Cultural Calendar
Home page: Million Dollar Quartet at the Barter Theatre. Above: Great Gatsby at CoMMA in Morganton; Pink Martini at An Appalachian Summer
The New Normal Returns Onstage in the High Country
“Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it’s a rebirth of the spirit.”
By Keith Martin
That Toni Sorenson quote has been reverberating in my mind as I am frequently encouraged by the resilience of cultural arts organizations as they strive mightily to define the “new normal” by which all of them continue to create their magic. As a means of reference, our Spring 2024 issue one year ago marked the first time that we covered roughly the same number of events as before the 2020 “damn-demic.” Just as our groups slowly but surely returned to their previous level of production, Hurricane Helene hit the High Country hard last September 27, knocking them down yet again with the second “once in a century” catastrophe in four and a half years.
Almost two-thirds of the productions listed in our autumn issue were either cancelled or rescheduled, yet the winter issue demonstrated the show biz mantra that “the show must go on.” As we go to press with this edition of CML, indefatigable companies ranging from the champion Watauga High School Pioneer Playmakers in Boone to the small but determined Ensemble Stage in Banner Elk to the venerable State Theatre of Virginia at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon have ALL defined a “new normal” by producing work with fewer resources for growing audience numbers slowly returning to previous levels; together they demonstrate “a rebirth of the spirit” that is the arts.
Here are several of the events that have been announced from now through mid-June, plus a sneak peek at select summer offerings, each listed alphabetically by producing company, with more to be announced shortly. PLEASE NOTE that all the performances, dates, and times are subject to change; readers are strongly encouraged to check individual websites and/or the theatre box offices for the most current information. See you at the theatre!
The APPALACHIAN THEATRE OF THE HIGH COUNTRY (ATHC) continues its inaugural Metropolitan Opera HD Live Series with three highly anticipated Lincoln Center performances on the broadcast schedule. April 26 brings Mozart’s 1786 comic masterpiece Le Nozze di Figaro to the ATHC stage with conductor Joana Mallwitz making her Met debut. It is followed on May 17 by Richard Strauss’ biblical story of Salome, a “white-hot one-act tragedy” receiving its first new production at the company in 20 years. The series concludes on May 31 with Rossini’s “effervescent comedy” Il Barbiere di Siviglia,directed by Lincoln Center Theatre’s brilliant Bartlett Sher, in what promises to be a “madcap production.” All three beloved operas will be broadcast on the aforementioned Saturdays beginning at 1 p.m.
April is “Jazz Appreciation Month” and ATHC is celebrating with its annual Night of Jazz on April 29, a collaborative concert event featuring jazz musicians from the Watauga High School Jazz Ensemble and Appalachian State University’s Jazz Ensembles I and II. The education programming theme continues on May 2 with the Watauga Education Foundation’s Shooting Stars Performing Arts and Visual Arts Showcase, celebrating the remarkable artistic talents of students from Watauga County Schools andfeaturing live performances and a visual art display. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, science fiction fans will gather for both Star Wars and May the Fourth (Be With You) movie marathons on consecutive days.
June is a very busy month on the Doc Watson Stage at the ATHC, beginning with a June 6 concert by Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives led by country and bluegrass music singer, songwriter, and musician Stuart, a five time Grammy Award-winning member of the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame. On June 12, Old Gods of Appalachia brings an eldritch horror fiction podcast set in an Alternate Appalachia, a world where these mountains were never meant to be inhabited. “This world feels eerily similar to the hills and hollers we’ve grown up with, but there are some tell-tale differences. Names of towns and counties may be altered. Historical events slide forward or backward in time. And then, of course, there are the monsters.” On June 27, International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainers of the Year, Balsam Range, return to the ATHC. The original members are all acoustic musicians and singers from WNC who thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surround part of their home county of Haywood, NC. AppTheatre.org
The ASHE COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL in West Jefferson has programmed several events worthy of consideration. Wordkeepers on April 26 lets writers share their latest prose and poetry in five-minute open mic time slots and is free and open to the public. Coffee House Live takes place on May 3 at the Arts Center showcasing local and regional acts. May 17 brings the WKSK Live Radio Show featuring the Crooked Road Ramblers, and blues artist Buffalo Nichols performs at the Ashe Arts Center on May 22, reimagining blues for today’s world by blending traditional sounds with modern elements, exploring themes of love, identity, and resilience. AsheCountyArts.org
Just in time for Oral Health Month (and for all you who aspire to “Be A Dentist”), the ASHE COUNTY LITTLE THEATRE is producing the cult classic rock musical Little Shop of Horrors with music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. The story follows a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, such as the title song, “Skid Row (Downtown),” “Somewhere That’s Green,” and “Suddenly, Seymour.” Performances are June 26 through 29 in the Ashe Civic Center. AsheCountyLittleTheatre.org
At the BARTER THEATRE in Abingdon, VA, a revival of their popular Million Dollar Quartet plays through May 11 on the Gilliam State. It is the story of an impromptu jam session involving Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash that happened by pure chance on December 4, 1956, at the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, now considered a seminal moment in rock and roll. It is followed from May 24 – August 17 by Disney’s Frozen by Jennifer Lee with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Fearless optimist Anna, along with her new friend Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven, set off on an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.
