Behind the Scenes in The Magnetic Field
Jonathan Frappier (Co-founder) has a wealth of experience in both the food service industry and the entertainment industry. He has worked in management at five star fine dining establishments in New York City. He also has more than a decade of experience as a producer and senior staff member in the entertainment industry, having worked alongside the Executive Vice President in TV Research at CBS/Paramount and as co-founder of theatre companies in New York City and Wilmington, NC, producing numerous shows to critical acclaim. Jonathan came to Asheville a few years ago to help build the development program for NC Stage Company, and is now a Major Gifts Officer in the Development Department at UNC Asheville. He is the Chair of the Affiliates of Asheville, a young professionals group committed to raising awareness and funding for local non-profits and also sits on the Board of Directors of the Assocation of Fundraising Professionals, Western North Carolina Chapter. Jonathan has the most enthusiasm.
Chall Gray (Co-founder), a native of Western North Carolina, is well-known in the local artistic community as a theatre producer, organizer of literary events, and writer. He has co-founded two theatre companies in Asheville and produced many successful shows in the area. He also has several years of experience in the sales and marketing industry, and is currently in charge of Marketing & Development for Asheville Bravo Concerts. Chall is also a past President of Asheville Toastmasters. He is the tallest.
Steve Samuels (Artistic Director) has had an extensive theatrical career prior to The Magnetic Field, including a decade as manager of, and occasional actor with, New York’s Ridiculous Theatrical Company; a long stint as senior editor of TCG Books and, more briefly, American Theatre magazine; two years as the artistic associate at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.; a semester as an instructor of theater history at New York University; and a season serving on the Village Voice Obie committee. The recipient of a New York State Council on the Arts playwriting fellowship, he edited Charles Ludlam’s Complete Plays and Ridiculous Theatre: Scourge of Human Folly for publication, as well as David Kaufman's award-winning biography of Ludlam, Ridiculous!. He was also the recipient of a grant from the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation in 2007 to travel to Uganda and write about violence. Mr. Samuels currently works as a writing teacher and editor, as well as reviewing theatre for the Mountain Xpress. Steve has the loudest laugh.
Why we need The Magnetic Field
For the last several years we have worked as theatre professionals and immersed ourselves in the arts culture here in Asheville, NC. In so doing, it became obvious to us that with the amount of talent and potential in this town one of the things needed was another venue. Once we began discussing the venture it became clear that our ideas, while completely new for Asheville, were remarkably similar: put simply, we both wanted to create a place that could operate as a Coffee Shop during the day and segue into a Bar at night, while also combining a Performance House for shows of every stripe, be they theatre, music, stand-up comedy, performance art, or anything else. A place where actors, writers, musicians and tech people could come, not just to do their sound check or dress rehearsal or for a performance, but just to hang out. A community place where people can come together to perform, create, or simply watch new and innovative entertainment.
In the Summer of 2010, The Magnetic Field, our Coffee Shop/Bar/Performance House, will open on Depot St. in the historic Glen Rock Hotel in the fastest growing arts section of Asheville- The River District. This is an ideal location for what we wanted to do and we are happy that Mountain Housing Opportunities has partnered with us to make it happen. From the very first day we open we will serve gourmet coffee, local beer, wine and baked goods, and present professional music, innovative theatre, and whatever else you can imagine. We look forward to having you join us in shaping the new arts scene in Asheville and we welcome your thoughts.
