Brother Wolf, an Appalachian Musical Folk Tale, Premieres at NC's Triad
By Kenneth Jones
12 Mar 2006
Triad Stage in Greensboro, North Carolina, plucks from nearby soil to present the world premiere, Brother Wolf, an Appalachian adventure tale with music, starting March 12.
Artistic director and Appalachian native Preston Lane, a native of Boone, NC, wrote and directs the new work, which features "live mountain music."
"Wander the hills and hollers of the Blue Ridge following the exploits of Brother Wolf, preacher and pioneer, risking everything, fighting monsters, mothers and fire breathing foes to protect the mountain settlers," invites Triad Stage. "In the tradition of film 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?,' Brother Wolf blends regional folklore and classic mythology to create a distinctly American story infused with original mountain music by award-winning singer/songwriter Laurelyn Dossett and performed live by Laurelyn and Riley Baugus of Polecat Creek."
Previews begin March 12. Opening is March 16. Performances continue to April 2.
The cast includes Michael Abbott, Jr. as Rattler Man/Brother Wolf; Jon Douglas as Enoch Geeter/Adger Speerdane; Ginny Lee as Storyteller/Mabel Speerdane; Elisabeth Ritson as Hessie Geeter/Grin Dell's Maw; Dan Sharkey as Storyteller/Grin Dell; and Eugene Wolf as Storyteller/Old Man Speerdane/Old Brother Wolf.
The design team for Brother Wolf includes scenic designer Robin Vest; costume designer Kelsey Hunt;
lighting designer John Wolf; and sound designer Bryan Z. Richards.
The Brother Wolf Band is comprised of Laurelyn Dossett and Riley Baugus, award-winning members of Triad original roots country music group Polecat Creek. Dossett composed the original music for this world premiere production, which she plays and sings live with Baugus during each performance.
Triad Stage will feature a Saturday night post-show concert series to accompany its world premiere of Brother Wolf. The outstanding line-up of traditional music entertainers in The Concert Series includes Polecat Creek March 18, Martha Bassett's Wilderness Gospel March 25 and Alice Gerrard April 1.
Concert admission is free for ticket holders to that evening's performance of Brother Wolf. Concert tickets may also be purchased separately for $5 each.
For tickets or information, call Triad Stage (336) 272-0160 or visit www.triadstage.org.
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Artistic director and co-founder Preston Lane is in his fifth season at Triad Stage and has directed over 20 productions, including the award-winning Hedda Gabler and A Streetcar Named Desire. He was formerly artistic associate at the Dallas Theater Center where his productions included the U.S. premiere of Inexpressible Island (Dallas Observer Best of Dallas Awards: Best Director, Best Production) and The Night of the Iguana (Dallas Morning News: 2002 Top Ten Theatre List). Other productions include A Tuff Shuffle (National Black Theatre Festival), Overruled (Off-Broadway), Love! Valour! Compassion! (Stage One), and the world premieres of If Only and Get It While You Can (Summer Cabaret). As a playwright, he is the recipient of a grant from the Fox Foundation to develop Wondrous Love. Other adaptations include Hedda Gabler, Dracula, Mirandolina, Julie's Dance and Brother Wolf (Triad Stage), A Christmas Carol (Dallas Theater Center, Sonoma County Rep), Three Weeks After Marriage and Helen! (Summer Cabaret).
Triad Stage is a not-for-profit regional Equity theatre company based in Greensboro's downtown historic district. Triad Stage's productions are created in Greensboro using a combination of local and national talent.
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