August 3-5 at The Folk Art Center, Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville NC Fresh Preserves, an original play by Tom Godleski, was the 2009 winner of Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre's
Annual Scriptfest Playwright Competition. The work is a wonderful blend of
mountain storytelling and songwriting, a true expression of southern
Appalachian culture. Godleski is a native of western North Carolina and well-known for his
bluegrass band Buncombe Turnpike. As a songwriter, Godleski has been
inspired by the area's history and by his own family's stories. In
2008, he produced a CD called Fresh Preserves based on stories handed
down to him from his grandfather, mother and uncle. Writing the play in 2009 completed the process of honoring those people in his life.
All the songs from the CD are woven into the production of the play with actors and musicians sharing roles, making the play a multimedia experience for the audience. Fresh Preserves also features visual art with original paintings by Asheville artist Scott Allred brought onstage spotlighting characters and scenes.
Show times are: Friday, Aug. 3, 7:30 PM; Saturday, Aug. 4, 2:30 PM. and 7:30 PM; Sunday, Aug. 5, 2:30 PM. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets available at the door or call 828-252-9534 to reserve them in advance.
Get more information about The Folk Art Center and other Asheville Attractions on The Asheville NC Visitor Guide
Friday
at 7:30 PM BMC Artistic Director Keith Lockhart leads the Transylvania
Symphony Orchestra in a rare performance of the complete incidental
music from Grieg’s Peer Gynt. Friday’s
concert will be the largest performance of the 2012 season with 300
performers on stage as the TSO is joined by the Brevard Festival Chorus
and narrator Ray Dooley. 
Saturday at 7:30 PM the powerhouse comedy duo Igudesman & Joo present their over-the-top orchestral show BIG Nightmare Music. Appearing on stages and televisions across Europe, the pair has become a YouTube sensation with their unique blend of Classical technique and comedic presentation. This tour stop in Brevard will be Igudesman & Joo’s only appearance in the Southeastern US this year.
Sunday
at 3:00 PM BMC Artistic Director Keith Lockhart will conduct the Brevard
Music Center Orchestra in the festival’s Season Finale concert
featuring Dzubay’s Shadow Dance, Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, and Berlioz’s spectacular Symphonie fantastique. Soloist on the Grieg will be celebrated pianist André Watts. A
world-renowned artist, Watts has played before royalty in Europe and
heads of government in nations all over the world throughout his over 45
year long career. 