Carol Belk Theater
Fall 2025 Season
Audition Notice
Auditions are open to UNC Asheville students, staff or faculty.
We welcome performers of all genders, races/ethnicities, and abilities to audition.
Any questions please contact theatre@unca.edu
TheatreUNCA Fall 2025 Season Announcement
The Mending Project
w/Artist-in-Residence Mike Durkin
Carol Belk Theatre
Sponsored by NEH Professorship & UNC Asheville’s Post-Helene Symposium
A moment to breathe
A moment to recover
A moment to rebuild
A moment to resume
Let us mend together
The Mending Quilt
Sept/Oct: Various on & off campus workshops and class visits
Tuesdays & Thursdays 11-1pm (9/11, 9/16, 9/18, 9/23, 9/25)
UNC Asheville’s Main Quad
Mike will conduct story-sharing sessions centering around mending, while we mend our clothing or supplies. Participants will gather with torn clothes and items, and Mike will teach and help mend those clothing. We will also talk about other areas in our life we need to mend, relationships, habits, and other important issues the participant is engaged in. The focus will be on occupying time. The mending will be hand-sewn. This action will take lots of time and will help the individual work on focusing, grounding, and being present. Participants will hand-sew their own designed squares to be part of the larger quilt. This will culminate in sharing sessions where we will show off the quilt as well as participants will share stories around their squares.
Mending Together, Laughing Together
Created by Mike Durkin with Professor Lise Kloeppel and the students of the DRAM 373 Comedic Performance Styles class
Friday, September 26, 2025 3:30pm-5pm FREE
Get Tickets
Performance will be followed by the unveiling of The Mending Quilt, and then a light reception with food and drink.
Let us mend together, let us laugh together. Mending Together, Laughing Together is a series of comedy scenes, installations, and acts that explore the themes of mending. Inspired by conversations around the impact on Helene, issues on campus, the state of the city, the state of the country. The students will collaboratively create scenes addressing those issues indirectly, using humor, and interaction with the audience to find common ground, breathe together, and laugh together. Audiences may be asked to participate in the scenes.
Comedy Improv Show
Led by Marlene Thompson with Misfit Improv and Acting School
October 17 & 18, 2025 7:30PM
TICKET LINK COMING SOON
The 15th Annual Asheville Butoh Festival 2025
Atsushi Takenouchi of Jinen Butoh and composer Hiroko Komiya will be our guest performers for the 15th annual Asheville Butoh Festival.
This year’s festival is a collaboration with the University of North Carolina Asheville and the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. The Festival is set to take place from October 30th to November 2nd.
“Meet the Artists” reception
Friday, October 31, 2025 2-3pm Carol Belk Theatre FREE
Workshops
Atushi Takenouchi will lead all workshops. All experience levels are welcome.
Saturday, November 1st, 2025
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The University of North Carolina, Asheville (UNCA)
The Sherrill Center Dance Studio 351
REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON
Sunday, November 2nd, 2025
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The University of North Carolina, Asheville (UNCA)
The Sherrill Center Dance Studio 351
REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON
Those who attend the workshop on both days will be invited to perform in A Flower For Helene, directed by Atsushi Takeneuchi, with accompaniment by Hiroko Komiya, on Sunday, November 2nd, at 7:30 p.m. at the University of North Carolina Asheville’s Carol Belk Theatre.
Performances
Saturday, November 1st, 2025 7:30 p.m.
The University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) – Carol Belk Theatre
HANA – A solo performance by Atsushi Takeneuchi with accompaniment by composer Hiroko Komiya.
TICKET LINK COMING SOON
Sunday, November 2nd, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
The University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) – Carol Belk Theatre
A Flower For Helene – performance by workshop participants, directed by Atsushi Takeneuchi, with accompaniment by Hiroko Komiya.
TICKET LINK COMING SOON
The Thanksgiving Play
By Larissa FastHorse
November 20-23, 2025
Directed by Casey Watkins
Perusal script can be found in the Carol Belk Lobby.
Synopsis: Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions in Larissa FastHorse’s wickedly funny satire, as a troupe of terminally “woke” teaching artists scrambles to create a pageant that somehow manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American History Month. Punctuated by offensive (and completely real) Thanksgiving songs from educators' social media, The Thanksgiving Play is a hilarious satiric jab at political correctness, social wokeness, and cultural assumptions.
Run Time: 90 minutes
Cast Size: 8-10 actors: 2 women, 2 men, 4-6 any gender
What should I prepare? Auditions will consist of cold readings from the play and
improvisation. Be prepared to play, move, and make inanimate objects come to life! Please sign up for an individual audition slot either Wednesday, August 27th, or Thursday, August 28th.
Callbacks will be Friday, August 29th.
Important Dates
- Sept 16 - 17 (script development and dramaturgy): 6-9pm
- Rehearsals: Starting October 1st Monday-Thursday 6- 9pm (6-12 hours/week depending
if you're called) - Tech/Dress:11/14-11/19
- Performances: 11/20-11/23
This play does concern race and ethnicity as themes, which may affect casting.
Students will earn a 1-hour practicum credit (DRAM 105 (non-majors) or DRAM 201 (majors/minors)) for their participation.
TICKET LINK COMING SOON
“The Thanksgiving Play” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Auditions for "Comedy Improv Troupe"
Sign up Comedy Improv Troupe
Auditions: Sept 3rd 6:00-9:00pm
Carol Belk Theatre
Comedy Improv Troupe
Led by Marlene Thompson with Misfit Improv and Acting School
Performance: October 17 - 18, 2025
Are you interested in being a part of an improv comedy show? Do you want to learn about the art of improvisation and comedy? Do you want to have fun and make new friends? Sign up to audition, learn about how you can get involved and what expectations come with participation.
**NO PREVIOUS PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY**
Format: Short-form games, i.e. Whose Line Is It Anyway? and ComedySportz; possibly dabble in long-form depending on the group's experience and motivation.
Important Dates
- 10-week class improv class culminating in a show
- Wednesdays, Sept 10th-Nov 12th, 6-7:30pm (Whitesides 103)
- Carol Belk Theatre Show Fri, Oct 17th and Sat, Oct 18th; TBD smaller pop-up shows throughout the semester
Students will earn a 1-hour practicum credit (DRAM 105 (non-majors) or DRAM 201 (majors/minors)) for their participation.