~Winner of Creative Loafing's Best Musical of the Year Award~

Conceived and Co-written by Angela Holley, Co-written by Bobby Bodford

“It’s a very charming and folksy musical . . . sprinkled with corny jokes and boasting an imaginative musical presentation that goes beyond the predictable. Performed by a very able musical ensemble, the songs range beyond the expected Carter Family works to compositions by June, by Helen and to accurate period pieces, such as “Country Girl” and “Columbus, GA and “Cotton Fields”.”
(CMT's Nashville Skyline/Bellsouth Acuff Theatre production)

“It’s funny, it’s touching, it has a family kind of feel. I think audiences of all kinds will enjoy it, not just for the music”
(Fayetteville Observer/Cape Fear Regional Theatre, North Carolina production)

“At the heart of every good play (musical or not) is a story worth telling, and “Wildwood Flowers” has just that. This foot-stompin’, hand-clappin’ musical is based on the early years of one of country music’s most beloved stars, June Carter . . . . punctuated with June’s noted folksy humor, the songs work to entertain and lift the soul.. . .Whether intentional or not, the music is never overpowering, with more focus placed on the entertainment value of the songs and the time and place they evoke in June’s journey. There are similarities to the musical biography, “Always. . . Patsy Cline”, which has enjoyed tremendous worldwide success. Although Patsy is probably known better outside country music than June Carter, this musical has the same kind of appeal.”
(Arts a la Mode/Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Charlotte, North Carolina production).

June Carter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carlene Carter (June’s daughter)

Mama Maybelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gina Stewart

Helen Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Janet McMahan

Anita Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lorrie Bennett (Anita’s daughter)

Uncle/Preacher/Drums/Banjo . . . . . . . . .Mark Horn

Uncle/MC/Lead Guitar/Steel Guitar. . . . Chris Casello

Uncle/Chet Atkins/Bass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mark Winchester

Carl Smith et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joe Breen

When the play begins, June is performing her comedy routine on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. She has become one of the Opry’s most popular stars. She greets the audience with her special brand of humor and one of her favorite songs, Poor Ole Heartsick Me, written by her sister Helen Carter. June has been on the road as a solo act for a while but on this night she seems to really be missing her Mother Maybelle, and her sisters Helen and Anita. As far back as June can remember they have been her backbone. “And it’s hard to stand without your backbone!” Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters have always been one of the top acts in the business and June has been touring with them since she was a small child. She dedicates her next song, Keep On the Sunnyside, to her mother. As she sings, the lights on the band fade, leaving June in a solo spot. She is joined by Maybelle who is revealed sitting on her porch playing her guiter. We are in a memory. June speaks to her mother across the darkness. “How did you ever learn to play like that, Momma?” The play continues as a flashback following June, her family and their music. We are introduced to her musical roots and learn of her struggle to find a place among the “singin’ and strummin’ Carters”. Her deep ambition, as a youngster, to become a star comes out in her fantasy number Money to end the act.

As the rooster crows to open Act 2, Maybelle’s hands are full trying to get her daughters up and dressed to get to the radio station by 5am. They sing Get Up Early in the Morning and Maybelle drives like a “bat out of hell” to get to the station on time. During this act we watch June blossom as a comedienne and the group rise to fame culminating in an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry with their newest band member, Chet Atkins. June has become the front person for the group and falls in love with another Opry star, Carl Smith. Their marriage fails when the two ambitious performer’s careers keep them going in different directions. Her second marriage also fails and June finds herself touring solo as a single mom with two daughters to raise. She expresses her frustration and sadness by writing Love’s Ring of Fire. June scared and in love once again, this time with a hot new talent who dresses in black, leaves the tour to visit her Mother, looking for advice and support. Maybelle comforts June and encourages her to follow her heart.  In attempt to lighten things up, Mama tells June, “get back to work and kick off a shoe or something!” June recalls the precious memory of accidentally kicking off her shoe and hitting her mother in the head while practicing a comedy bit. “Did it hurt, Mama?” Maybelle smiles, “Of course it didn’t hurt”. They resume the reprise of Keep on the Sunnyside as the lights transform the scene to present time. We are back at the Opry where June is finishing her performance. At the song’s end June announces to a shocked audience that she is retiring from the Opry to follow a new path and a new relationship. She will miss them all but her spirit will always be with them. She leads everyone in an emotional version of the Carter Family standard, Will the Circle Be Unbroken to close the show.

(photos courtesy of Daniel Coston, Melissa Miller and Vicki Langdon)