Hendersonville Theatre (HT) is committed to exploring and developing original works for the American stage, from concept to full production. Our New Works Reading: Page to Stage series offers local playwrights a supportive platform where their scripts come to life through actors in script-in-hand readings. These readings are not only a chance for playwrights to hear their work aloud but also an opportunity for the public to engage in the creative process.
HT’s New Works Readings return for 2025 with the first session on Saturday, June 21 at 3 p.m. This FREE event showcases a play in development, performed by local actors, and followed by a short discussion. Audience members are encouraged to offer feedback to help shape the play’s future. While attendance is free, donations are welcome to support HT and its commitment to new work.
Selected pieces from Page to Stage may move on to workshops or full mainstage productions. Playwrights interested in submitting work for consideration can follow the submission guidelines here and email questions to [email protected].
June’s New Work:
A Carolina Story by Katie Winkler
A Carolina Story is a musical play set in 1933 in the small town of Clydesdale, North Carolina. It follows Josephine “Jo” Campbell-Smith, a compassionate and business-savvy woman who inherits her father’s bank and textile mill. Amid the Great Depression, Jo keeps the town afloat with low-interest loans and community support, earning widespread admiration. She is also a single mother to three children, each of whom is dealing with their challenges. The town is filled with vibrant characters, including Jo’s loyal friends, a young sheriff, and a mysterious older woman, all of whom contribute to the tight-knit community.
The story unfolds through 26 songs that blend humor, heartache, and hope. From rousing ensemble pieces like “Welcome to Clydesdale” to heartfelt solos such as “Child of My Heart,” the music enhances the emotional arc of the characters. The prologue sets a warm and comedic tone as the townspeople clumsily prepare a surprise celebration for Jo, showcasing her profound impact on their lives and setting the stage for a story about love, resilience, and the power of community.
For over thirty years, Katie Winkler has been active in area theater through playwriting, acting, directing, writing theater reviews, and collaborating with the theater department at Blue Ridge Community College, where she taught English composition, creative writing, and British literature for 27 years. She retired August 1, 2023, and spent the following year as part of the Dramatists Guild Foundation’s National Virtual Fellowship, studying with playwrights from across the nation and learning from theater professionals in New York and Los Angeles. She is excited to bring her experience and recently acquired knowledge to the development of new plays through the New Works Series.
The cast of Paradise on the Rocks:
John Adams – Frank Keener
Kailey Blasius – Andrea/Messenger/Voiceover
Richard Blue – Michael West
Nico Bolet– Billy Hill
Brenda Craig – Rachel Borenstein
Cheryl DeCristofaro* – Malea
Carrie Seigle – Roxanne Blue
Doug Sparks – Gerry Hamble
Amanda McLoughlin – Stage Directions
*Making their Hendersonville Theatre debut