:

• Pronged, spike or choke collars
• Aggressive dogs, aggressive humans, or dogs in heat
• Unsupervised children 12 years of age or younger

The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.

House of Operation:

WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week

Featured Artists: Guild Members from the WNC Fiber Handweavers Guild

April 1st through May 26th, 2022

South Asheville’s best yoga option! Dosha based yoga from an Ayurveda Health Counselor and Ayurveda Yoga Specialist!

Come as you are and bring a mat and a mask

About Kristin:

Kristin received her first 200-hour from Bodhi Yoga in Long Island, NY, and her second 200-hour from Yoga Madre in Sierra Madre, CA. She is currently working on her 300-hour program with Yoga Madre and also studying ParaYoga.

Kristin also runs a marketing and design studio that specializing in helping yoga teachers, coaches, healers, and solopreneurs create personal brands and websites that stand out in the crowd.

Off the mat you can find Kristin hiking with her husband, cooking amazing plant-based meals, and spending time with friends and family.

Call ahead for the latest updates: 828-298-7928.

Sam Johnson will be demonstrating how he creates fly rods out of bamboo – a natural resource of which we have an abundant amount!

Featured Artists: Judi Harwood (clay) Colin Richmond (clay) Cori Saraceni (mixed media) Lyn Lyndall (leather) Lauren Faulkenberry (paper)

Featured Artists: Jude Stuecker (fiber) Erica Bailey (jewelry) Mary Dashiell (clay) Steve Miller (wood) Rex Redd (clay)

Jeweler Amy Brandenburg will be demonstrating how she uses PMC (precious metal clay) to create silver, bronze, and copper necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and rings.

Call ahead for the latest updates: 828-298-7928.