34 minute read
with Keith MartinCultural Calendar
cultural calendar You might remember the popular “Niagara Falls” vaudeville sketch wherein a character is relating a story and company, with many more to be announced shortly. PLEASE NOTE that all of the performances, dates, and times “Slowly They (Re)turn, Step by Step, Inch by Inch” Performing Arts Ponder Post-Pandemic Programs By Keith Martin is sparked into violent outbursts when the are subject to change; readers are strongly listener inadvertently utters a trigger word. encouraged to check venues’ websites for The response is still relevant today as our the most current information. beloved performing arts organizations ponder their programming in a post-pandemic era and slowly return to local stages, step by step, inch by inch… Our local groups follow each of their Governor’s briefings very closely as North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia cautiously reopen, and as light begins to emerge at the end of the global pandemic tunnel. A key phrase in a recent news conference bears repeating: “When it comes to easing some restrictions, we’re depending on people to be responsible.” Responsibility is the key, but each company must follow guidelines issued by the federal government through the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta and various state officials, plus accept guidance AN APPALACHIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL is proceeding with plans to present a month-long hybrid festival in July 2021 that will be a combination of indoor and outdoor events, and livestreaming and virtual programming, featuring an exceptional lineup of artists in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and film. They will enforce safety precautions with every scenario— masks, socially distanced seating, cleaning, etc.—ensuring the health and safety of their patrons, artists and staff. By the time you are reading this issue of CML, they will have announced their entire slate, so go to their website for a complete roster of artists and events at www.appsummer.org or call 800-841-ARTS (2787). from their local county and city leadership. Over in Abingdon, Virginia, the Appalachian Theatre Executive Director BARTER THEATRE is continuing to proLaura Kratt said, “We are eager to get back duce live, socially-distanced productions to hosting shows but, of course, we want at the Moonlite Drive-In theater, which to do it safely. It is exciting to hear that they have lovingly converted into an outgovernment officials feel our state is ready door performance venue. Two shows are to begin re-opening the theatres. Since we opening, both of which will run through depend on ticket sales to cover the costs of mid-May. The Tempest, by William events, our next step is to reach out to our Shakespeare, as adapted by Carrie Smith audiences and see when they are ready to Lewis, continues the Barter tradition of return to the theatre.” producing works by the Bard in the spring
The bigger picture is this: pharmacol- of every year. In this fantasy, Prospero conogy is outpacing psychology. While our jures a meeting with his enemy Antonio in groups are encouraged by the ever-grow- a struggle between his desire for revenge ing percentage of the population receiving and the power of forgiveness. “The State vaccines, they are very concerned about Theatre of Virginia” promises an evening the degree to which the general public of magic and mischief on a fantastical isfeels safe going back into enclosed venues. land where nothing is as it seems. Most are in the process of surveying their Running concurrently at the Moonlite patrons to ascertain their comfort level is Joseph Robinette’s version of the claswhen resuming in-person arts events. sic C. S. Lewis story, The Lion, The Witch,
Many companies are moving forward. and The Wardrobe. Adventure and mystery Here are some of the events that have been await four siblings when they step through announced from now through late June, the wardrobe and into the magical land of listed alphabetically below by producing Narnia, where the icy White Witch rules,
TWEETSIE RAILROAD
and her curse ensures that the land is always crusted with snow. As they travel, the children encounter dwarves, fauns, and the great lion king, Aslan. Together they seek to fulfill the ancient prophecy and release Narnia from the Witch’s enchantment and her spell of eternal winter. For more information, visit Barter’s website at BarterTheatre.com.
THE DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND
DANCE at Appalachian State University closes their academic season with the world premiere of Kent State: Then, and Again by faculty member Dr. Ray Miller. The production is directed by the playwright and is based on his first-hand experiences and observations as a student at Kent State University in Ohio when he became a witness to history on May 4, 1970. On that fateful day, 28 Ohio National Guard soldiers opened fire on a peace rally, killing four students and wounding nine others. The incident marked the first time in American history that a student had been killed in an anti-war gathering. Miller has put his remembrances and reflections into a new play that chronicles the four days leading up to the deadly shooting that spring day half a century ago. The production will be held on a virtual platform at 7 p.m. from April 21 through 25. Tickets are free, but advance registration is required. For more information, visit their website at www.theatreanddance.appstate.edu. All registrants receive a private link to access the event both the day before and one hour prior to the performance.
