Introducing the Fight Girl Cast

Like I promised, here's a little info about the cast of characters, the actors playing them, and, consequently, a little about the story of Fight Girl Battle World.  FYI, the play is in many ways an homage to sci-fi, action, and cult films and TV series, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Firefly, Blade Runner, and others, so it'll be a fun ride.  Now, presenting the cast of Fight Girl Battle World!

Rebecca Morris plays E-V, a street prize fighter who also happens to be the last human female in all the known galaxies.

Rebecca is a local actor, performing in plays and movies.  If you saw our production of Angels in America this fall, you'll remember her as Harper Pitt.  Badass that she is, Rebecca choreographed most of the fights in the show.

Jake Bowden is GENERAL DAN'H, leader of the insurgency against the United Galactic Alliance/Council (UGC), the intergalactic government.

Jake is a student at UNCA studying theatre.  In addition to his acting, Jake built many of the set pieces you'll see in the production.  Little known fact: He and Charlie went to the same high school, but in different centuries.

Lauren Kriel (that's me!) plays J'AN JAH, Dan'h's Ursalean, gender-bending pilot.

Lauren is graduate of Warren Wilson College, where she majored in theatre/English.  As a younger sibling, she's glad she finally gets to be on the winning side of fights (although choreographed).

Bobby Abrahamson is ADON-RA, the last human male in the known galaxies, notoriously known as a vengeful psychokilling space terrorist.

Bobby is a theatre student at UNCA and was recently an administrative intern for NC Stage.  Do you know any good jokes? You want to hear this guy's laugh -- it's infectious. 
 

Jason Williams is LC-4, a "robot robot" who was once a robot playwright and soon becomes E-V's right-hand tin can.

Jason does it all.  He not only plays two other roles besides LC-4, but he also designed the lights for this production.  Jason directs as well, and his next project is As You Like It with the Montford Park Players.

Jessica Lewis is MIKAH MONOCH, a torture-obsessed agent for the UGC.

Jessica is yet another lover of sci-fi.  She's a big "Dr. Who" fan and a "Firefly" fan, too.  (The list goes on, of course.)  She is studying literature at UNCA.   

Alison Young plays both ZIMLEK, E-V's bookie/coach on Battle World, and COMMANDER G'BRIL, the UGC's second in command to the president.

Alison is a graduate of Mars Hill College and is a performer of all kinds.  She sings, acts, and performs burlesque! Did you see the New Year's Eve eve performance by Bombs Away Cabaret here at NC Stage? If so, then you've seen her do her thing.

Travis Kelley is PRESIDENT YA-WI, commander in chief of the UGC, who initiated the Human Wars, an almost successful attempt to wipe out all human life.

Travis is a sci-fi movie devotee.  You might recognize him from local theatre productions around town, or perhaps you've seen him at the Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company, where he works.

Bradshaw Call plays both the ZOOKEEPER, a trained keeper of the most endangered species in the galaxy, as well as the ANCHOR, the glamorous newscaster spreading news to the farthest reaches of the UGC core planets.

Bradshaw is a man of many talents.  The spaceships? He built them.  The term 'space galactica?' He coined it.  Just wait til you hear all the excellent character voices he uses in the show...




We open this Thursday, January 19, so grab a friend or two, don a costume if you like, and get your qwarding blarkbutt down to the theatre to see this show.  We've got one hell of show for you.

Gearing up...

Fight Girl Battle World: January 19-February 4

Here we are in the second week of January 2012, and here at NC Stage, we've hit the ground running in this new year.  We're gearing up for our next Catalyst Series production, Fight Girl Battle World by Qui Nguyen, which opens next week.  Just yesterday, cast member Rebecca Morris (remember Harper Pitt from Angels? That's her!) and director Charlie Flynn-McIver were interviewed by Dick Kowal on WCQS about the show.  Cast members are going all over town putting up posters and getting the word out about the production.  The cast also recently filmed some promotional videos in character about the play (which we'll post here once they're done).  In the mood for pizza? You might just find a flier for Fight Girl... atop your pizza box from Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company.  We're excited about this play, so understandably, we want everyone to know about it.  In fact, thanks for reading this! Now buy a ticket and go tell 10 friends to do the same.  Joking! But not really.  

