musical theater Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Theatre West Virginia Outdoor Summer Season Kicks Off In June

The annual performance season of Theatre West Virginia opens later this month. The first production is the original play “Hatfield and McCoys” on Friday, June 17.

This show will run through July 2.

The outdoor drama was first produced by Theater West Virginia more than 40 years ago. The performance is based on the true story of a family feud between a family from Kentucky and another from West Virginia.

Shows are outside at the Cliffside Amphitheater in Grandview. The park was recently named part of the New River National Park and Preserve near Beckley.

The events are usually a draw for tourists to southern West Virginia. Organizers say the audience is filled with about half locals and half visitors.

Other upcoming shows this summer include “Rocket Boys The Musical” and “The Wizard of Oz.”

Most performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with live pre-show music before each show.

Find more information on Theatre West Virginia’s website or visit the Cliffside Amphitheatre Box Office.

‘Paradise Park, The Musical’ Debuts In Charleston

The Charleston Light Opera Guild is staging “Paradise Park, The Musical”, starting this weekend at the Guild Theater in Charleston.

The show is based on the 1992 feature film “Paradise Park,” written and directed by Martinsburg-born filmmaker Danny Boyd. He collaborated with Mountain Stage Creative Director Larry Groce to set the story to music.

This is the first time the Charleston Light Opera Guild has produced a non-Broadway show in it’s 85-year history. That’s according to Nina Denton-Passinetti, the show’s director.

“We’re proud we’re presenting it. I don’t think there’s anyone that isn’t,” Denton-Passinetti said. “Anybody who was reluctant in our group has been won over. They are kind of ‘Oh, yeah, I didn’t even realize that’s what was going on. But now it makes sense.’ And I think people will appreciate it.”

The show centers on poverty, religion, and people caring for each other through hard times, natural disasters and everyday life. The musical tells the story of an elderly woman in a West Virginia trailer park who dreams that God will come to their community and grant them all a wish.

“This West Virginia story, written by West Virginians, performed by West Virginians. It still speaks today, many years later after Danny originally wrote it,” Denton-Passinetti said.

Performances are Feb. 4 through 6 and Feb. 11 through 13. Tickets are available through the light opera guild website and at the theater office two hours before the show for $20 each. Visit the Charleston Light Opera Guild’s website for more information.

West Virginian Uses Opera to Talk Mountaintop Removal Mining, Painkiller Overdoses

Composer and Huntington native Nate May recently finished production on an original two-person music-drama, called Dust in the Bottomland.

When he began studying music at the University of Michigan Nate May decided to write an opera about some of the issues facing Appalachians.

His friend and fellow student at the University, Andrew Munn, collaborated with him to create Dust in the Bottomland, which they performed last year in West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New York City. The piece uses only one instrument and one vocalist. May plays piano, and Munn sings bass.

“Some people ask, ’Where’s the Appalachian influence in the music?’ And I say, ‘Well, all of it. It’s me, who’s writing it and I grew up in Appalachia,’” said May.

Dust in the Bottomland is about a young man who grew up in West Virginia but moved away. Since he’s been gone, his parents and sister have been displaced from their home, due to mountaintop removal mining. They still live in West Virginia, though they now live down in the valley.

The main character is returning home after 10 years because his sister has overdosed on pain pills. During his return home, the protagonist also visits the site of his family’s home and sees the changes that mining has done to that landscape.

“I think the story hit home to a lot of people because a lot of people, even not from the area, know people affected by addiction,” said May. “The other issue that people were affected by was homecoming. And going away and coming back.”

Album cover for Dust in the Bottomland. Shows Bev’s Flower Store in Oceana, West Virginia.

Nate May and Andrew Munn are now talking about composing a chamber ensemble version of Dust in the Bottomland, which will include more instruments.