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.
|
|

Our Town
PLAY
By: Thornton Wilder
Directed by: Robert Arleigh White
Seeking a large cast of all ages, representing our community of Asheville. Tattoos, piercings, and extra-ness are welcome! Be YOU! Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet. The director prefers that you prepare a one-minute memorized monologue of your choosing for your audition.
PRODUCTION DATES: September 30th – October 16th, 2022; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm. Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: August 8th -September 29th. A printed rehearsal calendar will be available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: A large cast of all ages, representing our community of Asheville. Tattoos, piercings, and extra-ness are welcome! Bring your weirdness…be YOU!
Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet.
AUDITION MATERIAL: Auditionees – The director prefers that you prepare a one-minute memorized monologue of your choosing. You may additionally be asked to read from sides (pages from the script) at the audition. (Check back for sides here closer to audition date.) Need help finding a monologue? Check out this handy monologue resource!
Directed by: Robert Arleigh White
AUDITION DATES: Monday, July 25th and Tuesday, July 26th, 2022; 5:30-7:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: September 30th – October 16th, 2022; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm. Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: August 8th -September 29th. A printed rehearsal calendar will be available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: A large cast of all ages, representing our community of Asheville. Tattoos, piercings, and extra-ness are welcome! Bring your weirdness…be YOU!
Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet.
AUDITION MATERIAL: Auditionees – The director encourages you to prepare a one-minute memorized monologue of your choosing, but it’s not required. If you don’t have a monologue, you will be asked to read from sides (pages from the script) at the audition.
Need help finding a monologue? Check out this handy monologue resource!
Scripts are available for checkout from the theatre. Or, borrow the script here from the library. (Disclaimer: The library version may be slightly different from the version we are using.)
SIDES:
AUDITION FORM: Fill out this Audition Form here or at the audition.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Primary Characters:
- Stage Manager – a narrator, commentator, and guide through Grover’s Corners. She joins in the action of the play periodically, as the minister at the wedding, the soda shop owner, a local townsman, etc., and speaks directly to Emily after her death.
- Emily Webb – one of the main characters; we follow her from a precocious young girl through her wedding to George Gibbs and her early death.
- George Gibbs – the other main character; the boy next door, a kind but irresponsible teenager who matures over time and becomes a responsible husband, father and farmer.
- Frank Gibbs – George’s father, the town doctor.
- Julia (Hersey) Gibbs –George’s mother. She dreams of going to Paris but doesn’t get there. She saved $350 for the trip from the sale of an antique furniture piece but willed it to George and Emily. Dies while visiting her daughter in Ohio.
- Charles Webb – Emily’s father, Editor of the Grover’s Corners Sentinel
- Myrtle Webb – Emily and Wally’s mother.
Secondary characters:
-
- Joe and Si Crowell – local paperboys. Joe’s intelligence earns him a full scholarship to MIT where he graduates at the top of his class. His promise will be cut short on the fields of France during World War I, according to the Stage Manager. Both he and his brother Si hold marriage in high disdain.
- Simon Stimson – the choir director and church organist. We never learn the specific cause of his alcoholism and suicide, although Joe Stoddard, the undertaker, observes that “He’s seen a peck of troubles.” He remains bitter and cynical even beyond the grave.
- Howie Newsome – the milkman, a fixture of Grover’s Corners.
- Rebecca Gibbs – George’s younger sister. Later elopes with a traveling salesman and settles in Ohio.
- Wallace “Wally” Webb – Emily’s younger brother. Dies of a burst appendix on a Boy Scout camping trip.
- Professor Willard – a rather long-winded lecturer
- Woman in the Balcony – attendee of Editor Webb’s political and social report – concerned with temperance
- Belligerent Man at Back of Auditorium – attendee of Editor Webb’s political and social report – concerned with social justice
- Lady in a Box – attendee of Editor Webb’s political and social report – concerned with culture and beauty
- Mrs. Louella Soames – a gossipy townswoman and member of the choir
- Constable Bill Warren – the policeman
- Three Baseball Players – who mock George at the wedding
- Joe Stoddard – the undertaker
- Sam Craig – a nephew of Mrs. Gibbs who left town to seek his fortune. He came back after 12 years in Buffalo for Emily’s funeral.
