Press Release

 

Triad Stage's Family Friendly Holiday Hit Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity Returns for a Third Season, November 28 – December 21, 2008

 

After two seasons of sold out shows and recording-breaking runs, the new Triad tradition is back by popular demand!

This November, Triad Stage proudly presents the return of Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity. Come home for the holidays. In this reprise of last season’s acclaimed hit, Reverend Roy Ledbetter and the Open Heart Community Fellowship congregation are back to bring the Christmas story to life in an Appalachian setting with down home laughter, toe-tapping music and a tug at the heart. Created by Triad Stage Artistic Director Preston Lane and Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek, the creative team behind Brother Wolf and Bloody Blackbeard, this new holiday tradition is a musical and storytelling journey from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus. In the tradition of the medieval mystery plays of Old England, Beautiful Star weaves music, humor and awe together, re-telling great stories from the Bible in a festive gathering of family, friends and faith.

Beautiful Star is set on a cold winter evening, high in the mountains of North Carolina, where the members of a small Open Heart Community Fellowship gather to tell the story of the first Christmas. But this is no ordinary Christmas pageant. As the fellowship brings these glorious stories to life, their simple mountain church is transformed by the power of music, the telling of tales and pure faith into a world of magic and wonder.

Beautiful Star, a heartwarming and spiritual theatrical performance for the entire family, runs November 28 through December 21, 2008. Opening night is Tuesday, December 2. In order to make the two hour production more accessible to families with young children, Triad Stage has moved up the curtain time of Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night performances to 7:00 p.m., and has added three 2:00 p.m. matinee performances on Saturdays.

For 2008, writer/director Lane has made some updates to the script, and composer/music director Dossett has added two new songs. This season’s production includes returning cast members: Carroll “Chip” Johnson as Rev. Roy Ledbetter, Cinny Strickland as Vestina Ledbetter, Michael Tourek as Franklin Duncan, Junious Leak as Vernon Sparks, Justin Emmanuel Harrington as Paul Sparks, Patti Hazlett as Shelly Ledbetter and Penny Hazlett as Myrtle Ledbetter; and introduces Ashley Ortiz as Esmeralda Garza, Steven Roten as Ferlin Hamblin and Joshua Yoder as Ricky Eggers.

The Beautiful Star Band is comprised of Bennett Sullivan of the band Beaconwood, Stephanie Coleman and new member Kaleigh Kathleen Malloy. Beautiful Star soundtrack CDs will be on sale in the lobby throughout the run of the production.

The design team for Beautiful Star includes Scenic Designer Branden Tucker, Costume Designer Kelsey Hunt, Lighting Designer John Wolf and Sound Designer David E. Smith. The dramaturg is Drew Barker and the assistant director is Ruthie Tutterow. The stage manager is Eric Tysinger and the assistant stage manager is Geoff Boronda.  

Biographies for the cast and creative team, song samples and more information on the production can be found online at www.triadstage.org.

Tickets for preview performances of Beautiful Star, on November 28, 29 and 30 are all $16 each. From Opening Night, December 2, single ticket prices range from $12 to $42. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and seat location desired. There are also a limited number of general admission gallery seats available for each performance, priced at $10 each. Beautiful Star is presented as a special event and is not included in Triad Stage’s 2008-2009 Season Pass packages.

All performances are at Triad Stage at The Pyrle Theater, located at 232 South Elm Street in historic downtown Greensboro, North Carolina (between Market and Washington Streets).

Families can save with the “2 for 1” Tuesday Ticket Special. When parents buy one ticket at regular price, they can receive one child’s ticket for free. The offer is good for all Tuesday 7:00 p.m. performances. There is a limit of two tickets per order and must be purchased by calling the Triad Stage Box Office. Some restrictions apply.

Discount rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Group tickets can be purchased by calling Sherry Barr, Director of Audience Services at 336.274.0067 ext. 218 or emailing groupsales@triadstage.org.

Show times for Beautiful Star are 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings and 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m. There are no matinee performances during previews. Pay-What-You-Can performances are Sunday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m. A Sign-Interpreted performance is on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m. PostScript, a lively, freewheeling discussion with the director and members of the cast, will be held on Thursday, December 11, immediately following the evening performance.

Beautiful Star Post-show Concerts
Triad Stage will feature three Saturday night post-show concerts in conjunction with Beautiful Star. On Saturday, December 6, Riley Baugus, Joe Thrift and Laurelyn Dossett take the stage following the 8:00 pmperformance. On Saturday, December 13, Laurelyn Dossett is joined by local musicians Molly McGinn and Scott Manring. Beaconwood, with Eric Robertson, Ryan Stanford and Bennett Sullivan, performs on Saturday, December 20. Concert admission is free for ticket holders to the evening’s performance of Beautiful Star. Concert tickets may also be purchased separately for $5 each. Beverages will be available from Triad Stage’s lobby bar.

About Triad Stage
Triad Stage is a professional not-for-profit regional theatre company based in Greensboro’s downtown historic district. All Triad Stage productions are created in Greensboro using the best of local and national talent. Triad Stage gratefully acknowledges the support of its Season Sponsors: Mitre Agency, the North Carolina Arts Council and the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro. The Production Sponsor of Beautiful Star is Carruthers and Roth, PA.

