Blue Ridge Community Theater is a 501 ( C ) 3 organization whose mission is to enrich the cultural life of residents and visitors through performances, productions, and education of all aspects of contemporary and classic theater.
Miracle on 34th Street
By Valentine Davies
Co-directed by: Adam Wilcher and Michelle DeSimone
Family Entertainment
“This is a tale that we want to believe in, that creates a world we seem to desperately desire, free of the blatant commercialism that surrounds us, where love and decency and generosity of spirit are their own rewards. What we want Christmas to be all about, really.” So writes the Santa Cruz Sentinel of this most heartwarming holiday story. By chance, Kris Kringle, an old man in a retirement home, gets a job working as Santa for Macy’s. Kris unleashes waves of good will with Macy’s customers and the commercial world of New York City by referring parents to other stores to find exactly the toy their child has asked for. Seen as deluded and dangerous by Macy’s vocational counselor, who plots to have Kris shanghaied to Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, Kris ends up in a court competency hearing. Especially at stake is one little girl’s belief in Santa.
- Nov. 23 – Dec. 16
- Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7:30 pm Sunday 2:30
Gabe Russo
December 22, 2018 7:30 pm
A holiday tribute to Frank Sinatra
On June 12, 2014, Gabriel Russo won the “Frank Sinatra Idol Competition” held in Frank’s hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey. He competed against 15 other performers from around the States and Canada.
Born in the Philadelphia area a long time ago, Gabe now lives the artists life in the perfectly manageable mountains north of Atlanta.
Russo began singing with his father tuxedo and all, in 1960, when he was eight years old. They continued to perform together, in nightclubs over the northeast; “Cafe Continental”, “Latin Casino”, “Crescendo”, “The Host Club” and more into the ’80’s.
An actor since 1973, he’s been fortunate enough to portray many characters on stage from Nathan Detroit in “Guys and Dolls”(twice), ‘King Arthur’ in “Camelot”, The older Sinatra character in “MY Way”(twice) to Oscar Madison in “The Odd Couple”(twice), Matt Friedman in Lanford Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winning, “Talley’s Folly”(twice) and a slew of others … even “Death” once. Actor and Singer, he studied Frank as a character, studied his moves, his walk … and at times … when the light is right … the physical likeness is uncanny.
That he is committed to keeping this music and performance style alive and viable is very evident in his performance.
Russo plays Six string, Twelve string and Bass guitar. He has performed in bands and in front of Big Bands, been a solo folk singing act and, briefly, had a small TV show.
Gabriel’s background of youthful crooning, years of acting and solo performing, demonstrate why it’s no mistake that Gabe is uniquely able to capture the ease and comfort, on stage, that typify the finest performers of those golden years.
Whether he’s performing his one-man show, “Summer Wind, An Intimate Evening with Frank Sinatra,” or entertaining at a small gathering, his portrayal of Mr. Sinatra is “deft and spot-on”.
Roxie Watson
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January 12, 2019
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7:30 pm
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Country, Blue Grass and Rock
Lisa Love of Georgia Music Magazine and the Georgia Music Foundation described the band by saying, “When you have a group of women who are natural story-tellers, who sooth their aggressive musical chops with beautiful harmonies, temper their rock-n-roll sensibilities with an understanding of Appalachian tradition, and come off as a little bit Keith Richards, a little bit Bill Monroe, you get Roxie Watson
Discount Theater Ticket Packages are available see Box Office
2019 Season
Blue Ridge Community Theater presents seven Main Stage theater productions for the 2019 season. During the weekends between plays, we will have Live Music. To purchase tickets click on the “Buy Your Tickets” tab. You’ll be glad you did!