- Man from among the Dead
- Woman from among the Dead
- Mr. Carter (Dead)
- Farmer McCarty

Our Town
PLAY
By: Thornton Wilder
Directed by: Robert Arleigh White
Seeking a large cast of all ages, representing our community of Asheville. Tattoos, piercings, and extra-ness are welcome! Be YOU! Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet. The director prefers that you prepare a one-minute memorized monologue of your choosing for your audition.
PRODUCTION DATES: September 30th – October 16th, 2022; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm. Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: August 8th -September 29th. A printed rehearsal calendar will be available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: A large cast of all ages, representing our community of Asheville. Tattoos, piercings, and extra-ness are welcome! Bring your weirdness…be YOU!
Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet.
AUDITION MATERIAL: Auditionees – The director prefers that you prepare a one-minute memorized monologue of your choosing. You may additionally be asked to read from sides (pages from the script) at the audition. (Check back for sides here closer to audition date.) Need help finding a monologue? Check out this handy monologue resource!
Directed by: Robert Arleigh White
AUDITION DATES: Monday, July 25th and Tuesday, July 26th, 2022; 5:30-7:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: September 30th – October 16th, 2022; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm. Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: August 8th -September 29th. A printed rehearsal calendar will be available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: A large cast of all ages, representing our community of Asheville. Tattoos, piercings, and extra-ness are welcome! Bring your weirdness…be YOU!
Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet.
AUDITION MATERIAL: Auditionees – The director encourages you to prepare a one-minute memorized monologue of your choosing, but it’s not required. If you don’t have a monologue, you will be asked to read from sides (pages from the script) at the audition.
Need help finding a monologue? Check out this handy monologue resource!
Scripts are available for checkout from the theatre. Or, borrow the script here from the library. (Disclaimer: The library version may be slightly different from the version we are using.)
SIDES:
AUDITION FORM: Fill out this Audition Form here or at the audition.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Primary Characters:
- Stage Manager – a narrator, commentator, and guide through Grover’s Corners. She joins in the action of the play periodically, as the minister at the wedding, the soda shop owner, a local townsman, etc., and speaks directly to Emily after her death.
- Emily Webb – one of the main characters; we follow her from a precocious young girl through her wedding to George Gibbs and her early death.
- George Gibbs – the other main character; the boy next door, a kind but irresponsible teenager who matures over time and becomes a responsible husband, father and farmer.
- Frank Gibbs – George’s father, the town doctor.
- Julia (Hersey) Gibbs –George’s mother. She dreams of going to Paris but doesn’t get there. She saved $350 for the trip from the sale of an antique furniture piece but willed it to George and Emily. Dies while visiting her daughter in Ohio.
- Charles Webb – Emily’s father, Editor of the Grover’s Corners Sentinel
- Myrtle Webb – Emily and Wally’s mother.
Secondary characters:
-
- Joe and Si Crowell – local paperboys. Joe’s intelligence earns him a full scholarship to MIT where he graduates at the top of his class. His promise will be cut short on the fields of France during World War I, according to the Stage Manager. Both he and his brother Si hold marriage in high disdain.
- Simon Stimson – the choir director and church organist. We never learn the specific cause of his alcoholism and suicide, although Joe Stoddard, the undertaker, observes that “He’s seen a peck of troubles.” He remains bitter and cynical even beyond the grave.
- Howie Newsome – the milkman, a fixture of Grover’s Corners.
- Rebecca Gibbs – George’s younger sister. Later elopes with a traveling salesman and settles in Ohio.
- Wallace “Wally” Webb – Emily’s younger brother. Dies of a burst appendix on a Boy Scout camping trip.
- Professor Willard – a rather long-winded lecturer
- Woman in the Balcony – attendee of Editor Webb’s political and social report – concerned with temperance
- Belligerent Man at Back of Auditorium – attendee of Editor Webb’s political and social report – concerned with social justice
- Lady in a Box – attendee of Editor Webb’s political and social report – concerned with culture and beauty
- Mrs. Louella Soames – a gossipy townswoman and member of the choir
- Constable Bill Warren – the policeman
- Three Baseball Players – who mock George at the wedding
- Joe Stoddard – the undertaker
- Sam Craig – a nephew of Mrs. Gibbs who left town to seek his fortune. He came back after 12 years in Buffalo for Emily’s funeral.
