Schedule A Shows:

Experts by Sheila Duane

In The Attic by Jessica Moss

A Little Support by Hannah Ricke

AI Pals by Allison Fradkin

Robert Krane from Chicago, Illinois by Seb Flatau

An Actor Prepared by Doug Savitt

Three Syllables of Shame by Rom Watson

Everything Here Is So Delicious by David Hilder

A Benevolent Alliance of Mourners by Ken Preuss

But Where Would They Live? by D.L. Siegel

Schedule B Shows:

Car Riders by Cheyenne Dancy

Surprise by Mark Harvey Levine

Tooth or Dare by Emily McClain

You Wouldn't Be Pretty if Your Face Didn't Look Like That by Emily Breeze

Bach Bach Bach Bach by David Hopes

Just Desserts by David MacGregor

The Audition by Steven Anthony Otfinoski

Like A Good Neighbor by Cara Haycak

The Driving Test by Scott Mullen

Nice Dress by Aaron Ybarra

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS
click or hover over a photo to see bio

Emily Breeze

Emily Breeze is a playwright based in New York; her plays include MOTHER SAYS SHE'S SHOCKED HER CHILDREN ARE UPSET (Part 5), HEDY, FALLOUT, and TITLE NINE, a one-act ALL MY DEAD UNCLES, and a collection of short plays produced for Fast & Furious and 7x7 at The Tank. She is the. She has assisted on shows at Hampstead Theatre, The National Theatre, The Public, Broadway and the West End. She has developed work with Millay Arts, Baggage Productions, The 24 Hour Plays, The Tank, UTSC and more. Awards include the 2020/21 Guilford Performing Arts Festival Artist Award for her play THE HOMEWRECKER (co-written with Marialena DiFabbio), and the 2021 Rising Artist Award for her play HALLMARK. She is the current Playwright-in-Residence for The Bechdel Group; former residencies include Dairy Hollow, Long Wharf Theatre, and Hot Bread. BA Vassar College.

Seb Flatau

Seb Flatau is a writer for stage and screen based in London, where he recently completed a Masters in writing at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. His short play Carol will be touring the UK in 2023 with ‘Owdyado Theatre. He has been shortlisted for the Carnon Downs Playwriting Prize, and wrote for an award-winning sketch show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Seb is committed to writing. He even bought one of those portable laptop stands so he doesn’t have to crane his neck to write on his laptop. Although he’s always forgetting to use it. In fact, he’s not using it right now. Hold on, I’m gonna go look for it.

David Hilder

DAVID HILDER is an award-winning playwright and director whose work has been seen across the United States. His plays and musicals include Those Days Are Over (Winner, Ashland New Plays Festival; Finalist, O’Neill Center National Playwrights Conference; semifimalist, Bay Area Playwrights Festival); Misfortune (Finalist, National Short Playwriting Contest, City Theatre); The Moment Before it All Went Wrong (Great Plains Theatre Conference; Finalist, Lark Playwrights Week); Drown (Acadiana Rep; Holland New Voices Playwriting Award, Great Plains Theatre Conference; Finalist, Princess Grace Award); The Insidious Impact of Anton (Acadiana Rep; Absolute Theatre, Los Angeles – winner of seven StageSceneLA Awards; Winner, Ashland New Plays Festival); Just exactly like (The Flea Theater; finalist, Heideman Award); and, naturally, others. He is also a director and a recovering actor, as well as an alumnus of Hunter College (MFA), the University of Pennsylvania, and the O’Neill Center’s National Theater Institute. He tweets, too: @hilderthtrguy. www.davidhilder.com

David MacGregor

David is a playwright, screenwriter, novelist, and nonfiction writer. He is a resident artist at The Purple Rose Theatre in Michigan, where a number of his plays have been produced. His plays have been performed from New York to Tasmania. He adapted his dark comedy, "Vino Veritas," for the silver screen, and it stars Carrie Preston (Emmy-winner for "The Good Wife"). Several of his short plays have also been adapted into films. He is the author of three Sherlock Holmes plays: "Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear," "Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Fallen Soufflé," and "Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Ghost Machine." He adapted all three plays into novels for Orange Pip Books, and also wrote the two-volume nonfiction "Sherlock Holmes: The Hero with a Thousand Faces" for MX Publishing. He teaches writing at Wayne State University in Detroit and is inordinately fond of cheese and terriers.

