Bill Clinton Opera, BILLY BLYTHE, to Make World Premiere, Today

The World Premiere of BILLY BLYTHE by Bonnie Montgomery, libretto by Brittany Barber will take place on April 8, 9 and 10, 2016 at the Kitchen Theatre. The director is Norm Johnson with musical direction by Richard Montgomery.

Starring:

Garrett Obrycki as Billy Blythe

Dawn Pierce as Virginia Clinton

Erik Angerhofer as Roger Clinton

?David Neal as Grandpa

Nick Mras as Roger Jr.

Michael Roddy as Gabe Crawford

Dan Taylor as James

Nathan Haltiwanger as Early

Eric Flyte as Ed

Kate Clemons as Margie Mitchell

Alyce Daubenspeck as Dixie Seba?

Billy Blythe is an American folk opera about Bill Clinton's youth in Arkansas. The work is a snapshot of Clinton's life in 1959. His relationship with his family and several events reveal the inspiration, character, and vulnerability that resound throughout his life.

A true and multi-faceted artist in a sea of homogony, Arkansas born and bred Bonnie Montgomery has an artistic vision that transcends cliche and genre.

Following the release of EPs "Cruel" (2012) and "Joy" (2013), Montgomery released her self-titled LP in Decemger 2014 on Nathan Howdeshell's (of Gossip) Portland/Arkansas label Fast Weapons.

Bonnie's southern debut album showcases her powerful operatic voice while her music blends elements of classic country with spaghetti western and traditional Ozark folk music. Backed by a rowdy, virtuosic hillbilly band, Bonnie has toured on her recent album extensively throughout the U.S. The album's critical acclaim alongside her wild and law-less live performances have earned a nomination for Outlaw Female at the Third Annual Ameripolitan Awards hosted in February 2016 in Austin, TX.

A classically trained singer whose southern roots run deep, Montgomery has taken her raucous, high-art spin on golden-era country/western music through the U.S. and Europe, sharing the stage with Gossip, Shovels and Rope, Robert Ellis, Hayes Carll, Billy Jo Shaver, Turnpike Troubadours, Pokey LaFarge, Wayne "the Train" Hancock, Joe Ely, Mike and the Moonpies, Dale Watson and Sturgill Simpson, among others.

Bonnie's composition of the modern folk opera "Billy Blythe", about the childhood of Bill Clinton, previewed in New York, and has earned her the attention of publications such as The New Yorker, The Economist, The Huffington Post and the London Daily Telegraph. The opera will have its official world premiere by Opera Ithaca in April 2016 in Ithaca, NY.

Recent west coast and upcoming southern tour dates will feature her supercharged Arkansas/Austin-based band.

For more info visit www.BonnieMontgomeryMusic.com

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