Flat Rock Playhouse: State Theatre of NC

Flat Rock Playhouse is officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. It's located in the quaint village of Flat Rock (next door to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site), about 30 miles south of Asheville. What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940 is now an eight month season of plays including Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young audiences. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a ten-show professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; performances and cabaret series by the YouTheatre; year-round classes and workshops for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 80,000 patrons annually.

The barn-like appearance of the main stage facility is reminiscent of their summer stock beginnings, but today it houses state of the art lighting and sound systems, electronic stages, costume studio/storage, and dressing room space for 40. The Auditorium seats 506 patrons in air-conditioned comfort. There is reserved seating for patrons with special needs and assistive listening devices are available at no additional charge.

Flat Rock Playhouse’s new downtown Hendersonville satellite theatre "Playhouse Downtown" is located at 125 South Main Street – steps away from downtown restaurants, bars and retail establishments.

For ticket information for Flat Rock Playhouse, go to the their Web site.

Directions from Asheville (approximately 30 minutes), near Hendersonville:

• I-26 east to Exit #53, Upward Road
• Turn right off the exit ramp (look for Playhouse sign)
• Travel 2.5 miles to dead end at Greenville Highway
• Turn left onto Greenville Highway (look for Playhouse sign)
• Half mile to Flat Rock Playhouse on right

Also check out NC Stage Theatre in downtown Asheville.

What's Playing?

• Playhouse Mainstage: 2661 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock, NC 28731
• Playhouse Downtown Hendersonville: 125 S. Main, Hendersonville, NC 28729

April 28-May 21, 2016: Million Dollar Quartet. Musical inspired by the true story, Million Dollar Quartet dramatizes the impromptu jam session featuring Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash and include the hit songs Blue Suede Shoes, Folsom Prison Blues, Great Balls of Fire, Hound Dog, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On and many more. Book by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott. Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage

May 26-June 4, 2016: Self Help at on the Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage. Norm Foster’s hilarious play about two struggling actors who reinvent themselves, and their failing acting careers, as self help gurus. Their marriage and their lives unravel in this uproarious farce as they try desperately to deal with dead bodies and nosey reporters while holding on to their newly found fame.

June 16-July 9, 2016: The Music Man. Meredith Willson’s great American masterpiece, The Music Man is the story of the fast talking con artist Harold Hill who plots to swindle the folks of River City Iowa by posing as a band instructor. The long awaited, highly requested musical features such Broadway standards as Til There Was You and 76 Trombones. Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage

July 7-24, 2016: The Importance of Being Earnest at the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown. Dubbed “a trivial comedy for serious people,” The Importance of Being Earnest is Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated play. Set in Victorian England, two friends use the same pseudonym (“Earnest”) for their illicit activities and hilarity ensues.

July 28-August 20, 2016: Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 musical is based on the hit 1978 movie, 9 to 5 is the story of three secretaries who devise a plan to overthrow their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss. The lively and inventive score featuring the hit song 9 to 5 is written by Dolly Parton with book by Patricia Resnick, based upon the screenplay by Resnick and Colin Higgins. Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage

September 8-25, 2016: The Diary of Anne Frank on the Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage. Based on the diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding with her family in Amsterdam for two years, adapted by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, The Diary of Anne Frank has become symbolic of the Nazi atrocities during World War II.

October 13-30, 2016: Beehive, the 60’s Musical. From Lesley Gore to Aretha Franklin and everyone in between, Beehive the 60’s Musical is a celebration of the girl group of that decade and features such music as It’s My Party, My Boyfriend’s Back, Where the Boys Are, Proud Mary and Respect. Book by Larry Gallagher. Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage

October 20-November 6, 2016: Vintage Hitchcock, A Live Radio Play at the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown. This spooky and thrilling piece from the master of suspense, Vintage Hitchcock, A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry, brings to life three tales in the style of a 1940’s radio broadcast – complete with vintage commercials and the magic of live sound effects.

November 17-December 17, 2016: A Christmas Carol musical. Charles Dickens’ classic tale adapted by Richard Hellesen and David De Berry, returns to the Flat Rock Playhouse stage in 2016. The State Theatre of North Carolina will be presenting the hit 2014 production bi-annually. Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage

The 2016 Music on the Rock concert series includes:

• The Music of Barry Manilow, February 11-14
• Donny Edwards, a Heart and Soul Tribute to the King, the return limited engagement direct from Las Vegas will perform April 7-17 on the Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage
• The Music of the Beach Boys, April 21-May 1
• The Music of the Eagles, May 12-22
• The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John, June 9-19
• The Music of Buddy Holly, August 11-21
• The Music of Fleetwood Mac, September 29-October 9
• A Celtic Christmas, December 1-18