THE JONES HOUSE CULTURAL AND
COMMUNITY CENTER is planning their Doc Watson Day celebration as a virtual event. It will include a livestream
BARTER THEATRE
HORN IN THE WEST
component in partnership with the Appalachian Theatre and take place on June 18. They continue to present a wide range of content, such as their mini-music lessons, “Jones House at Home” virtual concerts, and live Zoom-A-Long jamming events. They are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends including their Mazie Jones Gallery and a public restroom, which is a wonderful amenity in downtown Boone. More information for all of these events, and updates as they are announced, may be found at www.joneshouse.org or by calling 828-268-6280.
LEES-McRAE SUMMER THEATRE
has brought high caliber productions to the region since 1985. Under the direction of founder Dr. Janet Barton Speer, they will produce two musicals this season, including a highly-anticipated world premiere production of America’s Artist: The Norman Rockwell Story, the newest work by the creators of both From the Mountaintop: The Edgar Tufts Story and The Denim King: The Moses Cone Story. With music and lyrics by the father and son team of J. T. and Tommy Oaks and book by Speer, it brings to life the work of Rockwell, the iconic American artist. Performances run from July 25 through August 1.
Their other show is the PG-13 rated, Tony Award-winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by Willian Finn and Rachel Sheinkin with performances from July 19 through 27. The action follows an eclectic group of six students as they vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their lives, the contestants spell their way through a series of words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing “ding” of the bell that signals the end of the road for them. For tickets or information, visit www.lmc.edu/summertheatre or call 828-898-8709. Note that online sales began on April 2 with walk-in ticket purchases available beginning June 17.
The summer theatre tradition in the High Country started around 1950 when visionary members of the Southern
Appalachian Historical Association
(SAHA) began planning for a new outdoor drama to further their mission of celebrating and preserving “the diverse cultural heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountain region by engaging individuals in historical education and cultural entertainment centered around Daniel Boone and our fight for American Independence.” As the nation’s third oldest outdoor drama, HORN IN THE WEST has welcomed over one-and-a-half million audience members since it opened in 1952.
Now celebrating its 69th season, the show is directed by Boone native Shauna Godwin, with choral direction by local legend Billy Ralph Winkler. This Revolutionary War drama brings to life the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone and the hardy mountain settlers of this region in their struggle to preserve their freedom during the turbulent years before and during the war for independence. Each July 4, they celebrate our nation’s independence in the style typical of the 1780s by reading aloud The Declaration of Independence along with a eulogy for King George III while his dummy is burned in effigy. There will also be a military salute to the new nation by firing 13 volleys from the black powder rifles, one shot for each of the original American colonies. Info at 828264-2120, or at www.HornInTheWest. com. Performances in 2021 will run June 25 through August 7 in Boone, NC.
TWEETSIE RAILROAD is North Carolina’s first theme park, opening on the Fourth of July in 1957. Known primarily as a Wild West adventure park with amusement rides and a petting zoo, Tweetsie features stunning three-mile long train rides aboard a historic, coal-fired, narrow gauge steam locomotive. From a performing arts perspective, Tweetsie is a major employer of professional talent and produces 21 performances of a half-dozen live entertainment and stage shows each day.
A sampling of offerings includes the Can-Can Dancers, Country Clogging Jamboree, Hopper and Porter’s Musical Celebration, The Magic Show and the ever-popular Sunset Show. Just as the cowboys ride off into the sunset at the end of the movie, Tweetsie’s entertainers mosey into the Palace for one last show at the end of the day, featuring performers from every show at Tweetsie Railroad together on one stage. The 2021 season runs from April 2 to November 1 with varying dates and schedules; for more information, visit www.Tweetsie.com or call 800-526-5740.
REMEMBER, there has been a major paradigm shift involving performing arts organizations and cultural facilities in the United States and beyond. The planning and implementation of in-person and/or virtual productions, performing arts events, and community programs are being done on a much shorter time frame than before
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Kent State: Then, and Again. By Ray Miller
May 4, 1970. I am 21 years old. A beautiful spring morning. I walk from my theatre class in the Music and Speech Building and made my way onto the Commons. The clanging of the Victory Bell was calling for students to stand up to the presence of the Ohio National Guard on our campus.
