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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.
This year will feature an exhilarating blend of beloved productions, including Million Dollar Quartet, West Side Story, and Mamma Mia! The popular Music on the Rock® series, Studio 52 Family Programming, and a brand new Black Box series round out the 2022 season and mark a renewed beginning for FRP after a long pandemic shutdown.
Season subscriptions are on sale now. Music on the Rock® single tickets go on sale on January 24, 2022, and single tickets for all remaining shows go on sale on February 14, 2022.
The Music of Tom Petty
Feb. 24-March 5
Two Jews, Talking
A Hilarious Staged Reading
March 17-19
A side-splitting piece written by Ed. Weinberger, our characters take us on a rollicking romp through time! The two-act story brings Lou and Bud together in the Biblical past, and Phil and Marty together in contemporary Long Island. They philosophize about women, sex, food, the divine, and destiny in this tale of companionship and friendship.
The Music of Elton John
March 31-April 2
The Music of Neil Diamond
April 7-10
Catch Me If You Can
April 28-May 14
This comedy thriller is a classic gem with exciting twists and turns from beginning to end. “The final 15 minutes will reward you like a murder mystery should.” The New York Times
Million Dollar Quartet
May 20-June 19
Back by popular demand, the musical celebrates the historic Sam Phillips studio recording sessions of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley.
The Music of the Eagles
An Outdoor Stadium Concert
June 18
Join Flat Rock Playhouse for another rockin’ evening of outdoor summer fun at West Henderson’s Athletic Stadium, Johnson Field.
West Side Story
July 1-30
The Romeo and Juliet inspired love story of Tony and Maria amid the Jets and Sharks gang rivalry. Ranked #1 in the most recent survey of theatre patrons.
Mozart to Pop Chart
The Musical Story Continues
August 5-13
Nat Zegree (Jerry Lee Lewis/Amadeus) is back to whisk you away on an all-new musical journey through the history and triumphs of music from Mozart to today’s current hits. Featuring many of the local region’s best rock and symphonic musicians!
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
August 19-Sept. 4
Don’t miss this fresh and relevant stage adaptation of the iconic film that starred the inimitable and great Sidney Poitier.
Introducing The Black Box Series.
September 15-October 9
You’ve never experienced a play on The Rock like before. The audience and artists share the MainStage for an intimate and immersive theatre experience. The Black Box Series will feature contemporary works, classics, and stories and playwrights from around the globe. Be among the first to join us on this new and exciting theatrical journey!
God of Carnage
Sept. 15-Oct. 8
A triple-Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation the New Yorker called “laugh-out-loud hilarity,” and “ninety minutes of sustained mayhem.”
Blood Knot
Sept. 16-Oct. 9
A play that asks us to dig beneath the surface of what makes us kin and what happens when we don’t like what we find there. By renowned South African playwright Athol Fugard.
Mamma Mia!
Encore Performance
Oct. 21-Nov. 13
The hugely popular mega-Broadway hit featuring the music of ABBA is back for an encore performance. Featuring songs like “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” “Honey Honey” and so many more.
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
November 25-December 22
The WNC tradition continues. Same great show, all new material. A Playhouse favorite that will leave you feeling merry and bright!
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Studio 52)
December 1-4
Everyone’s favorite holiday classic comes to life in a spectacular new production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story the whole family can enjoy. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the whole Peanuts gang as they sing, dance, and learn the true meaning of Christmas!
To learn more about the 2022 lineup and how to purchase your tickets, please visit the website at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.
FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE
In 1937, a group of struggling performers, led by Robroy Farquhar, organized themselves as the Vagabond Players. The Vagabonds worked in a variety of places over the course of three years, and in 1940 found themselves in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. The local and tourist community welcomed them with open arms when they presented their first summer season of plays in a 150-year-old grist mill they converted into The Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake. So successful was that summer, they returned in 1941. After WWII, the Vagabond Players reorganized came back to the region and opened a playhouse in nearby Lake Summit. The Lake Summit Playhouse thrived during the post-war years and soon the Vagabond Players were looking for a larger and permanent home. In 1952, the troupe of performers, and a newly formed board of directors made an offer to buy an 8-acre lot in the Village of Flat Rock. This new home made the Vagabonds “locals” and a rented big top gave birth to Flat Rock Playhouse. As the beautiful Western Carolina region continued to grow, so did the Playhouse and in 1961, by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, Flat Rock Playhouse was officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940 is now a nine-month season of plays including Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young audiences. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; and Studio 52, year-round classes and workshops in theatre and film for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 98,000 patrons annually and is a significant contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.
# # #
Buncombe County Public Libraries is playing matchmaker in February as Blind Date with a Book returns. The blind date books are easy to spot; they’ll be the ones with the paper-wrapped book covers. Check one out and take it home. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover, and you might fall in love with a new author, genre, or series you hadn’t tried before.
The Fairview, Swannanoa, Pack, Black Mountain, Leicester, and North Asheville Libraries will be happy to set you up on your blind date anytime in February.
