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Hank Williams: Lost Highway

Presented by The Circuit Playhouse at The Circuit Playhouse

September 11-October 11, 2009

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Hank Williams: Lost Highway is the moving musical biography of the legendary singer-songwriter frequently mentioned alongside Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, Duke Ellington, Elvis, and Bob Dylan as one of the great innovators of American popular music. The play follows Williams' rise from his beginnings on the Louisiana Hayride to his triumphs on the Grand Ole Opry to his eventual self-destruction at twenty-nine. Along the way, we are treated to indelible songs like "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Move It on Over," and "Hey, Good Lookin'," which are given fresh and profound resonance set in the context of Williams' life.

Preview by David Prete - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver

For many reasons, spontaneity may sling its mysterious working all over the production of Hank Williams: Lost Highway, which opens September 11th at Circuit Playhouse. 

One reason is director Emily Wells’ interpretation of Williams’ music: “It’s more about feeling than precise musical construction, because he was not a trained musician,” she says. “During a song he would jump in when he felt like it.” To honor Williams’ style, she has persuaded the musicians to capture the spontaneity and “odd time jumps” in Williams’ songs.

Another reason is the play’s nonlinear structure: It’s a memory play that doesn’t start at Williams’ first big break and follow his rise and fall. It jumps through moments of his life as each character narrates a part of the story either through words or music. The quick and disjointed manipulation of time keeps the audience (and of course the actors) on their toes.

Spontaneity also comes out of Wells’ desire and the musicians’ ability to create a hybrid between the reality of Williams’ music and their personal interpretations. “We’re going for an authentic sound without impersonating Williams or turning him into a caricature,” says Wells. She encouraged the cast (particularly Tim Greer who plays Williams) to leave room for little bits of themselves, because mere impersonations would not support the deeper meaning or reality of the show.

“The show is about how country music’s heart has survived and evolved,” says Wells. “But also how our memories of where it came from can be glossed over.” Williams’ music came from his natural talent, but also his ability to connect to his pain that lead him to die at twenty nine. We may never really know the source(s) of his pain, but Wells believes a part of it came from his need to modify himself for public consumption. And the play doesn’t spare Williams’ drinking or tumultuous relationships. “We see Hank at some of his worst,” says Wells. “In that way it’s respectful, but honest.”
 

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Venue Info

    The Circuit Playhouse

    51 S Cooper
    Memphis, TN 38104

    Full map and directions

  • Admission Info

    Tickets: $15 - Preview $30 - Adults, Thursday & Sunday $35 - Adults, Friday & Saturday $20 - Students & Seniors $15 - Child

    Info Phone: 901-726-4656

    Email

    Buy Tickets

  • Dates & Times

    Dates:
    September 11-October 11, 2009

    Times:
    Thursday-Saturday at 8:00pm
    Sunday at 2:00pm

  • Accessibility Info

    Currently, no accessibility information is available for this event.

  • Video & Image Gallery

    Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.

  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: Hank Williams: Lost Highway
      "Lost Highway"
      Comment posted by: SupportArts from Cordova, Sep 19, 2009
      

      Gut wrenching, high quality and wonderful. Even if you don't like the genre, go see this show.

      Gut wrenching, high quality and wonderful. Even if you don't like the genre, go see this show.

    • Event Name: Hank Williams: Lost Highway
      "All About Music"
      Comment posted by: Glenda Mace - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Sep 18, 2009
      

      Hank Williams Lost Highway is all about the music. Hank Williams, Sr., an icon in the country music business, quit school at 16 to continue his singing, song writing and to seriously pursue a career... Expand