- Man from among the Dead
- Woman from among the Dead
- Mr. Carter (Dead)
- Farmer McCarty
The Haunted Trail at the Adventure Center of Asheville is hosting open auditions! The Haunted Trail (brought to you by Asheville Plays) is a family friendly all ages event that features 15 live action story based scenes in an outdoor trail. Actors bring the scenes to life as guests pass through. Actors earn free event tickets based on the amount of nights they have committed to working. Mellow Mushroom provides cast and crew dinner each night! This event raises meals for MANNA food bank, so come have fun and support your community this Halloween season and help us say BOO! to hunger! Volunteer actors should be at least 16 years old. For more information please contact our creative director, Lauren Rivas. [email protected]
Elf The Musical
MUSICAL
Book by Thomas Meehan & Bob Martin; Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Directed by: Jeff Catanese
AUDITION DATES: Monday, August 15 and Tuesday, August 16, 2022; 5:30-7:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: December 2-December 18, 2022; Performances: Fridays December 2, 9, 16 and Saturdays December 3, 10, and 17 at 7:30pm and Sundays December 4, 11, and 18 at 2:30pm. Extra Performance Added for Thursday, December 15 at 7:30pm. Student Matinee: Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at 10am
Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: TBA. A printed rehearsal calendar will be available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: TBA
Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet.
AUDITION MATERIAL: TBA
AUDITION FORM: Fill out this Audition Form here or at the audition.
Elf The Musical
MUSICAL
Book by Thomas Meehan & Bob Martin; Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Directed by: Jeff Catanese
AUDITION DATES: Monday, August 15 and Tuesday, August 16, 2022; 5:30-7:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: December 2-December 18, 2022; Performances: Fridays December 2, 9, 16 and Saturdays December 3, 10, and 17 at 7:30pm and Sundays December 4, 11, and 18 at 2:30pm. Extra Performance Added for Thursday, December 15 at 7:30pm. Student Matinee: Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at 10am
Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: TBA. A printed rehearsal calendar will be available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: TBA
Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet.
AUDITION MATERIAL: TBA
AUDITION FORM: Fill out this Audition Form here or at the audition.

Features legendary songwriters
Cindy Morgan, Wil Nance and Jason SeverCindy Morgan, Wil Nance and Jason Sever are a blend of GRAMMY® nominated, Dove award winning, chart-topping songwriters who’ve penned songs for George Strait, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Brad Paisley, Diamond Rio, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw and many more!Showcasing their mission to support the military community, Operation Song will be presenting a songwriter event at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. District 113 NC State Representative Jake Johnson is scheduled to appear. Operation Song will also be honoring local hero, Major General Jack A. Davis and his family. Major General Davis served in the United States Marine Corps for 37 years. He is a decorated Vietnam Veteran and an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tryon.
If unable to attend, please consider a donation at www.operationsong.org or text “SONG” to 615-471-6008. You can also download our app at: https://subsplash.com/operationsong/app!
Operation Song is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pairs Nashville Songwriters with veterans, active duty, and their family members to tell their story through the process of songwriting. To learn more visit www.operationsong.org & like us on socials. Operation Song® is a tax-exempt public charity (federal tax ID #46-5442758). All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.
Elf The Musical
MUSICAL
Book by Thomas Meehan & Bob Martin; Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Directed by: Jeff Catanese
AUDITION DATES: AUDITION DATES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. NEW AUDITION DATES ARE: Saturday, August 27 5:30-8:30pm and Sunday, August 28 1:00-4:00pm with callbacks Tuesday, Aug 30th 6:30-9:30pm.
AUDITION FORM: Please fill out the Audition Form and sign up for an open time slot. Walk-ups are welcome (just be aware you may have to wait for an open slot). You can fill out the Audition Form at the audition, or save time and fill it out now!