Scott Mullen

Scott Mullen is a playwright and screenwriter who lives in Burbank, California. His short plays have been produced almost 700 times around the world, including at the South Pole.

Hannah Ricke

Hannah Ricke still considers herself new to playwriting, always excited to learn more and create more. Her first ever short play, Schizophreniyeah! was selected for the Last Frontier Theater Conference in Alaska in 2017 and We Lived! was featured in the premiere season at Nomad Theater Company in Illinois in 2019. Vox Populi was shortlisted for the Milwaukee Fringe Festival the summer of 2019. She has written her own autobiographical one-woman show about her experiences backpacking called Earthy and is in Belfast, Northern Ireland as you read this performing it.

Rom Watson

Rom Watson is the author of the full-length plays LYING BENEATH THE SURFACE, IMAGE AND LIKENESS, THE NORMA CONQUESTS, THE BEAUMONT REUNION and PINOCCHIO IN THE BRONX. 14 of his 31 short plays have been produced, including MEAD AND STU GO TO SEAWORLD, MR. CUDDLES, CURB YOUR URGES and CELEBRITY DEATH WATCH. Rom’s full-length plays have had readings at The Road Theatre, Moving Arts, The MET Theatre, Celebration Theatre, Fierce Backbone and Neo Ensemble Theatre. He is a member of The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights and The Dramatists Guild of America. www.romwatson.com @RomWatson (94 words)

Cheyenne Dancy

Cheyenne Dancy is a theatre marketer, photographer, and playwright living in WNC.

Allison Fradkin

Scriptly speaking, Allison Fradkin creates satirically scintillating stories that (sur)pass the Bechdel Test and enlist their characters in a caricature of the idiocies and intricacies of insidious isms. An enthusiast of inclusivity and accessibility, Fradkin freelances for her hometown of Chicago as Co-Artistic Director and Literary Manager of Violet Surprise Theatre, curating new works by queer women, trans folx, and non-binary folx; and as Dramatist for Special Gifts Theatre, adapting scripts for actors of all abilities. Allison's auxiliary activities include vintage shopping, volunteering, and tending to her thespian tendencies.

David Hopes

David Brendan Hopes has had the honor of being produced by The Magnetic several times, most recently last month's The Frankenstein Rubrics.

Emily McClain

Emily McClain is a playwright and theatre educator based in Atlanta, GA. She teaches at the School of the Arts @ Central Gwinnett and is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild and WriteStuffATL. Her plays have been performed all over the country and her work may be found on New Play Exchange.

Steven Anthony Otfinoski

Steven Otfinoski’s plays have been performed Off and Off-Off Broadway, throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, and internationally. His ten-minute comedy THE AUDITION won the Best Script Award at the Short + Sweet Play Festival in Sydney, Australia in 2019. His one-person COVID play King Corona was filmed by the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative and is available on YouTube. Steve’s full-lengths, Mortal Friends, Danse Macabre and Nowhere Man have had staged readings at the National Arts Club in New York City. Stratford Characters, in celebration of Stratford, Connecticut’s 350th anniversary, starred Broadway and television actors Rex Everhart and James Noble and was directed by Tony-nominated actor Steve Boockvor. Steve’s Pirate Plays were staged at the Quick Center for the Performing Arts at Fairfield University, where he teaches English composition and creative writing. More than two dozen of his ten-minute plays have been performed at various venues in Fairfield County, Connecticut including the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford and Shakespeare on the Sound in Norwalk. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Guild’s Playwrights’ Group and Squarewrights, a cooperative of playwrights in Stratford.

Doug Savitt

Doug (He/Him) is an Actor/Director currently living and working in the Western North Carolina area. He holds a B.A. in Theatre from UNC Charlotte and spent a few years exploring Chicago before returning to the mountains. He most recently directed "The Frankenstein Rubrics" at The Magnetic Theatre and last appeared on stage in The Magnetic Theatre’s "Indecent". His play "An Actor Prepared" is also being featured in this festival.

