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by FATIMA MEADOWS
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
When considering great American musical innovators, one might think of Elvis, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan and Michael Jackson.
However, there is one legendary musician who inspired Mark Harelik and Randal Myler to write a musical tribute about his life: Hank Williams.
“Hank Williams: Lost Highway” is now showing at the Blowing Rock Stage Company, which is the professional theater of the Mariam & Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center.
The production tells the story of Williams rising from rural obscurity to honky-tonk royalty.
“There are some
songs in there, that when I heard it, they kind of sent chills up my
spine,” Rick D. Suyao, director of marketing and communication at the
center said. “They almost do a vaudevillian kind of act telling jokes,
breaking out in song and playing instruments. There’s a little bit of
something for everybody.”
Ben
Hope, second-season actor with the Blowing Rock Stage Company and
member of the Actor’s Equity Association, leads the cast with guitar in
hand and a song on his lips.
Hope shares a common background with Williams. Both grew up singing and playing hymns in church as Alabama natives.
“My
grandfather is from Montgomery and used to see Hank sitting on his
doorstep playing his guitar,” Hope said. “Exploring the life of Hank
Williams has shown me that there are hurdles in my life that I have to
be aware of and things that I need to do in moderation, things I need
to experience in moderation. I thank Hank for that.”
Due to adult humor and mild language, this musical is recommended for an audience 14-years-old and up.
“Hank
Williams: Lost Highway” is showing at the Mariam & Robert Hayes
Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock until Sunday. Student tickets
cost $14 with $7 rush tickets available to Appalachian State University
students if there are unsold tickets remaining.
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