Life

Playhouse returns to classics in 2015 lineup

Lisa K. Bryant directs the cast of 'The Wizard of Oz' at North Henderson High School in 2013.

By Bill Moss, Published: August 12, 2014

"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "Gypsy" and the classic musical "Oliver!" highlight the 2015 Flat Rock Playhouse season that returns to familiar classics.

The season includes five musicals and one play on the Mainstage; a YouTheatre collaboration, four plays at the Playhouse Downtown and five Music on the Rock performances. Season dates have not yet been announced.
The Playhouse also is introducing new ticket prices with lower prices for seats farther back, some for as low as $15.
The Mainstage productions will include Always, Patsy Cline; How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Gypsy; Fly; Pump Boys and Dinettes; and, the classic musical Oliver!  Downtown Playhouse productions will kick off the season with a YouTheatre Spring production of The Wizard of Oz. The rest of the season Downtown will include Fully Committed, Driving Miss Daisy, Private Lives and On a First Name Basis, written by Norm Foster, whose comedies have been performed many times at the Playhouse. After a unique crowdsourcing effort in July where the Playhouse asked the audience and supporters to choose from a variety of options, the Playhouse staff is now refining the final list for the 2015 Music on the Rock series.
"Whether it is the highly requested return of Always, Patsy Cline and Pump Boys and Dinettes, or Broadway classics presented for the first time on our stage like Gypsy, or How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Flat Rock Playhouse's winning 2015 line-up offers something for everyone," Bryant said in a news release.
The return to classics signals a shift in programming and focus for the Playhouse. While the State Theatre of North Carolina is going to offer the same number of overall shows in 2015, they have made a commitment to "flatten" the season by having less overlap between and among their performances. "We recognize that it is challenging to make it to every Flat Rock Playhouse performance when there are overlapping productions," said Hillary Hart, managing director of the Flat Rock Playhouse. "By flattening it out, we are now able to provide more opportunities to see all of our shows, rather than force our patrons to choose between two that might run during the same time period."
"We don't expect an increase in ticket pricing," said Hart. "Instead, we're offering a variable priced seating structure which will allow greater accessibility for all ticket buyers."

The Playhouse plans to offer Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze ticket prices which will correspond to seating levels in both locations. The Platinum ticket prices will remain at $40. The remaining prices are as follows: Gold - $35; Silver - $30; and Bronze - $15, with a limited number of seats at that price.