Asheville’s newest theater company, The Sublime Theater, announces its inaugural production: John Crutchfield’s TRNZ: A Metamorphic Musical, directed by Steven Samuels, debuting November 1-17 at The BeBe Theater in downtown Asheville.

Set in an exclusive, underground discotheque in modern-day Berlin, TRNZ tells the story of a young woman who loses her way and is taken in by a mysterious older man. The production stars local favorites Terry Darakjy, Olivia Stuller, Laura Tratnik, and Julian Vorus, and features original music and sound design by Mary Zogzas, choreography by Kristi DeVille, sets and lighting by Don Baker, and costumes by Kayren McKnight.

Asheville audiences will know Crutchfield from his award-winning verse play The Songs of Robert, as well as Ruth, The Labyrinth, Solstice, Landscape with Missing Person, and many other stage works, including The Jacob Higginbotham Show and, most recently, Malverse. “This new play-with-songs is an ever-changing, surprising, comic, mythopoetic phantasmagoria,” says Crutchfield. “It addresses the ambiguity of human consciousness, the forces that pull us toward love, danger, and transformation.”

“John’s plays are invariably rich and stylistically diverse,” says Samuels, who has directed five previous Crutchfield world premieres and helped bring two of them to the New York International Fringe Festival. “Each script is a startling departure. If John has a trademark as a writer, it’s his assumption that his audience is really smart and a bit twisted—in a good way!”

The production features first-rate local talents on all fronts. “Steve has put together an excellent team for this show, combining old friends and new,” says Crutchfield. “I’m very excited to see what these artists do with my play, especially since it’s my first musical.” The music for the show includes minimalist ‘house’ music, cabaret-style songs, German lieder, and 18th Century Baroque orchestrations.

“Everything about TRNZ is delightfully weird,” Samuels says. “Nothing is what it seems. Nothing is what you expect. And though its themes are important and serious, and the framework is realistic, the presentation is wildly theatrical and the ultimate effect is high comedy.”

The Sublime Theater, with Samuels as producing artistic director and Crutchfield as associate artistic director, is dedicated to new, established, and neglected works. Artistic associates include Kristi DeVille, David Hopes, Todd Weakley, Henry Williamson III, and Lisa Yoffee. Four full productions and a series of readings planned for 2019 will be announced soon.

The Sublime Theater presents John Crutchfield’s TRNZ, directed by Steven Samuels. Previews: Thursday-Friday, November 1-2. Opening: Saturday, November 3. Performances continue Thursdays-Saturdays through November 17. All performances 7:30 PM at The BeBe Theater, 20 Commerce Street, in downtown Asheville. Previews $10. All other performances $15. General admission tickets available online at www.thesublimetheater.org and at the door. Due to limited seating, advance purchase is suggested. No children, please.