Appalachian Artists Collective

10/24/2021

💡CAST SPOTLIGHT💡
Mariah Plante is a theatre maker and teaching artist who specializes in creating devised and sensory theatre. She received her theatrical training in New York City, earning most of her performance and production experience in downtown venues such as the 13th Street Repertory Theatre, Dixon Place, the TANK, and 3-Legged Dog. Mariah received her BFA in Acting and Drama Therapy from Marymount Manhattan College and is a co-founding member of Appalachian Artists Collective.
Previous AAC credits include Voices of the Mountain; “Sharon” in Detroit (2014) and “Hazel” in Toad Wife (2017). Mariah will be directing “Shootout at the Depot,” the story of a West Virginia murder trial, coming next summer, 2022.

10/23/2021

💡CAST SPOTLIGHT💡
Shelby Nelson Burcham (she/her) is a freelance performer and teaching artist born and raised in Southern West Virginia. While earning her BFA at The University of the Arts, under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield, she worked with artists such as Helen Simoneau, Andrea Miller/Gallim Dance, Netta Yerushalmy, Bobbi Jene Smith, Sidra Bell, Paul Matteson, Jesse Zaritt, and Katie Swords. Her work, being, not a phase, was presented at the 2018 Theorist Festival in Austin, TX. After moving to New York, she performed at The Performa 19 Biennial, ISSUE Project Room, Center for Performance Research, Fertile Ground, and FEAST: A Performance Series. Shelby was recently featured in the film ‘Aviva’, directed by Boaz Yakin and choreographed by Bobbi Jene Smith that premiered June 12th, 2020. She currently teaches dance at Marshall University and 4th Avenue Arts in Huntington, West Virginia. She spends her time diving into movement exploration, dance making, gardening, cooking, and building connections at their intersection.
See Shelby and the rest of the cast of “The Telltale Lilac Bush” tonight and tomorrow at 8PM @ Barboursville Park Amphitheater!
💀

10/23/2021

Kate Kennedy is a senior at Spring Valley High School. She has been a member of the Valley Vocals and Timberwolf Theatre for 3 years. Previous theatrical credits include Julia in “1984” and Sarah Bernhardt in “The Complete History of Theatre”. Future credits include Jo March in “Little Women” and she will be participating in Spring Valley’s partnership with Huntington Symphony Orchestra. She is in Spring Valley’s Beta Club where she volunteers with others. Kate also begins the services and actively participates in her local church, Vinson Memorial Church. Her plans include attending Marshall University to double major in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She is very excited to participate in this original, Appalachian based play and grow her skills as a young actress.
Catch Kate’s performance TONIGHT: 10/23 @ 8 PM - Barboursville Park Amphitheatre. Get your ticket in advance at the 👆
🖤

10/23/2021

Jessica Lynn Fox, choreographer for Telltale Lilac Bush, is a movement artist based in Huntington, WV. She is the founder and Artistic Director at 4th Avenue Arts and JDG: The Migration Project, as well as the studio owner/master trainer at 4th Avenue Pilates. Fox holds a MFA in Dance from Hollins University in collaboration with the Forsythe Company, and the University of Frankfurt. She also has a BFA in dance performance, education, and choreography from Ohio University. To name a few, Fox has performed in works with companies/artists: Troika Ranch, KDNY Dance, Gina Gibney, City Dance Ensemble, and the Alvin Ailey Studio Theatre. Additionally, she has presented work on local and international stages, notably: The Jack Guidone Theatre, Huntington Museum of Art, Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, Gooseroute Dance Festival, RADFEST, Greenberg Theatre, Imagination Stage, Joan C. Edwards Playhouse, and Memorial Auditorium. Fox is certified in a wide array of additional movement modalities: Pilates, yoga, Reiki, and is a American Ballet Theatre Teacher Trainer. She has had the pleasure of choreographing various productions over the years: The Little Mermaid, The Princess and The Pea, 21 (A Modern Dance Musical), The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty to name a few. And is an award winning Dance On Film artist. She is THRILLED to be joining forces with Appalachian Artists Collective for this project!

10/23/2021

💡CAST SPOTLIGHT💡
Laurie has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She has continued dancing with Jessica Fox and the JDG: Migration Project since 2019.
Come see Laurie and the rest of the cast of ‘The Telltale Lilac Bush’ — TONIGHT at Barboursville Park Amphitheater @ 8PM.
See you after dark!

10/23/2021

Want more info on the show? This link will tell you everything you need to know, including interviews, tickets, and the production program. In an effort to reduce waste we are doing digital only programs. A QR code for the program is also available at the ticket booth.

https://linktr.ee/aactheatre

Homegrown Theatre

10/22/2021

Did you catch our Assistant Directors on WSAZ yesterday? Nora Ankrom and Mariah Plante will be back on this evening before transforming into The Maiden and Dr. Ruth Ann Musick for OPENING NIGHT!
See you soon!

10/22/2021

💡CAST SPOTLIGHT💡

Hannah Grace Epling is a 4th grader at Buffalo Elementary School. She started her journey in acting 5 years ago and has had the pleasure of working with some incredible young actors and phenomenal directors in several different companies.

Grace loves to spend time with her friends and is a talented artist. She is very excited to be a part of this cast!
See Hannah Grace this weekend in “The Telltale Lilac Bush” - tonight, Saturday and Sunday @ . See you there!