CALLBACK DATE: Tuesday, August 30, 2022; 6:30-9:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: December 2-December 18, 2022; Performances: Fridays December 2, 9, 16 and Saturdays December 3, 10, and 17 at 7:30pm and Sundays December 4, 11, and 18 at 2:30pm. Extra Performance Added for Thursday, December 15 at 7:30pm. Student Matinee: Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at 10am. Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: Production Calendar. Rehearsals will be held Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6:30PM – 9:30PM beginning September 18th. A printed rehearsal calendar will be available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: A cast of 9 principal roles and 10+ ensemble roles. Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet.
AUDITION MATERIAL:
Singing: Please prepare 16 bars of music and bring your sheet music to the audition in the key in which you will be singing. We will provide an accompanist. Acapella is fine if you don’t have sheet music. The music director will also have you sing scales.
Dance: All those auditioning will learn a short routine with choreographer Rose Pillmore. Dances will be modified as needed to ensure accessibility of choreographic content. No need to prepare in advance, just wear something you can move in.
Elf The Musical
MUSICAL
Book by Thomas Meehan & Bob Martin; Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Directed by: Jeff Catanese
AUDITION DATES: AUDITION DATES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. NEW AUDITION DATES ARE: Saturday, August 27 5:30-8:30pm and Sunday, August 28 1:00-4:00pm with callbacks Tuesday, Aug 30th 6:30-9:30pm.
AUDITION FORM: Please fill out the Audition Form and sign up for an open time slot. Walk-ups are welcome (just be aware you may have to wait for an open slot). You can fill out the Audition Form at the audition, or save time and fill it out now!
CALLBACK DATE: Tuesday, August 30, 2022; 6:30-9:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: December 2-December 18, 2022; Performances: Fridays December 2, 9, 16 and Saturdays December 3, 10, and 17 at 7:30pm and Sundays December 4, 11, and 18 at 2:30pm. Extra Performance Added for Thursday, December 15 at 7:30pm. Student Matinee: Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at 10am. Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: Production Calendar. Rehearsals will be held Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6:30PM – 9:30PM beginning September 18th. A printed rehearsal calendar will be available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: A cast of 9 principal roles and 10+ ensemble roles. Actors of all ages, gender identities, races, ethnicities, and disabilities will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet.
AUDITION MATERIAL:
Singing: Please prepare 16 bars of music and bring your sheet music to the audition in the key in which you will be singing. We will provide an accompanist. Acapella is fine if you don’t have sheet music. The music director will also have you sing scales.
Dance: All those auditioning will learn a short routine with choreographer Rose Pillmore. Dances will be modified as needed to ensure accessibility of choreographic content. No need to prepare in advance, just wear something you can move in.

Announcing youth auditions for Flat Rock Playhouse and Studio 52’s upcoming holiday productions of
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, an adaptation of the 1965 animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz, and A FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS.
All cast members must be fully vaccinated, along with the production team and all Flat Rock Playhouse staff. Proof of vaccination will be required upon being cast.
Auditions will be held by appointment on Wednesday, September 14, and Thursday, September 15, between 5 – 8 PM with invited callbacks on Saturday, September 17 from 10AM – 1PM. Actors who are invited to callbacks will receive an email invitation on Friday, September 16.
Auditioning young actors will be asked to sing a minute (16 – 32 bars) of a Broadway song or their favorite holiday song. Actors can sing a cappella or bring sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. We also ask that actors bring a recent photo of themselves and a resume or list of experience, if possible. Please be prepared to list any conflicts at your audition. (Again, Studio 52 classes will not be considered a conflict for casting.)
Flat Rock Playhouse seeks a small Youth Ensemble ages 10-18 for A FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS, with rehearsals beginning November 13 and the production running November 25 through December 22.
Studio 52 seeks a diverse company of young actors and singers, ages 10 – 18, for the following roles in A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS:
CHARLIE BROWN
SNOOPY
LUCY VAN PELT
LINUS VAN PELT
PIG PEN
FRIEDA
SCHROEDER
VIOLET
SALLY BROWN
PATTY
SHERMY
WOODSTOCK
ENSEMBLE (will also understudy named roles)
The Veterans Healing Farm, in collaboration with LivingWorks is offering
safeTALK, a 4-hour training that equips people to be more alert to
persons thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with
further help.
