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ROADSIDE rounds up crowds at Flat Rock Playhouse!
ROADSIDE, one of the latest additions to the MTI catalogue, is by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, the incomparable author-composer team of THE FANTASTICKS, I DO! I DO!, CELEBRATION AND PHILEMON. Learn about Flat Rock Playhouse and their foot-stompin', rip-roaring production of a timeless American western tale, ROADSIDE...
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 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 1942.
After WWII, the Vagabond Players re-organized, came back to the region and opened a playhouse in nearby Lake Summit Playhouse that 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 an 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 7 month season of plays including Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young people and Holiday favorites. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a nine-show professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; a two-show season and cabaret series by the Theatre for Young People; year-round classes and workshops for students from kindergarten through high school. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 88,000 patrons annually and is a major contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.
In September 2002, Roadside by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, author-composer team of The Fantasticks, I Do! I Do!, Celebration, and Philemon created a sensation at Flat Rock Playhouse. Share with us some production photos of this new American classic...
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Photo Credits:
Featuring Shelly Jo Keelor, Scott Treadway, Nathan Moore, Damian Duke Domingue, Brad Bauner, David Earl Hart.
Photographer: Scott Treadway
Revues:
"The songs are compelling and the music memorable. There's a refreshing innocence in this show that strikes a chord with modern audiences." Ashville Citizen Times, North Carolina"...it's robust momentum carries you along through good music, strong lyrics, a delightful wedding tableux, characters you are pulling for, lovers whose passion is strong and a Texas tall tale." Henderson News, North Carolina
For more information about the Flat Rock Playhouse, 2003 Season, Vagabond School of Drama, Volunteering, links and press kits, visit their web site at http://www.FlatRockPlayhouse.org
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