Asheville’s artistic community is teeming with remarkable talent. Here’s where you can discover them.

The existence of a street named “Stage Lane” is just one indication of the abundant talent in Asheville. Nestled along this street is the North Carolina Stage Company, the perfect starting point for diving into the city’s vibrant performing arts scene. Established in 2001 by New York theater veterans Angie and Charlie Flynn-McIver, this 127-seat theater, affectionately known as NC Stage, offers Asheville audiences a more personal theatrical experience.

Any night of the week, you can catch actors with impressive credentials performing engaging, humorous, and classic plays, including the beloved comedy Jeeves Takes a Bow and Thurgood, a solo performance that provides insight into the life of the iconic Supreme Court justice.

Situated centrally on Biltmore Avenue, the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts has been a leading performance venue in Asheville since its inception in 1992. With its 28,000-square-foot proscenium auditorium, the complex has recently expanded to include two additional performance spaces, enhancing its diverse year-round schedule of live music, dance, theater, and comedy.

In the Wortham’s Tina McGuire Theatre, you might experience a show by the resident Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective, which presents world-premiere plays, a reading series for emerging Black playwrights, and various productions aimed at inspiring audiences and fostering change. Additionally, the resident dance company Stewart/Owen Dance conducts community classes in the Henry LaBrun Studio and showcases its acclaimed contemporary dance repertoire on the Diana Wortham Theatre stage and on tour throughout the Southeast.

Founded in 1960 and under the baton of Darko Butorac, the Asheville Symphony Orchestra draws on the city’s rich talent pool and enhances its season with a lineup of notable guest artists, including Béla Fleck and Bryan Terrell Clark from the Broadway musical Hamilton. The Symphony’s ALT ASO initiative, launched in 2022, brings musicians to unique local venues—like the intimate 400-seat Masonic Temple and the iconic Orange Peel—for innovative concerts that highlight their artistry outside traditional performance spaces.

Local theatrical favorites

On summer evenings, you’ll spot locals carrying folding chairs and coolers as they stroll down from Montford Avenue to the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, ready to enjoy a performance by the Montford Park Players. This community-driven outdoor theater features productions ranging from Shakespeare to beloved children's classics, as well as new works by local playwrights and seasonal holiday shows throughout the year.

Similar to the Montford Park Players, Asheville Community Theatre highlights local talent with performances of popular productions like Elf: The Musical and various children’s shows. For over seventy years, its 399-seat theater has been a cherished destination for downtown audiences seeking musicals, comedies, and dramas.

Experimental performances and venues

The spirit of experimentation thrives at The BeBe Theatre, home to the Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre, founded in 1979 by Giles and Susan Collard. ACDT showcases innovative performances by its dancers and students, renowned for their breathtaking choreography, elaborate sets, and costumes.

The BeBe also features productions from The Sublime Theater. With approximately 100 performances annually, the venue hosts the avant-garde Asheville Fringe Festival, also established by Collard, which takes place each spring and highlights dance, theater, puppetry, spoken word, film, and multidisciplinary works.

Not every performance in Asheville unfolds on a traditional stage. LaZoom Comedy Tours takes the entertainment on the road aboard their iconic purple bus, introducing riders to colorful characters while sharing local history in a comedic fashion. Meanwhile, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance brings its acclaimed contemporary dance performances to various venues around Asheville when not on tour.

Asheville's vibrant and diverse performing arts scene mirrors the city’s flourishing creative energy. With a variety of stages and shows catering to every interest, visitors can expect surprising, poignant, and even exhilarating performances that make their time in this unique city truly memorable.