KORE Written by Gabrielle Orcha, directed by Jessica Johnson, featuring Zak Hamrick, Katie Langwell, and Heather Nicole Bronson runs July 9th - 24th, 2021.
This production tells the story of Persephone who is 29, unemployed, broke, and trying to figure out what to do next. She's living with her mother, who's driving her crazy. Enter Hades - the attractive bad boy who might just offer the escape she needs. The question is - what is Persephone willing to give up for her freedom?
We reached out to Heather Nicole Bronson to tell us a bit about herself and how working on this production has been for her.
1. What drew you to this play and to telling this particular modernized version of the Persephone myth?
I remember as a kid in school loving the story of Persephone. Some of the details were fuzzy, but as I read the script it came back. But more than that, I was just really enamored with the challenge the roles in this play would give me. In the past two or three years, I think I have only played children or teenagers in plays. While I enjoy that and feel confident in my youthful acting abilities, it was very appealing to play a character closer to my age.
2. Do you relate to your character? How similar / different are you?
I absolutely relate to Persephone. She is going through a period of transition and is having a difficult time deciding her next steps in life, and I feel very similarly. I feel very content with my life here in Asheville but often feel drawn to explore new places, new jobs, new everything. It is a daunting task to decide what to do with one's life. I feel like she and I both want it all, but the reality of having it all is often difficult to achieve.
3. Do you believe that life is guided by fate (a series of events that happen to you) or free will (a series of events that you have a part in creating)?
I almost feel as though life is guided by a combination of both free will and fate. Every single decision we make, big and small, affects us later on. So while we are free to do as we will, we never truly know what each small action will have in store for us later on.
4. How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?
The Magnetic Theatre is such a special place to work. All theatre is collaborative, but at the Magnetic it really feels like a team effort in every area. I really appreciate the comradery and my ability to make artistic suggestions confidently and be heard.
5. If you were going out to a local bar on a Monday night, which bar would it be, and what would you be drinking?
If I were to go to a local bar on a Monday night it would almost certainly be Haywood Common. They have the best french fries. I would almost certainly be drinking a Coca Cola, but if I happened to be in the mood for a cocktail I'd get whatever sort of specialty gin concoction they had at the time. Currently it is a Gin, honey, and bee pollen beverage called "Bee Kind" and it is delightful.
6. Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?
I will be one of the Narrators in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at HART in Waynesville! I've been really enjoying all my Magnetic projects but am SO excited to be in a musical again.
Biography
Heather Nicole Bronson is thrilled to be returning to The Magnetic Theatre and theatre in general! She has been acting in the WNC area since 2015 after graduating from Mars Hill University with a BFA in musical theatre. Previous Magnetic Theatre roles include Dru in "something i cared about," Heather in "Dry Weather Wind," and Eli in "The Misanthrope." Other treasured roles include Little Red Riding Hood in "Into the Woods" (Haywood Arts Regional Theatre) and Ruby in "Dames at Sea" (Mars Hill University). Offstage, Heather enjoys knitting, riding her bike, and petting animals.
Grab your tickets for KORE here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=124802