“Irresistible! A romantic fantasy. A contemporary fairy tale.” (The Hollywood Reporter)
After an incredible run on Broadway, Audience Choice Award-winner Pretty Woman: The Musical is coming to Greenville! One of Hollywood’s most beloved stories of all time, Pretty Woman: The Musical is brought to life by a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood, and Broadway. Featuring direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), an original score by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69,” “Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, Pretty Woman: The Musical will lift your spirits and light up your heart. “If you love the movie, you’ll love the musical!” (BuzzFeed News).
Featured in the musical is Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s international smash hit song “Oh, Pretty Woman,” which inspired one of the most beloved romantic comedy films of all time. Pretty Woman the film was an international smash hit when it was released in 1990. Now, 30 years later, Pretty Woman: The Musical still “Dazzles!” (Deadline) and is “Big romance and big fun!” (Broadway.com). Pretty Woman: The Musical delivers on all the iconic moments you remember. Get ready to experience this dazzling theatrical take on a love story for the ages.
For almost 4 decades, the Grammy winning Rebirth Brass Band has been “stunning” fans with a fiery live show and a rich musical catalog. Their trademark sound pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while weaving a tapestry that combines elements of jazz, funk, soul, R&B and the sounds from the streets they grew up on. From their legendary 25+ year run of Tuesday nights at the Maple Leaf to stages all over the world, Rebirth is the soundtrack of the Crescent City and her premier musical ambassador.
Founded by brothers Phil and Keith Frazier over 35 years ago, Rebirth began their career playing on the sidewalks of the French Quarter, and quickly landed gigs at second line parades. Those auspicious beginnings have led to thousands of shows to music aficionados everywhere, including heads of state and royalty.
The bands unique “soundtrack of New Orleans” has also garnered admiration from artists of all genres. They’ve shared the stage and collaborated with everyone from the Grateful Dead to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Maceo Parker, Green Day, U2, James Brown, 311, G-Love, MuteMath, Juvenile, Train, Big Freedia, Ani Difranco, Galactic, Allen Touisant, Neville Brothers, Quincy Jones and Trombone Shorty.
This year will feature an exhilarating blend of beloved productions, including Million Dollar Quartet, West Side Story, and Mamma Mia! The popular Music on the Rock® series, Studio 52 Family Programming, and a brand new Black Box series round out the 2022 season and mark a renewed beginning for FRP after a long pandemic shutdown.
Season subscriptions are on sale now. Music on the Rock® single tickets go on sale on January 24, 2022, and single tickets for all remaining shows go on sale on February 14, 2022.
The Music of Tom Petty
Feb. 24-March 5
Two Jews, Talking
A Hilarious Staged Reading
March 17-19
A side-splitting piece written by Ed. Weinberger, our characters take us on a rollicking romp through time! The two-act story brings Lou and Bud together in the Biblical past, and Phil and Marty together in contemporary Long Island. They philosophize about women, sex, food, the divine, and destiny in this tale of companionship and friendship.
The Music of Elton John
March 31-April 2
The Music of Neil Diamond
April 7-10
Catch Me If You Can
April 28-May 14
This comedy thriller is a classic gem with exciting twists and turns from beginning to end. “The final 15 minutes will reward you like a murder mystery should.” The New York Times
Million Dollar Quartet
May 20-June 19
Back by popular demand, the musical celebrates the historic Sam Phillips studio recording sessions of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley.
The Music of the Eagles
An Outdoor Stadium Concert
June 18
Join Flat Rock Playhouse for another rockin’ evening of outdoor summer fun at West Henderson’s Athletic Stadium, Johnson Field.
West Side Story
July 1-30
The Romeo and Juliet inspired love story of Tony and Maria amid the Jets and Sharks gang rivalry. Ranked #1 in the most recent survey of theatre patrons.
Mozart to Pop Chart
The Musical Story Continues
August 5-13
Nat Zegree (Jerry Lee Lewis/Amadeus) is back to whisk you away on an all-new musical journey through the history and triumphs of music from Mozart to today’s current hits. Featuring many of the local region’s best rock and symphonic musicians!
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
August 19-Sept. 4
Don’t miss this fresh and relevant stage adaptation of the iconic film that starred the inimitable and great Sidney Poitier.
Introducing The Black Box Series.
September 15-October 9
You’ve never experienced a play on The Rock like before. The audience and artists share the MainStage for an intimate and immersive theatre experience. The Black Box Series will feature contemporary works, classics, and stories and playwrights from around the globe. Be among the first to join us on this new and exciting theatrical journey!
God of Carnage
Sept. 15-Oct. 8
A triple-Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation the New Yorker called “laugh-out-loud hilarity,” and “ninety minutes of sustained mayhem.”
Blood Knot
Sept. 16-Oct. 9
A play that asks us to dig beneath the surface of what makes us kin and what happens when we don’t like what we find there. By renowned South African playwright Athol Fugard.
Mamma Mia!
Encore Performance
Oct. 21-Nov. 13
The hugely popular mega-Broadway hit featuring the music of ABBA is back for an encore performance. Featuring songs like “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” “Honey Honey” and so many more.
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
November 25-December 22
The WNC tradition continues. Same great show, all new material. A Playhouse favorite that will leave you feeling merry and bright!
