“Our Town has long been a bucket list production for me.” says Our Town Director Erika Tyner. “When Little Women wrapped this past summer, I immediately said yes when approached about directing Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning, fourth-wall-breaking classic. From the start, I was committed to connecting Our Town to our own town of Burnsville.”
Our Town is kicking off Parkway Playhouse’s 78th season. Showing May 23-June 1st, this moving show explores the simple beauty and profound meaning of everyday life in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, between 1901 and 1913. Through the eyes of the Stage Manager, the play follows the lives of two families, the Webbs and the Gibbs, as they experience birth, marriage, and death. The play’s minimalist staging and focus on the ordinary, rather than the extraordinary, highlight the importance of appreciating the small moments and the connections that bind us together. Parkway Playhouse’s production will focus a lens on the Burnsville community as it heals from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
“I knew I wanted to involve community members in roles that reflect their real-life contributions to Burnsville. For instance, Peter Bobbe—a legendary English teacher at our high school—is a natural fit for Editor Webb. Roberta Whiteside, a local vocal icon, plays the choir director, while Jonathan Polgar, a trusted community health care provider, takes on the role of Dr. Gibbs. The Stage Manager, the most pivotal role in the play, is portrayed by Alesa Bryant, a celebrated writer, teacher, director, and theatrical figure in our area. We’re also thrilled to feature members of the First Baptist Church of Burnsville as part of the choir.
Following Hurricane Helene this fall, I felt strongly about reflecting the resilience and recovery efforts of our community within the production. This led to one of our most meaningful creative choices: the set. Inspired by the stacks of wooden pallets used during disaster relief, we built the set from pallet wood—walls, tables, and chairs included. After sharing the idea with Parkway Playhouse’s set designer, Carew Henry, along with my husband, my uncle, and some generous workers at Fred’s collected and transported the pallets on a frigid January afternoon. Weeks later, junior students and teachers helped carry them inside—a true Parkway Playhouse community effort.”
Parkway Playhouse is located in Yancey County, NC, one of the most impacted communities hit by Hurricane Helene in September of 2024. Receiving over 30 inches of rain during the storm, the county lost over 10 lives, 2,300 structures, and over 117,000 acres of vegetation. The community rallied together and immediately started recovery efforts.
“As you experience our production, you’ll see how we’ve made Our Town truly ours, with subtle but intentional connections to Burnsville’s recovery journey after Hurricane Helene. Audiences will experience this through one of my favorite creative choices – use of live sound. Local high school musician, Santos Mondragon, creates sound effects using items salvaged after the storm, adding a rich, sensory layer to the storytelling.”
Working with this cast has been a dream realized. I’ve always believed in the power of collaboration, and the creativity flowing from this group of local actors has been truly inspiring. Each rehearsal began with a vision, and through their talent and insight, that vision grew into something far greater than I could have imagined. This is the heart of theater for me—and the reason I keep returning to Parkway Playhouse season after season.”
Due to the focus on recovery efforts here in Yancey County, Parkway Playhouse had to cancel their remaining show in their 2024 season. This resulted in a loss of over $16,000 in revenue. Now more than ever, Yancey County businesses need folks to come out and support them.
Tickets for this production are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.parkwayplayhouse.com/
Parkway Playhouse is a professional theater company located at 202 Green Mountain Drive, Burnsville, North Carolina 28714. The oldest continually operating summer theater in North Carolina, they are celebrating their 78th season this year. Parkway Playhouse offers something for everyone including shows, classes, community events, and more! To find out more about Parkway Playhouse, please visit their website at www.parkwayplayhouse.com, or check out their Facebook or Instagram pages.
