“They were almost like a substitute family as it were, made things a lot more bearable. They understood what I was going through and could feel some sense of belonging.”
John Russell is the Executive Director of the Montford Park Players. Though he got the job under terrible circumstances, moving home after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Russell found community in the outdoor Shakespearean theatre. Russell is the backbone of the theater, ensuring the theater stays afloat financially and overseeing all of the shows.
The theatre is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year, and Russell has served the organization for over twenty years. Russell and the Montford Park Players are not just fixtures of Asheville theatre but the community. “Our mission has always been to make theater available, affordable, and accessible for all, and not cast any negativity on anybody else,” Russell said. You will find the theatre audience laughing, having picnics, and drinking wine during the performances, all while Russell stays backstage, ensuring the show goes well.
