Enjoy live music at the Blue Ridge and Beyond series at the Historic Earle Theatre, the Andy Griffith Playhouse and the Blackmon Amphitheatre. The series includes the best names in bluegrass and Americana music.
2025 Events at the Historic Earle Theatre:
- Wednesday, September 24 – Special Mayberry Days Presentation: Randy Turner The Filming Locations of TAGS: A Detailed Look 10:00AM
These events look beyond the trivia and comedy of The Andy Griffith Show with a personal and scholarly approach with interviews, historic photos and stories behind the production and continued love of the show.
Learn more at www.mayberrydays.com
- Thursday, September 25 – Bill Knotts “Mayberry Memories of Don Knotts”, 10:00 AM
A one-man show about his famous uncle, Don Knotts, showcasing cherished family photos.
A former professional actor, Bill Knotts, is now bringing Mayberry Memories of Don Knotts, his one-man show about his famous uncle, to Mayberry Days.
While attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in the 1970’s, Bill had the opportunity to live with Don and his wife in Beverly Hills. In this nostalgic and entertaining journey, Bill ushers his audience into a simpler time, back to the idyllic, fictional town of Mayberry. His theater and acting background is on full display as he regales the audience with numerous personal tales and family anecdotes of his time spent with Don over the decades. Sprinkling in family pictures and plenty of video clips of some of the greatest scenes from The Andy Griffith Show, Bill reintroduces the iconic and lovable characters and the actors who made them come to life. He delves into the Knotts family history, Don’s early career and how he landed the part of Barney Fife, as well as his movie career with Universal, his memorable partnering with Tim Conway for multiple Disney movies, his return to television on Three’s Company and Matlock, and his many stage productions across the country. Bill also recounts stories by Andy Griffith, Ron Howard and Tim Conway at various times in the evening.
Bill has appeared as Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man; Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Sir Thomas More in Anne of a Thousand Days and many other theater roles. Numerous commercials, industrial films and live shows and corporate emcee opportunities rounded out his acting resume before he decided to pursue a business and teaching career.
Bill Knotts has been an entrepreneur and teacher most of his adult life. For over two decades he taught leadership principles, self-discipline, and networking skills to business owners throughout the United States. He earned an MBA from Arizona State University and has also taught college courses in investments, entrepreneurship, business communication and labor relations. He taught seminars for several years in various countries while a contractor for a national stock trading firm.
Orchestra Preferred Seats $35
Orchestra Seats $30
Balcony Preferred Seats $25
Balcony Seats $20
- Friday, September 26 – Karen Knotts, 11:00 AM
Author-actor-comedian and daughter of your favorite television Deputy, Karen Knotts returns to a new show.
Her latest book is available at the Andy Griffith Museum Gift Shop and Historic Earle Theatre. She will be autographing her book and photos after the event.
Preferred Seats $35
Orchestra Seats $30
Balcony Seat $20
- Friday, September 26 – Tim White and Troublesome Hollow, 9:30 PM
Troublesome Hollow is a dynamic bluegrass and Americana band from Hickory Tree, Tennessee. The band has been together for many years performing all across the eastern United States. Tim White on banjo, guitar and vocals, Donnie Ollis on guitar and vocals and his younger brother Garry Ollis on upright bass and vocals. The band performs everything from hard driving traditional bluegrass to newgrass, old time music, ballads as well as Americana and comedy. They have six recordings to their credit as well as appearing on many television shows and recently on Song of the Mountains seen across America on public television (PBS). Tim White has hosted Song of the Mountains since its beginning in 2005. Tim also hosts his nationally syndicated radio show “The Tim White Bluegrass Show” across America on 60 plus radio stations.
Tickets:
Reserved Seats $20
Balcony $15
- Saturday, September 27 – Bill Knotts “Mayberry Memories of Don Knotts”, 6:00 PM
A one-man show about his famous uncle, Don Knotts, showcasing cherished family photos.
