One Night Only, before the New York Intl. Fringe Festival: The Songs of Robert, by Asheville resident John Crutchfield
Even after a successful two-week run at NC Stage last fall, John Crutchfield still didn’t expect his one-man show, The Songs of Robert, to make it into the New York International Fringe Festival, the largest multi-arts festival in North America, with more than 200 companies from all over the world performing for 16 days, and an annual audience of over 75,000.
“I was actually pretty surprised to get the acceptance letter,” Crutchfield says, “the competition is fierce!” “We’re both very excited,” adds producer Chall Gray. “Neither of us have done a show in New York before, and it won’t be the last.”
Crutchfield is well-known to Asheville audiences as both a playwright and actor, but The Songs of Robert makes greater demands on him than any of his other outings. In little more than an hour, Crutchfield switches seamlessly between a dozen characters of different age, race, and sex. He also performs eight songs, accompanying himself on both slide guitar and clawhammer-style banjo. “It’s definitely a test,” Crutchfield grins.
The play tells the story of “Robert,” a high school boy growing up in a small Southern Appalachian town. In addition to the usual perils of the educational experience—insane guidance counselors, sadistic assistant principals, and megalomaniacal class poets—Robert is also caught up in the surreal world of being in love for the first time as he falls for a seemingly out-of-reach dark-haired girl.
To help bring all of the show’s elements together, Steven Samuels, a longtime theatre hand from New York who now makes his home in Asheville, has been brought on board to direct. Before its New York premiere, The Songs of Robert will be performed in Asheville for one night only, Friday, July 31st at the Bebe Theatre, with performances at 7:30 and 10:00 p.m.
“We wanted to offer something new and interesting, even for those who saw the show last year,” Gray says. In addition toThe Songs of Robert, the evening will feature short performances by Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre, improv comedians Karen Stobbe & Mondy Carter, local folk band Pilgrim, and performance poet Julian Vorus.
The Songs of Robert, by John Crutchfield, Directed by Steven Samuels, Produced by Chall Gray
Asheville Performances: Friday, July 31, Bebe Theatre, 60 Commerce St. 7:30 & 10:00 p.m. $10 at the door, or 674-2036 for reservations.
For more information and for NY show dates and times, please visit www.johncrutchfield.com
John Crutchfield and Chall Gray will be live on Local Edge Radio this Friday and John will perform tidbits from his one man show. That’s a relevant comment, right?