Asheville, North Carolina

===Performing arts===
[[File:Girl-Rain-Spout.jpg|thumb|Sculpture in Downtown Asheville of a girl drinking from a fountain shaped like a horse]]

The Asheville Community Theatre was founded in 1946, producing the first amateur production of the Appalachian drama ''[[Dark of the Moon (play)|Dark of the Moon]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Community Theatre » PRODUCTION HISTORY |url=http://www.ashevilletheatre.org/about/production-history/ |website=Ashevilletheatre.org |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128110322/http://www.ashevilletheatre.org/about/production-history/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Soon after, the young actors [[Charlton Heston]] and wife [[Lydia Clarke]] took over the small theatre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Community Theatre |url=http://www.ashevilleguidebook.com/wnc/cultural-attractions/asheville_community_theatre.htm |website=Ashevilleguidebook.com |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912081226/http://www.ashevilleguidebook.com/wnc/cultural-attractions/asheville_community_theatre.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The current ACT building has two performance spaces – the Mainstage Auditorium (and named the Heston Auditorium), and the more intimate black box performance space 35below.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Community Theatre {{!}} Asheville, NC's Official Travel Site |url=http://www.exploreasheville.com/listings/asheville-community-theatre/213/ |website=Explore Asheville |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=January 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129204246/http://www.exploreasheville.com/listings/asheville-community-theatre/213/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Asheville Lyric Opera]] celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2009 with a concert featuring [[Angela Brown]], David Malis, and [[Tonio Di Paolo]], veterans of the [[Metropolitan Opera]].<ref name="Opera">[http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009901250315]{{dead link|date=May 2016}}</ref> The ALO has typically performed three fully staged professional operas for the community in addition to its vibrant educational program.

The Fringe Arts Festival features alternative performances.<ref name="AshevilleFringe">{{cite web |url=http://www.ashevillefringe.org/ |title=The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival - Asheville Fringe Arts Festival |work=Asheville Fringe Arts Festival |access-date=January 26, 2013 |archive-date=December 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230105109/http://www.ashevillefringe.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref>