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Ensemble Stage Opened for the 2017 Season This Past Friday, June 16, with a Successful Performance in New Home in Banner Elk

Artistic Director Gary Smith (center) was flanked by Allen Bolick (town councilman) and Winston Ammann (Bayou Smokehouse) during the pre-play reception to celebrate the opening of Ensemble Stage in the Historic Banner Elk School on June 16.

The wait is over.  The baby is born. 

Ensemble Stage opened the 2017 season with The Star Spangled Girl on June 16.  Neil Simon’s 1966 comedy repeatedly sparked the audience to laughter, once again bringing a vibrant feeling to the gym of the Historic Banner Elk School. 

The Star Spangled Girl takes place in San Francisco and follows two young men, Andy and Norman, as they utilize their apartment as the publishing headquarters for a protest magazine. An Olympic swimmer, Sophie, moves into an apartment on the same floor, and love and politics intertwine in this delightful play that will keep you rooted to your seats.

Artistic Director Gary Smith, tired but happy, welcomed Ensemble Stage patrons from across the High Country to the ensemble’s inaugural performance at the Historic Banner Elk School.

February 1 was the formal start of Ensemble Stage’s transition from Blowing Rock to Banner Elk.  By action of the Town of Banner Elk, the welcome mat was put down and nonstop work followed by Gary Smith and Lisa Lamont.  Donors were found and tickets were sold.  Painters, electricians and carpenters applied their skills and an amazing physical transformation turned an old empty gym, built in 1939, into a 99-seat theater. 

Banner Elk’s new Ensemble Stage company wowed theatergoers Saturday with its opening show, The Star Spangled Girl, in the ensemble’s June 16 inaugural performance.

The seemingly perfect cast for The Star Spangled Girl was found in Taylor Noll, Aaron Scotch and Scott Douglas Wilson and rehearsals began.  Then almost like a miracle, The Star Spangled Girl christened the new theater.  Appreciative patrons welcomed the newest of Banner Elk’s cultural offerings…Ensemble Stage now makes Banner Elk the High Country’s hot spot for professional theater. 

The cast for The Star Spangled Girl entertained a packed audience during the June 16 season opener for Ensemble Stage.  In a recently renovated theater at the Historic Banner Elk School, Aaron Scotch, Taylor Noll and Scott Wilson combined their unique talents to set the performance bar high.

The Star Spangled Girl will run until June 24 with the next on-stage performance taking place on Tuesday, June 20 at 7 p.m.  Performances to follow include Mary and Myra from July 7-15, Switzerland from July 29-August 6 and then Art of Murder from August 18-26.  There’s a Saturday Kid’s Theater at 11 am featuring Rapunzel on June 24 and July 22 plus King Arthur on July 8 and August 5

Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for senior citizens/military/students and $11 for kids 16 and under.

For more information on the plays, visit the Ensemble Stage website.

For ticket purchases, call 828-414-1844 or visit the website.

To learn more visit ensemblestage.com or call 828-414-1844.