Asheville, NC – The Asheville Masonic Temple Co. and The Montford Park Players, North Carolina’s Longest Running Shakespeare Festival, have finalized an arrangement where the third-floor theatre of The Asheville Masonic Temple, designed by Richard Sharp Smith and constructed in 1915, will become the permanent winter home for the indoor season of The Montford Park Players.
John R. Yarnall, President of The Asheville Masonic Temple Co., located at 80 Broadway in downtown Asheville and John Russell, Managing Director of Montford Park Players at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, signed a long-term rental agreement at noon today. The Montford Park Players will expand their winter indoor season, to be known as “Montford on Broadway”, and will present at least three productions during the winter and spring seasons, beginning December 9 with the 35th annual production of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ immortal tale of greed and redemption.
According to John Russell, “This arrangement will mean that Montford Park Players can finally achieve its goal of becoming a year-round destination attraction, in a beautiful and historic setting. This is more than just a rental agreement – this is a true collaborative effort where, over time, funding from ticket sales will assist in the restoration of a true Asheville landmark!”
JR Yarnall stated that he and the board were “very excited about this collaboration as it fits so well with our plans for the next century of activity with the Temple. The Temple is approaching its 100th anniversary. The chief hallmark of this plan for the future is work with the community to maintain and enhance the building for Masonic use as well as act as a resource for the community. We plan to have the temple viable for another 100 years.”
The theatre, which seats over 200, features a proscenium arch and a full fly rail system, allowing backdrops to be lowered and raised. The Masonic Temple is proud to own a full set of 45 backdrops, each hand-painted by Thomas Gibbs Moses, possibly the most prolific and important of midwestern scenic artists in the late 19th and early 20th century.
For more information contact:
Ron Lambe
Secretary, Asheville Masonic Temple Co.
(828) 252-3924
secretary118@yahoo.com
or
John Russell
Managing Director, The Montford Park Players
(828) 254-5146
john.russell@montfordparkplayers.org
