See what visitors had to say about Wandering with Magnetic: something i cared about
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS & DIRECTOR
Jamie Knox (Playwright) Jamie juggles writing plays with running a yoga business and wrangling a toddler. She's a regular performer around town and will return to acting and directing after the world returns to normal (?) Past lives include playing Britany Spears for a comedy show as well as popping out of magician's boxes and getting sawed in half, walk-on film roles, improv comedy, and living in Hollywood, studying theatre with all the nerd she had in her resulting in a Master's degree in Theatre History, and teaching college and high school. Her plays have been read, workshopped, and produced, and her play The Education of Ted Harris won audience pick of 2019 for Mountain XPress. She is honored to co-write this beautiful piece with the equally beautiful Travis Lowe and Jason Phillips. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina with one husband, one dog, and one daughter.
Travis Lowe (Playwright) - Travis Lowe's plays include The Humourous Adventures of Sir Andrew Aguecheek (shortlist 2020 Shakespeare's New Contemporaries Project), Sixteen Years Tried (semi-finalist 2018 Shakespeare's New Contemporaries Project, Montford Park Players 2019), Mixed Fandango (Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective), Six Knots (The Magnetic Theatre), Paper or Plastic: A Conspiracy of Bagboys (Distinguished Play NCTC One Act Festival, Christ School for Boys), Green (Christ School for Boys). He is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America and currently resides in Asheville, NC with his wife, two parrots, and an enviable collection of kitchen spices.
Jason A Phillips (Director/Playwright) - Jason is excited to be directing his first show in Asheville. He has primarily focused on acting and was most recently featured in The Magnetic Theatre's sketch comedy show Crimes, Misdemeanings and Videotape. Asheville credits include: 16 Years Tried, Special Needs, and The Misanthrope. Chicago credits include: Brave Potatoes, The Rescuers, and Scenes of Romance. Thanks to Cullen and Daphne for their unflagging support.
ABOUT THE CAST
CAST BIOS (alphabetical by last name)
Marcello Della Barba (Alyx)
Locksley Blanchard (Dru) - This is Locksley's third endeavor with The Magnetic Theatre. He is excited for more fun projects to come. Locksley graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in Dramatic Arts and History. He has been in productions for most of his life in some way. Thanks to my family and friends for their constant support.
Heather Nicole Bronson (Dru) - Heather is excited to work with The Magnetic Theatre again. She has been seen previously as Eli in The Misanthrope and as Heather in the virtual reading of Dry Weather Wind. She received her BFA in musical theatre from Mars Hill University in 2014 and has been active in the WNC theatre community since. Favorite roles include Ruby in Dames at Sea and Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods. In her spare time, she enjoys learning to play new instruments and petting dogs
Kay Wise Denty (Dru) - Kay has been involved in all aspects of theatre production for the past 25 years. Today she considers TMT to be her home theatre and will enthusiastically help to keep this theatre alive! She was proud to be in the productions of The Legacy of Amelia Aldean (Samantha) and Special Needs (Charlotte). In addition to theatre, Kay also writes and voices characters for the podcast "Jollyville Radio" out of Austin, TX. She is totally ecstatic to be involved in this groundbreaking production of something i cared about as part of Wandering With Magnetic!
Christine Eide (Dru)-A native of WNC. Christine has over 20 years of experience as an actress, director, and teacher. She has performed with several local theatres such as Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective, The Magnetic Theatre, Ellipsis Theatre Company, Bright Star Touring Theatre, Asheville Lyric Opera, and Opera Carolina. As a director, she has worked with Odyssey Community School, Montford Park Players, and Azuay Community Theatre, which she co-founded in Cuenca, Ecuador in 2014. She has also taught several children's theatre classes including Youth Acting at Asheville Community Theatre.
Scott Fisher (Alyx) - Scott has been on the theatre scene in Asheville for over a dozen years now, appearing in shows with The Magnetic Theatre, Attic Salt, Different Strokes! PAC, and the Sublime Theatre Co. Previous TMT credits include Fix, The Witches' Quorum, Solstice, Some Things You Need To Know Before The World Ends, and Off The Rails. Many thanks and much love to Kirby.
Kirby Gibson (Dru) - Kirby is just giddy to be back at The Magnetic Theatre! Previous theatrical credits include: Linda in Evil Dead: The Musical (Black Button Eyes Productions), Liz in Musical Therapy at the 2018 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, Emilie Martin in The Submission (Different Strokes! PAC), Camae in The Mountaintop (Different Strokes! PAC), Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (Haywood Arts Regional Theater), Marta in Company (Haywood Arts Regional Theater), and Sally in Reefer Madness (UNCA), Thanks and love to Scott and my parents.