Across the street in the Smith Theatre through June 1 is Thurgood by George Stevens, Jr., part of Barter’s Black Stories, Black Voices series. The play follows the remarkable career of the man who would become the very first Black Supreme Court Justice in American history, Thurgood Marshall. Starting with his early days working as a young lawyer on the cornerstone Brown v. Board case in favor of overturning existing “separate but equal” legislation, this one man tour-de-force starring Vince McGill showcases the courage, integrity, and determination that skyrocketed a humble civil rights activist into becoming a true American hero.
BARTER PLAYERS Classic Theatre for “Kids of All Ages” has two family-friendly shows on tap this spring with Pete The Cat performing through May 10, with script and lyrics by Sarah Hammond and music by Will Aronson. Based on the book series by Kimerbly and James Dean, Pete’s life is an adventure no matter where he ends up, so the minute this “groovy blue cat” meets the Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking… except Jimmy, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. From June 10 – July 12, The Jungle Book performs as adapted by Catherine Bush from Rudyard Kipling’s novel. When Raksha the She-Wolf discovers a human baby alone in the jungle, she adopts Mowgli the “man cub” as her own. As Mowgli grows, he is taught the law of the jungle by his mentors Baloo the Bear, Bagheera the Black Panther, and Kaa the Snake. But will their wisdom keep him safe from the clutches of Shere-Khan, the man-eating tiger? BarterTheatre.com
Check out our Regional Happenings and Music Guide for info about the fourth annual BOONERANG MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL, taking place June 19 – 22 on seven different stages and venues in downtown Boone. This free downtown street festival is a community homecoming that brings Boone-connected artists and fans “to Boonerang back to the place we love” (BoonerangFest.com). Now in its second year, Boone’s Got Talent on June 19 is a kick-off event during which High Country acts can showcase their talent on the Doc Watson Stage at the historic Appalachian Theatre, who is co-producing the event with Mountain Home Music. AppTheatre.org
Four offerings remain on the spring schedule at the CITY OF MORGANTON MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (CoMMA) beginning on April 16 with Uptown: A Celebration of Motown & Soul, “with the class of young Temptations, moves like the Jackson 5, and the energy of Bruno Mars….everyone’s going uptown!” A free event takes place on April 26 with Six String Soldiers of The United States Army Field Band, an ensemble stationed in Washington, D.C. that travels the country connecting America to its Army through music. On April 29 the World Ballet Company’s The Great Gatsby steps into the jazzy world of the Roaring Twenties with this new production that captures the glitz, glamour, and tragic romance of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless novel live on stage. Last but not least is BeeGees and ABBA, the Ultimate Tribute Show on June 14, “where nostalgia and electrifying performances collide” with iconic hits like “Dancing Queen” and “Stayin’ Alive.” CommaOnline.org
The DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE at Appalachian State has only one production remaining on their season, but it’s a goodie: She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen with performances from April 24 – 27 in the Valborg Theatre. When Agnes loses her younger, teenage sister Tilly in an accident, she joins Tilly’s “Dungeons & Dragons” campaign to try and connect with her lost sibling. But instead of simply playing a game, she finds herself catapulted into an action-packed D&D world. “In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and ‘90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.” TheatreandDance.AppState.edu
The final production of the season in the DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE AT EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY in Johnson City is an April 27 collaboration with the Department of Music on a Sondheim Musical Review. It is based on the works of the late composer and lyricist who is regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater and widely credited with reinventing the American musical, scheduled to coincide and commemorate the 95th anniversary of his birth. ETSU.edu/cas/theatre
The MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT ETSU is bringing two Broadway national tours to their Johnson City campus beginning with Dear Evan Hansen from April 15 – 17. With a Tony Award-winning book by Steven Levenson and Grammy Award-winning music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, it has been declared “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post; this is the first musical to take a groundbreaking look—from the point of view of both the parents and young people—at our complex, interconnected, and social media-filled lives. Note that this show is recommended for ages 12 and up and contains adult themes, including discussions of suicide. Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s musical Come From Away on April 28 – 29 takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. “On 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12, their stories moved us all.” ETSUMartinCenter.org
As of press time, the 16th season of ENSEMBLE STAGE had yet to be announced, but they submitted an ad stating that Michele Lowe’s comedy thriller The Smell of the Kill will run from June 13 – 22 in the Historic Banner Elk School. The author’s publishing company says, “Take three delicious, malicious wives, add three miserable, unloving husbands—and chill. That’s the recipe of Michele Lowe’s tantalizing new comedy that had Broadway audiences cheering.” EnsembleStage.com
For the fourth year in a row, the HIGH COUNTRY JAZZ FESTIVAL (HCJF) brings to fruition a decades-long dream of local musician Todd Wright: a collaborative project to host exceptional and engaging jazz experiences that will attract regional audiences. The festival raises funds to support arts and education initiatives of the Appalachian Theatre, App State Jazz Studies Program, and Boone Sunrise Rotary, programs that sustain and enrich our High Country home. Taking place from June 13 – 15, this annual event has, yet again, booked an impressive line-up, along with jazz luncheons, dinners, lectures, workshops, late night jam sessions, and a variety of festival packages. Please see the sidebar story to this cultural calendar for a listing of artists or visit HighCountryJazzFestival.org.
LEES-MCRAE COLLEGE in Banner Elk has two live performing arts series each summer including “an entertaining music series” called the FORUM with back-to-back tribute concerts presented at 5 and 7:30 p.m. on Mondays from late June to early August. The early line-up includes Miami Sound Review’s A Tribute to Gloria Estefan on June 16, Daybreak: The Music & Passion of Barry Manilow on June 23, and the Western Piedmont Symphony on June 30. https://www.lmc.edu/community/forum.htm
Founded in 1985, the LEES-MCRAE SUMMER THEATRE begins its fifth decade of new and original musicals and popular plays with three productions in 2025, beginning on June 1 – 4 with Nunsense, a musical comedy with a book, music, and lyrics by Dan Goggin. Originating as a line of greeting cards, Goggin expanded the concept into a cabaret show and eventually into a full-length musical about the Little Sisters of Hoboken. The original production ran for 3,672 performances to become the second-longest-running Off-Broadway show in history, and has since been adapted for television, starring Rue McClanahan, and has spawned six sequels and three spin-offs. From June 22 – 28 in Banner Elk Presbyterian Church, LMST will produce Sandy Rustin’s The Cottage, “wherein the true meaning of fate, identity, and marriage are called into question as a surprising, hilarious web of secrets unravels in this ridiculous—potentially murderous—uncharacteristically feminist, 1923 British tale of sex, betrayal, and oh yes, love … when Sylvia Van Kipness decides to expose her love affair to her husband and her lover’s wife.” The season closes from July 18 – 24 with the most anticipated theatre event of the summer, 1940! This is the newest musical from Dr. Janet Barton Speer and her longtime collaborators, composers/lyricists John Thomas and Tommy Oaks. Please see the feature story in this issue about this production or visit lmc.edu/summertheatre.
MERLEFEST 2025 takes place April 24 through 27 on the campus of Wilkes Community
College. Please go to our Regional Happenings and Music Guide in this issue for more
Information, or visit merlefest.org.