I was one of thousands of students gathered along the parameter. Hundreds of protestors were yelling and shouting at the Guardsmen. For their part, they began firing tear gas canisters at the students. Not to be outdone, the students would pick them up and lob them back. But, the mood shifted from a being playful to something more ominous.
I raced around to the practice field on the other side of Taylor Hall looking for my girlfriend. She was nowhere to be found. I looked up at the pagoda area and saw National Guardsmen milling around with loaded rifles. Some were pointing them in the direction of the students. Quickly, as I ran around Taylor Hall to the Commons area, I heard the sound of bullets. Then, a deafening silence. I froze. Then, a scream. Then, more. Someone shouted – “They shot the students!”
67 shots. 9 wounded. 4 dead.
For me, and many others, that day remains lodged in our collective memory. While my body sags with the weight of each passing year, the sights and sounds of that day remain ever so vivid. The emotions are right under the surface.
I decided to write Kent State: Then, and Again not only as a way to pay homage to those events but also to recognize that a shared national trauma demands that we revisit it, but with new eyes.
In October of 2001, I visited the Twin Tower site. I never experienced such a profound silence by those who came to witness and pay respect each time a truck pulled out with the remains of our fellow citizens. It is sacred ground.
At the time, I attended a conference at which Dance scholar Brenda Dixon-Gottschild, whose physical features reminded me of those of Toni Morrison, was receiving an award for her scholarship. One of the attendees asked: “What possible role could any of us have in the wake of this unspeakable tragedy? How do you dance after that?
She replied: “Pay attention to everything you see and hear now. Never forget. Time will let you know when you can dance again. Time will bring healing.
The retelling of what happened is never the same. For one, you are not the same. For another, those who listen are not the same. Trauma embeds itself in ways that cannot be easily excised, except possibly in the telling and retelling, again and again. When we try to re-remember, the beginnings become murkier not clearer; when we try to draw some lessons, they seem to be ever more elusive.
The granite memorial on the Kent State campus invites those who visit to inquire, to learn and to reflect. The memorial itself is surrounded by 58,175 daffodils representing those who lost their lives in Vietnam.
It is my hope that Kent State: Then, and Again will invite you to inquire, to learn and to reflect.
Dr. Ray Miller is Professor of Dance Studies and Theatre Arts at Appalachian State University. He is playwright and director of Kent State: Then, and Again. See CML’s Cultural Calendar for times and ticket information.
CULTURAL CALENDAR:
Continued from page 25
the pandemic. Cultural activities are occurring with the least amount of lead time that I’ve ever seen in my 38 years working in the not-for-profit performing arts.
Therefore, the following is a roster of the organizations whose artistry we cover in the pages of CML, many of whom will soon be announcing their upcoming productions. Please check them
out online at the following
websites or you may miss some wonderful events!
Alleghany Community Theatre
www.alleghanycommunitytheatre.org
Appalachian State University
Department of Theatre and Dance www.theatreanddance.appstate.edu
Appalachian Theatre of the High Country
www.apptheatre.org
Ashe Civic Center
www.ashecivic.com
Ashe County Little Theatre
www.ashecountylittletheatre.org
Barter Theatre
www.BarterTheatre.com
Beanstalk Community Theatre
BeanStalkNC.com
Blue Ridge Community Theatre
www.blueridgecommunitytheatrenc.com
City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium
www.commaonline.org
Ensemble Stage
www.ensemblestage.com
Hayes School of Music
www.music.appstate.edu
In/Visible Theatre
www.invisibletheatrenc.org.
Jones House Cultural & Community Center
www.joneshouse.org
Lees-McRae College Performing Arts
lmc.edu/pashows Instagram @lmctheatre
Parkway Playhouse
www.parkwayplayhouse.com
Schaefer Center Presents
www.theschaefercenter.org
Wilkes Playmakers
www.wilkesplaymakers.com
As for me, I will always have hope.
Psalm 71:14a
ANTIQUES • PRODUCE • FOLK ART | 2963 HWY 105, BOONE NC • 828-719-1219
From the High Country to Hawaii
By Trimella Chaney
Abig 6’2” noticeably Caucasian man rushes to bestow a beautiful and fragrant wreath lei on me in the Honolulu airport as he sweeps me into a big hug. That is the proper greeting from a man who began his theatrical career at Green Valley Elementary School in Watauga County and now serves as the Artistic Director of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY) upon seeing his former teacher and director. What an amazing theatrical story this talented, passionate, successful man has had!
