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Today’s Email Announcements

1) ASU Musical Theatre to Present “Chicago” on Oct. 10, 11

The Appalachian Musical Theatre Ensemble presents the multi-award winning musical “Chicago,” by the legendary duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb.  There will be only two performances of this production: the first at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Oct. 11 in the Blue Ridge Ballroom of Plemmons Student Union on the Appalachian State University campus.

Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults, and are available online viahttp://amtc.ticketleap.com/ and at the Musical Theatre Club’s table in Plemmons Student Union Monday through Friday from 1 – 5 p.m. Tickets will also be sold at the door beginning one hour prior to each performance.

Set in Chicago in the roaring 1920s, the show revolves around the infamous murderesses Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. The high-speed lifestyle of the Jazz era sweeps audiences off their feet, putting them right in the heart of the action. Originally choreographed and co-written by the famed dancer Bob Fosse, “Chicago” is a fast paced whirlwind of excitement and thrills.

Now in its 19th year on Broadway, making it the longest running American musical in history, “Chicago” has everything that makes a musical great: a universal tale of the rise and fall of fame, one show-stopping song after another and choreography in the style of Bob Fosse. “Chicago” has been the winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy and an Academy Award for its movie adaptation.

The Appalachian Musical Theatre Ensemble is the performance arm of the Appalachian Musical Theatre Club, and has previously produced successful productions of “Rent,” “Godspell,” “The Rocky Horror Show,” “Urinetown” and “Assassins.”  This production of “Chicago” involves 18 students in the cast and crew, representing more than a dozen different academic majors. The company is under the direction of Dr. Ray Miller, who also serves as choreographer.  Vocal Director Leia Gearhart is working with the cast while musical director JaQuan Wiley conducts a live, all-student orchestra for the production.

“Chicago” is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., New York, New York.

The Blue Ridge Ballroom is on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union, located at 263 Locust Street in Boone. Free parking for the performances is available on campus in faculty lots, the College Street parking deck near Belk Library and Information Commons, the Stadium Lot, and the Peacock/Raley Parking Lot.

2) Fort San Juan Archaeology Field School at the Berry Site on Oct. 22

There will be a new archaeology field school opportunity at the Berry archaeology site in Morganton, NC on Monday, October 19 through October 22, from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM daily. This field school will be open to the public 16 years of age and older. No experience is necessary, and participants may enroll for any or all of the scheduled days. The Field School will be led by staff and volunteers from the Exploring Joara Foundation and Warren Wilson College. The cost will be $35.00 per day, $25.00 for current Exploring Joara members. Registration is required, and space is limited.

Registration is available online at www.exploringjoara.org, or contact EJF at 828- 439-2463.

The Berry archaeological site is the location of Fort San Juan, the earliest European settlement in the interior of the United States. The fort was founded by Don Pardo in 1567, and has been nationally recognized as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in recent years.

3) Business Planning Course in Boone Set for Oct. 20-Nov. 24

Ascent Business Network is pleased to announce its next 6-week Business Planning Course in Boone, North Carolina. This course will begin on October 20th and run through November 24th.

The 6-Week Business Planning Course helps aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners to create a comprehensive business plan and gain the goals needed to successfully launch or improve their business.

This will be Ascent’s fifth 6-week Business Planning Course in the High Country. And, we are thrilled to welcome Chris Grasinger as the facilitator for this cohort. Chris grew up in the High Country of North Carolina and appreciates this region more than any other. He received his Masters of Business Administration from Appalachian State University in Fall of 2013. Chris serves as the Executive Director of High Country Local First and Ascent Business Network. He is also a partner at Center 45 Climbing and Fitness Gym.

Ascent’s 6-week Business Planning Course is an enhanced version of the popular Mountain BizWorks Foundations course, which has helped to launch and expand hundreds of WNC’s most successful small businesses. Through the course, participants acquire a clear aerial perspective of operations, financials, product/service development, and marketing. The concepts of start-up and overhead costs, units, break-even point, cash flow, mission and vision, target markets, and marketing strategy are featured.

Valerie Midgett, owner of Neighborhood Yoga stated, about the course, “It was about 15 years ago, that I decided that I wanted to open a yoga studio. Yoga is what I love to do, and then I tried to create a business out of it. I can honestly say that I was in this business all of these years with no business plan. The Ascent Business Planning Course helped me see the big picture and see how each part of my business fit together.”

Ascent is really excited about Neighborhood Yoga’s next step. “Neighborhood Yoga has been literally in my backyard for nine years,” Valerie said, “It’s time now to move out of my backyard and become a part of downtown Boone. My hope is that we might be a catalyst for other businesses to open downtown, to use spaces that are currently underused, and to create a downtown that thrives for both tourists and locals alike, even after 5:00 PM. I highly recommend the Ascent Business Planning Course. It gives you not only the resources, but that confidence that you need to go out and take that next step.”

The Business Planning Course meets 3 hours per week and is designed to create a network of peers from which participants gain ideas, support, and feedback along the way.

Cost: $250 (Cost-share scholarships available!)

When: October 20th, 2015 – November 24th, 2015 from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Where: Appalachian Enterprise Center, 130 Poplar Grove Connector in Boone

Ascent Business Network developed out of a need to connect High Country entrepreneurs with the resources that work best for them. As a High Country Local First program, Ascent understands that entrepreneurs face specific challenges when developing business plans, exploring new markets, seeking capital, or managing current assets. We want to build a network of existing, new, and emerging business support providers that truly foster success in the High Country.

Contact Ascent for more information about it’s upcoming 6-week Business Planning Course at info@ascentbusinessnetwork.com or visit our website at ascentbusinessnetwork.com.

4) Appalachian and the Community Together to Host the Gobbler 5K on Nov. 14

When: Saturday, November 14th, 2015 at 8:00am

(Register by October 30th to be guaranteed a t-shirt!)

Where: Duck Pond Field on Appalachian State’s campus

Why: All proceeds go towards the Leigh Lane Edwards Scholarship

The Gobbler is an event to celebrate! After the race, all runners and spectators are invited to enjoy homemade cobbler and refreshments.

Did we forget to mention…prizes will be awarded to the best turkey costume?! That’s right. Find your inner turkeys and get ready to run! Gobble, gobble!

*Disclosure: Please do not feel that you must be dressed in a turkey costume in order to run*

Website: http://thegobblerboone.weebly.com/