SART HISTORY

It was 1975, and the Madison County Bicentennial Committee was developing plans to celebrate the nation's birth. The Mars Hill College Theatre Department was seeking ways to put the knowledge and experience of its faculty and students to use beyond the school year. Western North Carolina had long been fertile ground for the theatre arts, and audiences were showing increasing interest in their own history and heritage. All the elements were in place; all that was needed was a spark to fire them up.

James "T" Thomas

Enter Jim "T" Thomas. Chairman of the Fine Arts Division of MHC, superb teacher, actor and director extraordinaire, Jim "T" Thomas ignited the powerhouse known as the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre. In the capable hands of "T," C. Robert Jones, Earl Leininger, Bill Gregg and Dewitt Tipton, some students and recent alumni, and a well-trained crew, SART took shape and took off. Its mission: To present the highest quality professional productions, with a special emphasis on "plays concerning Appalachia that portray the rich culture and heritage of its people."

Over the following three decades, SART has not only met its goals and fulfilled its mission, it has far surpassed the original hopes of its founders. SART celebrates its 30 years of professional theatre as a company that attracts actors, directors, playwrights, and technical professionals from all over the country. Each summer theatre professionals fly in from New York, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi; they drive up from Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis and Chicago; and locally based professionals flock to Mars Hill from Asheville and surrounding areas.

Sara "Ma" Stewart / SART founding member; Costume Designer

In the summer of 2001, re-enter Bill Gregg as artistic director. A SART veteran both on stage and off, a Mars Hill College alum, and the company's first stage manager in 1975... Bill Gregg was hand-picked to succeed Jim Thomas as SART's second artistic director.

BILL GREGG / Current SART Artistic Director (since 2001 )

Recent years have seen exciting changes and growth. SART became financially independent of Mars Hill College in 2002, and in recent years it has increased its audiences and been recognized for its outstanding work, as well as expanding its production season beyond the summer months. SART was chosen the "Best Theatre in WNC" in the Asheville Citizen-Times readers poll in 2004, and the company's 30th Anniversary season helped cement that reputation.

Dr. Virgil "Doc" Gray - founding member; Designer & Technical Director

SART was called "a jewel in the area's theatrical crown" by Asheville Citizen-Times feature writer Nancy Lewis, and the newpaper's reviewer, Tony Kiss, praised as "brilliant" SART's production of the 2004 season opener, Accomplice, by Rupert Holmes. Later he awarded "All A's" to the smash hit musical, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, based on the books by Robert Fulghum.

Recent SART production highlights include mid-winter productions of Always, Patsy Cline and Love Letters, starring Pat Hingle and Betsy Palmer. SART first presented Always..., starring Liz Aiello, Ellen Pfirrmann, and Bruce Lang and his band, during its 2002 season and remounted the show in the spring of 2003. The production was added to Asheville Community Theatre's 2004-05 season in January 2005, reaching more than 1,800 new audience members.

In February, 2005, SART brought Broadway and Hollywood stars Pat Hingle and Betsy Palmer to Mars Hill for one night to perform A. R. Gurney’s Love Letters. The sold-out evening encouraged newcomers and returning supporters alike to "Fall in Love With SART," which they did in record numbers.
The 2006 season promises great things for the company, with its mixture of drama, comedy, and musicals — both classic and new.

C. Robert Jones / Playwright; Director; Retired faculty of Mars Hill College Theatre Arts department; SART founding member and wrote many of SART's world premieres including the musical Mandy Lou and Taking A Chance On Love.

Owen Theatre

The two-story building that is now Owen Theatre started as a wooden structure in 1887, serving as the sanctuary of the nearby Mars Hill Baptist Church. It was built on a plot of land donated to the church by A. O. Carter. Plans for a brick building were first drawn up in 1907, and the new structure was completed in 1918. serving as the church sanctuary for another 35 years. The building was sold to Mars Hill College in 1953; converted into a theatre, it hosted its first production in 1966. The theatre is named for Jesse Ray Owen, pastor of Mars Hill Baptist Church from 1914 to 1931.

The main level of Owen Theatre, housing lobbies, seating, and stage area, is the second floor. The ground floor houses the box office, reception area, and audience restrooms. All areas are handicapped-accessible.

Renovation of Owen will begin in 2006, when the Jarrett House next door (originally the Rectory) will be converted into a new theatre welcome center. It will house the new box office, lobby, and restrooms. Those offices will connect directly to the auditorium, allowing unrestricted access to the theatre by patrons with limited mobility.

The fund drive for the renovation includes provisions for a maintenance fund to ensure that in future years Jarrett House and Owen Theatre will be maintained in great shape.

Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre
P.O.Box 1720 / 44 College Street
Mars Hill, NC 28754

Business Office
828.689.1384
828.689.1272 (fax)
email

Box Office
828.689.1239
(May-August)

SART presents the mainstage summer season of productions each year in the historic Owen Theatre on the campus of Mars Hill College, Mars Hill NC.
Owen Theatre is equipped with hearing-impaired assistance devices
and wheelchair designated seating / access.

SART is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council
with funding from the state of North Carolina
and the National Endowment for the Arts,
which believes that a great nation deserves great art.