Monsters of the American Cinema
June 16-26, 2022
Written by Christian St. Croix
Directed by Stephanie Hickling Beckman
When his husband dies, Remy Washington (Bjorn Goller, Melvin AC Howell), a Black man, finds himself both the owner of a drive-in movie theater and a caregiver to his late husband’s straight, white teenage son, Peter, who goes by “Pup” (Aidan Short). United by their love of classic American monster movies, the two have developed a warm and caring familial chemistry – but their relationship fractures when Remy discovers Pup and his friends have been bullying a gay teen at his school. Told through dueting monologue and playful dialogue, “Monsters of the
American Cinema” is a haunting and humorous tale about fathers and sons, ghosts, and the monsters we battle in the world and within ourselves. “With Monsters of the American Cinema, I really wanted to shed a spotlight on a kind of modern family we rarely see onstage. Remy represents hundreds of LGBTQ parents, many raising children who aren’t biologically theirs, quite a few raising children who don’t even share their racial background. The love is still there, however. Along with it, the parenting fears. How do you prepare your child for a rapidly changing, sometimes volatile world; a world that may try and teach them to hate people like you? Will they grow to fight the monsters, or will they become a monster themselves?”
Our community partner for this production is Youth OutRight. Founded in 2009, Youth OUTright WNC, Inc. (YO) is the only youth advocacy and leadership non-profit organization in the region solely dedicated to empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersex, asexual and allied (LGBTQIA+) youth ages 11-20 in Western North Carolina.
Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm in The Tina McGuire Theatre at the Wortham Theatre at The Wortham Center for The Performing Arts (18 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville NC 28801.
This play was made possible, in part, through funding from the Asheville Area Arts Council
BLVCK BRILLIANCE: A Celebration of Melanin
July 24th, 2021
A World Premiere!
BLVCK BRILLIANCE, a unique, and joyful full-length dance production, is performed by a talented and supercharged cast of local Black dancers, and Spoken Word Poets. This curated evening of soulful expression and story-telling is directed and choreographed by Western North Carolina’s own international dancer and choreographer, Melvin AC Howell. BLVCK BRILLIANCE uses a variety of movement styles and music, including Hip-Hop, to celebrate and elaborate not on the trauma and struggles of being Black, but of the strength, resilIence, and pride Black People possess despite those things.
Howell has been transforming and molding lives, while evolving the art of dance, for over 13 years. He explains “BLVCK BRILLIANCE is more than entertainment, it’s an experience that is meant to celebrate Black People, Black culture, and Black excellence”. You are invited, no matter who you are, to this celebration of melanin, and demonstration of Black brilliance
This production was partially funded through the Community Foundation of WNC Natural and Cultural Resources grant through the Asheville Area Arts Council 
Oxalis
September 2-5, 2021
A World Premiere!
Written by Travis Lowe
Directed by Stephanie Hickling Beckman
Oxalis, written by local playwright, Travis Lowe, deals both directly and metaphorically with Level 1 Bipolar Disorder. Balancing one young woman’s complicated history, and extreme bouts of mania and depression, Oxalis takes us on ferry rides between our protagonist’s frenetic life and her husband’s dark island. In this four-actor ensemble, Actors 1 & 2 represent a parade of characters who play significant roles in her journey. Oxalis raises questions relating to the nature of the diagnosis, how those who live with its effects manage it, and how they are seen and treated by the people who know and love them. This play is not intended to represent, nor should it be extrapolated to any sort of wider community of people who have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.
Different Strokes! non-profit community partner for this production is “A Therapist Like Me“. A Therapist Like Me brings awareness to the intersection of mental health and minority-identity: race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, language, mental health, neurotype, disability, and other intersections of identity.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and variants only 150 tickets (with sufficiently distanced seating) will be available in the 500 seat venue. Masks covering the nose and mouth must be worn at all events taking place at Wortham Center for The Performing Arts.
Box office Information and How to Purchase Season Tickets
Box Office Info/Policies
Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Asheville, the entrance for Diana Wortham Theatre is marked by the location of the theatre’s marquee at 18 Biltmore Avenue between Marble Slab Creamery and White Duck Taco. Patrons enter through the breezeway and into a large interior courtyard with multiple glass doors leading to the theatre’s lower lobby and box office.
- Mondays – Closed
- Tuesdays – Fridays 10:00am to 4:00pm
- Saturdays 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Closed Sundays unless there is a performance; Box Office will open at 1:00 pm and stay open until 30 minutes after curtain.
- For evening performances, the Box Office opens 1.5 hours prior to curtain.
Tickets may be purchased:
- In person at the box office during regular hours – $3.00 building operations fee per ticket (no processing fee) plus 7% sales tax.
- By phone at 828-257-4530 during regular hours – $4.50 processing fee per order (tickets held at will-call or e-mailed) and a $3.00 building operations fee per ticket. Tickets can be mailed to the patron for a $1 additional fee.
- By mail to DWT Box Office, 18 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 – $4.50 processing fee per order (tickets held at will-call) and a $3.00 building operations fee per ticket. Tickets can be mailed to the patron for a $1 additional fee.
- On-line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.dwtheatre.com – $3.00 building operations fee per ticket and per ticket processing fees apply.
7% NC sales tax will be applied to all ticket purchases.
For questions and concerns regarding ticket purchases and online ordering, please contact Coco Palmer Dolce, Box Office Manager at 828-257-4530.
Tickets will only be available through the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts Box Office and can be paid by Cash, Check, American Express, MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Phone orders and online sales are by credit card only.
All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable. Exchanges can be made within the Mainstage Series only or within the same event for a different performance. Returned tickets for donation can be made within the Mainstage Series only. Arrangements for exchanges and returns for donation must be made at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled event/performance.
Build Your Own 3-4 Performance Season Package and Save 10%!
Mix and match at least three performances of your choice for a discounted rate. All shows must be purchased together for discounts to apply. Other discounts do not apply.