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Studio 52)
December 1-4
Everyone’s favorite holiday classic comes to life in a spectacular new production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story the whole family can enjoy. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the whole Peanuts gang as they sing, dance, and learn the true meaning of Christmas!
To learn more about the 2022 lineup and how to purchase your tickets, please visit the website at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.
FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE
In 1937, a group of struggling performers, led by Robroy Farquhar, organized themselves as the Vagabond Players. The Vagabonds worked in a variety of places over the course of three years, and in 1940 found themselves in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. The local and tourist community welcomed them with open arms when they presented their first summer season of plays in a 150-year-old grist mill they converted into The Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake. So successful was that summer, they returned in 1941. After WWII, the Vagabond Players reorganized came back to the region and opened a playhouse in nearby Lake Summit. The Lake Summit Playhouse thrived during the post-war years and soon the Vagabond Players were looking for a larger and permanent home. In 1952, the troupe of performers, and a newly formed board of directors made an offer to buy an 8-acre lot in the Village of Flat Rock. This new home made the Vagabonds “locals” and a rented big top gave birth to Flat Rock Playhouse. As the beautiful Western Carolina region continued to grow, so did the Playhouse and in 1961, by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, Flat Rock Playhouse was officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940 is now a nine-month season of plays including Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young audiences. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; and Studio 52, year-round classes and workshops in theatre and film for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 98,000 patrons annually and is a significant contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.
# # #
Buncombe County Public Libraries is playing matchmaker in February as Blind Date with a Book returns. The blind date books are easy to spot; they’ll be the ones with the paper-wrapped book covers. Check one out and take it home. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover, and you might fall in love with a new author, genre, or series you hadn’t tried before.
The Fairview, Swannanoa, Pack, Black Mountain, Leicester, and North Asheville Libraries will be happy to set you up on your blind date anytime in February.
Use code ORANGEPJ Code valid 2/10 1pm – 2/11 1pm
It all starts and ends with the music.
For PJ Morton, the songs, records, and shows say everything that needs to be said — and more. Whether performing, playing, or producing, the GRAMMY® Award- and Dove® Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, Morton Records founder, and Maroon 5 keyboardist fills one timeless role most comfortably, that of a “Music Man.“
In doing so, he consistently crafts work of a classic caliber on stage and in the studio.
“I’ve been blessed to communicate through songs better than words or anything else,” he admits. “I believe in the power of music and honesty. When those two things come together, there’s nothing more powerful. I endeavor to be a true ‘Music Man’ who loves these instruments and the lineage that got us here. It doesn’t matter if I’m putting out another artist on my label, making material of my own, producing someone else, or in Maroon 5, I’m a ‘Music Man’ in every way.”
2019 upheld this claim for Morton. Recorded live in New York and released under his own New Orleans-based Morton Records, Gumbo Unplugged garnered three 2019 GRAMMY® Award nominations — “Best R&B Album,” “Best Traditional R&B Performance” for “How Deep Is Your Love” [feat. Yebba], and “Best R&B Performance” for “First Began” — and brought his total back-to-back tally of solo nominations to five, including a pair of 2018 GRAMMY® nods for the original Gumbo. Just a week prior to the ceremony, he walked on to the world’s biggest stage and delivered a historic performance alongside Maroon 5 at Super Bowl LIII.
These moments marked a much-deserved victory lap for the consummate musician. Throughout 2018, he continued a steady expansion of his growing discography. He composed the score for YouTube Premium’s critically acclaimed comedy series Champaign ILL and penned the theme to OWN’s Ready to Love. Not to mention, he wrapped up a heartfelt holiday album, Christmas With PJ Morton, which Entertainment Weekly dubbed “this year’s surprise stocking stuffer.” He touched down on a total of four continents during the six-month Gumbo World Tour, selling out gigs everywhere from Spain and Japan to Seoul, Korea.
At the same time, he focused on further building his company. He grew the roster by way of flagship signings The Amours and producer Erick Bardales. Two Washington D.C.-bred sisters, The Amours traveled the world as part of the label founder’s band and could be heard on Gumbo Unplugged as backing vocalists. As Morton manned the board as producer and executive producer back in New Orleans, the pair cooked up a striking, simmering, and soulful debut for 2019.
“Morton Records is starting to become what I envisioned it to be outside of my solo records,” he explains. “I really want to help other artists achieve success in their careers. I want to spotlight New Orleans talent, and I also want to give writers and producers a platform. I signed Erick first. After spending so much time on the road alongside The Amours, I really got to know them. It goes without saying they’re talented, but their character interested me more than anything else. We have a connection. It felt like an organic, natural progression for them to be my first artist.”
Morton has quietly, independently, and humbly secured his position at the forefront of 21st century soul and R&B. In 2017, Gumbo bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart and received praise from The Washington Post and The Advocate, to name a few. Generating over 30 million cumulative streams in under three years, he regularly averages over half-a-million monthly listeners on Spotify. Meanwhile, 2013’s New Orleans received a 2014 GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best R&B Song” for “Only One” [feat. Stevie Wonder]. Putting it best, Pitchfork described the project as “a smooth and soulful pop/R&B hybrid.”