Triad Stage’s 2008-2009 MainStage “Season of Spirit” continues with Black Pearl Sings!, a musical journey by Frank Higgins (January 25 – February 15, 2009); Ghosts, a shocking exposé by Henrik Ibsen, in a world-premiere adaptation by Preston Lane (March 15 – April 5, 2009); The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, a new comedic thrill ride by Robert Hewett (April 26 – May 17, 2009); and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a counter-culture masterpiece by Dale Wasserman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey (June 7 – July 5, 2009). Season Passes and single tickets are on sale now. Beautiful Star is not part of the Season Pass subscription package. Triad Stage also presents theatrical productions in its new UpStage Cabaret with The Santaland Diaries, a big kids’ holiday event by David Sedaris (November 20 – December 20, 2008); Mad at Miles, a blackwoman’s guide to truth by Pearl Cleage (February 5 – March 14, 2009); and Shakespeare’s R&J, an awakening of youth by Joe Calarco (April 9 – May 16, 2009).

All Triad Stage productions feature the bold acting and breathtaking design that have been nationally recognized by The Wall Street Journal and haveearned the theatre accolades including “One of the Best Regional Theatres in America”, New York’s Drama League; “Best Live Theater”, Go Triad/News & Record and The Rhinoceros Times; and “Professional Theater of the Year”, North Carolina Theatre Conference. 

To purchase tickets or for performance information on Beautiful Star, call the Triad Stage Box Office at 336.272.0160 or toll-free at 866.579.TIXX (8499), or visit www.triadstage.org.

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CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

Triad Stage presents
Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity
by Preston Lane, with original music by Laurelyn Dossett
November 28 – December 21, 2008

Performed at the Pyrle Theater
232 South Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401

Come home for the holidays. After two seasons of sold out performances and record-breaking runs, Beautiful Star’s Rev. Roy Ledbetter and the Open Heart Community Fellowship congregation return once again to bring the Christmas story to life with down home laughter, toe-tapping music and a tug at the heart. See why critics call this new holiday tradition “perfect family fare…[that] will lighten your heart and put a lump in your throat,” (News & Record) and “the best show I've seen in this or any holiday season.” (The Charlotte Observer)

For tickets:
Phone: (336) 272-0160
Toll-free: (866) 579-TIXX (8499)
Box Office hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Online: www.triadstage.org
Ticket prices: $10 – $42, depending on performance date and seat location

“2 for 1” Tuesday Ticket Special for Families
Parents who buy one adult ticket at regular price can receive one child’s ticket for free. Offer good for Tuesday 7:00 p.m. performances only. Limit 2 per order. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.
Call: (336) 272-0160 or toll-free (866) 579-TIXX (Mon – Fri, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
Ticket prices: $22 – $34, depending on seat location

Group tickets:
Call (336) 274-0067 ext. 218
Email: groupsales@triadstage.org
Ticket discounts: Groups of 10 – 49, 15% off; Groups of 50+, 20% off

Educators’ 20% discount tickets:
Current school teachers and professors receive a 20% discount off regular price tickets to all performances. Must present valid school employee ID or proof of employment to Box Office when picking up tickets. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.
Call: (336) 272-0160 or toll-free (866) 579-TIXX (Mon – Fri, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
Ticket prices: $8 – $33.60, depending on performance date and seat location

$8 Student Rush tickets:
Current students with valid school ID may purchase tickets for $8. Student Rush tickets are only available at the Triad Stage Box Office one hour before each performance. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.
Available at the Box Office for walk-up sales. (Performance days: Sunday, Tuesday – Thursday, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sunday matinees 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

$10 Gallery Seats:
A limited number of $10 general admission gallery seats are available for each performance.
Call: (336) 272-0160 or toll-free (866) 579-TIXX (Mon – Fri, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
Also available at the Box Office for walk-up sales.

Performance dates:
Friday, November 28 8:00 p.m.  1st Preview
Saturday, November 29 8:00 p.m.  Preview
Sunday, November 30 7:00 p.m.  Preview
Tuesday, December 2 7:00 p.m.  Opening Night
Wednesday, December 3 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 4 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 5 8:00 p.m.  
Saturday, December 6 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 6 8:00 p.m.  Post-show concert with Riley Baugus, Joe Thrift and Laurelyn Dossett
Sunday, December 7 2:00 p.m.  
Sunday, December 7 7:00 p.m.  “Pay-What-You-Can” performance
Tuesday, December 9 7:00 p.m.  “Pay-What-You-Can” performance
Wednesday, December 10 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 11 7:00 p.m.  “PostScript” post-show discussion
Friday, December 12 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 13 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 13 8:00 p.m.  Post-show concert with Laurelyn Dossett, Molly McGinn and Scott Manring
Sunday, December 14 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 14 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 16 7:00 p.m.  Sign-interpreted performance
Wednesday, December 17 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 18 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 19 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 20 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 20 8:00 p.m.  Post-show concert with Beaconwood
Sunday, December 21 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 21 7:00 p.m.  Closing performance