Advertise on podcast: Asheville Theater Alliance (ATA) "Behind the Curtains" Weekly Podcast

What an interesting conversation we had with Actor and Improviser Stevie Ramirez. Find out how they got into improv and acting, insight into how one performs improv, tips on succeeding as an improv team, and their upcoming role in the inaugural and immersive production "Close Quarters" at the Phantom Lamp Theatre Company - a production that blends theater and improv. Also, get all the information on Joyride Improv, upcoming workshops, how to sign up, benefits of learning and practicing improv, and details about the May 2026 Asheville Improv Festival, including how to participate.

We are excited for the 2026 "Behind the Curtains" podcast episodes and have some exciting guests lined up. Starting us off is Playwright Wendy Belden who chatted with us about her transition from being on the stage to writing what we hear from the stage, types of plays she tends to write, her unique process for completing new works, and one specific play that really impacted her. Also get details about her show "Higher Ground" - written after the Helene Hurricane, her newest play entitled "The Blood Census" (which features two bowls of blood), and information on a February 26 reading of the latter play at the Little Animals Gallery. And what U.S. Senator is she intrigued by and who might be featured in a future play?

Jeff Catanese, one of the founders of the Asheville Theater Alliance (ATA), returned to the show to discuss a very exciting and lucrative audition opportunity for its members - the Asheville Regional Theater Auditions (ARTA) being held on January 31 and February 1. This will provide a unique opportunity for actors, dancers, ensembles, swings, technical professionals and even volunteers/ushers to audition in one place in front of over 10 (and still counting) theater organization directors and decisionmakers. Get all the details of how to register, as well as how to sign up to become an ATA member from this interview. Jeff also outlines the many benefits of membership for both individuals and theater organizations. Audition slots are filling up so check out the website today!

What an interesting interview we had with the founder of Skysail Theatre Michelle Troszak. Hear how she got into the theater industry, her vast set of performing arts skills and expertise, where her musicals have been presented, and how she writes and composes the shows and songs. Also learn about her theater company Skysail Theatre, why she founded the organization, its mission, how she came up with the name, goals for the theater and details about some upcoming productions, including several Fringe festivals.

There is a lot of exciting stuff happening at the Hendersonville Theatre and we got all the scoop from Business Manager Amanda McLoughlin. She briefed us on the new leadership team and business model at the theater, outlined the responsibilities for all three principals, and updated us about some of their goals for the organization. Amanda then gave us all the details about the remaining shows in the 2025 season, the announcement about their 59 1/2 season for the first six months of 2026, subscription packages for that season, how they choose which shows to present, information about their next full season, and auditions.

We sat down with actor and director Gabby Bailey for a wide-ranging interview on theater in Western North Carolina. We began with stories about her career, her unique introduction to the industry, her experience as a fight choreographer and details about the Montford Park Players Fight Club classes. Then we transitioned to the upcoming production of "The Thanksgiving Play" being presented by the Attic Salt Theatre Company which also is her debut as a lead director. Get all the details about the show, information on the playwright and cast, her thoughts on the theme of the show as an indigenous person, and some insight into her views on "land acknowledgements."

We sat down with actor Emily Greene to talk theater. First we learned what brought her back to the stage after a 10-year hiatus, what it felt like to be back in the business, roles she likes to portray, characters on her bucket list, and some changes she has seen in the theater world. Then hear all the details about "The Thanksgiving Play" being presented by Attic Salt Theatre Company, which character she portrays, the underlying theme behind all the farce and comedy, and info on her fellow actors.

Is Asheville getting a new theater company? YES! Get all the details from our interview with Abby Auman, Technical Director of the Asheville Community Theatre (ACT) and one of the founding members of the new theater. First learn about her background, her role as a technical director, two upcoming shows at ACT, and her surprising entrance to the lighting design arena. Also hear about a "funeral" event being held for the Magnetic Theatre (inclduing the acting out of scenes from some favorite shows by previous company members), and the launch of a brand new theater company - Phantom Lamp Theatre Company - which will have the same focus on new play development and works as Magnetic did, and their plans for the future of this organization, including some productions in 2026.