My first question to Eric Johnson is, “How do you like Hawaii?” His answer is quite surprising. He finds many parallels with growing up in the North Carolina mountains and living and working in the Hawaiian Islands… two places with distinct cultural and storytelling heritages, artistic resources, natural beauty, and indigenous music. Johnson also compares the friendliness of the American South with the open and inviting culture of aloha in the islands.
So how did this actor/director become the Artistic Director of the 65-year-old performance organization in Hawaii? His story begins with becoming a member of the original Watauga High School Pioneer Playmaker Troupe and winning the Playwriting Award from the North Carolina Theatre Conference. There are many chapters in his story: attending and later teaching at the NC Governor’s School; earning an internship at Actors’ Theatre of Louisville; founding his own theatre company; working in New York; teaching College; and even touring Europe. He credits the early days at Watauga, working at Horn in the West, the Blowing Rock Stage Company and his education at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) for providing a strong theatrical foundation. “I was so blessed to have amazing friends and teachers who nurtured my artistry, but also my curiosity about the world,” says Johnson. “I often think about the next generation growing up in the High Country and my hope is that they, too, have the support and courage to follow their curiosity.”
Now, as artistic director of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Johnson is writing, directing, and producing dynamic children’s theatre with a professional company who regularly tours five islands. The company uses interactive theatre, storytelling, and multi-media platforms to educate a young audience about the culture and history of Hawaii. During my visit I sat in on a table reading with two actors who were refining a piece about the early cowboys who came to Hawaii from Mexico, not what most expect to find in Hawaii but an essential part of the local story.
Most professional theatre companies start with a season of shows and hire staff and actors to put on those shows. HTY hires a company of local professionals and builds a season around the talents of those artists for their specific community. Johnson credits this philosophy with growing up in a place that valued community and celebrated what was unique about life in the Appalachian Mountains. His intent is to engage young people in the topics that are going to impact their lives through a lens that makes sense to them.
ERIC JOHNSON
Recent work has centered on energy, climate change, immigration and of course celebrating the rich cultural diversity of Hawaii. Johnson is well aware that over 50 percent of children in the U.S. today are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and that cultural literacy is going to be an essential part of any child’s education. “We think diversity and indigenous culture are some of the gifts Hawaii has to share with the rest of the world.”
In this time of COVID, Johnson’s work is circling back home again. With the theatre closed, the company has focused on producing a 30-minute television show called THE HI WAY for the local CBS station. The show has already reached well over three million viewers and is accessible through HTY’s website, www.htyweb.org. Educators can sign up and watch or use the material for free and there are plans available for families as well. “Through all of this we have learned that a theatre company is not a building with seats and a stage, it is a creative team in conversation with a community. I’m really proud to be a part of this team and part of this community out here, but I am also deeply proud of the community I came from. The fact that I can now share the stories we are making half way around the world with friends and family back in Boone is one of many tiny blessings that has come out of this strange time.”
Ms. Trimella Chaney is a veteran theatre arts teacher and founder of the Theatre Arts Department at Watauga High School. She currently teaches at Appalachian State University in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and is a local community theatre director.
BEECH MTN PKWY / CAROLINA STAR
IVY HEIGHTS / CARPENTERS WHEEL BUCKEYE ROAD / STOREY’S STAR
All photos courtesy Beech Mtn TDA
The New Avery Quilt Trail By LouAnn Morehouse
There are trails of all kinds in the High Country, from the famed Appalachian Trail that crosses Avery County between Yellow and Roan Mountains, to the wide variety of scenic paths at points along the Blue Ridge Parkway. While some trails require stamina and a good pair of hiking boots, many others are accessible to anyone with an interest in seeing something memorable.
There are even some trails that require only a vehicle to drive you from one point to another. The Avery County Quilt Trail is just such an activity, and it is every bit as full of beautiful views as the others. All it takes is a Quilt Trail map, a day set aside for some touring and a full tank of gas.
