Bakersfield Mist is a dramatic comedy inspired by true events.
Maude, a 50-something unemployed bartender living in a trailer park, spends $3 at a thrift store on a “hideous” painting to give as a gag gift. However, instead of gifting it, she becomes convinced it’s a lost Jackson Pollock masterpiece worth millions.
Maude summons world-class art expert Lionel Percy from New York to her Bakersfield trailer to authenticate the painting. This creates a hilarious and thought-provoking storyline that questions just what makes art — and people — truly authentic.
The play is part of Ensemble Stage’s 2025 Mainstage Season. It can also be enjoyed as part of Banner Elk’s theater packages that include one or two nights of lodging, two show tickets, discount dining and breakfast the next morning.