We would love to collaborate with you on your next event or idea.
Please fill out the form below with general questions, or feel free to contact us anytime at Events@ashevilleplays.com or call (828) 808-3341.
Meet The Players
Bio: Arica Haro
Joy Curator, Experience Designer, and Champion of Playful Connections
Arica Haro is a passionate Asheville-based entrepreneur whose work centers around one joyful mission: creating happy, lasting memories through play and unforgettable events. As the visionary behind Asheville Plays!, Arica brings people together through thoughtfully designed programs that spark connection, laughter, and lifelong memories. Her work transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences, always with a focus on creating joy.
With over two decades of professional experience in resort recreation and hospitality, Arica has made her mark at some of the most prestigious properties in the industry. She previously served as Recreation Director at Salamander Hospitality, where she developed the full recreation program for Innisbrook Golf Resort in Tampa, FL, and contributed her expertise to Salamander’s task force team for two 5-diamond resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Before that, she was the Recreation Manager at the renowned Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Charleston, SC.
Arica holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Recreation Management and Spanish from Appalachian State University. Since 2003, she has been a dedicated member of the Resort and Commercial Recreation Association (RCRA), where she served on the Board of Directors and held the role of President in 2014.
Whether she’s crafting custom events, building a playful program, or helping a family make a magical memory, Arica’s true passion shines through: creating opportunities for people to have fun and connect in meaningful, memorable ways. Her work is not just a profession—it’s a purpose rooted in joy, creativity, and community.
Bio: Hans Carlos Banzer
Improvisational Engineer, Joy Creator, and Master of Memorable Moments
Hans Carlos Banzer is the heart and hands behind Asheville Plays!, where his mission is simple yet powerful: to create joy and make happy, lasting memories through play and unforgettable events. Known as the “Improvisational Engineer,” Hans Carlos combines his creative ingenuity with expert craftsmanship to design and build custom equipment that brings imagination to life. Whether it’s for a playful community event or a whimsical experience, his work is grounded in quality, durability, and a deep commitment to fun.
With a background in luxury hospitality, Hans Carlos brings his “make it happen” motto from years as a restaurant manager at world-renowned 5-diamond resorts, including The Ritz Carlton in Naples, FL, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, and Innisbrook Golf Resort. This foundation of excellence and service continues to inform everything he does—now with a joyful twist.
Since moving to the mountains with his wife Arica, Hans Carlos has shifted from high-pressure hospitality to high-impact play. In addition to his work at Asheville Plays!, he has created the The Haunted Trail and the Winter Wonder Walk, the company’s signature seasonal events.
Hans Carlos Banzer doesn’t just talk about creating happiness—he builds it. One immersive structure, one event, and one joyful memory at a time.
Speaker Bio: Lauren Rivas
Creative Director, Storytelling Enthusiast, and Master of “Punderful” Play
Lauren Rivas is the Creative Director at Asheville Plays!, where she’s been infusing events with imagination, laughter, and theatrical flair since 2017. With a degree in Fine Arts and a focus in theater, Lauren brings a lifelong love of entertainment and the magic of storytelling to everything she touches—from stage to set design, from costume creation to character performance.
Whether she’s captivating a crowd as the beloved pirate captain and clue mistress or quietly working behind the scenes to bring an experience to life, Lauren’s passion for creativity is unmistakable. A true multi-hyphenate artist, she is a self-taught student of numerous art forms and continues to expand her skills through hands-on exploration and an insatiable creative curiosity.
Lauren also actively pursues her film acting career, bringing her charisma, presence, and signature quick wit to the screen. Her knack for improvisation and her “punderful” sense of humor make her a standout in any crowd and a treasured part of the Asheville Plays! team.
When she’s not performing or planning an event, Lauren can usually be found crafting customized costumes, hunting for unique one-of-a-kind treasures, or diving headfirst into one of her many ongoing art projects. With a heart for storytelling and a flair for the theatrical, Lauren Rivas lives to create experiences that spark imagination and delight—one pun, prop, or performance at a time.