      Hank Williams Lost Highway is all about the music. Hank Williams, Sr., an icon in the country music business, quit school at 16 to continue his singing, song writing and to seriously pursue a career in music. At 17 he had made his first appearance on WSFA Montgomery and would soon become the stations most popular performer. The play, Lost Highway gives you just enough information to guide you through a bit of Hank?s life and career but mostly the show is focused on his music. Tim Greer, who plays Hank and Matt Atkins, Michael Towle, Jason Labrador and Ed Richter, who play the members of his band, The Drifters, take us through many hit recordings: Jambalaya, Your Cheatin?Heart, I?m So Lonesome I Could Cry, twenty-four tunes in all. Tim Greer, Director of Drama at Memphis University School, plays a sympathetic Hank. He has the Williams? vocal range, yodeling ability and guitar picking to bring the music to life. His band members are great back up and truly a band, each playing their instrument on stage. TeKay plays Tee-Tot who in real life would be Rufus Payne a man who befriended Hank as a boy in Georgianna, Alabama. On stage, the character of Tee-Tot grounds the music to Blues roots and is the force always bringing Hank and the music back to its beginnings. In later years Hank would say that Payne gave him all the music training he ever had. An engaging supporting cast weaves in and out of the musical numbers to give the play its narrative. Nicole Renee Hale plays Hanks wife Audrey. You get to see bits of their romance and rocky marriage that ensues. John Hemphill plays Pap, Hank?s song publisher and manager. John portrays the man who saw the raw talent and managed to steer Hank to stardom. Ruth Johnson, Hank?s mother Lilly, gives us many of the lighter moments and delivers most of the laughs in the narrative. Jennifer Henry plays a waitress the one ?Hank Williams Fan? we see on stage. Her vignette with Hank contains an echo of the Elvis stories we hear in Memphis, those chance encounters with the man, that one night when you got to engage with your dream. Lost Highway, directed by Emily Wells with music direction by Renee Kemper, flows, highlighting the music as it should. Collapse

    • Event Name: Hank Williams: Lost Highway
      "Music Director"
      Comment posted by: Emily Wells from Memphis, TN, Sep 08, 2009
      

      Thanks for the great article, David. I'd be remiss to not reiterate the stellar talents of our Music Director, and my chief collaborator, Renee Kemper.

      Thanks for the great article, David. I'd be remiss to not reiterate the stellar talents of our Music Director, and my chief collaborator, Renee Kemper.

    • Event Name: Hank Williams: Lost Highway
      "Preview by David Prete - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver"
      Comment posted by: David Prete - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Sep 08, 2009
      

      For many reasons, spontaneity may sling its mysterious working all over the production of Hank Williams: Lost Highway, which opens September 11th at Circuit Playhouse. One reason is director Emily... Expand

      For many reasons, spontaneity may sling its mysterious working all over the production of Hank Williams: Lost Highway, which opens September 11th at Circuit Playhouse. One reason is director Emily Wells' interpretation of Williams' music: "It's more about feeling than precise musical construction, because he was not a trained musician," she says. "During a song he would jump in when he felt like it." To honor Williams' style, she has persuaded the musicians to capture the spontaneity and "odd time jumps" in Williams' songs. Another reason is the play's nonlinear structure: It's a memory play that doesn't start at Williams' first big break and follow his rise and fall. It jumps through moments of his life as each character narrates a part of the story either through words or music. The quick and disjointed manipulation of time keeps the audience (and of course the actors) on their toes. Spontaneity also comes out of Wells' desire and the musicians' ability to create a hybrid between the reality of Williams' music and their personal interpretations. "We're going for an authentic sound without impersonating Williams or turning him into a caricature," says Wells. She encouraged the cast (particularly Tim Greer who plays Williams) to leave room for little bits of themselves, because mere impersonations would not support the deeper meaning or reality of the show. "The show is about how country music's heart has survived and evolved," says Wells. "But also how our memories of where it came from can be glossed over." Williams' music came from his natural talent, but also his ability to connect to his pain that lead him to die at twenty nine. We may never really know the source(s) of his pain, but Wells believes a part of it came from his need to modify himself for public consumption. And the play doesn't spare Williams' drinking or tumultuous relationships. "We see Hank at some of his worst," says Wells. "In that way it's respectful, but honest." Collapse

• Media
  Gallery

  • All Media Gallery

    Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.

• Member
  Reviews

  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: Hank Williams: Lost Highway
      "Lost Highway"
      Comment posted by: SupportArts from Cordova, Sep 19, 2009
      

      Gut wrenching, high quality and wonderful. Even if you don't like the genre, go see this show.

      Gut wrenching, high quality and wonderful. Even if you don't like the genre, go see this show.