A former professional actor, Bill Knotts, is now bringing Mayberry Memories of Don Knotts, his one-man show about his famous uncle, to Mayberry Days.
While attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in the 1970’s, Bill had the opportunity to live with Don and his wife in Beverly Hills. In this nostalgic and entertaining journey, Bill ushers his audience into a simpler time, back to the idyllic, fictional town of Mayberry. His theater and acting background is on full display as he regales the audience with numerous personal tales and family anecdotes of his time spent with Don over the decades. Sprinkling in family pictures and plenty of video clips of some of the greatest scenes from The Andy Griffith Show, Bill reintroduces the iconic and lovable characters and the actors who made them come to life. He delves into the Knotts family history, Don’s early career and how he landed the part of Barney Fife, as well as his movie career with Universal, his memorable partnering with Tim Conway for multiple Disney movies, his return to television on Three’s Company and Matlock, and his many stage productions across the country. Bill also recounts stories by Andy Griffith, Ron Howard and Tim Conway at various times in the evening.
Bill has appeared as Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man; Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Sir Thomas More in Anne of a Thousand Days and many other theater roles. Numerous commercials, industrial films and live shows and corporate emcee opportunities rounded out his acting resume before he decided to pursue a business and teaching career.
Bill Knotts has been an entrepreneur and teacher most of his adult life. For over two decades he taught leadership principles, self-discipline, and networking skills to business owners throughout the United States. He earned an MBA from Arizona State University and has also taught college courses in investments, entrepreneurship, business communication and labor relations. He taught seminars for several years in various countries while a contractor for a national stock trading firm.
Orchestra Preferred Seats $35
Orchestra Seats $30
Balcony Preferred Seats $25
Balcony Seats $20
- Saturday, November 22 – Balsam Range, 7:30 PM – 9:30PM
Dr. Marc Pruett (banjo); Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, baritone, and lead vocals); Caleb Smith (guitar, lead & baritone vocals)and Alan Bibey (mandolin, vocals) make up Balsam Range. They thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surround part of the home of three of the founding members in Haywood County, NC. The Great Balsam Range is where the Great Smoky Mountains meet the Blue Ridge Mountains. Since its formation in 2007, Balsam Range has become one of the genre’s most award-winning acts. The group has garnered 13 IBMA awards on the heels of 11 critically acclaimed albums. Balsam Range has left audiences spellbound while headlining major festivals from coast-to-coast, selling out venues across the nation and in multiple appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. In 2025, Buddy Melton stepped down and Bluegrass great Don Rigsby joined the group on select dates as a special guest, lending his fiddle and “high lonesome” tenor vocals to bring a new energy and sound to the beloved group’s audience
Tickets
Preferred $65
Orchestra $55
Balcony $45
ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW AT WWW.SURRYARTS.ORG
FAQs
Handicap Accessible?
The orchestra section of the venue is handicap accessible. Please call 336.786.7998 for special seating requests. For mobility issues, drop-off is available in front of the venue.
What is the refund policy?
Tickets are non-refundable.
Do I need to buy a ticket for my child?
Children of all ages are required to have a ticket at all Surry Arts Council events, unless otherwise specified.
What are my parking options for the event?
Municipal parking (located at 127 Franklin St, Mt. Airy, NC 27030) offers free, all day parking and bus accommodations. Free on-street parking is available within walking distance of the venue.
What time does the Box Office open?
Box Office opens one hour prior to event start, doors open 30 minutes prior to event start.
Is food/drinks available?
Yes. Popcorn, pre-packaged candies, and fountain drinks are available for purchase.
Restrooms?
ADA compliant restroom facilities are available adjacent to the venue.
Are Pets Allowed?
Only certified service animals are permitted. Each service animal must remain with its owner and be restrained at all times.
How can I contact the organizer with any further questions?
You can email the organizer at heatherw@surryarts.org
