PAGES 20-21 NC Stage Company’s irreverant look at the holidays and the single life stars Julia VanderVeen. PAGE 6 PAGE 23 Join Clara on a magical midnight trip in the Asheville Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker. PAGE 4 The Chocolate Fetish launches their new Elite Series just in time for holiday shopping. PAGE 25 PLUS INTERVIEWS WITH: Seaton Smith PAGE 6 Simone Bouyer PAGE 15 Joshua Spiceland PAGE 17 Philip DeAngelo PAGE 37 Chef Josh Monroe PAGE 39 POETRY CONTEST There’s still time! Entries sought for our Purchase the Best Gifts at Local Shops, SEE PAGES 18-25 15th Annual Poetry Contest. PAGE 28 December 2011 — RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — Vol. 15, No. 4 PRINTS COLOR Vol. 15, No. 4 — RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — December 2011 PRINTS COLOR RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE performance The Asheville Ballet’s Ntcrackrspectacular professional produc- tion of the full original ballet from Empirical Russia interpreted and performed by Asheville’s own, and only, Professional Resident Ballet ACompany, directed by Ann Dunn. The Asheville Ballet’s Nutcracker has been a holiday tradition in Asheville for decades. Children and adults will be charmed yet again by ballet’s greatest clas- sic. This all-time favorite story of Clara’s magical midnight trip to the Land of Sweets is classical ballet at its best. Snow will fall in the Snow Queen’s kingdom, scary rats will frighten — then good soldiers will rescue — Clara, the exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy and her handsome Cavalier will dance their as Toy Soldiers, fighting off the scary rats quickly. For reservations call or write Ann eternally lovely pas de deux, and beautiful under the Christmas tree, Jodi herself will Dunn, Director at (828) 258-1028 or ann. flowers will waltz, and waltz, and waltz. perform a non-stop, fast-footwork tap duet [email protected]. There is a direct historical line behind as the Lead Soldier. No wonder they defeat The Asheville Ballet’s Nutcracker is our production, from the original choreog- the evil Rat Queen. This sort of collabora- a perfect opportunity for young people to rapher and teacher, Petipa and Vaganova, tion is just the beginning of a community- encounter professional classical dance and a with the 19th century Russian Kirov Ballet; wide effort to unite local dancers. wonderful, traditional story, in a real theatri- to their pupil, dancer/choreographer George The Asheville Ballet has built a reputa- cal experience. Balanchine, with his 20th century New York tion on the belief that dance plays a vital role in the education and culture of the commu- City Ballet; to his pupil, dancer/choreog- IF rapher Ann Dunn, with our very own 21st nity. As a key component of its Educational YOU The Asheville Ballet performs century The Asheville Ballet. Outreach Program, The Asheville Ballet will GO The Nutcracker at Diana Wortham Asheville is fortunate to have a ballet perform its entire production of the holiday Theatre, December 9 and 10 at 7:30 company of this caliber. The community classic The Nutcracker for school children and December 10 and 11 at 2:30, with has, essentially, a year-long resident reper- on Thursday December 9 at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 two daytime school shows on December 8. toire company of professional adult dancers. a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Seating is limited and is Tickets range from $15 to $50, with Seasoned ballet fans and novices alike have confirmed on a first come first served basis. group rates available in all sections. For the opportunity to watch consummate artists Thanks to generous patronage, we are reservations call the box office at (828) 257- perform a wide variety of roles, from classi- able to offer children’s tickets at $5 again 4530. For group rates and school shows call cal to contemporary. Allison Hertzberg, Lyle this year. This popular opportunity fills up Ann Dunn, Director, at (828) 258-1028. Laney, Fleming Lomax, Amy Strickland, Jaimon Howell, Alan Malpass – these are names that stand for powerful, meaningful, memorable performances. This year we are pleased to welcome SHAKESPEARE GETS A FRESH, NEW MUSICAL TWIST back Allyssa Belcher, last year’s popular Sugar Plum Fairy. Alyssa hails from Texas he Altamont Theatre takes on a cross-cultural odyssey through the Ballet Theatre, Ben Stevenson Artistic Di- something old and gives expressive power of words and music. rector, where she danced a variety of roles in Asheville something new with These forces will come together at The Nutcracker. Asheville will be privileged T “Shakespeare Sings!” – an original the Altamont Theatre, Asheville’s new to enjoy her again as the delicate, breath- theatrical event conceived by acclaimed professional black-box theatre. Says Cul- taking Sugar Plum Fairy, partnered by her director, Francis Cullinan, highlighting linan, “The Altamont’s intimate space Cavalier, Lyle Laney. Shakespeare’s words alongside famous truly lends itself to a closer relationship The Sugar Plum Fairy Pas de Deux is operatic settings of Shakespeare by great between audience and performer.” This the final triumph in a ballet full of trium- composers. 