Old Brick to present musical outdoors
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ELKINS -- The Old Brick Playhouse's original musical "High Mountain Harmony" returns for its third-ever production this week with returning cast members, food and refreshments, live musical ensembles and more.
Performances will be offered on June 7 at 1 p.m. and at 6 p.m., and on June 8 at 1 p.m. at the Rotary Amphitheatre behind the Elkins Railyard Depot. In the event of rain, the performances will take place at The Old Brick Playhouse on 329 Davis Ave. Tickets for the shows can be purchased at theoldbrickplayhouse.org.
The Lunch Box restaurant will have a food stand at the performances, and refreshments are being provided at a cost by the Rotary Club of Elkins. The show is produced through a grant from the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area.
Written by The Old Brick Playhouse Executive Director Missy McCollam and Assistant Director Phil Smith, with music arranged by Dr. Scott Green, "High Mountain Harmony" is a historically-based musical that focuses on the West Virginia homefront during World War II.
During the war, members of the 10th Mountain Division were sent to train on Seneca Rocks to prepare for the Italian Alps, finding themselves mingling with Pendleton County locals. McCollam's father, aunts and grandparents lived in the area during this time, their memories and stories inspiring the plot of "High Mountain Harmony."
"When the 10th Mountain Division comes to town to train on Seneca Rocks, the lives of the Delmon family are turned upside down," an Old Brick press release stated. "Hijinks and romance are in the air in this original musical..."
This production of the musical marks the third time "High Mountain Harmony" has been performed and the 10th anniversary of its last revival in 2015.
With a cast of more than 30 actors, the show features The Old Brick Playhouse Apprentice Program alumni from both the first and second productions of the show, "along with other familiar faces and new friends from the Brick's 35 year history." Green has also returned to help perform the show's music alongside other live musicians.
One alumni and former "High Mountain Harmony" cast member is Will Stout, who has returned to reprise his role as Jack Ford, a temperamental army officer who has a lot to learn from the people of West Virginia. Stout played Jack Ford in the first production of "High Mountain Harmony" in 2009, his senior year, and has gone on to perform in TV shows like "Blue Blood," "Daredevil," "The Blacklist" and "Partner Track."
"I think Jack's discovery of West Virginia is a lot of peoples' that grow up here, their same discovery of West Virginia," Stout told The Inter-Mountain. "We all don't know what we have until we don't have it, so watching him learn to appreciate it is my favorite part of Jack, and probably my favorite part of the show is learning the value of this place."
Stout, who resides in New York, credits McCollam with his decision to return for this production despite challenges, explaining that "she fights me for me." Stout also expressed that audiences will enjoy seeing familiar surroundings on the stage.
"I don't think we often get to see a little piece of home on stage, and I think (the audience) will get to see that," Stout said.
When asked what was one thing he thinks audiences will love about the show, Stout was adamant that the character of the mischievous youngest Delmon brother, Maxie, who is based on McCollam's own father and is being portrayed by Nadia Johanns, was going to steal the show.
To learn more about "High Mountain Harmony" and The Old Brick Playhouse, visit theoldbrickplayhouse.org.