In addition to figuring prominently on Maroon 5’s multiplatinum Overexposed, V, and Red Pill Blues, he has written and produced for everybody from BJ The Chicago Kid, Jermaine Dupri, and Jazmine Sullivan to Monica and India.Arie, winning a GRAMMY® for collaborating with the latter in 2008. His compositions have also popped up in films such as Couples Retreat and more. Among many other accolades, he has received Dove® and Stellar® Awards, published his literary debut Why Can’t I Sing About Love? in 2009, and become music director for Solange following the release of her critically acclaimed opus A Seat At The Table.
In the end, he embodies the spirit of a “Music Man” through and through as he redefines the term for a new era.
“If Gumbo, Gumbo Unplugged, and the label have taught me anything, it’s to bet on myself and bet on the things that make me different instead of trying to focus on what could make me the same as other artists,” he leaves off. “We’re clear and confident about who we are as individuals. The creative freedom extends to Morton Records. I want people to always expect us to do something different, special, and creatively free. I also want to give back to my city and display my passion for New Orleans. It’s the best thing I can do with all of this.”
World-renown Celtic musical artist Jamie Laval presents a behind-the-scenes view of how he creates music. Months of research, creative inspiration, skilled application of technological tools and diligent practicing go into each new song before it is ready to be shared with the public. Learn about the process from inception to manifestation in this three-part lecture/performance series.
TFAC will follow CDC and Polk County COVID recommendations. Participants will have space to social distance and appropriate face masks are strongly recommended. The program will also be available via Zoom.
Registrations are for ONE HOUSEHOLD.
All sessions will be held on Thursdays, from 4:30-5:30. For those desiring to participate by Zoom, a link will be sent out the morning of the call.
Schedule:
A native of Durham, NC, Jeremy Loeb embraced his lifelong love of piano when he launched his second career as a musician. Now living in Asheville, Loeb specializes in French and Chinese piano music. Support for Thursday Night Live is provided by an anonymous donor.
On select Thursdays, local musicians enliven our spaces with music to complement your visit. As you stroll the galleries, a variety of tunes adds new dimensions to your viewing experience.
Decorate a dozen of your own Valentine’s cookies with Jackie from 3 Eggs Cakery of Asheville!
“Irresistible! A romantic fantasy. A contemporary fairy tale.” (The Hollywood Reporter)
After an incredible run on Broadway, Audience Choice Award-winner Pretty Woman: The Musical is coming to Greenville! One of Hollywood’s most beloved stories of all time, Pretty Woman: The Musical is brought to life by a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood, and Broadway. Featuring direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), an original score by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69,” “Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, Pretty Woman: The Musical will lift your spirits and light up your heart. “If you love the movie, you’ll love the musical!” (BuzzFeed News).
Featured in the musical is Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s international smash hit song “Oh, Pretty Woman,” which inspired one of the most beloved romantic comedy films of all time. Pretty Woman the film was an international smash hit when it was released in 1990. Now, 30 years later, Pretty Woman: The Musical still “Dazzles!” (Deadline) and is “Big romance and big fun!” (Broadway.com). Pretty Woman: The Musical delivers on all the iconic moments you remember. Get ready to experience this dazzling theatrical take on a love story for the ages.
Ages 18+
Music motivates at the most primal level.
You instinctually hum a tune in order to get pumped up in the morning, for fuel on the treadmill, to soundtrack your commute, or as the pre-game to a big night out. As much as he treasures his roles as a guitarist, composer, and producer, Cory Wong fashions himself “a hype man,” first and foremost. Living up to this classification, he slings a Stratocaster and hurls “dad jokes” from the stage with the same panache, poise, and power.
“The more I see, the less I know about it.” It’s one of the first, most prominent lyrics on Sidelines, the much-anticipated full-length album from indie trio Wild Rivers. The phrasing is brief but says everything about adjusting to young adulthood — and beyond. The world places infinite pressure on us to have a plan for the future, but, as Wild Rivers eloquently articulate throughout Sidelines, it’s healthier to acknowledge — and even embrace — the not knowing.
Comprising Khalid Yassein , Devan Glover , and Andrew Oliver , Toronto’s Wild Rivers have a gift for penning introspective lyrics and genre-fluid melodies that transmit wisdom beyond their years. The 10-track Sidelines, co-produced by Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Sharon van Etten) and Wild Rivers and recorded in Connecticut, Los Angeles and Khalid and Devan’s college town of Kingston, Ontario, touches on coming-of-age themes, such as learning how to be more present and coming to terms with life’s unpredictability.
Grab your girls and come dance!
AMG Late Nights is spicing up Thursdays with SENSE – Enjoy drink specials, Hookahs, and music by DJ AUDIO and No_Fxcking.Requests.
*No Cover until February*
*VIP Coming Soon*
*Lighting by Raydio*
This year will feature an exhilarating blend of beloved productions, including Million Dollar Quartet, West Side Story, and Mamma Mia! The popular Music on the Rock® series, Studio 52 Family Programming, and a brand new Black Box series round out the 2022 season and mark a renewed beginning for FRP after a long pandemic shutdown.
Season subscriptions are on sale now. Music on the Rock® single tickets go on sale on January 24, 2022, and single tickets for all remaining shows go on sale on February 14, 2022.