120-seat space run by husband-and-wife phant moments: Waltz of the Flowers, A co-production with AmiciMusic, team Brian Lee and Tiffany Hampton Chinese, Russian, Arabian, Spanish, Marzi- the show brings the Bard’s verse to life opened earlier this year. Wine and beer pan, and of course the ever popular Mother in an innovative and theatrical way, with are available during the show. Ginger, whose gigantic skirt opens to allow musical interpretations of such works as eight little bonbons to pop out and dance. Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Much Ado About Nothing by composers such IF Students from studios all over Western YOU IF YOU GO: Performances take North Carolina perform every year in The as Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, and GO place Thursday, December 1 at Asheville Ballet’s Nutcracker. This year Leonard Bernstein. 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, December 4 we are especially pleased to announce a The show is a collaboration by oper- at 4 p.m.; Tuesday, December 6 at formal collaboration with the studio, Dance atic singer and actor Scott Joiner, pianist 7:30 p.m. For more information go to Revolution, Jodi Taylor Director. Not only Daniel Weiser, with Cullinan as host. www.myaltamont.com or call (828) will Jodi’s advanced tap dancers be featured This unique trio will take the audience 348-5327. 4 December 2011 — RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — Vol. 15, No. 4 PRINTS COLOR RAPID RIVER ARTS we love this place The Black Mountain Center for the Arts presents the annual Holly Jolly Clay Studio Annual Show and Sale on Friday, december from 6-8 p.m. RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE in the Upper Gallery at the Center for the Arts, 225 W. State Street. The Established in 1997 • Volume Fifteen, Number Four Pottery Sale will be open until the Center closes for the holidays on De- cember 23. The Gallery Pottery Show will continue through January 2012. 5th annual appalachian pot- Performance ters Market takes place Saturday, DECEMBER 2011 4 december . The Appalachian www.rapidrivermagazine.com Asheville Ballet – The Nutcracker. 4 Potters Market begins its twenty- Pottery by fifth year with 66 potters under Charles Freeland Publisher/Editor: Dennis Ray one roof. Each year, on the first Saturday in December, 6 Stage Preview potters return to McDowell High School’s commons Managing Editor: Beth Gossett Seaton Smith . 6 area and gym transforming them into display and Marketing: Dennis Ray, Rick Hills NC Stage – 12 Dates of Christmas . 6 shopping spaces for potters and buyers. Market hours: Staff Photographer: Liza Becker 7 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Collectors and holiday shoppers will Magnetic Field – Bernstein Family . find a wide array of wares suitable to expand private Layout & Design: Simone Bouyer collections as well as for holiday gift giving. Poetry Editor: Ted Olson Marion is located ten minutes north of I-40, one hour west of Hickory, 35 minutes east of Ashe- Proofreader: Mary Wilson 8 Columns James Cassara - Music . 8 ville, and 20 minutes south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The main entrance to McDowell High Accounting: Sharon Cole School is located on Business Routes US 221 and NC 226 North of Marion, and US 70 West Eddie LeShure - Jazz. 10 Distribution: Dennis Ray of Marion. Ample parking and handicapped accessible. $4 admission. For more details call the Greg Vineyard - Fine Art . 15 McDowell Arts Council Association at (828) 652-8610. Joe Zinich - Beer . 6 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Annual Holiday Ceramics and Art Sale from 4-7 p.m. Friday, december and 10 a.m.-2 Michael Parker – Wine . 7 p.m. Saturday, december in the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery in Owen Hall. A wide variety of James Cassara, Michael Cole, Ted Olson - Poetry . 8 functional and decorative items crafted by UNC Asheville students will be on sale with prices Amy Downs, Beth Gossett, Marcianne Miller – Books . 9 beginning at $5. The sale is open to the public. For more information call (828) 251-6559. Chall Gray, Max Hammonds, MD, Bill Walz - Artful Living . 1 Phil Hawkins, Phil Juliano, Local Food and Gift Market at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Av- Max Hammonds, MD - Health . enue. Saturday, december , 10, and 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Yes, you can still make your Chip Kaufmann, Michelle Keenan, Peter Loewer - Thoreau’s Garden . special holiday meals and party foods from the best, local ingredients! Eddie LeShure, Amanda Leslie, Peter Loewer, Marcianne Miller, Weaverville Business Association presents the 8th Annual Candlelight Stroll, on Friday, De- April Nance, Ted Olson, cember 9.