Call for directors

September 20, 2023

Want to get involved? We're looking for directors for our 2024 season!

The Moppets are looking for creative, dedicated directors who share our enthusiasm for nurturing young talent and bringing classical productions to life in our 2024 season!

We have been making youth theater for more than 10 years, and we are committed to continuing to provide a platform for young theater enthusiasts to learn and grow as performers and humans. Our productions are a testament to the creativity and work ethic of our students, and we take great pride in delivering quality productions to the Asheville community.

The Moppets understand the importance of a great director and mentor, and we believe in paying artists a living wage. Compensation for our directors ranges from $200 for a One Act to $1,250 for a summer production.

If you’re interested in working with the Moppets in 2024, please fill out our interest form to help us get to know you better. Once you’ve completed the form, our staff will review your submission and get in touch to discuss potential opportunities. We’re eager to connect with talented directors who can inspire our students and bring a fresh perspective to our upcoming season.

“Romeo & Juliet: In Memoriam” cast announcement

September 14, 2023
Actors in "Romeo & Juliet: In Memoriam" pose against a black background

Meet the cast of "Romeo & Juliet: In Memoriam"


Front row, l-r: Henry Worley, Aidan Short, Maeve Cort, Charlie Mae and Niya Hromada.
Back row, l-r: Lucia Hess, Milo Norby, Alex McKay, Phineas Price, and Graham Esmon

The Moppets are thrilled to announce the cast of the upcoming world premiere of “Romeo & Juliet: In Memoriam”! 

  • Henry Worley as Tybalt
  • Maeve Cort at Mercutio
  • Aidan Short as Benvolio
  • Niya Hromada as Nurse
  • Alex McKay as Montague
  • Charlie Mae as Capulet
  • Graham Esmon as Friar Laurence
  • Milo Norby, Phin Price and Lucia Hess as Chorus

Adapted by Elias Hamilton and Ronnie Z. Nielsen, “Romeo & Juliet: In Memoriam” brings a fresh perspective to Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, transporting audiences to the solemn and emotional setting of the star-crossed lovers’ funeral.

See Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy in a fresh light as the Moppets explore themes of love, loss and reconciliation in a new way.

“Romeo and Juliet: In Memoriam” opens Friday, October 13, at Attic Salt Theater.

ROMEO & JULIET: IN MEMORIAM

7pm Friday, October 13

11am and 7pm Saturday, October 14

7pm Friday, October 20

11am and 7pm Saturday, October 21

RSVP

Help the Moppets plan the 2024 season

August 14, 2023

Help us plan our 2024 season!

The Moppets staff is working to plan the 2024 season, and we’d like your input!

Our good pal Skyler Goff tells us he’d like to adapt a new show for next season, but he’s having trouble deciding exactly which story he’d like to tell. (Classic Skyler conundrum.) He gave us a list of approximately 11,726 ideas, and we’ve narrowed it down to five.

Use the form below to tell us what you’d like to see next summer! We’ll tally the votes on Monday, August 21, and let Skyler know what to start writing.

(Click here if the form isn’t showing up.)

Reserve your seats for our 2023 One Act Festival

April 8, 2023

One Act tickets are now available!

The Moppets present six student written and directed short plays June 2 & 3 at Attic Salt Theater. Admission to Moppets productions is free, but a suggested donation of $10 per ticket helps us continue to provide equitable access to programming for young actors and theater techs in Asheville and beyond. 

Performances

  • 7pm Friday, June 2, at Attic Salt Theater
  • 7pm Saturday, June 3, at Attic salt Theater

The Shows

  • “Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘2BR02B,’ ” adapted by Graham Esmon. Everything was perfectly swell. Or was it?
  • “The After School Superhero,” by Isabella LaRose. A small town where nothing happened and a hero no one asked for.
  • “A Holiday Song,” by Hunter Miyan. A grumpy businessman is warned to change his ways. Sound familiar? Prepare to be surprised. 
  • “Mary, Mary,” by Selah Atwood. A bloody history explored through the lens of a nursery rhyme.
  • “Salome,” by Urzüly C. Pineda. A humorously re-told act in one tragedy.
  • “Swords, Lights and Nuts,” by Kayla Cody. This is not your typical Nutcracker story.
Reserve Your Seats!

Kayla Cody’s “Swords, Lights and Nuts” isn’t your typical “Nutcracker” story

March 10, 2023

Meet Our One Act playwrights: Kayla Cody's "Swords, Lights and Nuts"

IMG_1122
swords lights nuts

This isn't your typical "Nutcracker" story.

We asked our One Act writers and directors to share a bit about their works with us. Here’s writer/director Kayla Cody on “Swords, Lights and Nuts.”

I’ve always loved telling stories and making my own worlds with a paper and pencil and my voice. I’ve always loved books and the way I could get sucked into the story. When I write plays, hopefully I can make a story the audience will get sucked into using my favorite way of writing: dialogue!

I decided to do a “Nutcracker” story because I always wondered what “The Nutcracker” was supposed to be about. Then my sister had the idea that “Hey, what if the (first) battle with the mice to big of a deal, and Clara gets taken?” That’s what I went off of. I decided a play would be a good way to adapt it because we’re used to seeing the ballet version. This way keeps it on a stage. 

Since I’ve moved a lot, I’ve done theater all over the country, and I’m constantly writing and directing plays and my sisters and I do together. Recently I’ve been in four plays with Asheville Performing Arts Academy, and this summer I directed a performance of my play “A Midsummer’s Doughnut” at a family reunion. “Swords, Lights and Nuts” is my first time directing a show that is open to the public!

I hope to learn about how to direct a group of people in a way that makes everyone feel good and gets amazing things done together.

