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The Montford Park Players, an Asheville cultural icon, is raising funds to repair the second story of their outdoor stage. The longest running Shakespeare Theater in NC provides stellar performances for free. The setting is fantastic, a grassy hillside under the stars. Many people come early and enjoy a picnic dinner. A $5 donation per person is requested as the actors pass the hat during intermission.
The Montford Park Players are in their 39th season, and have been at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheater in Montford for 28 years. The stage is in a state of disrepair, and even has signs of wood rot. The company hopes to raise $8000 by March to redo the upper stage. Volunteers are standing by, but funds are needed. They hope to have the work completed by the May 12 opening.
Travis Lowe, chairman of the marketing committee, encouraged the use of Kickstart, a community donation fundraiser. Lowe noticed the success of Suzy Phillips, who used Kickstarter to fund raise $8000 for a Lebanese food truck. The Montford Park Players have invited Suzy Phillips to serve diners from her truck this season.
Visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/477993590/rebuild-montford-park-players-ampitheater?ref=live for more information or to donate.
Donors will receive
- $1- Thanks in the season’s playbills
- $25- Thanks in the season’s playbills, a “Free Shakespeare” T-shirt, and free lawn chair rental for 2 for the season
- $50- Above, plus lawn blanket, reserved seating, and an “Official Land Grant” signed by Julius Caesar
- $75- Above, plus walk on role in Julius Caesar murder scene
- $100- Above, plus individual show sponsorship with introduction
- $150- Above, plus 2 tickets to the indoor season Romeo and Juliette, with rose from Juliette
- $200- Above, plus season tickets with reserved seating for the indoor season
- $250- Above, plus bronze plaque on the stage house
- $500- Above, plus outdoor gourmet picnic prior to a summer performance
- $1000- Above, plus naming rights for selection of stage house
If you can, consider a donation to this worthy cause, the producers of bringing Shakespeare to the masses in Asheville each year. We are very glad to have them in our midst. For more information on the Montford Park Players, visit www.montfordparkplayers.org
