Coal Miner Musical 'Fire on the Mountain'

A Celebration of the Resiliency of the Human Spirit 'Fire on the Mountain' opens FST's Mainstage Season with a song.

The first production in Florida Studio Theatre's 2006-2007 season is Fire On The Mountain, a passionate musical about the lives of the unsung American Hero: The Coal Miner. Fire On The Mountain is told through the words of Appalachian Coal Miners and their families from interviews conducted by the writers. A celebration of Appalachian culture, the story is told through the art of the folk and bluegrass music that these people turn to for refuge after a long day in the mines.

Written by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman, the team behind It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues,  Fire On the Mountain serves as a fitting tribute to the American Worker. More than the story of coal miners, it examines the lives of all Americans past and present who worked hard to survive.  In a conversation about the show, one member of FST's cast said "It relates to everyone who has parents or grandparents who worked in America . It is America . It is about people who are working to have a better future for themselves."

It is this universal appeal that drew Myler and Wheetman to create a story focused on the lives of coal miners. The first show the two collaborated on was a compilation of folk music called Appalachian Strings. There was a section in that show that focused on the lives of coal miners. They found enough musical material on the subject to make plans to eventually create an entire show based on the topic of miners and their families.

Myler conducted interviews with real miners and their families living all over the Appalachian Mountains . The text of Fire on the Mountain is composed entirely of the words spoken in these interviews. The miners worked long days, six days a week. The families constantly fought to survive. It was common for men to leave for work in the morning never to return home. Deaths in the mining industry are common throughout history and occur regularly to this day.

Myler and Wheetman are quick to point out that Fire on the Mountain is more than just a historical piece. Mining disasters are fairly common in America over the past few years and even more common in Eastern Europe and China. Despite the hardships that miners have faced for decades, they continue to work and live in the mountains. In Fire on the Mountain, this lifestyle is celebrated through the music that brings its people together.

Musical Director and co-creator Dan Wheetman says of Fire, "It's a story about humanity and the human spirit. It's about how people deal with hardships…they sing." And for the most part it is an incredibly upbeat and joyous song they are singing. Influenced by Irish folk music, American southern blues and many other styles, the bluegrass music developed in the Appalachian Mountains is a cathartic music that talks about hardships as well as giving thanks for the wonderful things in life.

"The Music is the sense of buoyancy, there's not a false note in anything spoken or sung in this show." That is how Kim Crow who will be portraying 'Mama' in FST's production describes the music of the show. Fire on the Mountain celebrates the joys and hardships of the American Worker. It connects to everyone who has worked hard to get ahead or is thankful to a parent or grandparent for doing the same.

The Denver Post calls Fire On The Mountain "a coal-fired masterwork of song," and Colorado Backstage says "Narration so rich, the lively music awesomely compelling, the uncontrollable toe tapping…I could actually feel dust in my throat."

Fire On The Mountain begins October 4 and runs through December 1, 2006 . FST's production will be directed by Randal Myler with Musical Direction by Dan Wheetman, the co-creators of the show. The cast will include FST new-comers Mike Regan, Molly Andrews, Austin Ashbaugh, Thatcher Svekis, Rob Barnes, Jim Price and Mark Baczynski as well as FST veterans Kim Crow and Jason Edwards. Michael Newton-Brown will be handling the lighting and scenic design with FST resident designer Marcella Beckwith designing the costumes.

For Tickets:

Box Office in person or by calling (941) 366-9000.

Florida Studio Theatre

1241 North Palm Avenue

Sarasota , FL 34236

Website: www.fst2000.org

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