TWEETSIE RAILROAD is North Carolina’s first theme park, opening on the Fourth of July in 1957. Known primarily as a Wild West adventure park with amusement rides and a petting zoo, Tweetsie features stunning three-mile long train rides aboard a historic, coal-fired, narrow gauge steam locomotive. From a performing arts perspective, Tweetsie is a major employer of professional talent and produces 21 performances of a half-dozen live entertainment and stage shows each day. A sampling of offerings includes the Can-Can Dancers, Country Clogging Jamboree, Hopper and Porter’s Musical Celebration, and The Magic Show. The 2025 season runs from April 5 to November 2 with a variety of holiday events. Tweetsie.com
WILKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE (WCC) and their John A. Walker Community Center in Wilkesboro are presenting Equinox Jazz Orchestra – Beatles to Bourbon Street on June 6, described as “two sophisticated Southern gentlemen and the high-energy show… inspired by the style and swagger of legendary entertainers like Frank and Dean and Sammy, making their own revisions to the Great American songbook.” WalkerCenterOnline.org
A Sneak Peek at Cultural Events in Our Upcoming Summer Issue
Space limitations and our print deadlines simply do not permit listing all of the wonderful productions on the summer horizon (some announced, others yet to be confirmed), but you might want to check out the websites of the following organization for advance notice about (and to get early tickets for) these upcoming events:
The 41st season of AN APPALACHIAN SUMMER runs from June 28 to July 26, 2025, on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone beginning with singer-songwriter Amos Lee and his blends of folk, rock, and soul on June 28. Tony and Grammy winning artist Heather Headley graces the Schaefer Center stage on July 13 accompanied by Western Piedmont Symphony and a 12-piece choir, performing a selection of popular tunes from the Broadway and pop songbooks. The Alonzo King LINES Ballet will perform “Deep River” on July 19, a soulful work created in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lisa Fischer and Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran. The 5 Browns “The Edge of the World” on July 23 showcases a classical ensemble consisting of five pianos whose repertoire ranges from beloved concert hall staples to lesser-known works. Pink Martini on their 30th Anniversary Tour, featuring China Forbes, takes to the Schaefer Center stage on July 26 drawing inspiration from music from all over the world—crossing genres of classical, jazz, old-fashioned, and pop. For a complete schedule, visit AppSummer.org.
The 54th Annual Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention on July 25 and 26celebrates, preserves, and honors traditional music with concerts, competitions, and jamming sessions not to be missed by any serious lover of mountain music. AsheCountyArts.org
BARTER THEATRE’s summer season continues with productions of Aaron Sorkin’s A Few Good Men from June 14 – August 16, Mountain Mamas by Daryl Lisa Fazio from June 22 – August 9, along with the Barter Player production of The Reluctant Dragon, adapted by Catherine Bush, from July 15 – August 9. BarterTheatre.com
BEANSTALK COMMUNITY THEATRE is producing Willy Wonka: The Musical the weekend of July 24 – 26 at the Appalachian Theatre in Boone. AppTheatre.org
THE FORUM AT LEES-MCRAE COLLEGE continues its popular slate of tribute bands and songbook performances on July 14 with So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience starring Robert Neary followed by Tapestry, The Carole King Songbook with Suzanne O. Davis on July 14, and Bee Gees Now! on July 21. The Olivia Show on July 28 pays homage to the late Olivia Newton-John before the 2025 series concludes on August 4 with the Liverpool Legends celebrating the Fab Four known as The Beatles. https://www.lmc.edu/community/forum.htm
HORN IN THE WEST will open their 73rd season of Kermit Hunter’s historical outdoor drama with a reimagined production staged at the Hickory Ridge History Museum while the Daniel Boone Amphitheatre undergoes extensive renovations. Director Clarinda Ross, a Boone native and professional actress/playwright based in Los Angeles, told CML that performances will take place three nights a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) over four weekends from July 10 through August 2. horninthewest.com
Formerly an outdoor drama, the WILKES PLAYMAKERS are partnering with Bleu Moon Productions on a co-production of A Hometown Legend: Tom Dooley, A Wilkes County Legend on two consecutive weekends from July 10 – 13 and 17 – 20. Directed by the playwright, Karen Wheeling Reynolds. Step back in time and relive the haunting true story that put Wilkes County on the map. History, heartache, and hometown pride all come together in this powerful drama made famous by The Kingston Trio in their #1 hit single. WilkesPlaymakers.com
Alleghany Community Theatre | www.alleghanycommunitytheatre.org
Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance | www.theatreanddance.appstate.edu
Appalachian Theatre of the High Country | www.apptheatre.org
Ashe Civic Center | www.ashecivic.com
Ashe County Little Theatre | www.ashecountylittletheatre.org
Barter Theatre | www.BarterTheatre.com
Beanstalk Community Theatre | BeanStalkNC.com
Blue Ridge Community Theatre | www.blueridgecommunitytheatrenc.com
City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium | www.commaonline.org
Ensemble Stage | www.ensemblestage.com
Hayes School of Music| www.music.appstate.edu
In/Visible Theatre | www.invisibletheatrenc.org.
Jones House Cultural & Community Center | www.joneshouse.org
Lees-McRae College Performing Arts | lmc.edu/pashows | Instagram @lmctheatre
Parkway Playhouse | www.parkwayplayhouse.com
Schaefer Center Presents | www.theschaefercenter.org
Wilkes Playmakers | www.wilkesplaymakers.com