The “quilts” referred to here are actually large squares painted in patchwork designs that are more usually found on a handmade quilt. In most cases, the quilt squares are quite large—8 feet by 8 feet is not uncommon—and generally hung on a barn or outbuilding in a rural setting. That many of them are actually attached to the side of a barn gives rise to their other name, “barn quilts.”
Barn quilts have become practically ubiquitous across the rural countryside in the US; the phenomenon even has its own Wikipedia entry. Back in the early 2000s an organization called Handmade in America brought the concept to Western North Carolina with start-up funding to help pay for materials. The idea of honoring a traditional art form in this vivid and visual manner resonated with mountain people, the descendents of settlers who had created beauty in their items of necessity. Guided by quilt artist Barbara Webster of Yancey County, the North Carolina program grew to include more than one hundred quilt squares hung in Yancey and Mitchell Counties. By 2008, Avery County had more than sixty quilt squares of its own.
The Handmade in America initiative ended, but the Barn Quilts continued. Home owners and communities created and hung their own. In some places, such as Beech Mountain, the idea took hold so well that there were dozens and dozens of Quilt Squares embellishing homes. No one really knew how many there were, or even where they all were hung. People just had to wander around and spot them.
In 2020, Kate Gavenus, the director of the Visitor Center at Beech Mountain, got an idea. More than most folks, Kate knew well how popular the quilt squares were. Why were they there? Where were they? What do they mean? She had fielded questions about them many times.
Kate decided it was high time a map was created to make it easier for people to find the squares. Although her specific area of interest was Beech Mountain, she knew and loved many of the quilt squares that were hung throughout Avery County. So she decided the map should include as many squares as she could find in the entire county.
With funding secured from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership covering the costs of printing and design, she got to work. The trail was cold—information about the original quilt squares was hard to find. There had been a map of some of the squares, but no copies were to be found. The Arts Council that had administered the program in Avery County had ceased operations. Kate realized that her map would have to be created from scratch.
Enlisting her colleague, Armando Garcia, to the effort, she began the process of collecting locations and photographing the quilt squares. Armando, a graphic
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EMERALD OUTBACK / ALBIE’S DREAM LAKE COFFEY PIER / FISH BEECH MTN GRAVEL LOT / GAMEBOARD
QUILT TRAIL: Continued from previous page designer, would handle the project design. He also proved to be an excellent map maker, which guaranteed the success of the project. Kate’s son, Alexander Gavenus, added his skills as a webmaster, and the framework was complete: a map, a website, plus a poster and rack card would give life to the new Avery Quilt Trail.
The team worked through the fall and winter of 2020-21 to identify, photograph, and get GPS coordinates of as many quilt squares as they could. Kate says they concentrated on squares that were readily visible from the road, and on roads that were reasonably navigable. The intent was for Quilt Trail hunters to be able to safely see their quarry and not have to risk life and limb finding them. It was a big undertaking—Kate admits she thought more than once about giving up, but she was so grateful for the support and interest from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership that it kept her going.
Their hard work has paid off, and visitors to Avery County now have a fine new activity to enjoy. The maps are ready—and free for the asking—at the Beech Mountain Visitors Center, next door to town hall and the police station. Or you can visit the website, averycountyquilttrail.com, and request a map to be mailed to you.
However you get your map, it’s worth going to the website to see images of all the quilt squares. When available, there is information about the pattern and the name of the artist who painted the square. Many fine folks worked on this project, and you might recognize some of the names.
Kate and her team divided the quilt squares into three driving routes. There are around 60 squares listed, and it can take awhile to see them all, so they wanted to make the touring easier. One tour takes in Beech Mountain squares, and the other two cover separate areas of Avery County. Kate says she’s sure they have missed some squares, and she would be happy to add them if the owners wish it. The map can be updated at its next printing, and new squares can easily be added to the website.
What better way to spend a “socially distanced” holiday than by driving around beautiful Avery County in your own car, seeing wonderful works of art, and spending the day outdoors? Happy Quilt Trails to you!
GABRIEL OFIESH
July 22 through July 25
Thursday 1-5, Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1-4
Cheryl Prisco
Contemporary art l Free admission Six galleries l Changing exhibitions
Visit website for updated hours: tvca.org 920 Shawneehaw Avenue | Banner Elk, NC 28604
HARDINJEWELRY@GMAIL.COM | 828-898-4653
Free Weekly Art Shows in Historic Edgewood Cottage
Purchase quality original art for every interest and budget.
