Fairy Tales and Fables

Jericho Productions will present 'Story Theatre' in Thomas Auditorium

Rob Lamb, left, and Ashley Wellman star in the Robber Bride Groom Tale, part of the Jericho Productions and Blue Ridge Community College's production of Story Theatre. (MATT BORN/TIMES-NEWS)

Jericho Productions will begin its sixth season with Story Theatre, a collection of Grimm's Fairy Tales and Aesop's Fables. In many ways the company has come full circle. Six years ago Jericho produced Saul, an original play by the company's artistic director, Franklin Harris. Just as with Story Theatre, Saul used a story telling narrative as its central thread. With a minimum of props and costumes it relied on the actor's skill and improvisation to entertain the audience and create the make-believe impact of the production. Both the current play and the first one used a Blue Ridge Community College venue. Both productions featured Robert Moore, a Brevard College drama graduate and a Poetry Alive participant. The cast of 13 features several other experienced actors. Both Rob Lamb and Jeannie Glosson, freshman drama majors at BRCC, have extensive experience in local high schools. Sarah Burch, of Asheville, has acted, written, directed and costumed for 20 years. Denise Crowell, of Hendersonville, directed at East Henderson High School, acted at University of North Carolina at Asheville and produced at Flat Rock Playhouse Theater for Young People. Marty Gordon and Tom Mangano recently moved to Asheville from out-of-town. Gordon toured with "The Company" for three years and has published scripts. Mangano has 16 years of experience in community theater, musical theater and improvisation. The cast includes three other BRCC students: Misha Schmidt, Daniel Trimmer and Ashley Wellman as well as three young teens: Harrison Best of Fletcher; and Alicia Mitchell and Molly Tollas of Asheville.

Sarah and I were in this production back when we lived in Asheville. It was directed by our dear friend Franklin Harris. I post it here as a memory.