What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks safeTALK you will learn how to reach out to someone thinking about
suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.
Your role as a connector is the main focus of this training.
You will also be encouraged and empowered to talk openly with someone about
suicide through a 4-step model.
Overcoming personal and community attitudes to seeking and providing help is a
key theme of this training.
A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
Over 800,000 people have attended this training since its inception.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
Trainer presentations, facilitated discussion, and skills practice.
Videos that illustrate what happens when signs of suicide are overlooked, and how
you can contribute to safe outcomes when these signs are heard and addressed.
Opportunities to further explore organizational applications of the training.
Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide and connect them with further help.
Who Should Attend?
Anyone aged 15+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks safeTALK.
It will prepare you to raise and respond to concerns about suicide in relationships
with family, friends, and co-workers.
It will equip you to build a culture of safety from suicide in your organization or
community.
You can play a vital connector role in what LivingWorks has called a Networks of
Safety.
There is no instructional cost to attend this class but each participant is required to
purchase the ASIST participant kit, $43.25 each, plus $3.00 shipping costs.
What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks ASIST you will learn how to help someone thinking about suicide develop
a personalized SafePlan to keep safe-for-now and connect with further help.
You will learn to apply a Safety Framework to guide the development of this
SafePlan through a collaborative helping relationship.
You will also consider how personal and community attitudes about suicide affect
someone’s openness to seek help and your ability to provide it.
This workshop will increase your willingness, confidence, and capacity to provide
suicide first aid.
A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
More than one million people have attended LivingWorks ASIST globally over 35
years.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
Trainer presentations and powerful videos to stimulate discussion and support
learning
Extensive opportunities for skills practice
Shared participant experiences that enrich learning
Trainer-facilitated workgroups to optimize participation
Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide, and to help them keep safe.
Commented [AY1]:
Who Should Attend?
Anyone aged 16+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks ASIST.
It provides a suicide first-aid intervention model for relationships with family,
friends, and co-workers. It can also be incorporated into more formal helping roles
such as counseling, health care, crisis services, or chaplaincy.
You can play a vital role in creating Networks of Safety from suicid

Director Wendy Strauss seeks 2 Men and 2 Women for this witty and heartfelt drama that showcases the tension between a father and son and the romance between an introverted dreamer and the woman who wants him! The story is set against the backdrop of a prolonged land dispute between two neighboring Irish farmers. Come on out and audition for this Readers Theatre Showcase show!
Asheville Children Audition for
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet
Saturday, October 8
Local youth are invited to audition and perform in children’s roles in NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet alongside an international cast of world class artists from Ukraine, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan and more.
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet is performing in Asheville on Dec. 20, at Harrah’s Cherokee at 4 and 8 p.m. with auditions hosted by local ballet school Center Stage Dance Studio, located at 38 Rosscraggon Road in Asheville on Oct. 8 at 9:30 a.m. The company invites local ballet students to fill children’s roles. In this opportunity of a lifetime, the students are coached by the classically trained Ukrainian soloists who teach them not only the choreography but the beautiful artistry of ballet in a bold and unique rendition of Tchaikovksy’s timeless holiday masterpiece.
Local youth ages six to 17 can audition for the roles of party children, mice, snowflakes, snow maidens, and variations through the “Dance-with-Us ” community engagement program. Auditions will be held in each performance city this fall. The “Dance-with-Us” program has brought more than 100,000 aspiring ballet dancers on stage with the professionals over the past 30 years.
Ukrainian audition director Anna Trafimova will lead the selection process. In this moment of international conflict, these soloists from leading opera houses in Ukraine bring a timely message of peace and harmony to American students.
Children in the cast rehearse for weeks at the local studio, preparing for the performance(s) that will take place under the bright lights of the Harrah’s Cherokee. On the performance day, the youth cast starts early with costume fittings having been assigned classical hand-sewn costumes designed by the highly acclaimed Arthur Oliver. A dress rehearsal will be held on stage with the professional company led by Ukrainian Artistic Director, Nobuhiro Terada, (artistic director of the National School in Kyiv.)
