April events announced by Asheville Community Theatre

• Dearly Departed runs on the Mainstage April 11-27, 2014
• Women and Wallace runs in 35below April 3-19, 2014
• Auditions for Spamalot on April 4-5, 2014
• Auditions for Last of the Aztecs on April 8, 2014
• Saturdays at ACT presents Once Upon a Time April 12, 2014
• Saturdays at ACT presents Feet Water and The Sultan’s Wife April 19, 2014
• Storytelling series Listen to This on April 24, 2014
• The Autumn Players’ Readers Theatre Showcase Series Presents Last of the Aztecs April 25-27, 2014

EVENT DETAILS

Drop Dead Funny Comedy Dearly Departed Runs April 11-27, 2014: In the backwoods of the Bible Belt, the beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and always hilarious. Despite their earnest efforts to pull themselves together for their father’s funeral, the Turpin’s other problems keep overshadowing the solemn occasion. Amidst the chaos, the Turpins turn for comfort to their friends and neighbors, an eccentric community of misfits who just manage to pull together and help each other through their hours of need, and finally, the funeral. Dearly Departed is directed by Lauren Fortuna. Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm. Tickets range from $12.00-$22.00.

Women and Wallace Opens in 35below: A remarkable first play, written by Jonathan Marc Sherman when he was eighteen. Fast moving, and very funny, the play traces the growing up of a young man who must deal both with his mother’s suicide and with the sometimes unsettling attentions of the various females who come into his life. “…a deeply felt play with an original and impressive comic edge. Sherman’s is indeed a fresh, remarkably mature voice.” —NY Daily News. “The play is startling, fresh and wise …” —BackStage. Women and Wallace is produced by Attic Salt Theatre Company and will be performed April 3-19, 2014 with performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:30 pm.  All tickets are $15.00 and are available online, by phone or in person at the ACT Box Office.

Auditions for Spamalot: Asheville Community Theatre will hold auditions for Eric Idle’s Spamalot on April 4-5, 2014. Friday, April 4 auditions are from 6:00-8:00 pm; Saturday, April 5 auditions are from 12:00-4:00 pm. Auditions are open to all in the community, no previous experience required.  Please prepare to sing 16 bars of music and bring your sheet music to the audition in the key in which you will be singing. ACT provides an accompanist. Spamalot is directed by Jeff Catanese with musical direction by Daniel Hensley and choreography by Chanda Calentine.

Auditions for Last of the Aztecs: The Autumn Players will hold auditions for Joe Feinstein’s Last of the Aztecs on April 8, 2014 from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm.  Last of the Aztecs will be performed as reader’s theatre. Auditions are open to all in the community, no previous experience required.  All audition material is provided at the auditions. Directed by Wayne Wheeler.

Saturdays at ACT presents Once Upon a Time: On April 12, 2014, Bright Star Touring Theatre returns to the Asheville Community Theatre’s Saturday family series. Literature comes to life in this hysterical production bringing to the stage the stories of “Cinderella” and “Jack and the Beanstalk!” Lenny and Mable reenact these two classic fairy tales, undertaking all the roles from the character formerly known as Prince Charming to a giant lumbering high above the set. The performance of Once Upon a Time begins at 10:00 am. Tickets are $5.00.

Saturdays at ACT presents Feet Water and The Sultan’s Wife: On April 19, 2014, Attic Salt Theatre headlines Asheville Community Theatre’s Saturday family series. Feet Water is a funny Irish folktale that will transport your whole family to Ireland. Puppets, masks and a whole lot of audience participation will keep even your youngest kids laughing. In The Sultan’s Wife, music and comedy are in great abundance in this adaptation of a Swahili folktale. This engaging fable tells the story of a hapless sultan, his too-smart servant and a poor man who knows the secret to keeping those around him happy. The performance of Feet Water begins at 9:30 am; The Sultan’s Wife begins at 11:00 am. Tickets to either show are $5.00.

Storytelling series Listen to This: In the vein of “The Moth” or “This American Life,” Listen to This features stories and original songs from locals.  Performance is April 24, 2014 at 7:30 pm in 35below at Asheville Community Theatre. Hosted by Tom Chalmers. Tickets are $10.00.

The Autumn Players’ Readers Theatre Showcase Series Presents Last of the Aztecs: A poignant comedy about an elderly man coming to grips with being the last of the guys in his social group to survive, as well as the impending death of his wife. When she inevitably departs, the widows of their social group gather to claim the remaining male member and long held secrets are humorously revealed. Written by Joe Feinstein. Directed by Wayne Wheeler.  Performances are Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26, 2014 in 35below at Asheville Community Theatre and Sunday, April 27, 2014 at the Reuter Center on the campus of UNCA.  All performances begin at 2:30. Tickets are $5.00 and are available at the door.

For more information on any of the events at Asheville Community Theatre, please visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.