Light Up The Sky, a nostalgic 1948 comedy by American playwright and theatre director Moss Hart, is scheduled for three matinee performances by The Autumn Players of Asheville Community Theatre (ACT): Friday and Saturday, September 28 and 29, at 35below; Sunday, September 30, at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center. Under the direction of Arnold Sgan, this is the first of five productions for the 2012-13 season of Readers Theatre Showcase. It also marks the 20th birthday of The Autumn Players. Curtain is at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $5 cash at the door.
Light Up The Sky is a rollicking look at those behind the scenes on opening night of a new play. Hart presents a veritable menagerie of memorable characters. The emotional director. The money-man producer. The drama-queen diva and her ex-diva mom. Plus more divas and former divas along with new playwrights and other zany characters. Whether your experience has been in front of the curtain or behind it or both, you will love them all. And, you will be left to wonder, “Will opening night be closing night?” And, “Are those involved in theatre today that different from those of over 60 years ago?” Light Up The Sky is a tribute to Moss Hart’s love affair with theatre and to the reality that a work of art is subject to the capriciousness of actors, directors, producers, designers, audiences, and, of course, the critics.
Director Arnold Sgan is an actor, community volunteer and former educator. His favorite role at ACT was Solomon in The Price. He also enjoyed roles in The Diary Of Anne Frank, The Shadow Box, An Inspector Calls, Morning’s At Seven, The Devil’s Disciple and many more. This production is his debut as a director.
The Autumn Players is ACT’s volunteer outreach company consisting of dozens of seasoned actors, directors, writers and event organizers dedicated to taking theatre into the community. Since 1992, the company has provided entertainment, enrichment, and education for thousands of students, seniors, and in-betweens at venues within an hour or more from Asheville.
For more information or for a full schedule of the Readers Theatre Showcase series, please visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.