Dillon Giles (Dru) Dillon Giles is super excited to star in his first production with The Magnetic Theatre. Dillon is a local actor who you may recognize from ACT, HART, or SART productions including Footloose (Ren), Oliver! (Mr. Bumble), The Fantasticks (El Gallo), and multiple SART virtual concerts. He is a 25-year-old door manufacturer in his daily life. He would like to thank his family, friends, and Audrey for all their love and support. He is super excited to work with these wonderful writers and directors and hopes you all love the show!!
Zak Hamrick (Alyx) - Zak began acting in 2019, and this will be his eighth performance since. You may have seen him in person with the Montford Park Players and Nemesis Theatre, or virtually with Different Strokes! PAC. He's very excited for his first role with The Magnetic, and wants to thank everyone who has made this a safe, welcoming experience back into live, in-person theatre. Much love to his partner Eliza, brother Luke, mother Josephine, and all of the friends, lovers, and enemies that have supported him along the way.
Daniel Henry (Alyx)- Daniel is excited to be back "on the stage" after a hiatus that was extended due to the pandemic. His last performance was with Elipsis Theatre Company as Welch in The God of Hell. Graduating from Mars Hill University in 2016 with a BA in Theatre Arts, Daniel has been busy working in the theatre world in cities such as Charlotte and Asheville, NC. Please enjoy the show, and welcome back to live theatre!
Reed Horsley (Dru) Reed is a professional actor graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA. Pre-COVID he lived and worked in NY. Notable credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, You, and The Long Road Home. He has worked for theater companies around NC and beyond such as Triad, Unto These Hills, and Thunder Bay. This is his first production with The Magnetic Theatre. @Reed94 on Instagram.
Katie Jones (Dru) - Katie is a director, performer, and educator. She has worked with regional theatres in Sarasota, Chicago, and Denver, where she directed community- focused programming. Katie specializes in new play development and is an alumnus of Directors Lab New York and 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's Artistic Director, Katie has worked locally with Asheville Creative Arts and the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival.
Bailey Loundsbury (Dru)-Baley is a fifth grader at Claxton Elementary She spends most of her free time singing and playing video games like Zelda. She likes writing and is currently writing a very long story. She immensely enjoys acting but loves her cat more.
Carin Metzger (Alyx) Carin is grateful to have been seen in various WNC productions. NC Stage appearances include Jeeves at Sea (Stella Vanderley), Frost/Nixon (Caroline Cushing), Jeeves Takes a Bow (Viviene Duckworth), and the Ensemble Community tour As You Like It (Rosalind). Additional local credits include the world premieres of The Legacy of Amelia Aldean (Amelia) at The Magnetic Theatre and Goodnight, Troublemaker (Goodnight) with Sublime Theatre, Attic Salt's Talking With (Mary Titfer) and The Underpants (Louise). Past professional credits include Live from WVL Radio Theatre: It's a Wonderful Life (Kitty '15, Evelyn '17). The Nebraska Theatre Caravan's national tour of A Christmas Carol (Belle), tours with National Theatre for Children, Bright Star Touring Theatre, and Asheville Creative Art's Charlotte's Web (Charlotte). A graduate of Elon University with a BFA in Acting, Ms. Metzger can be seen year-round performing with LaZoom Comedy Bus Tours.
Hanni Muerdter (Alyx) Hanni has performed in Western North Carolina with Mountain Art Theatre, Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, Parkway Playhouse, and Asheville Community Theatre. She was last Elizabeth Proctor in HART and Mountain Art Theatre's co-production of The Crucible, Elinor in Sense and Sensibility, and Laura in The Glass Menagerie. This is her first performance with The Magnetic Theatre. Hanni is originally from Haywood County and currently lives in Asheville.
Paula O'Brien (Alyx) - Paula is delighted to be out of the house safely interacting with people!!
Lauren Otis (Alyx)- Lauren is honored to be a part of this incredible group of performers, writers, and human beings in something i cared about. This is her second production with The Magnetic Theatre, most recently performing in Getting through the HoliDaze. Past credits include Sissy in It Can't Happen Here, Perdita in 16 Years Tried, Virgilia/Ensemble in Coriolanus 2020, Bernadette in The Edge of Our Bodies, Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, and Lady Percy/Poins in Henry IV Part 1. Thank you for supporting local artists!