Aaron Ybarra

Aaron is a man of many hats. Actor, writer, musician, just about whatever you need, should the situation so call for it. He lives in the Asheville area with his wife and two cats. Have a most lovely day!

Sheila Duane

Thank you, Magnetic Theater! Sheila Duane is a teacher, playwright, and artistic director of a small play reading program in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Sheila is an alumnus of the DUAF; her plays, The Palmist, The Loom, and Restoration Parts, have been chosen to be part of the festival during the last three years. Of late, her plays have also been produced at the JSAC in Ocean Grove, in Long Branch, Middletown and Maplewood, NJ, and in Florida with Femuscripts.

Cara Haycak

With a background in screenplay development (as part of the Hollywood scene in her post-college years), Cara began writing fiction through the MFA program in Creative Writing at Columbia University, and subsequently published two novels for teens (RED PALMS in 2004 and LIVING ON IMPULSE in 2009). She got the bug to write plays three years ago, and thanks to the pandemic, had the time to take a ton of Zoom playwriting classes, through Working Title Playwrights in Atlanta, Freddie Ashley's Contemporary Play Reading Series at Actor’s Express, Emily McClain's playwriting classes at Essential Theater, The Playwrights Center in Minneapolis, Roland Tec’s workshops based in NYC, and Primary Stages in NYC. LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, was developed at Essential Theater. It’s meant to be an exploration of whether we can ever truly accept the world on the other side of our fence.

Harvey Levine

Mark Harvey Levine has had over 1900 productions of his short plays everywhere from Bangalore to Bucharest and from Seoul to Sao Paulo. His plays have won over 45 awards, been produced in more than ten languages and have been published in over two dozen anthologies. A Spanish-language film of his play “The Kiss” (“El Beso”) premiered at Cannes and aired on HBO. The Franklin School of Innovation will be producing his new full-length, “Save Hamlet” next year here in Asheville. His play “Oh Tannenbaum” was previously seen in Magnetic Theatre’s “Getting Through The HoliDaze”.

Jessica Moss

Jessica writes and acts. Her plays include Cam Baby, A Girl Lives Alone, Funnie, I Will Miss You When You're Gone, Imposter!, Polly Polly, Modern Love, Girl, Please, and more. Training: Juilliard

Ken Preuss

Ken Preuss is a Central Florida writer and performer who became a teacher to guarantee an audience 5 days a week. His published one-acts for teens and assorted short plays for adults have been produced in festivals and schools in Australia, Canada, China, England, Germany, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Thailand, and 48 of 50 States.

D.L. Siegel

D.L. Siegel received her BA in English and Theater from Princeton University and her MFA in Playwriting from The New School for Drama. She was an inaugural member of The Amoralists' playwriting residency, 'Wright Club, and her plays have been produced at theaters and festivals throughout the country. Plays include: Heartbeat Ophelia, The Principles of Magic, Members Only, Untouched, Atalanta K.O., Like the Last, Chosen, but where would they live?, and I Know What I Saw. A born and raised New Yorker, D.L. works in tech and currently resides in Brooklyn with her playwright husband and their beloved corgi, Sancho Panza.

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

John Baldwin (Robert Krane from Chicago, Illinois, You Wouldn't Be Pretty If Your Face Didn't Look Like That, A Benevolent Alliance of Mourners)- Was an actor/director in the Bay Area for more than 20 years. This is my 3rd directing gig at Magnetic. I have also performed here. I just love the folks at Magnetic and all that they do for theatre in Asheville.

Stan Baranowski (Just Desserts, The Audition, Surprise) - Stan is very pleased to be directing at The Magnetic for the first time. In the past, he has directed such plays as The Nerd and I'm Not Rappaport at the Chamberlayne Actors Theatre in Richmond VA, and Sure Thing at The Generic Theatre in Norfolk VA. He is grateful for all that he has learned from the directors he's worked with in the past, with special thanks to the actors he has worked with for this festival for bringing these three plays to life.

