The Poet

The co-founder and Artistic Director of Rarely Theatre. As an Asheville-based actor and director he has worked in the surrounding area for almost two decades with various companies. He has not been on the stage since the last time Rarely Theatre produced this very play in 2019. Other previous acting credits include: Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew, Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Diomed in Troilus and Cressida; with Parkway Playhouse Gerry in Dancing at Lughnasa, Dan Kaffee in A Few Good Men, Keith Blalock in the world premiere of Ghost Riders, Dodd in The Groundling, Trip in Other Desert Cities, Reston in Frost Nixon, Griever in Blue Window, and Will in Shakespeare in Love. Previous directing credits include William Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, Coriolanus, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, Measure for Measure, Othello, and A Winter’s Tale; Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Geoffrey Nauffts’ Next Fall, Joel Drake Johnson’s Rasheeda Speaking; and he has independently produced and directed Shakespeare’s As You Like It, David Auburn’s Proof, Theresa Rebeck’s Seminar, and David Hare’s Skylight.

The Muse / Composer

Franklin began studying violin when he was three years old before he discovered the cello at the age of six. He earned scholarships to the Eastman School of Music, the Brevard Music Center (where he was a finalist in the Jan & Beattie Wood Concerto Competition), and the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival. He has appeared as a soloist with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, the Brevard Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Blue Ridge Orchestra. He has shared the concert stage with Emmanuel Ax, Béla Fleck, Warren Haynes, Bright Eyes, Ben Sollee, Free Planet Radio, Stephanie's Id, the Get Right Band, the Jon Stickley Trio, and Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band. He has recorded for Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, the Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Josh Phillips, Ben Lovette, Jane Kramer, the Secret B-Sides, and Holiday Childress, as well as full-length albums for Ben Phantom, Free Planet Radio, and Sirius.B. He is now Associate Principal Cello with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, and he performs in many locally and regionally acclaimed projects such as the Opal String Quartet, Ben Phantom, Upland Drive, and Sirius.B. As an avid chamber musician, he has collaborated regularly with Pan Harmonia, Amici Music, and the musicians of the Asheville Symphony. Also a passionate educator, Mr. Keel taught orchestra and chorus for Henderson County Public Schools, served as a conductor for the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra program as well as interim conductor for the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra. Alongside his colleagues in the Opal String Quartet, he continues to give clinics and classes to young string players across Western North Carolina. He currently teaches string orchestra at Asheville Middle and High Schools and is the strings coach for the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Director of Operations

Devyn is a local actress, artist, and podcaster. She has designed sets for Titus Andronicus, Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, Three Musketeers, Winter’s Tale and Pride & Prejudice. She has worked as a designer and teacher for The Magnetic Theatre, Montford Park Players and Parkway Playhouse. Her notable acting credits include, Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. Essie in David Hope’s Washington Place. Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Cassius in Julius Caesar, Portia in Merchant of Venice and most recently she was seen in Fable Wilde Day’s adaptation of Twelfth Night as Olivia.

Lighting Design

Abby is an immortal valkyrie currently engaged in an eternal war against the shadows. Her victories are legendary.