Postmodern Take on LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD to Kick Off Spring at Asheville Creative Arts

Asheville Creative Arts (ACA), Asheville's professional children's theatre announces the first mainstage of its spring season, THE LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD SHOW, a postmodern take on the classic tale written by Russell Davis and co-directed by ACA co-founder Abby Felder and resident company member, Katie Jones.

The show, which will be held at the company's new theatre home, Magnetic 375 (375 Depot Street), will run for the public from April 6-9. Tickets are $12 for students and $23 for adults and are available at the company website, ashevillecreativearts.org/purchase-tickets.

In the play, audiences will meet a girl, equipped with a basket of goodies, plus one Grandmother, sick in bed. These characters combined with one Wolf, lurking mischievously, and one skeptical Mother, populate a well-loved tale re-told as a sly and spicy story that addresses social media as the modern day "wolf in the woods." Employing a thoughtful humor and witty dialogue, it will delight children and adults right down to the last surprising bite.

This production includes a cast of local favorites: Julia Cunningham is Little Red Riding Hood, George Awad plays her Grandmother, Daniele Martin is her Mother, and Tippin is the Wolf. They are joined by creative team from Asheville, New York City and Charlotte, including resident artists Gina Stewart and Brenda Gambill of Jonesalee who will design the soundscape, New York based Marie Yokoyama who will create set installation and costumes, Rebecca Williams who will create video and projection design, Eric Winkenwerder of Wink Lighting joins as light designer, with dramaturgy by resident company member Alex Smith and production coordinator is Jason Williams.

Abby Felder says, "As we enter into our 5th Milestone season, we are so excited to push ourselves with a production that integrates new design vocabularies, including live video and immersive soundscape, and content that is contemporary and challenging, while at the same time fulfilling our mission by appreciating that young audiences can find entertainment in work that is also thought provoking." Katie Jones adds, "we are working with an amazing team of actors and designers who will help realize this fantastic re-imagining of a familiar tale that truly will delight all ages."

THE LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD SHOW will include weekday matinee performances with specially discounted and free tickets, plus pre-show study guide designed in accordance with Common Core benchmarks for learning, and post-show Q&A underwritten by generous individual donors on April 5, 6 and 7 at 10am and 12pm with tickets at $5 each. For information on booking these shows, contact Abby Felder at 914-830-3000 or at abby@ashevillecreativearts.org.

Asheville's critically acclaimed, award winning theatre devoted to creating works for children of all ages, Asheville Creative Arts was founded in 2013. Led by Abby Felder with Gina Stewart and Brenda Gambill of Jonesalee, and with a new Resident Company of local talent helmed by Katie Jones and Alex Smith. ACA has the following mission: To produce, present and create professional and innovative theatre for the very young to the young at heart, and embrace diverse cultures with a main stage season of productions of musical, literary adaptations, and puppet based work that push the boundaries of children's theatre; to train the next generation of artists; and to ensure that all families in Western NC and beyond have access to theatre arts through outreach such as touring, and "in-reach" such as specially discounted performances for school and community groups. In honor of contributions to the cultural landscape, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer declared July 18, 2014 "Asheville Creative Arts Day;" and ACA's production of HOW I BECAME A PIRATE was the 2016 recipient of a Grassroots Partnership Award- a grant from the NC Arts Council, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, distributed by the Asheville Area Arts Council.

THE LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD SHOW runs April 6-9, 2017 at Magnetic 375 (375 Depot Street in the River Arts District). Public performances are Thursday and Friday at 7pm, Saturday and Sunday at 1pm and 4pm. Visit Asheville Creative Arts' website for information on how to get tickets which are $12 for students and $23 for adults (http://ashevillecreativearts.org/purchase-tickets/); For more information on booking school matinees (April 5-7 at 10am and 12pm), with $5 tickets for students and free tickets for educators, contact abby@ashevillecreativearts.org or call 914/830-3000, additional information about ACA's 5th Milestone Season available at www.ashevillecreativearts.org. For more information about The Magnetic Theatre visit www.themagnetictheatre.org.

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