Production Of The Denim King Is Looking Up At Hayes Art Center

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and their guests were treated to their first inspection of the Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center, the performance space for Moses Cone: The Denim King, which opens the Blowing Rock Stage Company season on May 30, 2007. The Foundation commissioned this musical/drama depicting the life story of Moses and Bertha Cone at Flat Top Manor. The story is based on Phil Noblitt’s book, A Mansion in the Mountains. The playwright is Janet Speer and the composer is Jonathan Thomas Oaks. Jeff Clark, executive director of the Hayes Center, points out how the fly space will be used for elaborate sets that will be used in this run of performances. The Hayes Center hosted the Foundation and their guests for their quarterly board of trustees meeting on December 12. Left to right above are Gregg Kidd, the Regional Manager for the new National Parks Conservation Association office in Asheville; Anne Whisnant, trustee and author of The Blue Ridge Parkway, Super Scenic Motor Road; Janice Pope, council advisor and co-chairman of ASU’s Department of Communication; Neva Specht, ASU’s liaison with the National Park Service; Hayes Center Executive Director, Jeff Clark; George Ivey, Director of Development for the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Frank Fairy, trustee and resident of Blowing Rock; Hobie Carwood, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board; and Christina Auch, the Foundation’s Director of Development.