Christine Hellman (Three Syllables of Shame, The Driving Test, Experts) - Christine is a Lucid Body teacher, a proud member of Nemesis Theatre Co., and so happy to have a creative home at The Magnetic!

Delina Hensley (A Little Support) - Delina Hensley is making her Asheville directing debut with A Little Support, but this is definitely not the first time she has directed. She graduated from Tusculum University (formerly Tusculum College). While there, she studied theatre under a wonderful mentor, Marilyn duBrisk. After graduation, she worked as the Tusculum Arts Outreach Assistant Director where she directed and assistant directed numerous student and community shows. Since being in Asheville, she has had the opportunity to perform in plays and musicals for various theatre companies including Asheville Community Theatre, SART (Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre), and of course, The Magnetic Theatre. Her most recent performance being right here at Magnetic, The Shorthand Job. Delina would like to thank The Magnetic Theatre for having faith in her abilities and allowing her the opportunity to direct for the festival! It means a great deal and she hopes you will enjoy the show as much as she enjoyed working with her talented cast. However, she would also like to thank her wonderful partner, Sarah, for her constant love and support while being a theatre 'widow'. In honor of both Sarah and this play, nothing can sum up her thanks more than a quote from RBG, "If you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it. I had (have) a life partner who thought my work was as important as his (hers), and I think that made all the difference for me."

Katie Jones (Bach Bach Bach Bach, An Actor Prepared, Nice Dress) - Katie is a theatre director, performer and educator. She grew up down South but spent her 20s living and working in Chicago. She founded Wishbone Theatre Collective in 2009 and continues to perform with them, throughout the country. Katie has a BA from Clemson University and an MFA from Naropa University. In addition to serving as The Magnetic Theatre's Co-Artistic Director, she has worked locally with Asheville Creative Arts and the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival, and teaches at Brevard College.

Kristen Livengood (Tooth or Dare) - Kristen Livengood holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre from UNC Greensboro, and has enjoyed directing adult and youth productions for the past 13 years. Some of her favorite directing credits include The Fox on the Fairway, Footloose, The Music Man JR, James and the Giant Peach JR, and Elf JR. She is also incredibly passionate about improvisational comedy and is excited to be teaching improv classes at HART in Waynesville, NC. She would like to thank the loves of her life, Graham, Grey, and Etta, for supporting her as she continues to follow her dreams. She would also like to thank the amazingly talented cast of Tooth or Dare and the Magnetic Theatre staff for all their hard work and the great memories!

Dakota Mann (Everything Here Is So Delicious) - Dakota Mann is a local theatre artist within the WNC region, having worked on over 60 productions with theatres such as the Montford Park Players, Haywood Regional Arts Theatre, Parkway Playhouse, Anam Cara, the Magnetic Theatre, and the Sublime Theater and Press, as well as performing overseas in Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He received a B.A. in Drama from UNC – Asheville. This is Dakota’s twelfth production with the Magnetic Theatre. Previous work with the Magnetic includes Director of No More Waiting (as part of All Souls Cathedral’s 2022 Lenten Series), Three Rings, No Diamonds, and (Un)Scripted (Both were part of the 2021 One Act Festival), and Stage Manager for The Frankenstein Rubrics, In the Middle of Nowhere, Kore, and The Sparrow and the Whippoorwill.

Daniel Moore (Car Riders, but where would they live?, In the Attic) - Daniel Moore is a Mars Hill based actor and director who studied Theatre at Greensboro College. This is Daniel’s 3rd time directing for the One Act Play Festival. He is often quoted saying “The One Act Fest is my absolute favorite production that Magnetic does all year!” Some of his recent acting credits include; Lord Byron in Frankenstein Rubrics at The Magnetic Theatre, Marvin in Dark of the Moon at Parkway Playhouse, and Mendel in Indecent by Paula Vogel (NC Premiere) also at The Magnetic Theatre. He was an actor and director for the dramatic series How to be a Human, or at Least Try at NC Stage. Other recent directing credits include Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, both at Parkway Playhouse, and Script Fest 2021 at SART. Catch his next work, in 2023, at Parkway Playhouse, where he will be directing the mainstage production of Star Spangled Girl by Neil Simon. He very much hopes you enjoy the veritable buffet of theatre magic that The Magnetic Theatre has cooked up again this year!