The Music of Tom Petty
Feb. 24-March 5
Two Jews, Talking
A Hilarious Staged Reading
March 17-19
A side-splitting piece written by Ed. Weinberger, our characters take us on a rollicking romp through time! The two-act story brings Lou and Bud together in the Biblical past, and Phil and Marty together in contemporary Long Island. They philosophize about women, sex, food, the divine, and destiny in this tale of companionship and friendship.
The Music of Elton John
March 31-April 2
The Music of Neil Diamond
April 7-10
Catch Me If You Can
April 28-May 14
This comedy thriller is a classic gem with exciting twists and turns from beginning to end. “The final 15 minutes will reward you like a murder mystery should.” The New York Times
Million Dollar Quartet
May 20-June 19
Back by popular demand, the musical celebrates the historic Sam Phillips studio recording sessions of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley.
The Music of the Eagles
An Outdoor Stadium Concert
June 18
Join Flat Rock Playhouse for another rockin’ evening of outdoor summer fun at West Henderson’s Athletic Stadium, Johnson Field.
West Side Story
July 1-30
The Romeo and Juliet inspired love story of Tony and Maria amid the Jets and Sharks gang rivalry. Ranked #1 in the most recent survey of theatre patrons.
Mozart to Pop Chart
The Musical Story Continues
August 5-13
Nat Zegree (Jerry Lee Lewis/Amadeus) is back to whisk you away on an all-new musical journey through the history and triumphs of music from Mozart to today’s current hits. Featuring many of the local region’s best rock and symphonic musicians!
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
August 19-Sept. 4
Don’t miss this fresh and relevant stage adaptation of the iconic film that starred the inimitable and great Sidney Poitier.
Introducing The Black Box Series.
September 15-October 9
You’ve never experienced a play on The Rock like before. The audience and artists share the MainStage for an intimate and immersive theatre experience. The Black Box Series will feature contemporary works, classics, and stories and playwrights from around the globe. Be among the first to join us on this new and exciting theatrical journey!
God of Carnage
Sept. 15-Oct. 8
A triple-Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation the New Yorker called “laugh-out-loud hilarity,” and “ninety minutes of sustained mayhem.”
Blood Knot
Sept. 16-Oct. 9
A play that asks us to dig beneath the surface of what makes us kin and what happens when we don’t like what we find there. By renowned South African playwright Athol Fugard.
Mamma Mia!
Encore Performance
Oct. 21-Nov. 13
The hugely popular mega-Broadway hit featuring the music of ABBA is back for an encore performance. Featuring songs like “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” “Honey Honey” and so many more.
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
November 25-December 22
The WNC tradition continues. Same great show, all new material. A Playhouse favorite that will leave you feeling merry and bright!
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Studio 52)
December 1-4
Everyone’s favorite holiday classic comes to life in a spectacular new production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story the whole family can enjoy. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the whole Peanuts gang as they sing, dance, and learn the true meaning of Christmas!
To learn more about the 2022 lineup and how to purchase your tickets, please visit the website at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.
FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE
In 1937, a group of struggling performers, led by Robroy Farquhar, organized themselves as the Vagabond Players. The Vagabonds worked in a variety of places over the course of three years, and in 1940 found themselves in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. The local and tourist community welcomed them with open arms when they presented their first summer season of plays in a 150-year-old grist mill they converted into The Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake. So successful was that summer, they returned in 1941. After WWII, the Vagabond Players reorganized came back to the region and opened a playhouse in nearby Lake Summit. The Lake Summit Playhouse thrived during the post-war years and soon the Vagabond Players were looking for a larger and permanent home. In 1952, the troupe of performers, and a newly formed board of directors made an offer to buy an 8-acre lot in the Village of Flat Rock. This new home made the Vagabonds “locals” and a rented big top gave birth to Flat Rock Playhouse. As the beautiful Western Carolina region continued to grow, so did the Playhouse and in 1961, by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, Flat Rock Playhouse was officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940 is now a nine-month season of plays including Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young audiences. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; and Studio 52, year-round classes and workshops in theatre and film for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 98,000 patrons annually and is a significant contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.
# # #
Buncombe County Public Libraries is playing matchmaker in February as Blind Date with a Book returns. The blind date books are easy to spot; they’ll be the ones with the paper-wrapped book covers. Check one out and take it home. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover, and you might fall in love with a new author, genre, or series you hadn’t tried before.
The Fairview, Swannanoa, Pack, Black Mountain, Leicester, and North Asheville Libraries will be happy to set you up on your blind date anytime in February.
What’s more romantic than gazing at the stars deep in the night?? Grab your sweetheart and join PARI for a romantic Valentines evening getaway and leave with stars in your eyes. PARI astronomers will share our dark skies and point out objects such as the Heart Cluster and love story constellations like Princess Andromeda and the Warrior Perseus. This package includes an overnight cabin stay, evening viewing with PARI astronomers at our historic, mountaintop, Internationally Certified Dark Sky Park, a pre-packaged dinner on Friday and breakfast on Saturday, a bottle of wine and a Valentine rose in your room. This event is limited to 8 couples. Registration is required!
