Yes, it's Elvis!

ACT opens its doors January 8 for Lou Vuto's "Salute to Elvis."

A tasteful tribute to the musical superstar Elvis on the anniversary of his birthday. Lou Vuto has been doing this show at the Memories Theatre in Pigeon Forge and now he's taking it on the road. If you're an Elvis fan, it's a show you won't want to miss!

Details
Friday, January 8, 7:30pm.
Tickets: $22.00.
Online or at the ACT box office: 828-254-1320.

Let it Snow!

Well, we were excited when it started snowing ... but this December blizzard has now forced us to cancel Friday AND Saturday's performances The Santaland Diaries.

We've added a Sunday matinee at 2:30pm in an effort to give everyone a chance to see the show.

Therefore, all patrons with a ticket(s) to Friday's or Saturday's show can:

- Swap your tickets for Sunday's matinee. Simply bring your Friday or Saturday ticket to the door on Sunday and we will exchange it on the spot. Or you can call or visit the box office Sunday afternoon to swap your ticket before the show. The box office will open Sunday at noon.

If this does not fit your schedule, you can:

- Exchange your ticket(s) for a voucher(s) for another 2009-10 Mainstage production. Call or visit the box office for details: 828-254-1320.

- Make a tax-deductible donation to Asheville Community Theatre for the amount of your ticket(s).

We sincerely hope one of these options works for you. As a non-profit organization you can imagine how difficult it is to have to cancel a performance. If not, we will gladly offer full refunds.


From everyone at ACT, thank you very much for you understanding!

Blast Off with The Big Bang!

The winter weather in Asheville will not stop Michael Cheek and Jerry Crouch from ONE FINAL attempt to sell their $83.5 million "history of the world" show to a group of would-be backers. That's you, the audience!

A trip to the theatre has never been so fun, as Feuer (Cheek) and Boyd (Crouch) use anything and everything possible in their commandeered NYC apartment to perform 18 side-splitting numbers portraying Adam and Eve, Attila the Hun, the building of the pyramids, and Julius Caesar and Columbus -- among others.

Douglas Keating of the Philadelphia Enquirer called The Big Bang the "funniest, most spirited, and downright goofy 80-minute survey of history (I've) ever seen."

Join us for the final performance to see why! Saturday, February 6, 7:30pm on the ACT Mainstage.



or call 828-254-1320.

ACT teams up with Biltmore

We are quickly moving through the holiday season, but ACT is going to extend the "giving spirit" a bit longer this year.

How? By teaming up with Biltmore to offer our patrons even more value for their tickets purchases.

It's called "Asheville Encore Ticket." And it's really easy. When you come to see one of ACT's great Winter/Spring shows (The Big Bang, Short Order Durang, or The Boxcar Children) -- your playbill will have a coupon for a FREE "Biltmore Audio Tour" or a "Buy One Get One Free Specialty Tour," -- with the purchase of an Adult Daytime Admission ticket to Biltmore.

Just another great reason to come see a great ACT show in 2010.

Cheers.

The Big Bang opens January 15 and runs through January 31 on the Mainstage.
Short Order Durang opens Feburary 4 and runs through Feburary 27 in 35below.
The Boxcar Children opens March 5 and runs through March 21 on the Mainstage.

2009-2010 Season.

Tickets available online or by visiting or calling the box office: 828-254-1320.

"The Boxcar Children" is looking for some ... children. And adults.

Go on a diet. Start exercising. Or start acting. ACT can't help much with the first two New Year's resolutions, but we're offering you a chance at the third.

Auditions for ACT's Mainstage March performance The Boxcar Children will take place Sunday, January 3rd from 4-6pm and Monday, January 4th from 6-8pm at the theatre.

Director Lori Beland Hilliard is seeking four students (8 and older) and ten adults (all ages) for the show. Families are encouraged to audition.

Perusal scripts are available for checking out at the ACT box office. Questions: 828-254-1320.

(See complete 2010 rehearsal schedule.)

Rehearsals for the show will begin January 14 and primarily will be held Monday - Thursdays from 6:30-8:30pm. Technical rehearsal will be all day Sunday, March 1.

The Boxcar Children runs for three weekends from March 5-21. The performance run also will include two school morning matinees.

"Santaland" Top 10

David Letterman has done thousands of Top 10 lists, but we've never seen one about an ACT show? So we created our own. Here are the Top 10 reasons to see ACT's upcoming performance -- "The Santaland Diaries."

1. "Santaland" earned "Best Locally Produced Show" and "Best Live Show: Theatre" honors from the Mountain Xpress' Best of WNC, 2008. Translation: people love this show!

2. Who doesn't want to see Tom Chalmers in tights? (See, there he is.)

3. You've been too nice to be believable to Santa. Time to indulge in some naughty.

4. It's written by David Sedaris. That means it has to be funny.

5. It stars Crumpet the Elf, who is way funnier than Will Ferrell's "Elf."

6. Toys .... All the toys.

7. Every time a cynical man in an elf costume gets a laugh, somewhere a new child gets a puppy.

8. "Santaland" comments on the best and worst of people during the holiday season. It's fun to see if you can spot yourself somewhere along the way.

9. A perfect opportunity to become part of a great Asheville holiday tradition.

10. With your ticket purchase you get a free drink at Magnolia's, which is right across the street from ACT. Nice!


"The Santaland Diaries" stars Tom Chalmers and is directed by Josh Batenhorst. The show runs December 10 - 19, Thursdays - Saturdays, at 7:30pm. Box office online, or by calling 828-254-1320.

"Buy-one-get-one-free" for Santaland

ACT is in the giving mood this season.

As a way of saying thanks to our social media fans, ACT will be offering a "Thankful for Thursday" buy-one-get-one-free promotion for "The Santaland Diaries" -- Asheville's hippest holiday tradition.

The promotion will be good for opening night of "Santaland" -- Thursday, December 10.

Getting a free ticket to a great show has never been so easy:

1. Visit our ACT Facebook fan page. Not a fan yet? Join up!

2. Check our Facebook page this Tuesday morning for a link to our "Santaland" promotional coupon. The coupon will be a replica of the one on this page, only it will have the special code. (It's a secret right now, but not for long.)

3. Visit or call the ACT box office. Recite the code, and you will be eligible for a free ticket with the purchase of a ticket.

See, we told you it was easy. Look forward to seeing you on opening night!

Asheville's hippest holiday tradition returns to ACT

Asheville Community Theatre proudly announces the eighth remount of its smash hit The Santaland Diaries, written by David Sedaris. The show follows a Macy's department store elf through the Christmas season as it highlights the best and worst behavior of the holidays.

Tom Chalmers returns to star in this year's production of The Santaland Diaries, which recently was voted "Best Locally Produced Play" and "Best Live Show: Theatre" by the Mountain Xpress. Chalmers has been described by the Citizen-Times' Jim Cavaner as "one terrific talent." The show is directed by Josh Batenhorst.

Sedaris rose to fame on NPR's "This American Life" and has published several volumes of hilarious essays. When he read his essay version of The Santaland Diaries during an installment of "Morning Edition," it generated one of the largest and most enthusiastic responses NPR had ever experienced.

Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly recommended, as the show has sold out in past seasons. Tickets are available online or by calling or visiting the ACT box office. 35. East Walnut Street, Downtown Asheville. 828-254-1320

The shows runs December 10 -19 and is recommended for mature audiences.

And....for those who follow us on Facebook, keep an eye out for a special opening Thursday night promotion. (Hint: free tickets!)