Denton the Dragon comes to life in musical production

Theatre adaptation of children’s book character playing at Black Mountain Center for the Arts

Jessica Klarp
Guest contributor
The Valley Echo
January 11, 2022

Black Mountain resident Jeff Hutchins brings his children’s book character, Denton the Dragon, to life in a musical production at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. Photo courtesy of BMCA

First there was a story told to a child, then there was a beautifully illustrated book, followed by a large puppet, and later, an even larger wooden sculpture near Lake Tomahawk. Now Denton the Dragon comes to life in a musical premiering at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts for two weekends in January.

Black Mountain resident Jeff Hutchins created Denton the Dragon as a story for his then 3-year old daughter Rachael. In “Denton the Dragon in Tales of Bubbleland and Other Stories,” Hutchins created a magical world that included a moral at the end of each story. Now five professional actors will play multiple roles and sing songs that get the story moving and the point across.

Denton the Dragon the Musical! premiered on Jan. 7 and will continue with several shows this weekend. A matinee performance, ideal for a teacher’s workday activity, will be held at 2 p.m.. Friday, Jan. 14, with an additional show at 7 p.m. The final production of the musical will take place at 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 15. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children, and can be purchased at bmca.org.

Denton is a 3-year-old dragon (that’s six in dragon years) who has just come to live in the city after growing up in a cave in the mountains. As a naïve dragon, he must learn the culture of the people he encounters, mostly in the form of 7-year-old children, and one talking amphibian. The show features 14 super-catchy original songs. Although the themes and music are kid-friendly, the show is aimed at people aged 4 to 104. You don’t need to bring a child with you to love this show, but don’t be afraid to bring one.

When Hutchins and his wife Diane retired to Black Mountain 13 years ago, evolving the heartfelt stories of Denton became the focus of Hutchins creative life. He has enlisted a host of artists who are the best in their fields. Be it puppeteer, musician or illustrator, Hutchins attracts talent. That holds true for the musical as well.

“After a career in television,” Hutchins said,  “Denton is my first foray into theatre. My talented and enthusiastic cast and crew have made this transition a tremendous and exciting joy.”

Hutchins has put together a talented team for this endeavor. As with any emerging theater production, few people wear many hats. Aaron Price was the original music director and Patricia Sands has assumed the role for this production. Maggie Moon O’Neil is the costume designer and stage manager. David Reid is the tech manager. and Gracie Fulghum is the set designer and choreographer.

While a wide variety of family and friends have contributed financially to make Denton the Dragon the Musical! a reality, corporate support has come from New Morning Gallery at Biltmore Village, Groce Funeral Homes and Mark Kleive Dentistry.

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts requires proof of vaccination for indoor performances. We are not accepting negative Covid tests for entry in lieu of vaccinations. Proof may be presented via a digital photo or physical copy of your vaccination card, and must be accompanied with a photo ID. Minors (ages 12-17) may show a vaccination card without photo ID. Proof of vaccination is not required for children ages 0-11. We are selling tickets at reduced capacity. We will continue to require masks to be worn by audience members. The performers are vaccinated and will be performing on stage unmasked.

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is located at 225 West State Street. For tickets or more information visit blackmountainarts.org or call 828-669-0930.