Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Depressing news. Here’s the press release:
Local producer and restaurateur Chall Gray announced today that at the conclusion of The 30th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular, the Magnetic Theatre’s acclaimed and wildly popular Christmas comedy show, the restaurant and bar portion of The Magnetic Field will cease operations. Known for co-founding The Magnetic Theatre, and producing dozens of theatre and music shows around town (among them MILF: The Musical, 69 Love Songs (at the Grey Eagle), and When Jekyll Met Hyde), as well as regionally and in New York City, Gray will transition to focusing more of his energy on his role as Producer for The Magnetic Theatre, Asheville’s only professional theatre dedicated to original works.
The Magnetic Theatre, which just announced several shows for early 2013, will continue to operate in their established space in the Glen Rock Depot after the restaurant and bar ceases operation on the 22nd. “I’m excited about Sex And How to Have It, and the host of other shows we have coming up,” Gray said. “This is certainly bittersweet though. I’m really proud of the place we’ve occupied in the culinary scene of Asheville. Our chefs recently cooked an acclaimed Blind Pig Supper earlier this fall, and our cocktails have been featured in Imbibe Magazine and Charleston Magazine, and the role we played at the forefront of creating the craft-cocktail scene here has been very exciting, but this seems like the right time for this transition.”
The restaurant and bar, which opened along with the theatre in 2010, will be serving their acclaimed food and drinks during the run of The 30th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular, through 12/22. The Magnetic Theatre’s upcoming shows in their jewel-box theatre on Depot Street include a sketch comedy show titled Sex And How to Have It, and the first full-length play by acclaimed local performer Jim Julien. Gray also said that the company is currently looking at ways to present a production of Lucia Del Vecchio’s hit musical from earlier this fall, MILF: The Musical in New York City. “We’ve got some pretty exciting things coming together, so stay tuned,” he added.
Image link for Magnetic Field.
More plays by David Hopes, please.
Good. That place was ridiculously expensive.
Don’t know how to make the tickets any cheaper…
Crazy talk.
Absolutely pouting! This is my favourite all-inclusive venue in Asheville. The gastronomic faire is always delicious – the libations are pure elixirs of alchemy and then a few steps into a theatre that brings new and exciting works to the public – I shall continue to support the arts here – in any form!
Many thanks…
It would be great if the theatre owner could at least find someone to run the bar during performances as a concession.
Not impossible…
To be clear: this was not the theatre’s restaurant and bar. The Magnetic Theatre, a fully tax-exempt not-for-profit organization, predates the for-profit Magnetic Field by a couple of years. The magnificent Magnetic Field restaurant and bar has been owned and operated by Chall Gray, who is also the theatre’s producer, so the confusion’s understandable. We will all miss the Field very much, but The Magnetic Theatre’s ambitious agenda continues unabated and will only benefit from Chall’s less-divided attention.
Steven Samuels, Artistic Director
The Magnetic Theatre
thanks for the note Steve.
I enjoyed some fantastic meals AND cocktails at the Magnetic Field. I’m really sorry to see them go but glad there is a silver lining. Kudos to Chall et al for their hard work and pursuit of excellence. And long live the Magnetic Theatre!