Reading of Original Play "Real Country" Planned Feb. 22
February 14, 2024
"Real Country" to Debut in Feb. 22 Reading
An original play will make its debut in a reading performed by faculty members and students at 蜜桔直播.
鈥淩eal Country鈥� is a three-act play written by Jack Truman, instructor and director
of the college鈥檚 theatre program. Each act focuses on a country legend from the 1950s,
1960s and 1970s.
The reading will be performed on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. in the lyceum, located
in the Dr. Wade B. McCamey Student Services Building on the 蜜桔直播 Morristown
Campus. Admission is free.
鈥淚 grew up on country music,鈥� Truman said. 鈥淭his has always been an important subject
to me. I started thinking 鈥榳hat if鈥� and these stories began. I created fictional situations
involving country music legends.鈥�
The first act of the play is dedicated to Jim Reeves, one of the most distinctive
and successful country music singers of the 1950s. His smooth baritone voice made
鈥淲elcome to My World鈥� and 鈥淗e鈥檒l Have to Go鈥� radio classics. Reeves continued to have
chart success even after his 1964 death in an airplane crash.
The second act centers on a conversation between Loretta Lynn and Connie Smith. Both
women dominated country music in the 1960s. Lynn, who died in 2022, is considered
one of the most influential country music singers of all time. Her hits included 鈥淐oal
Miner鈥檚 Daughter鈥� and 鈥淒on鈥檛 Come a Drinkin鈥� (with Lovin鈥� on Your Mind).鈥� Smith is
known for hits like 鈥淥nce A Day鈥� and 鈥淐ry, Cry, Cry.鈥� She still performs occasionally
at the Grand Ole Opry. Both women are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The third act honors Johnny Rodriguez, one of the most successful country music artists
of the 1970s. His songs included 鈥淧ass Me By鈥� and 鈥淟ove Put a Song in my Heart.鈥� Rodriguez
still tours and released his first live album in 2012.
Truman said the plays will be entertaining to both country music fans and those who
don鈥檛 listen to the genre.
鈥淓veryone will be able to connect and relate to these stories.鈥