Flat Rock Playhouse Studio 52 Announces Auditions, Shows for Spring 2016

Flat Rock Playhouse Studio 52, a division of the Vagabond School of Drama, est. 1952, announced today the audition dates for their Spring production of JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH as well as a roster of classes and productions slated for Spring 2016.

Flat Rock Playhouse Studio 52 is a series of year long camps, classes, intensives and seminars focusing onTheatre, Musical Theatre, and Film for all ages. The mission of Studio 52 is to create programs that build audiences for tomorrow, educates audiences of today, enriches the community, provides programming that will foster at-risk children, brings the arts to schools, and nurtures growing theatre artists.

Auditions for the Spring production of the new musical JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, to be directed by Dave Hart and performed at the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown from March 10th through the 20th have been announced for January 8th from 4 to 7 PM and again on January 9th from 10 AM to 4 PM at Studio 52, 1855 Little River Road in Flat Rock. There will be an Audition Prep Class available on January 6th and 7th from 5 to 7 PM. The cost of this class is $50. Actors cast in JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH will be required to attend acting and tech classes as instructed.

Studio 52 will also produce Time, an all student crafted piece. A cross between The Breakfast Club and H.G Wells' The Time Machine, eight students are challenged to learn more about North Carolina history. Not quite understanding how certain events allow them to time travel, they become part of the Wright Brother's first flight, the Underground Railroad, WW II, the Trail of Tears, and then finally make a visit to The Lost Colony. This show has been created as an educational adventure available for elementary and middle school performances in January 2016.

In addition, Studio 52 has announced plans to produce an all-student performed and produced production ofAlice in Wonderland, the Musical from April 1st through the 3rd at the Playhouse Downtown. Directed by Olivia Palmer, auditions will take place on January 22nd from 5 to 7 PM and again on January 23rd from 10 AM to 12 PM. There will be an Audition Prep Class available on January 20th and 21st from 5 to 7 PM. The cost of this class will be $40. As with JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, there will be required classes for students cast inAlice in Wonderland, the Musical in musical performance and tech for those interested in costume or set design, art direction or puppetry.

Furthermore, Studio 52 announces their fall production of A Thousand Cranes to be performed at the Playhouse Downtown and directed by Dave Hart. Performances will run weekends November 11th though the 20th. Audition and rehearsal details will be announced at a later date.

Both JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH and A Thousand Cranes, as well as the Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage production of The Diary of Anne Frank will be a part of the newly re-instituted Project Playhouse program. This initiative, underwritten by the Walnut Cove Members Association, invites students to attend special matinee performances for a reduced price. Project Playhouse is also supported by Pardee Hospital under the Rock and Roll Initiative, which provides bus transportation for Henderson County schools.

For those looking to strengthen existing skills or explore the world of theatre for the first time, enrollment for Spring at Studio 52 is open now and includes additional acting classes from January 26th through April 20th(time off for snow days will be adjusted as needed). These classes are appropriate for both beginning and returning students and offer early registration discounts.

Courses will include:

· Grade K - 3 Acting: Thursdays, 4-5pm, Instructor: Olivia Palmer.

· Grade 4 - 6 Acting: Tuesdays, 5:15-6:15pm, Instructor: Olivia Palmer.

· Grade 7 - 12 Beginning Acting: Thursdays, 4-5pm, Instructor: Dave Hart.

· Grade 7 - 12 Advanced Acting: Fridays, 4-6pm, Instructor: Dave Hart.

More information on these productions, auditions, classes, as well as scholarship opportunities, can be found at www.frpstudio52.org or by calling 828.693.3517.