The Traveling Jewish Theatre will perform "The Wonders" on March 17

The American Jewish experience will come to life onstage when UNC Asheville hosts “The Wonders” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at the Asheville Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St., downtown Asheville. An original production by the Traveling Jewish Theatre based in San Francisco, the play intertwines the stories of three fictional women’s lives: an immigrant Yiddish actress, a Southern beauty queen and a young contemporary playwright.

One of the main characters in the musical is a beauty pageant contestant named Lonnie. Her story was inspired by the real-life story of Asheville native Connie Lerner, who was the first Jewish woman crowned Miss North Carolina.

“It’s really wonderful to be able to perform this show in North Carolina, which is one of the many places the stories were pulled from,” said Devra Aarons, producer for “The Wonders.” “It’s an incredibly rich opportunity to share the stories in the places where they actually happened.”

The Traveling Jewish Theatre was founded in 1978 and has traveled to more than 60 cities worldwide. The theatre company strives to create works that appeal to a diverse audience yet remain grounded with Jewish understanding. The inspiration for their shows has ranged from the legends of the Hasidim to the assassination of Trotsky.

“The Wonders” is touring nationally thanks to a grant from The Righteous Persons Foundation. Director Steven Spielberg created the foundation in 1994 with profits earned from the acclaimed movie “Schindler’s List.”

Advance purchase tickets are $10 general admission or $5 for senior citizens, area students and children under 12. Tickets purchased at the door are $15 general admission, $8 for senior citizens, and $5 for students and children under 12. To reserve tickets by phone, call the UNC Asheville Box Office at 828/232-5000. Tickets may be purchased in person at UNC Asheville’s Box Office, the Asheville Jewish Community Center, Congregation Beth Ha Tephila and Congregation Beth Israel.

In addition to the performance, a workshop for adults will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at the Asheville Jewish Community Center. “Share, Hear and Listen: An Exploration of your Jewish American Experience though Storytelling and Story-hearing” will use writing and physical improvisation to explore the theme of belonging. No acting or writing experience is required. The workshop is free and open to the public.

For more information, call UNC Asheville Center for Jewish Studies at 828/251-6576 or the Asheville Jewish Community Center at 828/253-0701.