Jered Shults (Al Pals, Like a Good Neighbor) - Jered has been an actor in the WNC area for 8 years now and has been seen in other theaters Parkway Playhouse, Montford Park Players, and HART. Some of Jered's favorite roles are Ken in Red, Son in Nocturne, Cedric in Robin Hood and Roger in In a Clearing. Jered would like to thank his fellow cast members and crew for their talent and professionalism, his family and friends for their support, and you the audience for coming to see the show.

ABOUT THE ACTORS

Julianne Arnall - Julianne was last seen at Magnetic as Bernie in the Cairo Savanti Experience. Other Asheville roles include Lenny in Crimes of the Heart at ACT and Puck, Gertrude, Queen Elizabeth, and Maid Marian for Montford Park Players. She is a graduate of the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts and Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts.

Gabby Bailey - Gabrielle (Gabby) Bailey is a Native American actress, model, and fire performer. Her recent roles include Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Living Dead in Denmark and Jo in Boom.

Lily Bartleson - Lily Bartleson is a WNC actor pleased to join The Magnetic Theatre for their Annual One Act Play Festival. You might've caught her in 2017's Uranium 235; otherwise, she is found in her hometown or Burnsville, NC. Past productions include Angie/Ensemble in The Wedding Singer, The Waitress in Working: A Musical, and Hans in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Scott Bean - Scott has been involved in theatre locally in some capacity or other for over 12 years. He is happy for getting a chance to perform for you tonight! He would like to thank his wife and his children for supporting him while he gets that chance. He would like to thank you for coming and hopes you enjoy the show!

Cameron Carswell - Cam is excited to be a part of the One Act Play Festival! Cam is sad that the One Act Play Festival means that Halloween is over.

Bill Chaimedes - Bill is into this Magnetic One Act extravaganza! Previous theater credits include: Flat Rock - West Side Story (Lt. Shrank); Mars Hill - Milestones (Phil); Asheville - Comedy of Errors (Egeon), The Winter’s Tale (Leontes), The Ballad of Romeo and Juliet (Preacher), Shakespeare in Love (Frees/Wabash); Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival - Merry Wives of Windsor (Page), All’s Well That Ends Well (King), Fool For Love (Old Man), Titus Andronicus (Marcus); Off-Off-Broadway - As You Like It (Dukes Frederick and Senior), Rough Draft (The Writer); regional theater - Copenhagen (Niels Bohr), Much Ado About Nothing (Balthasar), Permanent Collection (Paul), The Trial of the Catonsville Nine (Daniel Berrigan), Love Letters (Allen M. Ladd III), Peachtree Battle (Sherwood). Movie credits include: Trois: The Escort and The Sugar Creek Gang. TV: American Detective. Bill holds a Ph.D. from Yale University, trained at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute and the American Globe Theater Conservatory. His artwork can be viewed at willcvision.com.

Evan Eckstrom - Evan has gotten the opportunity to work with Magnetic Theatre several times this year. He acted in Algorithm & Blues: A Dating Sketch Show, Beautiful Cages, and The Frankenstein Rubrics. Before this, he ran a small grassroots company called Strange News Theatre in Boston, MA. He currently lives in West Asheville with his fiancée Emily and their many pets!

Jessica Gift - Jessica Gift is new to the Asheville performance scene after having moved from Wilmington in late 2020. She graduated UNCW with a degree in theatre and creative writing and now spends her days managing the office of Asheville’s own Bright Star Touring Theatre. You may have seen her most recently on stage playing an extraterrestrial, midwestern axolotl as The Zookeeper in Fight Girl Battle World. Other favorite performance credits include Margery in Hand to God, Gena in Bachelorette, and all the zany antics that transpired during her time with the sketch-comedy troupe Pineapple Shaped Lamps. She’d like to thank The Magnetic Theatre and her director, Stan, for including her in this whirlwind process, her castmates for playing with her, and her cat, Seaweed, for being completely and totally strange.

