Our Mission

The mission and purpose of Ensemble Stage is three-fold:

•To provide the residents of The High Country and its visitors, a broad range of live theatrical presentations of the highest possible quality at an affordable price.

•To inspire, challenge and nurture the imagination and social skills of youths and adults through theatre-based educational programs.

•To be an active part of the cultural growth of our community through collaboration with residents, local businesses and other not for profit organizations.

Visit our 99-seat theatre, located in the Historic Banner Elk School in beautiful Downtown Banner Elk, NC! Get directions here.

Leadership

Ensemble Stage is led by Artistic Director, Gary Smith, and Managing Director, Lisa Lamont. Gary and Lisa have been part of Ensemble Stage since its inception. Each season, they work alongside other masters of the profession to deliver superior performances like you won’t find anywhere else!

  • Lisa has worked extensively in theatre and film from sweeping the stage to producing. She has been a part of the production team on numerous television series and movies including "The Specialist" starring Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone. Her small screen production credits include the mini-series', "South Beach" and "Drug Wars." As a member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1989, she has Stage Managed over 150 productions with venues across the country, including the national tour of "Aida", Zoetic Stage, Caldwell Theatre, Hollywood Playhouse, Gables Stage, Blowing Rock Stage Company and Florida Repertory Theater. Lisa was also a primary member of the creative staff for the development of Charles Nelson Reilly's one-man play, "Save It For the Stage" and toured as the Production Stage Manager for the show.

  • A Kansas City, Mo. native, Gary is a US Army Veteran and spent 20 years as a law enforcement officer on the federal, county and municipal levels. Since becoming a full-time, professional actor and stage director in 1999, he has appeared in numerous national and regional television and radio commercials, narrated or acted in many industrial and independent films, and appeared on stage in over forty professional theater productions across the country. As a stage director, Gary has directed nearly 200 professional theatre productions throughout the North, Midwest and Southeast regions of the country. He also spent two years as the artistic director of the award winning, Teen Time Theatre. A touring theatre troupe comprised solely of teen-aged actors who performed message driven plays for their peers in high schools across the state of Florida.

Board of Directors

Jarrett Koski - President
Gary Smith - Vice President
Lisa Lamont - Treasurer
Jana Prather Greer - Secretary Justin Chapman - Member At Large

The Board of Directors plays a vital role in the governance of Ensemble Stage. These individuals are dedicated to ensuring the future of our organization and keeping professional theatre available to residents and visitors of the High-Country.

Interested in joining our Board? Contact info@ensemblestage.com to learn how you can get involved with our organization at the deepest level.

Academic Affiliations - Appalachian State University x Ensemble Stage

Solidifying Ensemble Stage's commitment to serving as a bridge between educational and professional theater, it has established a professional affiliation with Appalachian State University's Department of Theatre & Dance.

Through the Theater Acting Program, Ensemble Stage works with the ASU Theater Department to ensure that every student has the opportunity to audition, participate in play readings, be a crew member and increase their chance to appear in a professional production before they graduate. Ensemble Stage also has employed several of the ASU faculty members as designers, fight directors, vocal coaches, choreographers and directors.  

Learn more about the history of Ensemble Stage and our journey as a small, nonprofit arts organization in an area traditionally lacking in cultural opportunity.

Take a walk down memory lane! View photos from our past productions in our Show Archive.