The Diana Wortham Theatre Board of Directors presents Broadway’s Next H!T Musical – New York City’s original, award-winning improvised musical comedy – in a special benefit evening for the Diana Wortham Theatre, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place in downtown Asheville. In Broadway’s Next H!T Musical, every lyric, melody, and jazz hand is made up on the spot to create the show. Master improvisers gather made up, “hit song” suggestions from the audience and create a spontaneous evening of music, humor, and laughter. The audience votes for their favorite song and watches as the cast turns it into a full-blown improvised musical — complete with memorable characters, witty dialogue, and plot twists galore.
The benefit is preceded by a special VIP reception with refreshments and decadent desserts at 7:30 p.m. and concludes with a post-performance meet-and-greet with the cast. The benefit evening is sponsored by Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., and is presented by the Diana Wortham Theatre’s Board of Directors to provide vital financial support for the ongoing programs of the theatre.
“I saw this show in New York City and immediately thought it would be a fun, engaging show for the annual benefit,” says John Ellis, Managing Director for Diana Wortham Theatre. “It isn’t often that an audience is able to see a new show created in front of their very eyes. It’s a great evening.”
Under the direction of improv veterans Rob Schiffman and Deb Rabbai, Broadway’s Next H!T Musical has appeared at The Triad, Tribeca Film Festival, and the New York Musical Theater Festival, to name a few. The New York Times hails the show as “Hilarious!” and the New York Post calls it “Remarkable…Something that few improvisers anywhere have the talent, experience and wit needed to successfully do…An ‘A-list’ of seasoned improvisers.” With memorable characters, witty dialogue and plot twists galore, this show continues to delight audiences everywhere it goes.
Located in the heart of the Pack Square Cultural District on historic Pack Square in downtown Asheville, Diana Wortham Theatre offers live performances of music, theatre and dance throughout the year by nationally touring artists (the Mainstage Series), as well as a wide array of performances by professional and avocational regional arts groups such as the Asheville Lyric Opera, The Asheville Ballet, Ballet Conservatory of Asheville, the annual Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, and Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance.
The Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place is located in the same complex as the Asheville Art Museum and the Colburn Earth Science Museum and is within walking distance of many shops and restaurants. The intimate theatre seats just over 500 and boasts exceptional acoustics and sightlines, making it the premier performance space in all of Western North Carolina. The Mainstage Series is supported by a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. The Mainstage Series 2012/2013 Season Sponsors are the Asheville Citizen-Times, Creative Energy, Laurey’s Catering and Gourmet-to-go, the North Carolina Arts Council, and Renaissance Asheville Hotel. To obtain more information on the Mainstage Series or to purchase tickets, call the theatre’s box office at (828) 257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com.
To obtain more information on the special benefit performance of Broadway’s Next H!T Musical on April 27 or to purchase tickets — VIP Tickets (7:30 pm Reception plus Orchestra-level Seating): $75; Regular (Performance Only; Balcony Seating): $50 — call the theatre’s box office at (828)257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com. A portion of the ticket price is a tax-deductible contribution to the theatre.