News & Events

Thespian Insurrection Productions Debuts with "Line" and "Cinderhood" May 27-30

May 25, 2010

Thespian Insurrection Productions, a newly formed summer stock company founded by current UNC Asheville drama students and alumni, will stage the Off-Broadway play “Line” May 28-30 and a children’s themed show “Cinderhood” May 27, 29 and 30 at UNC Asheville’s Carol Belk Theatre.

Curtain for “Cinderhood” is 7 p.m. Thursday, May 27;  2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 29; and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 30. Curtain for “Line” is 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 28-29, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 30.  All shows are open to the public. Tickets for both shows are $5 and are available at the door for all performances.

“Line,” the longest running Off-Broadway show in history, was written by Israel Horovitz. It is an absurdist drama about five people waiting in a line for an event that is never made clear, with each character fighting to be first in the line.

“Cinderhood,” written by Dennis McCarthy, is a fractured fairy tale play that combines the stories of Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood—the meeting of the two and the mayhem that ensues.

UNC Asheville junior John Coggin and senior Sydney De Briel founded Thespian Insurrection Productions in January 2010.

“We wanted to create a summer stock company that breaks away from the theatrical and educational model that they felt constricted by when in school by giving its members the opportunity of trying other aspects of theatre they’ve never done while being in the company,” Coggin said.

They also wanted to change the way an audience sees live theatre, by making theatre for the people, by the people and local people supporting local arts.

The founding members of the company decided the company’s name Thespian Insurrection Productions; it means to revolt against old rules and established ways when it comes to theatre. Their first season, along with “Line” and “Cinderhood,” includes the award-winning play “Closer” and Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice.”

“Line” is directed by UNC Asheville junior Garrett Funk and stage-managed by sophomore Will Storrs. Designers include alumnus Cole Pettus on set and sound; alumnus Skyler Goff on costumes; and junior Kirby Gibson on lights. The cast includes senior Bobby Abrahamson, sophomore Hollis Anderson, Coggin, Gibson and Pettus.

“Cinderhood” is directed by alumnus Glenn Weyler. Designers include Gibson on set; senior Stacy Hines on costumes; and Storrs on makeup. The cast includes Abrahamson, De Briel, Goff and senior Katherine Lancaster.

For more information, call Katherine Lancaster, the company’s publicist, at 919/260-7919.