Meet different jury-selected artists each week throughout the summer.
www.artistsatedgewood.org
Corner of Main Street & Ginny Stevens Lane (next to BRAHM) Blowing Rock, NC
Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage is Back
Take a three-minute walk south of Blowing Rock’s Memorial Park and you’ll discover a unique cultural corner where art and history meet. Here you’ll find the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) and its well-known neighbor, Edgewood Cottage, the circa 1890 home and studio of renowned American artist Elliott Daingerfield.
Elliott Daingerfield (1859-1932) became one of Blowing Rock’s most notable summer residents. He painted images of the local landscape and instructed the “painting ladies” who came to Blowing Rock to study with him. His legacy lives on at BRAHM’s exhibition this April 3– August 3. The exhibition features paintings by these remarkable women who became members of the renowned Philadelphia Ten. Daingerfield’s legacy of encouraging artists in the High Country also lives on in the Artists in Residence Program at Edgewood Cottage.
Presented by The Blowing Rock Historical Society, this year’s Artists in Residence series runs from May 29 – September 19. During the program the cottage becomes home to 25 artists representing a variety of outstanding, original two and threedimensional pieces.
The series takes place Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with different artists each week. art Art lovers of all interests and budgets are welcomed to these free open studio events to meet the artists, see them create new art and purchase their works. You’ll find a variety of creations by potters, painters, nature photographers, wood carvers, and fiber artists. Half of the net proceeds will go towards turning Edgewood Cottage into a museum during the months that are not occupied by Artists in Residence. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Spring 2021 — 33
The Carolina Mountain Life region features awe-inspiring mountains and rivers, bustling and unique Appalachian towns, and heaping helpings of cultural activities making it a wonderful place to live and visit. One of the highlights for many spending time in the mountains is experiencing live music. Whether listening to a mountain dulcimer player strumming on a porch and singing folks songs, watching a full-blown bluegrass band picking fast licks on a stage, or crossing Live Music Springing Back paths with a songwriter pouring her heart By Mark Freed out on a street corner, the High Country is a hotbed for music.
A typical spring season in the region Soul Benefactor at Valle Crucis Park provides many opportunities to engage in the mountain music community: old-time jam sessions at the Jones House Cultural Event calendars to consult: • High Country Host, www.highcountryhost.com | Good regional event calendar covering Banner Elk, and Community Center, square dancing Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Boone, Sparta, Sugar Mountain, West Jefferson and Wilkesboro. on the wooden floors of the Todd Mer- • Blue Ridge Music Trails, www.blueridgemusicNC.com | Good calendar for music events across westcantile, and local bands performing on ern North Carolina, with a focus on Americana styles like bluegrass, old-time, blues, etc. porches, lawns, and stages in Banner Elk, Regional events and venues to feature live music this spring: Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Boone, and beyond (i.e. all the mountain towns • Carolina BBQ – 828-733-0700 - www.carolinabbqnewland.com that don’t begin with “B”). • Chef’s Table – 828-898-5214 – www.bannerelkvillage.com
The COVID pandemic shut down • Concerts in Ashe Park, Ashe County – https://ashechamber.com/ live in-person events last spring, but a number of presenters in the CML region transitioned to virtual events. At the • • Banner Elk Café – 828-898-4040 – www.bannerelkcafe.com Banner Elk Concerts at Tate Evans Park, downtown Banner Elk – https://www.bannerelk.org/ time of press, conditions are continuing • Banner Elk Winery, Banner Elk – http://www.bannerelkwinery.com/ to improve and indicate that there will • Bayou – 828-898-8952 – Check out their Facebook page be a blend of in-person and virtual musical events around the High Country this • Beech Mountain, Live Music at 5506’ – https://www.beechmountainresort.com spring. • Blowing Rock, NC, will begin their Concerts in the Park series on May 23 at Memorial Park in