Tickets are available at www.nutcracker.com
Auditions www.nutcracker.com/dance.
See NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet Tues., Dec. 20 at 4 and 8 p.m. at Harrah’s Cherokee. Buy Tickets.
Center Stage Dance Studio / Center Stage offers classes in a variety of dance styles for children age three to 18 in Western North Carolina’s top rated dance facility since 1979. Unique among dance studios in the area, all members of our faculty hold degrees in dance or early childhood education, have danced with a professional company or maintain membership in Dance Masters of America. Our founder Michele Lee has remained committed to offering the highest quality dance education to students in western North Carolina for over thirty years. The success of Center Stage lies in maintaining positive relationships with our students and forming a life-long love of dance.

Some of our greatest art has come in response to the pain of this world: war, accident, crime and punishment, physical and mental illness, racial and class-based inequities. As Asheville resident Nancy Sehested has written, “The deeply human questions of forgiveness, redemption, and mercy emerge from the ruins of broken lives…Pain is not the last word.”
On eight evenings from September to December, the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the West Asheville Library will celebrate four memoirs of resilience and hope from the mountains of Western North Carolina. All events are free and will be at the West Asheville Library, except for the digital event on December 8.
About the Wilma Dykeman Legacy
The Wilma Dykeman Legacy is a tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 2012 to sustain and promote Wilma Dykeman’s values by sponsoring diverse workshops, events, and other programs. The core values of this extraordinary woman from Buncombe County included environmental integrity, social justice, and the power of the written and spoken word. For more information, visit www.wilmadykemanlegacy.org.

Announcing youth auditions for Flat Rock Playhouse and Studio 52’s upcoming holiday productions of
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, an adaptation of the 1965 animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz, and A FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS.
All cast members must be fully vaccinated, along with the production team and all Flat Rock Playhouse staff. Proof of vaccination will be required upon being cast.
Auditions will be held by appointment on Wednesday, September 14, and Thursday, September 15, between 5 – 8 PM with invited callbacks on Saturday, September 17 from 10AM – 1PM. Actors who are invited to callbacks will receive an email invitation on Friday, September 16.
Auditioning young actors will be asked to sing a minute (16 – 32 bars) of a Broadway song or their favorite holiday song. Actors can sing a cappella or bring sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. We also ask that actors bring a recent photo of themselves and a resume or list of experience, if possible. Please be prepared to list any conflicts at your audition. (Again, Studio 52 classes will not be considered a conflict for casting.)
Flat Rock Playhouse seeks a small Youth Ensemble ages 10-18 for A FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS, with rehearsals beginning November 13 and the production running November 25 through December 22.
Studio 52 seeks a diverse company of young actors and singers, ages 10 – 18, for the following roles in A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS:
CHARLIE BROWN
SNOOPY
LUCY VAN PELT
LINUS VAN PELT
PIG PEN
FRIEDA
SCHROEDER
VIOLET
SALLY BROWN
PATTY
SHERMY
WOODSTOCK
ENSEMBLE (will also understudy named roles)
Interactive workshop for adult beginners wishing for a stage to shine on (or behind), with a scriptwriting lesson and mock auditions using scenes from the feature script ‘BILLIE’S SONG, AN URBAN FAIRY TALE’.
This fun lesson and opportunity to get up perform is an introduction to the ‘BILLIE’S SONG’ Theatrical Readings Project being planned for Spring 2023. The script has half Black characters and half White (with a few roles that can be other). For the theatrical readings we will be recruiting community members from diverse neighborhoods to be both cast and creative team, with wardrobe, props, and set pieces all obtained in a community scavenger hunt or created by community members. The goal will be to rotate performance locations, from an art gallery to a church to a public housing community center to a storefront business, to draw-in people who wouldn’t normally turn out together.