10/21/2021

💡CAST SPOTLIGHT💡
Rylanne Abigail Martin Jervis is a freshman  at Huntington High School. She leads an active life as a senior member of the JDG Youth Dance Company, HHS Show Choir, and 4th Avenue Arts Dancer taking over 17 hours of classes/privates a week, all while keeping a 4.0 gpa. She also volunteers her time helping with the Mini-Movers at 4th Avenue Arts, works as an assistant during the summer camps and helps with the costumes and props behind the scenes of all of their productions. Her favorite style of dance is Modern and she LOVES to dance the strange and creepy choreo  - she is all about being unique! It is her goal to attend Hollins University as a Dance Major and someday become a choreographer. She is thrilled to be dancing in AAC’s The Telltale Lilac Bush and take the stage with the many talents of the tri-state area.
Get your Tickets at the 👆

10/21/2021

We open tomorrow!!!!

Tkts and info at the link below 👇
https://linktr.ee/aactheatre

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/features_entertainment/live-production-of-famous-wv-ghost-story-telltale-lilac-bush-starts-tomorrow/article_1e906eb8-29da-5e9f-8b8d-59b177740c31.html?utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR3NEBiGCVqdgkOYGyscTVRtEyyN84r3jRvYHBmOdVwcUEOWgjnC0nwjkaM

In a big six-theater troupe collaboration, the First Stage Theatre Company will showcase multiple vintage West Virginia ghost tales combined in a new and original play titled “The Telltale Lilac

10/15/2021

A message from AAC Founder Leah Turley.

Get your tickets now for an Appalachian story written by an Appalachian author adapted by an Appalachian playwright performed and produced by Appalachian artists exclusively for you, an Appalachian audience.

https://fb.me/e/1mFuLeawF

10/15/2021

10/15/2021

CAST SPOTLIGHT

Laurie Bohren has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She has continued dancing with Jessica Fox and the JDG: Migration Project since 2019. When Laurie isn’t dancing she works at State Electric Supply Co. as their graphic designer in the Marketing Department. Laurie also enjoys spending time with her husband Jeremiah and her three children, Max, Elizabeth, and Stella. Laurie is proud to be a part of this fantastic project.

Get your tickets to see Laurie and the rest of the cast of The Telltale Lilac Bush at the link below!

Barboursville shows:
https://fb.me/e/1mFuLeawF

10/14/2021

To our friends, family and regular patrons and theater going public, due to circumstances beyond our control, this weekend's performances of "The Tell Tale Lilac Bush" on the Shoenbaum Stage at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled. We invite you all to join us for the regularly scheduled shows next weekend, October 22-24 at the amphitheater in Barboursville City Park beginning at 8:00 p.m.

10/14/2021

CAST SPOTLIGHT:

Emilie Hoosier is a part of the Charleston Ensemble and plays the Skeleton Hand in the Charleston cast. Emilie is a freshman at George Washington High School. She’s been in theatre since she was 7 and has participated in many shows at CTOC and the Alban Arts Center including Annie and Matilda at the Alban. This is her first time working with Appalachian Arts Collective. In her free time she loves to travel to take masterclasses with A Class Act NY in NYC. Performing on stage is one of her favorite things and she’s excited for everyone to experience the magic of The Telltale Lilac Bush.

Get your tickets to see Emilie and the rest of the cast of The Telltale Lilac Bush at the links below!

Charleston shows:
https://fb.me/e/4c42GXWN7

Barboursville shows:
https://fb.me/e/1mFuLeawF

10/14/2021

CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT:

Nichole “Nikki” Jervis has been a long-time participant and supporter of Arts in the Tri-State since a young age in church theater and college acting in senior plays for Marshall Theater. Her children began their own journey in the arts and dance when 4th Avenue Arts first opened their doors as Jeslyn Performing Arts Center and her entire family has been an active part throughout the years assisting with costuming, working backstage, prop making/scenic design and she herself appeared on stage in "The Grinch" & "Sleeping Beauty". In addition, Ms. Nikki has been creating costumes and commissioned cosplays over the last 10 years. Ms. Nikki recently took a leap of faith and left the public sector to join 4th Avenue Arts as their full time Executive Director & Costume Designer finally pursuing her true passion working full-time in the arts! Her most recent costume designs appeared on stage in 4th Avenue Arts productions of “Baba Yaga”, “Music, Movement & Merriment”, “2021 Spring Showcase”, “Jewels” and “Fierce Fairytales”, as well as a special project in collaboration with the Huntington Museum of Art for their Arts Integrated Tour on the “Bauhaus Exhibit” & a dance on film, “Grimm’s Fairytales”. Her upcoming projects include “The Tell-tale Lilac Bush” with AAC, and “Clara’s Christmas” and “Once Upon a Dream” with 4th Avenue Arts.

Get your tickets to see Nikki's work and the cast of The Telltale Lilac Bush at the links below!

Charleston shows:
https://fb.me/e/4c42GXWN7

Barboursville shows:
https://fb.me/e/1mFuLeawF

10/13/2021

📢IMPORTANT LAST MINUTE ANNOUNCEMENT:
Unfortunately, we have a cast member that has tested positive for COVID. Out of an abundance of caution we are postponing our Charleston performances of The Telltale Lilac Bush until Fri. Oct. 29, Sat. Oct. 30, and Sun. Oct. 31st @ 8PM (performance venue TBD). But ALSO, fear not dear hearts! We are still on track to premiere our production at Barboursville Park Amphitheater Oct. 22, 23, 24th! 
Stay tuned and send us some good vibes. It's been a day 😅

10/13/2021

Unfortunately, we have a cast member that has tested positive for COVID. Out of an abundance of caution we are postponing our Charleston performances of The Telltale Lilac Bush until Fri. Oct. 29, Sat. Oct. 30, and Sun. Oct. 31st @ 8PM (performance venue TBD).

But ALSO, fear not dear hearts! We are still on track to premiere our production at Barboursville Park Amphitheater Oct. 22, 23, 24th!

Stay tuned and send us some good vibes. It's been a day 😅