Skip to main content

Weather-Related Announcement

Close

Western Carolina University Suspends Classes Amid Outages and Road Closures; Advises Safety Measures for Students and Parents.

Learn More

Fantasia on Mysterium: The Epic Immersive Theatrical Recital

LIVE PERFORMANCES: Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 7:20 pm, Friday, January 26, 2024 at 7:20 pm, and Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 7:20 pm
Link to the Online Bardo Arts Center Box Office

Image shoes Alexander Scraibin flying on a piano and Michael Yannette falling from a church tower.

Image courtesy of Michael Yannette.

Fantasia On Mysterium: The Epic Immersive Theatrical Recital is a genre-busting reimagining of a traditional piano recital and theatrical play, blended with artistically created mind-blowing immersive visuals that accompany both the storytelling and the live performances of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin's piano works. The audience joins the pianist/actor/playwright Michael Yannette onstage as he weaves the highly synchronistic real-life stories of both he and the composer, which, as it furthers down the rabbit hole, exposes itself to be highly revelatory to both. The adventure that Yannette began years ago as research into his favorite composer weaves into an "epic" play that is at varying times hilarious, deeply moving, hair-raising but, ultimately, fully life-changing and life-affirming. Submerge yourself in a seating arrangement that will place audiences physically on the stage for an intimate experience beginning at 7:30 pm on January 25- January 27, 2024.

Performance artist Michael Yannette is an exceptional concert pianist, actor, playwright, multi-media artist, and music educator who combines all his talents to create rich and thoroughly unique theatrical, musical, and visual experiences. He wrote, produced, and starred in the title role of An Evening with George Gershwin, a one-man show about the life of the great composer that played to rave reviews nationally. Mr. Yannette has music directed and performed in professional, collegiate, and community theater nationwide.  As a soloist, he recently performed in New York master classes with Jerome Lowenthal of the Julliard School for the Scriabin Society of America. As a composer, Mr. Yannette is a published choral composer (Alfred Publishing) and composer and arranger for the theater (The American Woodsman, Confessions of a Jewish Shiksa).

Photo of Michael Yannette.

 

Mr. Yannette has been a proud music educator for over 36 years. He was twice named teacher of the year through his work on the Cherokee Reservation through Cherokee Central Schools and Grandview Preparatory School in Boca Raton, FL. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian tribe also named Yannette the 2019 recipient of the Frell Owl Award, given annually to an individual who has significantly contributed to the welfare of Cherokee children and families. He has worked with WCU students through the Department of Stage and Screen and the School of Music for the past 10 years. He is the co-founder and a past director of the Men’s Chorus of the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, an organization which, having just celebrated its 20th anniversary, has grown to reach over 450 students annually in 8 different choirs through the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, FL. As a choral accompanist, Mr. Yannette has performed for choirs in National, Southern Division, and State Level American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conventions and was an annual accompanist for Florida All-State Choirs. He recently conducted his work, The Cherokee Morning Song, at the 2022 ACDA Southern Division convention with the North Carolina Masterworks Chorale and the Stetson University Chorus.  He is also currently the Director of Music at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers, NC.

Mr. Yannette is a graduate of Florida State University, where he was named the 1986 Presser Scholar and received various honors, including the Ernst von Dohnanyi Prize and the winner of both the FSU Concerto Competition and the Florida Collegiate Artist Competition. Mr. Yannette’s choral works are available on Alfred Publishing.

Image of Michael Cox

 

Michael is thrilled to share the stage with 'Mr.Yannette' who he has collaborated with since 9th grade on everything from pantomimes to film scores. Favorite theatre credits include: Waiting for Lefty (45th St. Theatre), Heist! (34th Annual Humana Festival), Laramie Project: Ten Years Later (Actors Theatre of Louisville) and War Horse (Broadway International Tour) for which he won Broadway World's Best Leading Actor in a Play. Check out www.michaelwyattcox.com for his original comedy and podcast. Love to the amazing Samantha, the entire menagerie and little bean. 

Photo of Karen Covington-Yow

 

Karen is thrilled to make her first appearance on the Bardo stage alongside this amazing cast and crew! Regional credits include: Young Frankenstein (Frau Blucher), Love, Linda (Linda Porter), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Ensemble), Nunsense Jamboree (Robert Anne), A Christmas Carol (Christmas Present/Mrs. Cratchit/Solicitor), As It Is In Heaven (Sister Peggy), Seussical (Sour Kangaroo), Nuncrackers (Robert Anne), Bonnie & Clyde (Cumie Barrow), Sister Act (Mother Superior), Luna Gale (Cindy), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Menopause the Rock Musical (Reality Show Star), Nunsense (Robert Anne), Company (Susan), Mame (Agnes Gooch), Into the Woods (Jack's Mother), Zombie Prom (Delilah Strict), and The Addams Family (Alice). Kaaren thanks her hubby Mike for his love and support, and Russ for showing her how it's done.  

Photo of Mike Yow

 

Mike Yow is honored to be a part of the incredible production that is Fantasia On Mysterium. An Asheville-based actor, director, and author, Mike has appeared in over 160 stage productions in his career, primarily in the Atlanta and Western NC areas, including some film and television. He has performed with his wife, Karen, on numerous stage projects and recently worked with the talented Michael Yanette on The American Woodsman at The Diana Wortham Theatre.

Listed Alphabetically:

  • Connor Butler
  • Zack Heller
  • David Lee
  • Daniel Noonan

Listed Alphabetically:

  • Tory Depew - Costume Designer
  • Julius Horsthuis - Fractal Animation Designer, Sonata #5
  • Leo Lei - Lighting Designer/Video Mapping
  • Joshua Norman - Lead Artists/Animation/ Content Creator
  • Evee Pavey - Sound Designer
  • Damon Sink - Preshow Composer
  • Helen Stembridge - Aroma Designer

Listed Alphabetically

  • Scott Ashley - Production Manager/Lighting Designer
  • Dr. George H. Brown - Director
  • Stacy Plumb - Assistant Stage Manager
  • Logan Wallace - Audio Engineer & BAC Lead Technician
  • Annie Watsic - Stage Manager
  • McKenzie Yazan - Assistant Stage Manager
  • BAC Performance Hall Staff: Zak Baker, Sophia Ferry, Ben Howard, Fiona Marty, Caden Ryan, Carter Ryan, and Kyler Stevenson

Bardo Arts Center is thrilled to bring Fantasia on Mysterium: The Epic Immersive Theatrical Recital. Doors will open at 7:00 pm, preshow will begin at 7:20 pm, with the show starting at 7:30 pm on Thursday, January 25, Friday, January 26, and Saturday, January 27, 2024. Seating will be on the Bardo Arts Center stage, and capacity is limited for each performance. Box Office is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 am-4 pm and Thursdays from 10 am-7 pm. Don’t forget to stop by the WCU Fine Art Museum and BAC Concessions one hour before each performance.

Please note that unlike other perfromances in the Bardo Arts Center's Performance Hall, this is a General Admission ticketed event where the audience will be seated on stage. For accessibility accommodations, please contact BAC's Audience Services Manager, Sara Rincon, at srincon@wcu.edu or 828.227.2508. 

This event will include flashing lights, strobes and haze, animations which may trigger photosensitive viewers, adult language, and adult themes.

Plan Your Visit | Box Office | Return to the main Film & Performance page | Return to the Performance Hall page

Share
Office of Web Services