Lawrence County Native to have Play ‘Livestreamed’ at The Garden TheaterLawrence 

I had the opportunity to interview DJ.  Here is a summary of that interview:

Me:  I heard that you are originally from Lawrence County, is that correct?

DJ: I was raised in Louisa, went to school there, K-12. I started college in St. Louis to become a veterinarian, but my acting and dance teachers there encouraged me to go down a different path. 

Me:  And you have been working on Broadway. How long have you been doing that?

DJ:  I toured the country with four Broadway shows, toured internationally in one show, performed in one Broadway show, directed one off-Broadway show, and I have worked on the creative development of several shows on and off Broadway. 

Me:   Any other background information that you want people to know?

DJ:  I’ve directed and choreographed nearly 115 shows over my career, and I’ve had three musicals produced… I’m now working on a couple more. Please have a look at:

Moonshineandmistletoe.com and whisperdarkly.com

Me: Is the play based on your experiences in Lawrence County?  Are the characters based on anyone specifically?

DJ:  The story is entirely fiction, but the characters are archetypes of the folks I grew up with or heard about from elders. The location of the Ballard family’s farmhouse is in Ruby Holler. Though there could be such a named holler in existence, the one in the play is from my imagination.

Me: What gave you the idea to write this play?

DJ: I wanted to honor Appalachian music and culture from the early 20th century. Many, many theaters nationwide offer “A Christmas Carol” yearly. My hope is that theaters may consider offering audiences something authentically American.

Me:  Did you work alone on this play? Were others involved in writing and producing it?

DJ:  Renowned NYC-based music arranger Larry Moore and I conceived of the piece together based on his beautiful ‘Appalachian Carols Suite’ which I heard in a concert in New York. We researched songs that could have been sung by Appalachian families during the Great Depression. I also wrote three original songs. The most famous Carol possessing mountain music heritage is “I Wonder As I Wander.” And Broadway’s leading actor-musician expert, David Lutken, has been invaluable in crafting a sound that skillfully incorporates bluegrass/folk instruments. Though primarily a ‘play with music’ there are some very theatrical moments that might be called ‘magical realism.’

Me:  Is there anything that you would like to personally add?

DJ:  When I was growing up in Louisa, the school system had no drama program. There was no community theatrical organization. I therefore started doing shows in Ashland because I was drawn to theatre arts. And I went to Ashland and Paintsville to take dance classes. Theatre is a great benefit to any community and for young people, theatre offers an environment that generates empathy and compassion and self-expression. It brings me tremendous joy to know that Louisa now has a theatre company operating out of the Garden Theater!

A copy of the press release for “Moonshine and Mistletoe” can be found below:

PRESS RELEASE

Premiere production of…

Moonshine & Mistletoe— An Appalachian Christmas Tale

Produced by Victory Productions and Jessica Huckabey Theatricals

Performances from November 24th through December 23rd, 2023. Presented at the Garden Theater in Winter Garden, Florida.

The Ballards, Lessy Boy and Curleen, welcome family and friends into their Kentucky mountain home to celebrate Christmas Day, 1937.  In the midst of the Great Depression, they have no gifts to exchange. Instead, they enjoy sharing their love of Appalachian music and the gift of fellowship. Among the holiday guests are the local moonshiner, Lessy Boy’s widowed sister and her mentally disabled, but musically gifted son, their eldest daughter Della, her miner husband, and their two children, and the new, young, unmarried pastor on whom the family’s spinster daughter, Dovey, has pinned her matrimonial hopes. Unexpectedly, Dewey Joe, the son that left the fold two years prior to escape a certain and undesirable fate in the coal mines, returns to make amends with his parents. With him is his young, very-soon-to-be-a-mother wife.  When it looks as if Curleen may not find peaceful reconciliation with her son Dewey Joe, a Christmas miracle opens the possibility of forgiveness and connectedness for all.

Conceived by DJ Salisbury and Larry Moore

Written and directed by : DJ Salisbury

Arrangements by Larry Moore

Music Direction by: David Lutken

Scenic Design by: Duane Harvey

Costumes by: Jessica Huckabey
Lighting Design by: Sarah Elliott

PSM: Rebecca Johnston*

Luke Darnell*, David Finch*, Amanda Giese, Maggie Hollinbeck*, Julian James, Pedro Ka’awaloa, Allison Kelly*, Megan Erin Lai, Kamilah Lay, John Rochette*, and Kelan Smith

Standbys: Bobbie Bell, Jennifer Teel, Michael Toperzer, and Amanda Townes

* denotes Actors Equity Association (the professional union for stage actors) member=

Youth Cast
Blaire Caparas, Addalyn Jaye, Dacheng Li, Blakely Mckellar, and Kalen Rojas

DJ Salisbury was raised in Louisa, KY and found out that the father of well known NYC music arranger Larry Moore was ALSO from Louisa, KY. Larry’s suite of Appalachian carols— which launched the idea for the musical– was written as a tribute to his father and his father’s eastern Kentucky heritage. For DJ, the show is opportunity to celebrate the unique American culture that exists in the foothills of theAppalachian Mountains. His aunt called the folks of eastern Kentucky “hill people,” and DJ believes the culture and music of the region grew and evolved because folks in the foothills west of the mountains from Kentucky to Tennessee to North Carolina were to some degree protected from cultural trends and outside influences that spread through America during the 19th century andante the early 20th century. 

Tickets to watch the livestream viewing can be purchased on The Garden Theater website:

https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=momo&fbclid=IwAR1tGw1A8H2xFssCA6v7PggLUYUZlybse1m7VAKm6XoE79y_3FN6GtmeeTs