Molly Graves - Molly is thrilled to be back on stage at The Magnetic, following a summer of fun with Midsummer for Haters and Obstructure. She has also previously worked with Anam Cara Theatre Company, Nemesis Theater Company, Different Strokes! PAC, and Montford Park Players.

Matilyn Hull - Matilyn is happy to return to The Magnetic Theatre, sharing the stage with old and new friends! You may have seen her last season as Megan in Bloodbath: Victoria's Secret. Matilyn has been involved in the Asheville theatre scene as an actor and choreographer for almost eight years. Her favorite roles include Annelle in Steel Magnolias (HART), Susan in Wait Until Dark (BLT), Hero in Much Ado About Nothing (MPP), and Betsy/Lindsay in Clybourne Park (HT). Enjoy the show, and thank you so much for supporting local theatre!

Erin McCarson - Erin is thrilled to be playing with her friends and making fun arts with The Magnetic Theatre. Next, Erin is directing A Christmas Story at HART. Thank you Christine and Daniel for inviting me. Thank you Molly, Paul, Stephanie, and Jon for laughing and teaching. Thank you Katie for magic and friendship. Thank you Luis and Cooper for keeping each other safe and happy. And THANK YOU for supporting the arts! www.ErinMcCarson.com

Jennifer Memolo - Former student of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Jennifer has participated in productions across Western North Carolina and is delighted to be returning to The Magnetic’s stage. She wishes to thank her Director, Delina for this golden opportunity.

Charles Mills - Charles Mills has been actively involved in theater for nearly 30 years, having appeared on stage as an actor and off stage as a director for HART Theatre in Waynesville. Most recently, he directed HART’s productions of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike and Avenue Q and The Pillowman. Charles was last seen on stage as The Baker in Into the Woods and as Gordon in Dead Man's Cell Phone.

Lilly Mills - Lilly is incredibly excited to have this wonderful opportunity to share this stage with Asheville’s most talented people. Recently she has played Maid Marian in Parkway's production of Sherwood and Squeaky Fromme in HART's production of Assassins. She moved back to Asheville in February after getting her Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre at William Peace University. She is trained in Intimacy Direction through IDC (formerly IDI) and is super fortunate to have been able to bring that skillset to eight different productions this year including Beautiful Cages and Frankenstein Rubrics here at Magnetic! 

Cheyenne Morris - Chey Morris (she/they) is a recent transplant to the Asheville area. They hold a BFA in musical theatre from William Peace University and was most recently seen in The Book of Will at HART.

Nykila Norman - This is Nykila’s second role at Magnetic Theatre. Some of Nykila’s favorite roles include: Fences (Rose) William Carey University, Greenwood: an American Tragedy (Vicki) Metropolitan College of New York and Ragtime (Ensemble) Village Light Opera Group. Nykila is from Greenville, SC where she began performing at a very young age. She currently works in project management and in her free time Nykila enjoys being on set, spending time with family, and writing/producing short films. Nykila is so thrilled to be working with Magnetic Theatre!

Stephanie Nusbaum - Stephanie is thrilled to join the Magnetic Theatre. Her favorite productions include A Serial's Killer's Daughter (Shared Radiance), ShakesCollage Tour (Shared Radiance), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Montford Park Players), Bloodbath (The Magnetic Theatre), and Beautiful Cages (Magnetic Theatre). She thanks her husband David, as well as her cats, Hamlet and Sebastian, for their love and support!

Adam Olson - Adam Olson is an Asheville native and graduate of UNCG for dramatic arts. He's been working on some personal projects that he hopes to reveal soon! In the meanwhile, he's happy to be doing another show at Magnetic, where he previously performed in In the Assassins’ Garden and Algorithm and Blues.

Lauren Otis - Lauren is thrilled to be onstage for the One Act Play Festival at Magnetic again this year! Past recent credits include Asha in Blood at the Root (DSPAC), Hermia/Titania in Midsummer for Haters (Nemesis/Magnetic), Lydia Wickham in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Multiverse), Tori Piper in Bloodbath: Victoria's Secret (Magnetic) and Paula Justice in The Sparrow and the Whippoorwill (Magnetic). Next up, she will be reprising her role of Lydia Wickham with Multiverse Theatre Collective in The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley. Special thanks to Christine and Daniel for trusting her with these two pieces, the Magnetic Theatre for continuing to produce new and original work, this wonderful community, and her Alex. Enjoy!

