Carolina Actors' Studio Theatre Hosts THE THRESHOLD OF ALCHEMY 9/9, Terrence McNally Class 9/10, & MARAT/SADE 10/22-11/21

Call for the waiting list for the September 9th event "At the Threshold of Alchemy: An Evening of Poetry and Music with John Amen." This event is sold out, but there is a waiting list.

John Amen is the author of three collections of poetry: Christening the Dancer, More of Me Disappears, and the recently released At the Threshold of Alchemy. He has released two folk/folk rock CDs: All I'll Never Need and Ridiculous Empire. John Amen's work has appeared in numerous publications nationally and internationally and he founded and continues to edit The Pedestal Magazine.

This event is presented free to the public and features John Amen, guest musicians C. Scott, Tanja Bechtler, Barry Sherman, and members of CAST's AvantVanGuard Series Performers. This event is a full theatrical experience! John Amen's books and CDs will be available for purchase before and after the performance. A book signing will follow in the lobby!

On September 10 on the mainstage is a master class with Terrence McNally. Tony Award Winning author Terrence McNally weaves brilliant theatre into a Master Class conducted by Opera Legend Maria Callas! Adored by her fans Callas was the subject of constant media attention, including gossip about her jet-set life with the wealthy Greek ship-owner Aristotle Onassis. Rich, vivid, satisfying theatre, MASTER CLASS provides electric, honest, passionate and often cruel lessons.

Starting October 22, CAST presents Marat/Sade: The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the Direction of The Marquis de Sade. Marat/Sade runs through November 21.

The full title says it all in this theatre extravaganza. The audience will see a play-within-a play, "The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum at Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade." Sade was a prisoner at Charenton and was allowed to write and direct plays as therapy for the patients at the insane asylum.

Using music, dance, debate, and all-out theatrics, this actors' tour de force is one of the legendary plays of the 20th Century. Because of its challenging aspects for performers and audiences alike, the play is seldom performed and only then by the most advanced of theatre companies. CAST brings this thrilling and horrifying work back to the stage in an intimate production that puts the audience all too close to the lunatics. The experiential theatre approach for which CAST is known will be carried to new levels of involvement for this production.

Carolina Actors Studio Theatre is a non-profit, Volunteer Organization dedicated to producing theatre that involves the audience with a unique experience beginning at the front door! We also believe that No Patron should be denied the Arts due to economic circumstance. Please contact us about our No Patron Left Behind Policy and how we can help with affordable theatre. CAST's mission is to "think outside the black-box" and produce culturally diverse EXPERIENTIAL theatre incorporating multi-media and other performing art forms, which involves and ultimately moves the audience to make a difference in their family, community, and in the world at large.