By Gina Malone
The nonprofit Asheville Theater Alliance (ATA) has launched “Behind the Curtain,” a weekly podcast featuring conversations with performance artists and organization representatives in Western North Carolina. Janet Kopenhaver, formerly a podcast presenter for a similar program in the D.C. area, will host the 30-minute show, which began in January and will air each Thursday at noon.
“Everyone listens to podcasts these days so this show will provide a wonderful marketing opportunity for performing artists and organizations to publicize their productions, openings and events,” says Kopenhaver, who now lives in Asheville. “One goal of producing this podcast is, obviously, to sell more tickets. One can never have enough marketing avenues. But we also will be having guests on to talk about the importance (health benefits, economic, etc.) of the arts which could also lead to more donors and corporate sponsors for these organizations. Finally, we also want to highlight the work of the ATA through this unique membership benefit because the more members and visibility ATA has, the more effectively it can advocate for the industry here in WNC.”
The ATA got its start about 10 years ago when Jeff Catanese began to foster collaboration among regional theaters via roundtables and panel discussions. After COVID and Hurricane Helene, events that were devastating for theaters, ATA was incorporated and Rose Pillmore came on board as a co-founder. The organization’s mission is “to unite, promote, strengthen, cultivate and celebrate the performing arts in Western North Carolina.”
Because theaters have small marketing budgets, ATA’s initiatives—such as the new podcast—aim to engage members and promote productions. Membership now numbers more than 120 individuals and more than 25 organizations, including Waynesville’s Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART). “This podcast is an incredible platform for artists and theatre professionals to share their stories, highlight their upcoming projects and connect with audiences in a meaningful way,” says HART’s artistic director, Candice Dickinson. “The more we amplify these voices, the stronger and more vibrant our community becomes.”
Catanese hopes the podcast helps broaden theater’s appeal. “We would like everyone to know that theater is for them,” says Catanese. “So many people still think that theater is stuffy or that one needs to have a history of ‘high culture’ to appreciate it. The truth is that there is a show playing, probably right now, that you would fall in love with. You just have to get out and see it.”
During her time with the Virginia nonprofit she founded, Embracing Arlington Arts, Kopenhaver compiled a list of 100 peer-reviewed studies proving the health benefits of the arts. “It has been shown that exposure and/or participation in the arts helps people cope with not only the pandemic but the fear of isolation, quarantining again, stress, long-term COVID symptoms and more,” she says. “WNC then was hit with the devastating hurricane which terribly impacted—again—this industry. And yet the performing arts industry has survived and continues to entertain us, teach us, make us better neighbors and, yes, at times provide an escape for a while into the world of comedy, dance, music and more.”
Victoria Lamberth, managing artistic director for Hendersonville Theatre, looks forward to the connection and collaboration that both the podcast and ATA can foster across the region. “We are thrilled to be involved in a project focusing on local theatres sharing resources, celebrating local talent and highlighting the fantastic work happening here,” she says. “By working together, I am confident we can grow a stronger arts community and reach even more people with the magic of theatre.”
To learn more about the Asheville Theater Alliance, its members and upcoming productions in WNC, visit AshevilleTheaterAlliance.org. “Behind the Curtain” podcasts can be found on the website, or on Apple or Spotify.