So, Charlie is directing this production, but the big question is, "Where did you even find this play in the first place, dude?" More on the cast and their work on the production later, because what I have for you today is a link to an article from American Theatre magazine from October 2010.  Perhaps you recall lots of social media posts around that time from NC Stage telling you to read an article about Charlie Flynn-McIver and Scott Treadway.  Well, the article just after it in the print version of the magazine is about the Fight Girl Battle World playwright, Qui Nguyen, his aesthetic, and his work with Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company.  It's worth a read, and it's fascinating! 

More to come later on about FGBW and other upcoming productions (Love Child opens in a little over a month!) so subscribe to the blog if you like, or just keep your eyes peeled.  Until next time...

This Week and Next...

I Killed My Mother featuring Andrew Hampton Livingston and Melissa Hawkins

THIS WEEK: Declared both a 'Smart Bet' by the Mountain Xpress and a 'Hot Pick' by the Asheville Citizen-Times' Take5 Entertainment section, Theatre Y's production of I Killed My Mother by Andras Visky runs this weekend only at NC Stage as part of the Catalyst Series, and it should not be missed.  Translated from Romanian, Theatre Y produced the first English version last year in Chicago to rave reviews.  To get a taste for what it's like, check out this trailer, then buy your tickets!  Their next destination where the play will be produced is La MaMa Experimental Theatre in New York City in February 2012, so catch 'em here while you can.
August 4 - 7  --  7:30 PM Thursday - Saturday, 2 PM Sunday  --  Tickets: $15

AND NEXT... : NC Stage is going to be dark the week of August 8th, but if you're looking for live theatre, may we suggest the special benefit performance of Honky Tonk Angels at Asheville Community Theatre on Thursday, August 11?  Tickets are $20 each and all proceeds benefit our dear friends at Western North Carolina AIDS Project.  The work they do is so important for our community, and we want to spread the word about this fun way to support them!  For more info, visit wncap.org, or call George at WNCAP at 828-252-7489.
Thursday, August 11 at 7:30 PM  --  Asheville Community Theatre  --  Tickets: $20

 

Rattlesnake - THIS WEEKEND ONLY!

Rattlesnake opened yesterday!  That's right, John Hardy is here in Asheville and we had the first performance last night here at NC Stage.  If you haven't heard yet, the Mountain Xpress declared Rattlesnake a "Smart Bet" in this week's issue.  If that doesn't do it for you, we've got some familiar faces from our stage - Andrew Livingston and Julia VanderVeen - to vouch for John Hardy and his great work.

"I saw John Hardy play George in Of Mice and Men at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA. He is a truly remarkable actor. He understands the specificity of action and conflict through given circumstances like no other. And he's an interesting human being making him engaging to watch on stage." 

-- Andrew Livingston

"Joe Pitt" in Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and "Jim" in the upcoming NCSC/itp production of The Glass Menagerie

Julia as "Gretchen" (in yellow)

"John Hardy is the single person from whom I have learned the most about acting.  He is an amazingly committed, giving artist.  And Katy Brown, director of Rattlesnake, is the other person whom I have learned the most about acting from in the world.  They together took me from being a "performer" to being an artist." 

On Rattlesnake: "You will be shocked how one man can transform himself into 16 different characters and tell a very full story, and you will leave the theatre changed. It is an honor for me to even be in the same room as John Hardy and every time I watch him work I learn something and yearn to better myself as an actor and as a person." 

-- Julia VanderVeen

"Sister James" in Doubt, "Ophelia" in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and "Gretchen" in Boeing-Boeing

You heard it! It's one you won't want to miss, so come on down and see it, 'cause it's only here through Saturday.  All tickets are $15, but student rush tickets ($10) are available after 2 PM the day of a show. Want to get your tickets? You can order online, call us (828.239.0263), or stop by in person!

Be seein' you...

sssssssssoooooooon.

'Grimm' opens tomorrow!

We are pleased to announce our next Catalyst Series production: Dark Horse Theatre's original play Grimm.  It opens tomorrow, Wednesday, March 23 and runs through Saturday, March 26, and all performances are at 7:30 PM.  Get your tickets today!  They're available online, over the phone (828.239.0263), or in person at our box office - 15 Stage Lane. 

Grimm, an original work written and directed by Emily McClain, is the follow-up to Dark Horse Theatre’s 2010 production of Alice Underground, which sold out two separate runs at BeBe Theatre.  Two members of the Grimm cast, Jason Williams and Marissa Williams, were interviewed on 880 The Revolution's program Local Edge Radio last week, and you can listen to the interview here.  (To get to their part of the program, drag the player to about 65% of the way through the track.)

The residents of Grimm eagerly await your arrival...