Many regular presenters of concerts, downtown Blowing Rock. The second concert will take place on June 13. Concerts are free and begin at dances, and jam sessions plan to be nimble 4 p.m. (https://blowingrock.com/concertinthepark/) and creative, so the best bet for those seek- • Fred’s General Mercantile Summer Sunday Sunset Concerts – 828-387-4835 – www.fredsgeneral.com ing music will be keeping up with online event calendars and venue websites. Below you will find a list of helpful resources to consult, some suggestions for events likely • Grandfather Vineyard, Hwy 105 between Foscoe and Seven Devils https://www.grandfathervineyard.com • Green Park Inn – 828-414-9230 – www.greenparkinn.com to occur, and some venues that typically • Highlander’s Grill & Tavern – 828-898-9613 – Check out their Facebook page present live music regularly around the • Linville Falls Winery, Linville Falls – https://www.linvillefallswinery.com/ music! • Lost Province Brewery in Boone – https://lostprovince.com • Music in the Valle at Valle Crucis Park – https://vallecrucispark.org/music-in-the-valle/ • Music on the Lawn at Inn at Ragged Gardens – 828-295-9703 – www.ragged-gardens.com • Muddy Creek Cafe and Music Hall in Sparta – https://www.muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com • Old Rock School in Valdese – https://www.townofvaldese.com/old-rock-school/ • Orchard at Altapass – https://altapassorchard.org • Pedalin’ Pig BBQ – Banner Elk 828-898-7500/ Boone 828-355-9559 – www.thepedalinpig.com • Phipps Store in Lansing – 336-384-2382 region. As you make plans for your visit, it is highly recommended to double check websites and venue contacts for updates. The High Country has become a popular refuge during the pandemic, so please do your part to help keep the community safe and be prepared to follow the venue guidelines for masking and distancing. Be safe, have fun, and we look forward to seeing you in the mountains. Continued on page 36
Liberty! Returns
By Mike Hill
The saga of the “Overmountain Men” is largely ignored in our history texts, despite the fact that settlers from Northeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina had a tremendous influence on the formation of our country. Each summer, the outdoor drama “Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals” is presented by a cast of volunteer actors against the backdrop of historic Fort Watauga in the Sycamore Shoals State Park, which is located just “over the mountain” in Elizabethton, TN.
The “Official Drama” of the state of Tennessee, “Liberty!” tells the story of the first settlers to the Watauga Settlement of North Carolina (which eventually became part of Tennessee) in the late 18th century and the events of national significance that took place on the banks of the Watauga River where the amphitheater now stands. The slate of leaders present at the Watauga Settlement reads like a roster of state and national historical figures, including John Carter, James Robertson, Isaac Shelby and John Sevier.
This year brings Melanie Yodkins on board as director of the production, along with significant upgrades in everything from amphitheater lighting to the concessions stand. There have also been adjustments to the script to remove any fictional characters. “What we really want to focus on is the history: what really happened, who was there, and how the story unfolds,” said Yodkins. “I firmly believe that theatre, in any capacity, is a collaborative art form and we have so many talented artists who have come to be part of this historic performance. What I hope our audiences see is a beautiful story told well, and come away learning something new, either about these people or about this place… living history is an experience that stays with you and helps you to almost relive the events.”
The Saga opens as John Carter and his family arrive at the Watauga Old Fields Settlement, near present day Elizabethton, from the Holston River area in favor of the grand opportunities afforded by the new frontier. Many hunters and settlers began crossing the Appalachian Mountains in violation of the British Proclamation of 1763. These settlers soon made their homes along the Watauga River on what was Cherokee land. As the show progresses, we see two very different cultures come together, coupled with the effects of the American Revolution and a series of emotional and challenging events that begin to unfold in their lives.
Formed four years prior to the American Declaration of Independence, the Watauga Association was the first majority-rule system of American democratic government. In his book, “The Winning of the West,” Theodore Roosevelt describes the 1772 Articles of the Watauga Association as the “first self-government organization independent of the Crown in the New World,” where settlers elected representatives and divided their fledgling government into legislative, judicial and executive branches. In 1775, the Transylvania Purchase was negotiated at Sycamore Shoals. Led by Judge Richard Henderson, 20 million acres of land, stretching from the Cumberland River watershed to the Kentucky River, were purchased from the Cherokee in the largest private real estate transaction of the new world. More than 1,200 Native Americans spent weeks in counsel at Sycamore Shoals debating the merits of the deal, which was eventually signed by Chief Attakullakulla (the “Little Carpenter”) who ignored numerous misgivings and signed the deed amid great ceremony and celebration. The next year in 1776, Fort Watauga was constructed on property owned by a miller named Matthew Talbott. The historic fort (which is now the Sycamore Shoals State Park) eventually became a refuge for all of the families living along the Watauga when Cherokee dissidents aided by English agents waged war against the pioneers.