Friday, February 11th kicks off with the driving sounds of On The Border- The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band, while Saturday, February 12th really rocks with the music and nonstop energy of the Chicago Rewired- The Premier Chicago Tribute Band.
Both events will be held in the Grand Ballroom of The Omni Grove Park Inn. Will Call begins at 7pm and all Eventbrite ticket holders must show tickets to get your seating assignment. Doors open at 7:30pm; performance begins at 8:00pm.
Tickets are non-refundable. Tickets purchased on Eventbrite include entry to the concert only. Parking, accommodations and other amenities not included with tickets purchased on Eventbrite.
*All seating in evening concerts is assigned. Please email requests to [email protected].
However, if you’re looking for overnight accommodations to rock-it-out the whole weekend, click here for more information on how to book the complete Classic Rock ‘N Roll Weekend Package at The Omni Grove Park Inn.
Turn up the heat this winter at The Omni Grove Park Inn. Jam out during our Classic Rock & Roll Weekend with legendary headliners. Friday night kicks off with the driving sounds of On The Border, The Ultimate Eagles Experience while Saturday evening really rocks with the music and nonstop energy of the Chicago Rewired, Premier Chicago Tribute Band.
On The Border | The Ultimate Eagles Experience | February 11
Chicago Rewired | Premier Chicago Tribute Band | February 12
“Cosmic Charlie really is a great band – these guys do this music the way it should be done: having the conversation in their own voices.”
-David Gans, Grateful Dead archivist
Cosmic Charlie was born in the musical Mecca of Athens, Georgia. From its summer 1999 inception, the band swiftly cemented its reputation as a band that puts a unique and personal twist on the Grateful Dead catalogue, a Dead cover band for folks that are ambivalent about Dead cover bands. Rather than mimicking the Dead exactly, Cosmic Charlie chooses to tap into the Dead’s energy and style as a foundation on which to build. The result is healthy balance of creativity and tradition, and both the band and its audience are taken to that familiar edge with the sense that, music is actually being MADE here tonight.
Moving and shaking even the most skeptical of Deadheads, Cosmic Charlie storms into a town and plays with an energy that eludes other bands, an energy that sometimes eluded the Dead themselves. Those precious moments during Dead jams when the synchronicity is there and all is right with the world, these are moments that Cosmic Charlie relishes and feverishly welcomes with open arms. Clearly, Cosmic Charlie’s audiences are also eager to arrive at those moments, and together with the band, they have indulged in many memorable evenings.
“Irresistible! A romantic fantasy. A contemporary fairy tale.” (The Hollywood Reporter)
After an incredible run on Broadway, Audience Choice Award-winner Pretty Woman: The Musical is coming to Greenville! One of Hollywood’s most beloved stories of all time, Pretty Woman: The Musical is brought to life by a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood, and Broadway. Featuring direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), an original score by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69,” “Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, Pretty Woman: The Musical will lift your spirits and light up your heart. “If you love the movie, you’ll love the musical!” (BuzzFeed News).
Featured in the musical is Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s international smash hit song “Oh, Pretty Woman,” which inspired one of the most beloved romantic comedy films of all time. Pretty Woman the film was an international smash hit when it was released in 1990. Now, 30 years later, Pretty Woman: The Musical still “Dazzles!” (Deadline) and is “Big romance and big fun!” (Broadway.com). Pretty Woman: The Musical delivers on all the iconic moments you remember. Get ready to experience this dazzling theatrical take on a love story for the ages.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day Weekend at Tryon Resort and treat yourself (and your significant other!) to a full roster of can’t-miss events. Join us Friday, February 11 for Comedy Night presented by Comedy Zone, one of TWO shows you can catch while celebrating Valentine’s Day Weekend with us.
Johnny Millwater:
Johnny Millwater has devoted his life to making people laugh. Johnny’s extraordinary use of language, rapid-fire delivery and old-school showmanship make his shows fun, hilarious and unforgettable!
Jason Allen King:
Jason Allen King is a comedian, writer, actor, filmmaker, and bird watcher from Charlotte, NC. Exploiting his own peculiar personal experiences, family, and relationships (or lack thereof), King’s comedy offers a unique perspective on familiar situations. A northerner who’s been living in the south too long, he has endeared himself to audiences across the country pushing boundaries through a positive and sharp spin on observations and self-deprecation.
Fresh off the taping of his Dry Comedy Special and a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, King is back touring the country. He has opened for renowned comedians like Preacher Lawson, Fortune Feimster, Rob Schneider, Christopher Titus, Colin Quinn, and Dave Attell. He was voted Charlotte’s Favorite Comedian by Elevate Lifestyle Magazine, featured in It’s A Southern Thing’s One of 15 Southern Comics to Watch and Best of the Fest at the Burbank Comedy Festival. King is the host of The Comedy Zone Podcast. He also writes and stars in the popular video series “George & Monty,” which was invited to screen at the L.A. Comedy Shorts Festival.
