On behalf of the board of directors and the members of The Montford Park Players, I want to welcome you to our 2012 outdoor season. Beginning May 10 at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, we’re delighted to bring you the following great works of William Shakespeare:
May 10 – 26: The Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare (abridged) – Okay, well not entirely by Shakespeare, but if you like Shakespeare, you’ll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll LOVE this show! – directed by Jeff Catanese (a fundraiser for Montford Park Players)
Our free season begins June 1 – 23: Much Ado About Nothing – directed by Rhonda Parker
June 29 – July 23: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – directed by Jeff Catanese
July 27 – August 18: The Merry Wives of Windsor – directed by Kristi DeVille
August 24 – September 15: Richard II (premiering on the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre stage for the very first time!) – directed by Mandy Bean
Please note that the final performance for each of our summer productions will end on a Saturday night, rather than Sunday, as has been customary. This will give the cast of each following production an extra night of technical rehearsals, and will ensure that each opening night is stunning!
In 1997, our 25th season, the City of Asheville christened our permanent home the “Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre,” in honor of our founder. Now we’re in the midst of a capital campaign to upgrade our amphitheatre for the 21st century. Our recent grant award from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority of $125,000 represents only a small part of the total cost of renovations and additions. We now, more than ever, need your support!
We are most grateful to our donors, who have contributed at many levels of sponsorship, to our advertisers, who stuck with us in a difficult economic climate, and to you, our faithful audience, without whom we could not exist.
Now sit back, relax, and be ready to laugh, to cry, and to be entertained as the curtain rises on another great production by The Montford Park Players, North Carolina’s Longest Running Shakespeare Festival.
John Russell
Managing Director