Curtain Up! Broadway Musicals in the ‘Land of the Sky’

Activity note: Inn check in from 3 p.m. Remember to bring your name-tag

Afternoon: Assembly Inn check-in 3:00-5:30 p.m. Pull up to the Assembly Inn porch to unload, then park your vehicle in any designated spot close to the Inn or by the lake and check in. Program Registration. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Feel free to relax in your room, meet and enjoy fellowship with other participants in the beautiful lobby, or stretch your legs with a walk around the campus before dinner.

Dinner: Join us for a scrumptious dinner in the Galax Dining Room, located on the first floor of the Assembly Inn. A full salad bar, choice of two different entrées, vegetables, rolls/bread, fruit and dessert will tempt your taste buds and your appetite. Sweet/unsweetened tea, milk, coffee, hot water w/ tea or cold water at our beverage stations. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Evening: Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will also meet the instructor. This is a Road Scholar Retreats program. Programming at Retreat locations includes opportunities for light morning exercise, interaction with members of the local community, a farm-to-table meal, and evening entertainment. Sleeping and dining facilities are in one building, with approximately 300 yards walking required. On some evenings, there will be entertainment such as a concert, dance, or storyteller followed by opportunities for fellowship in the lobby of the Inn. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll finish up around 8:00 p.m. with some “get to know you” activities and then have refreshments and fellowship in the lobby. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: classroom based program. Join us 7:30 - 7:45 in the main lobby for early morning stretches with Martha Nelson

Breakfast: Whether you like muffins, pancakes or waffles, bacon or sausage, grits or oatmeal, biscuits and gravy or a bowl of cereal and some fruit, breakfast in the Galax Dining Room, served from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. is sure to please! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

Morning: The Beginnings (1860-1927). We start with the inspiration of musicals from across the Atlantic, musicals such as the "Pirates of Penzance" by Gilbert and Sullivan along with the "Merry Widow" with the music of Franz Lehar. We also encounter rising composers on the American scene such Victor Herbert and the American icon George M. Cohan. Other great musicians of this era include the George and Ira Gershwin team, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and Sigmund Romberg. We'll have a mid-morning break for refreshments and fellowship.

Lunch: Lunch is served from 12:15 - 1:15 in the Assembly Inn Dining Room. The lunch menu varies each day, but normally features a salad bar, sandwich fixings, soup, and a yummy (light) dessert to top it off.

Afternoon: Our afternoon class with Michael Ruiz continues to focus on the wonderful beginnings of Broadway. Around 3:30 p.m., there will be a Walk Around Montreat (guided tour of grounds) or free time

Dinner: Ready for another yummy dinner? 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Assembly Inn Dining Room

Evening: Our evening program will be a local musician/band or storyteller. After the performance the rest of the evening is at leisure, with optional activities in the lobby of the Inn for fellowship.

Activity note: classroom based program. Join us 7:30 - 7:45 in the main lobby for early morning stretches with Martha Nelson

Breakfast: A hearty breakfast is served from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.

Morning: The Musical Takes Shape and the Golden Age Begins (1928-1950). The musical matures, taking a leap forward as Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II work on "Show Boat." The growth of the musical continues with Broadway names like Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter, Kurt Weill, Frederick Lowe, and Julie Stein. Among the musical titles in this period are "Girl Crazy," "The Band Wagon," "Anything Goes," and "The Boys from Syracuse." Then another leap is made with "Oklahoma!" (Rodgers and Hammerstein II), marking the beginning of the Golden Era. We'll have a mid morning break between the two classes to enjoy refreshments and fellowship.

Lunch: Lunch is served from 12:15 - 1:15 in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.

Afternoon: Back to the classroom for more explorations of the Golden Age of Broadway. After class (around 3:30 p.m., you may choose to take a hike in the mountains or enjoy free time

Dinner: Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room

Evening: 7:00 - 8:00 evening program: Evening programs are typically a fun event -- a dance, a concert, or a storyteller games/cards/tv available in lobby for fellowship and optional movie on big screen.

Activity note: classroom based program. Join us 7:30 - 7:45 in the main lobby for early morning stretches with Martha Nelson

Breakfast: Come on down to the Galax Dining room for another great breakfast buffet, served from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Morning: The Golden Era Continues (1950s-1960s). We now come to such well-known musicals as "On the Town," "Carousel," "Finian's Rainbow," "Kiss Me, Kate," "South Pacific," "Guys and Dolls," "The King and I," "Peter Pan," "My Fair Lady," "The Music Man," "West Side Story," "Gypsy," "The Sound of Music," "Camelot," "Oliver," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Cabaret," and "Mame."

Lunch: Lunch is served from 12:15 - 1:15 in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration

Dinner: Assembly Inn Dining Room, Dinner 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Our farm to table meal.

Evening: The 50s were arguably Broadway’s finest decade, with classic shows by Lerner and Loewe, Frank Loesser, Adler and Ross, and Meredith Wilson. In the 60s, the shows became more daring, going into places such as Russian ghettos, Nazi nightclubs, and Spanish prisons that would have been unthinkable a decade earlier. And music, for better or worse, became more tightly integrated with the book. Stephen Sondheim and Jerry Herman are among the outstanding creative forces.

Activity note: classroom based program. Join us 7:30 - 7:45 in the main lobby for early morning stretches with Martha Nelson

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet served from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room.

Morning: The New Era (1970-2000). The post Golden Age era brings us music and lyrics from the marvelous Stephen Sondheim, who was the lyricist for "West Side Story," and "Gypsy." His string of hits include "Company," "Follies," "A Little Night Music," "Sweeney Todd," "Sunday in the Park with George," and "Into the Woods." Other prominent musicals of this era are "A Chorus Line," "Chicago," "Annie," "Evita," "Cats," "Nine," "La Cage Aux Folles," "Les Miserables," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Miss Saigon," "Beauty and the Beast," "Rent," and "The Lion King."

Lunch: Lunch is served from 12:30 - 1:30 in the Assembly Inn Dining Room

Afternoon: During our afternoon course the music of Broadway, with finish up our exploration with the 70s and beyond. Choreography, which had always been there, becomes a more important element. Some critics argue that as the shows become more and more about scenic spectacle, they become less and less about memorable music. 3:30 - 5:30 free time

Dinner: Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Inn Dining Room

Evening: 7:00 - 8:00 evening program: games/cards/tv in lobby for fellowship. Prepare for check-out and departure after lunch tomorrow.

Activity note: classroom based program

Breakfast: 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. breakfast in the Assembly Inn Dining Room

Morning: The New Century (2000s). The 21st Century brings us "Aida," "Mamma Mia!" "Hairspray," "Wicked," "Jersey Boys," "Curtains," "The Little Mermaid," and "The Book of Mormon." In this modern period is a musical that holds the record for the most Tony Awards (12), "The Producers" by Mel Brooks. A mid morning break for refreshments will give time for participants to check out (required by 11 a.m.) Our Anthology of Musicals, which all participants will receive the first day of class, contains a listing of 150 musicals with dates and 425 show tunes with composers/lyricists. We will have the opportunity during the week to cover and hear excerpts of many songs from these great musicals.

Lunch: 12:30 - 1:30 lunch in the Assembly Inn Dining Room (those who cannot stay for lunch may request a box lunch to take with them)