Dogs in a Pile is the culmination of a love of music born from the deepest American roots of psychedelia, jazz, fusion, funk, traditional, and rock & roll. Sprung from the rich Asbury Park music scene in New Jersey, their serendipitous convergence has made for the kind of kindred intuition its members had only once dreamed of. Described as “listening to a single moving organism,” the sum of its five parts represents an original journey into the peaks and valleys of psychedelic improvisation, all while remaining reminiscent of so much we love of life and music.
The final iteration of “the Dogs” began with University of the Arts Philadelphia student and Asbury Park veteran Jimmy Law along with his long-time friend Joe Babick, a 4 year veteran of the gifted young musician’s program at the nationally renowned Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ. Lightning struck when they were introduced to Berklee School of Music student and bass player Sam Lucid, who immediately suggested fellow Berklee student and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Kaplan. The addition of fellow Berklee student and collaborator Brian Murray in 2019 made for the quintessential final piece in the Dogs’ puzzle. Their commonality and love for improvisation by way of bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish, as well as a fervent inclination for the study of jazz, fusion and classical music has helped shape the free-flowing style that is the Dogs. Their unique synergy and joy in creating “music as an atmosphere” equates simply to, as the band would say, “spreading good music and good energy to good people.”
This year will feature an exhilarating blend of beloved productions, including Million Dollar Quartet, West Side Story, and Mamma Mia! The popular Music on the Rock® series, Studio 52 Family Programming, and a brand new Black Box series round out the 2022 season and mark a renewed beginning for FRP after a long pandemic shutdown.
Season subscriptions are on sale now. Music on the Rock® single tickets go on sale on January 24, 2022, and single tickets for all remaining shows go on sale on February 14, 2022.
The Music of Tom Petty
Feb. 24-March 5
Two Jews, Talking
A Hilarious Staged Reading
March 17-19
A side-splitting piece written by Ed. Weinberger, our characters take us on a rollicking romp through time! The two-act story brings Lou and Bud together in the Biblical past, and Phil and Marty together in contemporary Long Island. They philosophize about women, sex, food, the divine, and destiny in this tale of companionship and friendship.
The Music of Elton John
March 31-April 2
The Music of Neil Diamond
April 7-10
Catch Me If You Can
April 28-May 14
This comedy thriller is a classic gem with exciting twists and turns from beginning to end. “The final 15 minutes will reward you like a murder mystery should.” The New York Times
Million Dollar Quartet
May 20-June 19
Back by popular demand, the musical celebrates the historic Sam Phillips studio recording sessions of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley.
The Music of the Eagles
An Outdoor Stadium Concert
June 18
Join Flat Rock Playhouse for another rockin’ evening of outdoor summer fun at West Henderson’s Athletic Stadium, Johnson Field.
West Side Story
July 1-30
The Romeo and Juliet inspired love story of Tony and Maria amid the Jets and Sharks gang rivalry. Ranked #1 in the most recent survey of theatre patrons.
Mozart to Pop Chart
The Musical Story Continues
August 5-13
Nat Zegree (Jerry Lee Lewis/Amadeus) is back to whisk you away on an all-new musical journey through the history and triumphs of music from Mozart to today’s current hits. Featuring many of the local region’s best rock and symphonic musicians!
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
August 19-Sept. 4
Don’t miss this fresh and relevant stage adaptation of the iconic film that starred the inimitable and great Sidney Poitier.
Introducing The Black Box Series.
September 15-October 9
You’ve never experienced a play on The Rock like before. The audience and artists share the MainStage for an intimate and immersive theatre experience. The Black Box Series will feature contemporary works, classics, and stories and playwrights from around the globe. Be among the first to join us on this new and exciting theatrical journey!
God of Carnage
Sept. 15-Oct. 8
A triple-Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation the New Yorker called “laugh-out-loud hilarity,” and “ninety minutes of sustained mayhem.”
Blood Knot
Sept. 16-Oct. 9
A play that asks us to dig beneath the surface of what makes us kin and what happens when we don’t like what we find there. By renowned South African playwright Athol Fugard.
Mamma Mia!
Encore Performance
Oct. 21-Nov. 13
The hugely popular mega-Broadway hit featuring the music of ABBA is back for an encore performance. Featuring songs like “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” “Honey Honey” and so many more.
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
November 25-December 22
The WNC tradition continues. Same great show, all new material. A Playhouse favorite that will leave you feeling merry and bright!
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Studio 52)
December 1-4
Everyone’s favorite holiday classic comes to life in a spectacular new production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story the whole family can enjoy. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the whole Peanuts gang as they sing, dance, and learn the true meaning of Christmas!
To learn more about the 2022 lineup and how to purchase your tickets, please visit the website at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.
FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE
In 1937, a group of struggling performers, led by Robroy Farquhar, organized themselves as the Vagabond Players. The Vagabonds worked in a variety of places over the course of three years, and in 1940 found themselves in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. The local and tourist community welcomed them with open arms when they presented their first summer season of plays in a 150-year-old grist mill they converted into The Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake. So successful was that summer, they returned in 1941. After WWII, the Vagabond Players reorganized came back to the region and opened a playhouse in nearby Lake Summit. The Lake Summit Playhouse thrived during the post-war years and soon the Vagabond Players were looking for a larger and permanent home. In 1952, the troupe of performers, and a newly formed board of directors made an offer to buy an 8-acre lot in the Village of Flat Rock. This new home made the Vagabonds “locals” and a rented big top gave birth to Flat Rock Playhouse. As the beautiful Western Carolina region continued to grow, so did the Playhouse and in 1961, by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, Flat Rock Playhouse was officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940 is now a nine-month season of plays including Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young audiences. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; and Studio 52, year-round classes and workshops in theatre and film for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 98,000 patrons annually and is a significant contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.
