Reed Atherton (Photo by Mary Beth Atherton)
Ahoy, People, Asheville Creative Arts Presents How I Became a Pirate in August
Prepare to set sail on an entertaining musical adventure as Asheville Creative Arts (ACA) presents How I Became a Pirate, based on a book of the same title by Melinda Long. The play will run August 4–14 at Magnetic 375, located at 375 Depot Street in the River Arts District.
A merry band of pirates (played by Rock Eblen, Tiffany Renee Bear, Tristan Cameron, and Kelsey Sewell) lands on a beach and quickly recruits a young Jeremy Jacob (played by Reed Atherton) to help them find the ideal spot where they can bury their treasure. Jeremy had been blissfully spending his vacation with his family before he finds himself “becoming a pirate.”
“We are delighted this musical presents our first opportunity to work with a young actor, 11-year-old Reed…who will round out our cast of professional adult actors,” says Robbie Jaeger, a cofounder of ACA.
“Including Reed goes to the heart of the theme of play…in which a young person’s imagination presents a portal to a world where anything is possible,” adds Abby Felder, also an ACA cofounder.
How did ACA happen to choose this particular play? “On top of the fact that the script is hilarious, the music is charming, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love a pirate?” answers Abby, “I was taken by the journey of the little boy in the story who uses his imagination to escape from a life in which he feels overshadowed to a space where he is a center of attention.” She adds, “Like all of our shows, this is another script adults will enjoy just as much as their little ones.”
For more information about showtimes, visit ashevillecreativearts.org. To purchase tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com. Tickets are $23 for adults (ages 13 and older), $12 for students and children under 12, and $7 for the special weekday performances for camp and homeschool groups. A study guide created by longtime educator Stephanie Wilder will be included.