We had so much fun catching up with Candice Dickinson, Artistic Director of the HART Theatre in Waynesville. Find out how it felt for her to be back on stage when she played Reno in "Anything Goes" and whether we might see her again on stage in 2026. Then get all the details about the rest of their 2025 season, including "Lizzie" (the rock musical) and two Christmas shows. Candice then walks us through their 2026 season whose theme is comedy and making us laugh, various subscription packages, audition information and dates, and classes and camps being offered. And hear a teaser about a REALLY fun and immersive experience they are planning for "Wild Party" and how patrons can be partygoers on stage.

Is Asheville going to get a new performing arts center? Find out the back story and more by listening to our interview with the Director of the Asheville Department of Community and Regional Entertainment Facilities (CREF) Chris Corl. First we found out what CREF does for Asheville, its citizens and tourists. Then we jumped right in to a discussion about a very exciting prospective initiative of a large performing arts center being built in downtown Asheville following the formal establishment of a public-private partnership for the development of this facility. Chris talked in detail about what was in the MOU (including Economic Impact Studies and the development of a business plan and workforce training program), the history of the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium (formerly known as the Asheville Auditorium) and the Civic Center Arena, where the money will be coming from to build the venue, information on ATG Entertainment (the private sector partner), and what the theater might look like. He also outlined next steps for the project, how folks can get involved through community and stakeholder engagement meetings, and a tentative timeline. More information can be found here: https://publicinput.com/w64602

We were happy to sit down with resident Ashevillian playwright David Hopes to chat about his career. First we chatted about how he made the leap into playwrighting from poetry, information about the first play he ever wrote, types of plays he usually pens, and his unique writing process (which is hard to teach to his students). Then we segued into a discussion about his play "Washington Place" (which centers around the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York) being presented by the HART Theatre in Waynesville, how he researched the story before writing the play, and what he hopes patrons will say when leaving the theater. And find out about his next two shows coming up.

It was a lot of fun catching up with our old DC friend who is now in Western North Carolina - Actor Shayne Gardner. We chatted about her early entrance into the theater industry, her thoughts on comedy vs. drama roles, and how DC theater companies compare and contrast to Western North Carolina ones. Also, get all the details about the upcoming production of "Clue" being presented by the Hendersonille Theatre, her role as Mrs. White, a unique casting choice the director made, and interesting background on how the set will be manipulated.

Hear our wide-ranging and interesting chat we had with actor and playwright Jason Phillips. Find out the irony behind him getting into the theater industry, his thoughts on how improv productions are most successful,  and his daring and creative initiative he implemented during COVID with Magnetic Theater. Then we chatted about his many, many performances coming up including at the Appalachian Playwriting Festival, Parkway Playhouse and the Hendersonville Theatre, as well as his unique insight into preparing for an improv role in Adesto Theatre's "Jane Austen Improv."

We caught up with the very busy Actor and Playwright Travis Lowe to chat about some exciting evvents he has coming up. First he enlightened us about his experience portraying Cyrano, roles he typically gets cast in, characters on his bucket list and his planned "swan song" for his theater career. Then we discussed several lays  he has written, details about his upcoming one-act shows being presented by Sublime Theater - "Nightlight"' and "55 Mount Lee Drive," - what is his process for playwritig, and details about some of his play readings coming up.

Actor Lauren Otis was the latest guest on the "Behind the Curtains" podcast. She told us all about her career and personal growth in the theater industry, her views on the blossoming of the performing arts in Western North Carolina (especially after COVID), how the Asheville Theater Alliance is helping bring the industry together as a community, and roles on her bucket list. Also get all the details about the upcoming production of "Miss Julie" being presented at Attic Salt Theatre, the dynamics between the three characters, how she prepared for her portrayal of Miss Julie, and some of the themes that still resonate today as when they did when it was written in 1888.