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Buncombe County Public Libraries is playing matchmaker in February as Blind Date with a Book returns. The blind date books are easy to spot; they’ll be the ones with the paper-wrapped book covers. Check one out and take it home. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover, and you might fall in love with a new author, genre, or series you hadn’t tried before.
The Fairview, Swannanoa, Pack, Black Mountain, Leicester, and North Asheville Libraries will be happy to set you up on your blind date anytime in February.
Join Namaste in Nature for a reflective meditation walk in the Park. De-stress during this peaceful hike focused on reconnecting with nature and yourself. Bring your partner or a friend and enjoy this mindfulness experience focused on the season of love and warmth.
“Irresistible! A romantic fantasy. A contemporary fairy tale.” (The Hollywood Reporter)
After an incredible run on Broadway, Audience Choice Award-winner Pretty Woman: The Musical is coming to Greenville! One of Hollywood’s most beloved stories of all time, Pretty Woman: The Musical is brought to life by a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood, and Broadway. Featuring direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), an original score by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69,” “Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, Pretty Woman: The Musical will lift your spirits and light up your heart. “If you love the movie, you’ll love the musical!” (BuzzFeed News).
Featured in the musical is Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s international smash hit song “Oh, Pretty Woman,” which inspired one of the most beloved romantic comedy films of all time. Pretty Woman the film was an international smash hit when it was released in 1990. Now, 30 years later, Pretty Woman: The Musical still “Dazzles!” (Deadline) and is “Big romance and big fun!” (Broadway.com). Pretty Woman: The Musical delivers on all the iconic moments you remember. Get ready to experience this dazzling theatrical take on a love story for the ages.
Friday, February 11th kicks off with the driving sounds of On The Border- The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band, while Saturday, February 12th really rocks with the music and nonstop energy of the Chicago Rewired- The Premier Chicago Tribute Band.
Both events will be held in the Grand Ballroom of The Omni Grove Park Inn. Will Call begins at 7pm and all Eventbrite ticket holders must show tickets to get your seating assignment. Doors open at 7:30pm; performance begins at 8:00pm.
Tickets are non-refundable. Tickets purchased on Eventbrite include entry to the concert only. Parking, accommodations and other amenities not included with tickets purchased on Eventbrite.
*All seating in evening concerts is assigned. Please email requests to [email protected].
However, if you’re looking for overnight accommodations to rock-it-out the whole weekend, click here for more information on how to book the complete Classic Rock ‘N Roll Weekend Package at The Omni Grove Park Inn.
Turn up the heat this winter at The Omni Grove Park Inn. Jam out during our Classic Rock & Roll Weekend with legendary headliners. Friday night kicks off with the driving sounds of On The Border, The Ultimate Eagles Experience while Saturday evening really rocks with the music and nonstop energy of the Chicago Rewired, Premier Chicago Tribute Band.
On The Border | The Ultimate Eagles Experience | February 11
Chicago Rewired | Premier Chicago Tribute Band | February 12
In October of 1998, Matthew Shepard, a young, gay student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in a lonely field under a blanket of stars. Five days later, when Matt passed away, the world was watching. Approaching the eve of the 20th anniversary, Craig Hella Johnson has responded with his first concert-length work, Considering Matthew Shepard.
This three-part fusion oratorio speaks with a fresh and bold voice, incorporating a variety of musical styles seamlessly woven into a unified whole. Johnson sets a wide range of poetic and soulful texts by poets including Hildegard of Bingen, Lesléa Newman, Michael Dennis Browne, and Rumi. Passages from Matt’s personal journal, interviews and writings from his parents Judy and Dennis Shepard, newspaper reports and additional texts by Johnson and Browne are poignantly appointed throughout the work.
Considering Matthew Shepard debuted at #4 on Billboard’s Traditional Classical Chart after Harmonia Mundi released the 2-CD Set recording in mid-September, 2016. Album page Audiences describe this work as “brilliant,” “powerful,” “innovative,” “dazzling,” and “gripping.” The Bay Area Reporter wrote “it has the richness, depth and complexity to compel repeated hearing, and the power to get you the first time out,” and from the The Washington Post: “’Considering Matthew Shepard’” demonstrates music’s capacity to encompass, transform and transcend tragedy. Powerfully cathartic, it leads us from horror and grief to a higher understanding of the human condition, enabling us to endure.”
Considering Matthew Shepard joins the ranks of many significant artistic responses to Matthew Shepard’s legacy. Most noteworthy is The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theater Project, which has been seen by more than 30 million people. Jason Marsden, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation calls Considering Matthew Shepard “by far the most intricate, beautiful and unyielding artistic response to this notorious anti-gay hate crime.”
Matthew Shepard’s story must never be forgotten.