Jayden Parton - Jayden is a 19yo upcoming actor from Asheville wishing to further his journey in the next few years in New York or California. Thanks for coming out to support these bloody wonderful performances. Hope you are having an amazing night. Cheers!

Kim Richardson - Kim Richardson (Marie) is a member of Reasonably Priced Babies, Asheville's premier, and longest-running improv troupe. She has acted for DS!PAC in the hilarious Five Lesbians Eating A Quiche and the emotional 12 Angry Jurors. Kim wishes to thank her beautiful wife, Jenna, for loving and supporting this adventure.

Jon Robinson - Jon Robinson is an Asheville native actor and artist most recently seen in the titular role of Hamlet at MPP. Favorite roles include Hamlet in Living Dead in Denmark, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Touchstone in As You Like It and Athos in The Three Musketeers. Jon studied drama and animation locally at AB Tech and UNCA. Away from the stage, Jon spends his time drawing & painting show-inspired pieces. He shares his love for art with his 8-year-old daughter & his fondness for swordplay with his 4-year-old son.

Jen Russ - Jen is thrilled to be back on the Magnetic Theater stage with two actors she has had the pleasure of working with before. Most recently, Jen was part of the Anam Cara devised theater production of Obstructure. She has also performed in other theaters around WNC in plays and musicals but loves the creativity of the Magnetic. Thanks to Kristen for the opportunity to play Charles Mills' wife once again and to laugh hysterically at the comedy that is Lily Bartleson. Love to Jason, Abby, and Mom for their support!

Daniel Sandoval - Daniel returns to the Magnetic Stage once again, after most recently participating in No More Waiting. Previous roles include Cleo Nicholson in The Sparrow and Whipporwill, and Lemml the Stage Manager in Paula Vogel's Indecent, as well as his first One-Act performance in, Rosa and Leo. He has also been seen on-stage at ACT, 35-Below, and the Montford Park Players. By day, he works as an Automation and Robotics Engineer and loves to build gadgets and props and bake in his spare time. He is grateful to The Magnetic Theatre for this opportunity, as well as their innovative programming.

Doug Savitt - Doug (He/Him) is an Actor/Director currently living and working in the Western North Carolina area. He holds a B.A. in Theatre from UNC Charlotte and spent a few years exploring Chicago before returning to the mountains. He most recently directed The Frankenstein Rubrics at The Magnetic Theatre and last appeared on stage in The Magnetic Theatre’s Indecent. His play An Actor Prepared is also being featured in this festival.

Jered Shults - Jered has been an actor in the WNC area for 8 years now and has been seen in other theaters Parkway Playhouse, Montford Park Players, and HART. Some of Jered's favorite roles are Ken in Red, Son in Nocturne, Cedric in Robin Hood and Roger in In a Clearing. Jered would like to thank his fellow cast members and crew for their talent and professionalism, his family and friends for their support, and you the audience for coming to see the show.

Jon Stockdale - Jon Stockdale appeared earlier this year at the Magnetic as Victor Frankenstein in The Frankenstein Rubrics and as Demetrius/Oberon in Midsummer for Haters, in collaboration with Nemesis Theatre Company. He's happy to be back! Other of his favorite past roles include Hamlet with the Montford Park Players, Danny in The Submission with Different Strokes!, Roland in Constellations at 35below, and Oliver and Silvius in As You Like It with NC Stage.

Kai Strange - Kai has been acting and involved in theater in some way, shape, or form since he was 9. In the past, he has worked a lot with the Montford Park Players, as well as the youth group the Montford Moppets! Kai has had the opportunity to play many amazing Shakespeare roles. He hopes you enjoy the show.