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• Saloon Studios in West Jefferson, NC, will feature Frontier Days on May 22, and they have a number of concerts scheduled for the spring. For more information on these events, visit them at www.saloonstudioslive.com • Stonewalls restaurant – 828-898-5550 – www.stonewallsrestaurant.com • Sugar Mountain, Summer concerts/Grillin’ and Chillin’ – https://seesugar.com/summer-concerts/ • Watauga Lake Winery, Johnson County, TN – https://www.wataugalakewinery.com/ • Concerts On The Deck - North Wilkesboro – 336-667-7129 www.downtownnorthwilkesboro.com • Concerts In The Commons - Wilkesboro – 336-838-3951 – www.wilkesboronorthcarolina.com • Woodland’s Barbeque Restaurant – 828-295-3651 – www.woodlandsbbq.com • Zaloo’s in Jefferson, NC, focuses on canoe, kayak, and tube trips on the river, and they have two big spring events planned with live music—Earth Day celebration on April 24, and Zaloo Fest on May 15. (https://zaloos.com)
Virtual Experiences:
• Jones House Cultural and Community Center in Downtown Boone – www.joneshouse.org music! Check with venues’ websites for updated schedules and COVID restrictions. A variety of virtual offerings including music lessons, live Zoom-a-long sessions, and Jones House at Home virtual concerts. There will also be a special virtual livestream presentation of the 11th Annual Doc Watson Day celebration on June 18, 2021. • Mountain Home Music – https://mountainhomemusic.com Offering the Virtual Greeting Cards series, featuring regional musicians giving virtual performances in Elizabethton, TN. For more on live music in our region, check out Regional Happenings and Tidbits in this issue of CML, and sign up for our e-newsletters at www.CMLmagazine.online.
• Family owned business • American made products and goods • Buck Stove wood & gas stoves • Weather resistant outdoor patio furniture • Firepits • Kitchen Kettle jams, jellies, honey and pickled products • Tony’s Ice Cream (NC made) • Organic veggie starts/houseplants/shrubs • Other local Artisan merchandise
Live Music – 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 11-1 | Follow us on Social Media for updated events 3616 Mitchell Avenue, Suite 4, Linville, NC 28646 | (828) 385-0657 www.mountaintimeonmainst.com
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Led by Dragging Canoe, and determined to drive the newcomers from their territory, the Cherokee laid siege to the fort for approximately three weeks, eventually giving up and departing when the settlers refused to surrender.
Sycamore Shoals later served as the gathering place for a group of militia that defeated British Major Patrick Ferguson, commander of the Loyalist militia, at the Battle of Kings Mountain. Responding to a threat sent via messenger from Ferguson to the settlements that he would march his army over the mountains, hang the leaders and lay waste to their country with fire and sword, approximately 1,100 frontiersmen gathered at Sycamore Shoals and then set out in epic pursuit of Ferguson and his Loyalists in 1780. The militia traveled through Roan Mountain and across the Unaka Mountains, becoming forever known to history as the “Overmountain Men.” The Patriots eventually caught up with Ferguson on October 7 at King’s Mountain in South Carolina, where they soundly defeated the British forces utilizing guerrilla warfare tactics, as opposed to conventional rules of engagement prevalent at the time. Sir Henry Clinton, commander of British forces in America, later pronounced Ferguson’s defeat at King’s Mountain as “the first link in a chain of events that…ended in the total loss of America.” The victory is still considered by many historians to be the turning point of the Revolutionary War.
For all of 2020, the Patriots at Sycamore Shoals have searched in vain for Ferguson, because Liberty! was cancelled for the first time in 43 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year the Overmountain Men will no longer be denied their victory, as “Liberty!” will once again be presented each weekend in June.
General admission tickets range from free for children 5 and under, to $8 for students 6 to 17, $14 for seniors 60 and up, and $18 for adults. For members of Friends of Sycamore Shoals, tickets are $10. Veterans and first responders may attend the drama any night for a reduced admission price of $9. Veterans and first responders and one person accompanying each may attend for free on Thursday, June 17, 2021. For more information, call the park at (423) 543-5808, or click to www.tnstateparks.com/parks/sycamore-shoals.
