Electric City Playhouse Presents KEEP ON THE SUNNY SIDE 8/6-23

If you liked Hank Williams - Lost Highway, you will love Barter Theatre's acclaimed production of Keep on the Sunny Side: the Songs and Story of the Carter Family being presented at Electric City Playhouse in Anderson, SC.

The original Carter Family recorded more than 300 songs and was the first group to be elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970. Their music has had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern gospel, pop and rock, as well as the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s.

"Join us as we step back in time to a day in June 1914 when AP meets his future wife, Sara Daugherty." said Director Jimmy Burdette. "We will be traveling from their early days together in the Appalachian Mountains, when they gathered in homes, played in schools and churches, to their later musical triumphs. We invite you to follow the Carters as AP discovers and writes the songs that would secure the family's place in musical history. This will be the South Carolina premier of Keep on the Sunnyside".

The story is centered around the great love of A.P. for Sara, which produced such distinctive, enduring songs, including Will the Circle be Unbroken, Wildwood Flower, My Clinch Mountain Home, Are You Lonesome Tonight, and the perennial favorite, Keep on the Sunny Side.

Preshow entertainment will be provided by Kay Cole, Tim Ven, & The Jimmy O. Trio (Jimmy Jefferson, Don Martin, and Jay Wright). It begins one-half hour prior to all performances.

The family patriarch, Alvin P. Carter, (portrayed by Keith Parker) was a man whose occasionally eccentric behaviors became part of Carter family lore. He had a vision of bringing his music to people all over the world, regardless of the personal sacrifices he had to make.

Sara Carter (Leslie Hardigree) was known for her deep and distinctive singing voice. She was the lead singer on most of the recordings of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s.

Maybelle (Gail Brown) became the most well known member of the group and was known as "Mother Maybelle" in her later years. It was Maybelle's distinctive and innovative guitar playing style that became the hallmark of the group. She was the mother of the late June Carter Cash and the mother-in-law of the late Johnny Cash. One of Mr. Cash's last recordings, "Tears in the Holston River," concerned his personal grief over the deaths of Maybelle and Sara. The recording was nominated for a Grammy award.

Rounding out the cast are Barry Brown, Paula Doolittle, Jimmy Burdette, Todd Barnette, Guy Harvley, Renee Martin, Sharon Barnette, Tim Ven, and Stu Gay.

We fully expect this show to be heavily attended by many church, work, and social groups within a 100-mile radius. Based on that and the high demand for tickets for previous ECP musicals, extra performances of KEEP ON THE SUNNYSIDE have now been scheduled. Show dates are August 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22 at 8pm August 9, 16, 23 at 3pm. General ticket sales begin July 27, 2009. Ask about special pricing for bookings of groups of ten or more. We will also have special discount coupons available for dining at downtown restaurants valid on the day of your show. Join your friends and family for a special time of dining and theatre.

Once again, Electric City Playhouse is offering a special performance to the unemployed of the upstate on August 5, 2009 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available in the theatre box-office for this performance. "This is our 25th season and we want to give back to the community that has made this theatre such a major part of the downtown Anderson experience ", said Vice President Jay Wright. "If someone in your house has lost his or her job, we want you there. Come enjoy this unforgettably entertaining event - it's all on us."

Please contact the box office Monday - Friday, 9 am to 2 pm at 864-224-4248 for further information.

Electric City Playhouse
514 N Murray Ave
Anderson, SC
864-224-4248

Photo credit Jim Simes