Daphne Phillips-Sprague (Alyx)- Daphne is delighted to be making her Magnetic Theatre debut in something i cared about. Previously she played Little Fan in A Christmas Carol with the Montford Park Players. She has played various roles while at Tanglewood and other performing arts camps. She is in fifth grade at Claxton Elementary. She enjoys reading, drawing and playing video games when not performing.
Devin Bryant Stevens (Alyx)- Devin is incredibly excited and thankful to call something I cared about his first show with The Magnetic Theatre. Born and raised in Southwest Virginia, Devin studied theatre at the Barter Conservatory at Emory & Henry College, and has performed on and off stage at regional and community theatres throughout the Southeast. Favorite past roles include Billy in Anything Goes, Man 2 in Songs for A New World, Peter Patrone in The Heidi Chronicles, Boris Kolenkhov in You Can't Take It With You. as well as various roles in The Laramie Project. Special thanks to Travis, Jamie, and Jason for this amazing pandemic-defying play!
Andy Thompson (Dru) - Andy has been in community theatre in western NC since 1999. This their first show with The Magnetic and they are excited for the new experience. Some of their favorite roles have been Malcolm in The Full Monty, Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense Amen, and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, among others.
Brooks Wallace (Nico) - Brooks is excited to return to an in the flesh performance with The Magnetic Theatre! With history covering all genres like ACTION MOVIE THE PLAY, The Horror Show, and Getting Through The HoliDaze! He hopes everyone enjoys this outdoor experience with romantic drama galore!
ABOUT THE TRAIL GUIDES
Ryan Dever (Trail Guide) - Ryan is beyond ecstatic to be working with The Magnetic Theatre! A big thanks to Jason for the opportunity and to my family/friends for all their support.
Dakota Mann (Trail Guide)- Dakota has worked both on and off stage throughout WNC region, working with theatres such as Haywood Regional Arts Theatre. Parkway Playhouse, Anam Cara, The Magnetic Theatre, and the Sublime Theater and Press, as well as performing overseas in Scotland in a devised piece based around John Cage and the students of Black Mountain College in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last summer. He recently attained a BA in Drama from the University of North Carolina - Asheville Favorite past roles include: Ken in Red (HART), Mr. Martin in The Bald Soprano (HART), Chuck in She Kills Monsters (UNCA), the Douglas in Henry IV, part 1 (MPP) Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap (Parkway), and Dobchinsky in The Government Inspector (Anam Cara).
George Heard (Trail Guide) - George has weathered the pandemic by eating other people's sourdough starters and doom scrolling at a frantic rate. In between that he created original video pieces for two Magnetic Theatre Virtual Labs, hosted two rounds of Shakesprov with the Montford Park Players Players, and filmed a piece for Getting Through the HoliDaze for The Magnetic Theatre. George has been a part of the Asheville acting and comedy scene as a writer for The Feral Chihuahuas sketch comedy troupe and in short-form improv with the OxyMorons.
Jered Shults (Trail Guide) - Jered has been a Western North Carolina actor for about 7 years now. Jered graduated from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. He has had honor of working with a number of theaters in the area including Parkway Playhouse and Montford Park Players, and is always excited to return to The Magnetic stage. Jered is also a stage combatant and fight choreographer. Jered thanks you for coming to the show and supporting The Magnetic and live theatre in these crazy times.
PHOTOS by ELIZA HEATH
GALLERY
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THANK YOU
This production is made possible by the incredible generosity and dedication of our donors, members, production team, cast, volunteers, sponsors, and board of directors.
Thank you all for your contributions, patience, and willingness to support The Magnetic Theatre during these unprecedented times.
Special thanks to our season sponsor, THE GRIND
ABOUT THE THEATRE
The Magnetic Theatre seeks to connect Asheville audiences to original, artist-driven theatre. We support emerging local playwrights and produce exciting work that has not been seen in this region. We work to encourage new perspectives by illuminating the human condition through diverse, challenging projects and cultivating a passionate creative community.
THE MAGNETIC THEATRE STAFF
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR…………..KATIE JONES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR…….……JESSICA JOHNSON
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR………….…ABBY AUMAN
BOX OFFICE MANAGER……………TIPPIN
GRAPHICS & SOCIAL MEDIA……………CHEYENNE DANCY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
George Awad, Elizabeth McCorvey, Carin Metzger, Jason Phillips, Beth Ziegler