    • Event Name: Hank Williams: Lost Highway
      "All About Music"
      Comment posted by: Glenda Mace - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Sep 18, 2009
      

      Hank Williams Lost Highway is all about the music. Hank Williams, Sr., an icon in the country music business, quit school at 16 to continue his singing, song writing and to seriously pursue a career... Expand

      Hank Williams Lost Highway is all about the music. Hank Williams, Sr., an icon in the country music business, quit school at 16 to continue his singing, song writing and to seriously pursue a career in music. At 17 he had made his first appearance on WSFA Montgomery and would soon become the stations most popular performer. The play, Lost Highway gives you just enough information to guide you through a bit of Hank?s life and career but mostly the show is focused on his music. Tim Greer, who plays Hank and Matt Atkins, Michael Towle, Jason Labrador and Ed Richter, who play the members of his band, The Drifters, take us through many hit recordings: Jambalaya, Your Cheatin?Heart, I?m So Lonesome I Could Cry, twenty-four tunes in all. Tim Greer, Director of Drama at Memphis University School, plays a sympathetic Hank. He has the Williams? vocal range, yodeling ability and guitar picking to bring the music to life. His band members are great back up and truly a band, each playing their instrument on stage. TeKay plays Tee-Tot who in real life would be Rufus Payne a man who befriended Hank as a boy in Georgianna, Alabama. On stage, the character of Tee-Tot grounds the music to Blues roots and is the force always bringing Hank and the music back to its beginnings. In later years Hank would say that Payne gave him all the music training he ever had. An engaging supporting cast weaves in and out of the musical numbers to give the play its narrative. Nicole Renee Hale plays Hanks wife Audrey. You get to see bits of their romance and rocky marriage that ensues. John Hemphill plays Pap, Hank?s song publisher and manager. John portrays the man who saw the raw talent and managed to steer Hank to stardom. Ruth Johnson, Hank?s mother Lilly, gives us many of the lighter moments and delivers most of the laughs in the narrative. Jennifer Henry plays a waitress the one ?Hank Williams Fan? we see on stage. Her vignette with Hank contains an echo of the Elvis stories we hear in Memphis, those chance encounters with the man, that one night when you got to engage with your dream. Lost Highway, directed by Emily Wells with music direction by Renee Kemper, flows, highlighting the music as it should. Collapse

    • Event Name: Hank Williams: Lost Highway
      "Music Director"
      Comment posted by: Emily Wells from Memphis, TN, Sep 08, 2009
      

      Thanks for the great article, David. I'd be remiss to not reiterate the stellar talents of our Music Director, and my chief collaborator, Renee Kemper.

      Thanks for the great article, David. I'd be remiss to not reiterate the stellar talents of our Music Director, and my chief collaborator, Renee Kemper.

    • Event Name: Hank Williams: Lost Highway
      "Preview by David Prete - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver"
      Comment posted by: David Prete - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Sep 08, 2009
      

      For many reasons, spontaneity may sling its mysterious working all over the production of Hank Williams: Lost Highway, which opens September 11th at Circuit Playhouse. One reason is director Emily... Expand

      For many reasons, spontaneity may sling its mysterious working all over the production of Hank Williams: Lost Highway, which opens September 11th at Circuit Playhouse. One reason is director Emily Wells' interpretation of Williams' music: "It's more about feeling than precise musical construction, because he was not a trained musician," she says. "During a song he would jump in when he felt like it." To honor Williams' style, she has persuaded the musicians to capture the spontaneity and "odd time jumps" in Williams' songs. Another reason is the play's nonlinear structure: It's a memory play that doesn't start at Williams' first big break and follow his rise and fall. It jumps through moments of his life as each character narrates a part of the story either through words or music. The quick and disjointed manipulation of time keeps the audience (and of course the actors) on their toes. Spontaneity also comes out of Wells' desire and the musicians' ability to create a hybrid between the reality of Williams' music and their personal interpretations. "We're going for an authentic sound without impersonating Williams or turning him into a caricature," says Wells. She encouraged the cast (particularly Tim Greer who plays Williams) to leave room for little bits of themselves, because mere impersonations would not support the deeper meaning or reality of the show. "The show is about how country music's heart has survived and evolved," says Wells. "But also how our memories of where it came from can be glossed over." Williams' music came from his natural talent, but also his ability to connect to his pain that lead him to die at twenty nine. We may never really know the source(s) of his pain, but Wells believes a part of it came from his need to modify himself for public consumption. And the play doesn't spare Williams' drinking or tumultuous relationships. "We see Hank at some of his worst," says Wells. "In that way it's respectful, but honest." Collapse

• Media
  Reviews

  • Media Reviews

    There are currently no media reviews for this event.

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