He’s back! James Franco returns to Asheville area

James Franco has returned to Asheville, according to this Twitter update from Marlee Areta:

Yupp! James Franko and I rode on the same plane to Asheville

The movie actor has been a frequent visitor to the Asheville area, and Swannanoa’s Warren Wilson College in particular, where he has earned his MFA in poetry and is now working on his MFA in fiction. The college’s famed writing program started its winter residency this week.

If you want to try to sneak a Franco sighting, try attending one of the program’s public readings. I don’t see Franco’s name on the list, but “Rosemary Kitchen” sure sounds like a pseudonym. From Warren Wilson College:

The public is welcome to attend the morning lectures and evening readings in fiction and poetry offered during Warren Wilson’s Master of Fine Arts Program winter residency. Events last about one hour and admission is not charged. The schedule is subject to change. For more information call the MFA office at 828-771-3715.

Readings will begin at 8:15 p.m. in Ransom Fellowship Hall, behind the Warren Wilson College Chapel, unless indicated otherwise.

READINGS by FACULTY

Thursday, Jan. 3, 8 p.m., Canon Lounge of Gladfelter Student Center — Marianne Boruch, Dean Bakopoulos, Connie Voisine, Michael Parker.

Friday, Jan. 4 — Robin Romm, Rick Barot, Megan Staffel, Rodney Jones.

Saturday, Jan. 5 — Daisy Fried, Liam Callanan, Martha Rhodes, Dominic Smith.

Sunday, Jan. 6, Canon Lounge — Debra Allbery, Antonya Nelson, Eleanor Wilner, Patrick Somerville.

Monday, Jan. 7 — Karen Brennan, Maurice Manning, David Haynes, Ellen Bryant Voigt.

Wednesday, Jan. 9 — Jennifer Grotz, Heather McHugh, Kevin McIlvoy, C. Dale Young.

READINGS by GRADUATING STUDENTS

Thursday, Jan. 10 — Kelli J. Christenson, Cher Fox, Alain Park, Cody Heartz, Rosemary Kitchen.

Friday, Jan. 11 — Jayne Benjulian, Michelle Collins Anderson, Allen Chamberlain, Lynette D’Amico, Cathleen O’Neal.

Saturday, Jan. 12, 4:30 p.m., followed by Graduation Ceremony — Jennifer Gillespie Mason, Ryan Burden, Kara Olson, Lara Markstein.