One of America’s pioneering filmmakers had nothing to do with Hollywood but nevertheless left his mark on the emerging industry. Oscar Micheaux was a homesteader, who then turned his attention to making movies in the early 1900s. He was a Black man who made movies for Black audiences at a time when they weren’t allowed into mainstream, white-only theaters. And for several pivotal years in the 1920s, he operated out of Roanoke, Virginia.
Three decades of weekly musical performances adds up to a lot of memories. Join West Virginia Public Broadcasting as it celebrates some of those memories this Sunday at 9 p.m. on WV PBS with the debut of Mountain Stage: A 30 Year Celebration.
“Although primarily a radio show, we’ve had cameras at many of our performances over the years,” noted Larry Groce, artistic director and host of Mountain Stage. “This special pulls together great performances from Joan Baez, Rosanne Cash, Arlo Guthrie, Robert Cray and Del McCoury, just to name a few. I’m inviting you to tune in and enjoy the tribute.”
For over 31 years Mountain Stage w/ Larry Groce has given listeners the best seat in the house for exciting live performances from some of music’s best-known artists. At many shows, TV cameras captured these performances and the result is a Mountain Stage retrospective featuring rare performances from Rhonda Vincent (2001), Martina McBride (2006), Lake Street Dive (2014), and 13 others.
The program was produced by WV Public Broadcasting’s Pat Sergent who worked with Groce to curate a list of 500 songs down to 16 that exhibit the show’s stylistic diversity and intimacy. “It wasn’t easy to narrow down that list!” said Groce. “We hope we met our goal of presenting a wide range of music while showcasing some of the best known artists we’ve had the privilege of working with over the years.”
Groce added that support from its audience is part of what has kept Mountain Stage going for so long. “Mountain Stage wouldn’t have been possible without the support of listeners and viewers who choose to contribute each and every year. Mountain Stage is their show too.”
On Sunday, viewers will see 16 different performances, dating as far back as 2001and as recent as 2014:
Shane Healy, a social studies teacher at Capital High School in Kanawha County, earned WVPB’s December 2025 Above and Beyond Award. As part of the recognition, Healy received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass apple paperweight. The West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program, proudly sponsors the award.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) will host a public screening of selected excerpts from The American Revolution, the landmark documentary series by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, followed by a community conversation at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Brad D. Smith Business and Innovation Center on the campus of Marshall University.
Stephanie Fryer, a special education teacher at South Man Elementary in Logan County, earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s November 2025 Above and Beyond Award. Fryer is known for creating a nurturing and inclusive classroom environment where every child feels valued and supported. She works persistently to meet students’ academic, social and emotional needs.
The West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Teacher Award is in honor of educators from all grade levels (K-12) and disciplines who go the extra mile. These teachers are known for paving the way for academic achievement, using new and innovative strategies to reach students, or simply making a difference in the lives of their students every day.
