Flat Rock Playhouse Presents THE MUSIC OF JAMES BOND Through 9/21

Flat Rock Playhouse presents The Music of James Bond from September 11- 21 at The Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage. Popular songs like "Goldfinger," "Diamonds are Forever," "Skyfall," and countless others will be featured in a night dedicated to the world's favorite spy.

See the Mainstage transformed into the trendy "Skyfall Lounge" and experience the strength, glamour, and sophistication of singer Erin Mosher. Mosher will be accompanied by Katie Zanca, Nicki Sampson, and Jaimy Mangione, all of whom are from the area. Music for the 18 song set list will be provided by the Flat Rock Playhouse jazz band. Classic James Bond films going back to the very first film, Dr. No and traveling through a variety of genres to the blockbuster hit, Skyfall.

"The ambiance will definitely be different than any of our other shows," says Director Lisa K. Bryant. "We wanted it to be more intimate and for guests to actually feel as if they were in a lounge."

To set the scene, Mosher, the "Bond girls" and the band will remain closer downstage near the audience throughout the entire performance. Almost as if accompanying the ensemble, there will be two bar tables actually on the stage for a very few lucky VIPs. At the back of the house, sofas and chairs will fill the space, alongside the Skyfall Lounge bar, adding to the intent of a more intimate, intriguing evening out. Since the overall atmosphere will be more relaxed than other productions at the Playhouse, guests will be able to move around throughout the lounge and theatre seating, all without interrupting the flow of the evening.

The Director for this show is Acting Artistic Director, Lisa K. Bryant, who began her career with Flat Rock Playhouse as an Apprentice in 1994. Since then she has played a myriad of roles including intern, actor, teacher, writer, and Apprentice director. While at the Playhouse, Bryant has directed RENT, School House Rock Live!, Once On This Island, and her self-written play, Princess Reform School. This year, Lisa directed Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike and the smash hit My Fair Lady.

Cast members are Erin Mosher, Katie Zanca, Nicki Sampson, Jaimy Mangione.

Band members are Michael Sebastian (Conductor/piano), Alex Shields (Assoc. Conductor/keyboard 1), Ethan Anderson (Asst. Conductor/keyboard 2), Paul Babelay (percussion), Bill Altman (Guitar), M. King Goslin (Bass).

Music Director is Michael Sebastian. Scenic Designer is Dennis Maulden. Costume Designer is Rebecca Conway. Asst. Costume Designer is Ashli Arnold. Lighting Designer is Stephen Terry. Technical Director is Tony Lawrence. Sound Designer is Kurt Conway.

The Music of James Bond is supported in part by TD Bank and will run from September 11- 21 at the Playhouse Mainstage. Performances will be Thursday through Saturday at 8:00pm; matinees Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. All tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732-8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

Discounts are available for seniors, AAA members, military personnel, students and groups. The Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage is located at 2661 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock, NC.

In 1937, a group of struggling performers, led by Robroy Farquhar, organized themselves as the Vagabond Players. The Vagabonds worked in a variety of places over the course of three years, and in 1940 found themselves in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. The local and tourist community welcomed them with open arms when they presented their first summer season of plays in a 150-year-old grist mill they converted into The Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake. So successful was that summer, they returned in 1941. After WWII, the Vagabond Players reorganized, came back to the region and opened a playhouse in nearby Lake Summit. The Lake Summit Playhouse thrived during the post war years and soon the Vagabond Players were looking for a larger and permanent home. In 1952, the troupe of performers, and a newly formed board of directors, made an offer to buy an 8-acre lot in the Village of Flat Rock. This new home made the Vagabonds "locals" and a rented big top gave birth to Flat Rock Playhouse. As the beautiful Western Carolina region continued to grow, so did the Playhouse and in 1961, by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, Flat Rock Playhouse was officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940 is now a nine-month season of plays including Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young audiences. The Playhouse's dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; performances and cabaret series by the YouTheatre; year-round classes and workshops for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 98,000 patrons annually and is a significant contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.

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