Script Synopsis: Billie, a struggling working-class Black actress estranged from her family, becomes involved with Benjamin, an emotionally conflicted wealthy white man angling to secure a leadership position he has on a probationary basis. Initially, Billie and Ben amuse, then need and support each other. But the differences in their communities—and the personal demons they don’t reveal to each other—eventually put them up against each other in a potentially violent fight for survival (for Billie physical survival, for Ben spiritual vs face-saving survival).
“I think the script is wonderfully written, well-paced, fun, and serious without taking itself seriously. I especially love the ending!” – Erin Clare, Story Parlor founder, formerly Creative Director of the Austin Film Festival and its Writer Conference
Led by Trayce Gardner (Writer/Teacher/Guerilla Filmmaker/Community Organizer) and recent refugee from Brooklyn, NY, where she taught beginning scriptwriting and short filmmaking classes for seven years at New York City College of Technology’s Continuing Ed.
Chimney Rock honors veterans, reservists, retired and active military personnel with a free visit to Chimney Rock State Park from November 7-11, 2022. Must present military ID or proof of service.
.jpg)
To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:
- Buncombe County Courthouse
- Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
- Buncombe County Family Justice Center
Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.
The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.
Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”
Veterans Services and Resources
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)
6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726
BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:
- Health Care
- Home Loans
- Life Insurance
- Education & Training
- Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
- Burial Benefits
- Dependent & Survivor Benefits
- Disability Benefits
Charles George VA Medical Center
1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519
The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.
Veterans Treatment Court
60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918
Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.
Chimney Rock honors veterans, reservists, retired and active military personnel with a free visit to Chimney Rock State Park from November 7-11, 2022. Must present military ID or proof of service.
.jpg)
To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:
- Buncombe County Courthouse
- Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
- Buncombe County Family Justice Center
Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.
The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.
Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”
Veterans Services and Resources
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)
6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726
BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:
- Health Care
- Home Loans
- Life Insurance
- Education & Training
- Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
- Burial Benefits
- Dependent & Survivor Benefits
- Disability Benefits
Charles George VA Medical Center
1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519
The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.
Veterans Treatment Court
60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918
Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.
Chimney Rock honors veterans, reservists, retired and active military personnel with a free visit to Chimney Rock State Park from November 7-11, 2022. Must present military ID or proof of service.
.jpg)
To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:
- Buncombe County Courthouse
- Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
- Buncombe County Family Justice Center
Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.
The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.
Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”
Veterans Services and Resources
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)
6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726
BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:
- Health Care
- Home Loans
- Life Insurance
- Education & Training
- Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
- Burial Benefits
- Dependent & Survivor Benefits
- Disability Benefits
Charles George VA Medical Center
1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519
The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.
Veterans Treatment Court
60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918
Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.
Chimney Rock honors veterans, reservists, retired and active military personnel with a free visit to Chimney Rock State Park from November 7-11, 2022. Must present military ID or proof of service.
.jpg)
To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:
- Buncombe County Courthouse
- Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
- Buncombe County Family Justice Center
Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.
The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.
Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”
Veterans Services and Resources
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)
6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726
BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:
- Health Care
- Home Loans
- Life Insurance
- Education & Training
- Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
- Burial Benefits
- Dependent & Survivor Benefits
- Disability Benefits
Charles George VA Medical Center
1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519
The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.
Veterans Treatment Court
60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918
Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.
Many national parks have direct connections to the American military—there are dozens of battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans. In addition, every national park is part of our collective identity that defines who we are and where we came from as a nation. They are tactile reminders of the values, the ideals, and the freedoms that our veterans protect.
The majestic landscapes, natural wonders, and patriotic icons that we cherish as a society have also inspired military members through the years. The Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, the USS Arizona Memorial, and the Statue of Liberty are just a few of the national parks that have served as reminders of home to those stationed abroad. On Veterans Day, or any day, honor those who have served and sacrificed for our country with a visit to a national park.
The National Park Service invites all visitors to remember our veterans by visiting any National Park Service site for free on Veterans Day (November 11). Find tips to recreate responsibly while you visit!

This Veterans Day will be the first since Congress passed legislation granting free lifetime park passes to eligible veterans and Gold Star families, which can be obtained here. There are meaningful experiences waiting for veterans and all Americans in our parks this month and beyond!