Tippin - Since diving into theatre in 2013, Tippin has worked as an actor, stage manager, technical director, assistant director, producer, props master, office manager, collaborative writer, dramaturg, and sound designer for dozens of productions for stage, film, restaurant, hallway, and oversized camera obscura. Tippin has a particular interest in socially progressive, original, experimental, fringe, and immersive theatre, as well as in poetry performance.

Emily Tucker - Emily has been working in Asheville’s theatre community for nine years; highlights include Titania in Midsummer Night's Dream (Montford Park Players), Jane Bingley in Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberly (Multiverse Theatre Collective), Algorithm & Blues (The Magnetic Theatre), Dr. Gutierrez in Court of the Grandchildren (The Magnetic Theatre), & most recently as Celia in As You Like It, Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing (Montford Park Players) and Evelyn in Beautiful Cages (The Magnetic Theatre). Emily is thrilled to be performing in this years one act festival, performing a work written by one of the dearest people in her life. She will next be returning to her role as Jane Bingley in Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberly and finishing the year in Caroling By Gaslight.

Alex McDonald Villarreal - Alex is from Texas and is proud to be performing at the Magnetic again. He is well-versed in Shakespeare, laughing, and BBQ. This is his first show actually acting across from Lauren Otis, and he's very happy about it.

Paul Vonasek - Having spent most of the past decade doing long-form improv, Paul is excited to be back in the realm of scripted work. Having escaped Los Angeles during the pandemic, Paul and his brilliant wife Laurie are finding it hard to leave Asheville.

Blaine Weiss - Blaine Weiss is excited to make her Magnetic Theatre debut with the One-Act Play Festival. She’s recently worked with Asheville Community Theatre. Montford Park Players and Hendersonville Theatre. Her own original one-act will be produced and staged with Calliope Stages own Short Festival in Sylva, NC.

Mike Yow - Mike Yow is a professional actor and director making his seventh appearance on the Magnetic stage since moving from Atlanta to the beautiful mountains of northeastern Asheville eight years ago. Across Metro Atlanta, he performed in numerous stage productions, and since his move to Western NC has played many a role at such venues as SART, HART, ACT, Attic Salt, Parkway Playhouse, Black Mountain Center For The Arts, and more. Over the last few years, he has felt the call to direct (and produce) theatre as well, in addition to working as an acting coach and fight choreographer, and performs in film and television from time to time. In addition to thespian work, Mike is a published author and game designer and is a 4.25-rated pickleball player. Much love to his talented spouse, Karen, and their two crazy-awesome cats, and to all the amazing castmates he has enjoyed throughout the roll of years.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Stage Manager………………..………………Amanda McLoughlin

Set Designer………………………..……………Walker Linkous

Lighting Designer………………………….Abby Auman


ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM

ABBY AUMAN (Lighting Designer) - Abby is the Technical Director of The Magnetic Theatre. She also works as a lighting designer in theaters all over WNC.

WALKER LINKOUS (Set Designer) - Walker has been working in local theater for about eight years now. He’s proud of the work he’s done with the Montford Park Players and the Multiverse Theater Collective, as well as his work as a grip in several local short films.

AMANDA SIMS MCLOUGHLIN (Stage Manager) - Amanda McLoughlin is excited to be working her first show with The Magnetic Theatre. She has always been enamored of wonderful storytelling, which naturally led her to answer the call of the theatre. Some of her favorite past shows include THE LITTLE PRINCE with Montford Park Players and SHIPWRECKED! AN ENTERTAINMENT with Haywood Arts Regional Theatre. When she isn’t at the theatre she can be found doing fiber art, mothering her adorable offspring, and eating eggplant parmesan. Thank you for supporting local theatre, and enjoy the show!

GALLERY
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PHOTOS by CHEYENNE DANCY

THE MAGNETIC THEATRE STAFF

CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR…….……JESSICA JOHNSON
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR…………..KATIE JONES
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR………….…ABBY AUMAN
BOX OFFICE MANAGER……………TIPPIN
MARKETING MANAGER……………CHEYENNE DANCY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GEORGE AWAD
ERIN MCCARSON
ELIZA HEATH
JASON PHILLIPS
MAX REID
JOSH SULLIVAN

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Aaron and Gus Ballard