Sign Up!
Audition for “Swords, Lights and Nuts” and our other five One Act shows on March 18!

Graham Esmon looks to the future in Kurt Vonnegut’s “2BR02B”

March 9, 2023

Meet Our One Act playwrights: Graham Esmon's take on "2BR02B"

IMG_2035 (1)
2BR02B

Everything is swell in Vonnegut's "2BR02B." Or is it?

We asked our One Act writers and directors to share a bit about their works with us. Here’s writer/director Graham Esmon on adapting Kurt Vonnegut’s “2BR02B.”

I very much enjoy Kurt Vonnegut’s distinct writing style. My favorite book of his is “Slaughterhouse 5.” I chose to put Vonnegut’s “2BR02B” to stage as it is a simple but extremely effective story that shows how a seeming utopia never functions for the needs or wishes of everyone under it. It also has a small cast, which is good for a One Act.

I have previously adapted and directing a short film version of “August Heat” by WF Harvey for the Moppets 2021 horror/comedy anthology show. I have written narratives for certain classes as well. This is my first play.

Graham Esmon has been a Moppet for five years. They previously directed the short film “August Heat” with the Moppets. Their pastimes include: magnets.

Sign Up!
Audition for “2BR02B” and our other five One Act shows on March 18!

Hunter Miyan puts a new twist on a class tale in “A Holiday Song”

March 10, 2023

Meet Our One Act playwrights: Hunter Miyan's "A Holiday Song"

2CD66243-F0D5-4A37-BE81-C358BD0FEA45
holiday song

A new twist on a classic holiday tale

We asked our One Act writers and directors to share a bit about their works with us. Here’s writer/director Hunter Miyan on “A Holiday Song.”

I was inspired to adapt “A Christmas Carol” because I’ve always loved watching all the different movie adaptations of it. I figured it would be fun to see what I would do with the story!

I have written other stories before, but this is my first play. I’m glad it came out so well! I love writing because it’s a way that I can express all the ideas and stories in my head and share them with other people.

Hunter Miyan is a new Moppet and a theater veteran! Hunter, 14, has been acting since age 8, including roles in “Peter Pan,” “Aladdin” and “The Emperor’s New Hair.” Our One Act Festival will be Hunter’s directorial debut!

Sign Up!
Audition for “A Holiday Song” and our other five One Act shows on March 18!

Exploring the reign of Queen Mary I in Selah Atwood’s “Mary, Mary”​

March 9, 2023

Meet Our One Act playwrights: Selah Atwood's "Mary, Mary"

Selah Atwood
Mary Mary

Exploring the reign of Queen Mary I in Selah Atwood's "Mary, Mary"

We asked our One Act writers and directors to share a bit about their works with us. Here’s writer/director Selah Atwood on “Mary, Mary.”

I’ve always found Bloody Mary fascinating, even just learning about her in school. One thing that makes her story really interesting is that she devoted her entire ruling to “restoring England.” And when she died from a supposed sickness about five years after ruling, her sister took the throne and immediately reversed all of the changes Mary had made. It just goes to show that something so significant in someone’s life and something that caused so many deaths can become almost pointless in a blink of an eye.

I thought telling Mary’s story alongside a nursery rhyme inspired by her would be a really interesting way to tell some of her story, and I feel that it (hopefully!) will be blunt and straightforward while leaving an air of discomfort behind. History is uncomfortable, and even more so when it’s told through the use of innocent sing-song!

Selah has been a Moppet for about seven years, with some favorite roles including Horatio in “Hamlet,” Goneril in “King Lear,” and Cassius in “Julius Caesar.” 

Sign Up!
Audition for “Mary, Mary” and our other five One Act shows on March 18!

The Moppets are producing six student-written One Act plays!

February 26, 2023

The Moppets are producing six student-written One Act plays!

We put out the call for One Act submissions from young playwrights, and oh my did you deliver! Our judging panel had a lot of great entries to read, and they had a rather difficult time narrowing it down. It was a really hard decision!
 
We are thrilled to announce that the Moppets have the privilege of bringing the following six shows to life:
 
  • “Kurt Vonnegut’s 2 B R 0 2 B,” adapted by Graham Esmon.
  • “The After School Superhero,” by Isabella LaRose
  • “A Holiday Song,” an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Hunter Miyan.
  • “Mary, Mary,” by Selah Atwood
  • “Salome: A Humorously Re-told Act in One Tragedy,” by Urzuly C. Pineada
  • “Swords, Lights and Nuts,” an atypical Nutcracker tale by Kayla Cody.

Auditions for our One Act plays are March 18 — sign up today!

Meet Phin, our Moppet of the Month!

February 1, 2023

Phineas Price has range. He’s played everyone from Murderer #1 in “Richard III” to Bob Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol” on the Moppets stage since joining us in 2021! He tells us his favorite Moppets role was Fluellen in “Henry V,” and his all-time favorite was playing Ponyboy in “The Outsiders.” (We told you he has range!)

Phin hopes to someday join the ranks of Moppets royalty: He wants to play a king. We think that’s totally realistic — he’s already the president of his eighth-grade class!

When he’s not on stage, Phin likes to make spray-paint art, play basketball, and watch TV while eating grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.

You can catch Phin on stage next in his school’s production of “Appropriate Audience Behavior.”

Donate

Your financial support will help the Montford Moppets continue to provide classic theatre opportunities to the youth of Asheville.

 Your generosity is appreciated!

Donate

Thank you to our sponsors & partners!

Firestorm Bookstore Co-op
R&J: In Memoriam sponsor!
Get in touch for information about playbill advertising and sponsorship opportunities!