Jenny Wiley Theatre: Broadway in the Mountains

Jenny Wiley Theatre is a not-for-profit organization that features plays and musicals that are almost on par with what you will find on Broadway. I know because I've seen a show on Broadway and I've seen some of Jenny Wiley Theatre's (JWT) productions as well. It is well worth the trip to the Jenny Wiley State Resort Park in Prestonsburg, KY.

Nestled in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, JWT puts on outdoor shows with a provision for rainy days at very reasonable prices and with some excellent actors. Some JWT alumni (so to speak) have landed Broadway roles eventually as well as television and film roles. There is wonderful talent and this theatre specializes in cultivating it from a young age and into adulthood. Most jobs are on a voluntary basis and ticket sales are used to keep the theatre operating. It is Kentucky's only professional theatre east of I-75.

A few fun facts? Having operated for 44 years, it is one of the longest running outdoor theatres in the U.S. Some notable names among its alumni are Michael Ceveris who later won a Tony for a Broadway performance, Sharon Lawrence from ABC's NYPD BLUE and most recently Desperate Housewives, James Barbour, who played the Beast in Disney's Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast and was Tony-nominated for his role as Mr. Rochester in the musical, Jane Eyre; Jim Varney, Ernest Goes to Camp; Tommy Kirk, Old Yeller; Ron Palilo, WELCOME BACK KOTTER; Eileen Bittman Barnett, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; Cynthia Bostick, AS THE WORLD TURNS; Jeff Silbar, composer of THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS); Randy Jones of the VILLAGE PEOPLE singing group; and Paige Davis, host of TLC's Trading Spaces. More than 1,150 aspiring actors, singers, dancers, musicians, and technicians have worked at JWT. In 1962 its stated purpose was to enrich the regional community through the performing arts. Originally, the amphitheater where the shows are performed was intended for historical dramas about the area. In 1965 the JWT staff performed the first musical, SOUTH PACIFIC, and JWT as we know it today was born. The theatre is one of the few in the country that remain committed to a rotating repertoire. Until a couple years ago, the theatre performed during the summer season only. Now it has expanded its program to include spring, fall, and winter performances in conjunction with the nearby Mountain Arts Center which is also located in Prestonsburg, KY. They have produced 139 different plays for the enjoyment of local patrons from all over the region as well as tourists. They also have an Educational Outreach program, which sponsors performance programs in regional schools and theatre workshops throughout the year.

The 2008 production schedule features these performances: THE WIZARD OF OZ, LITTLE RED: LIFE IN THE HOOD, A CHORUS LINE, HONKY TONK ANGELS, FRANKENSTEIN, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY. JWT's website (http://www.jwtheatre.com/index.php?n=1&id=1) gives ratings for each play, performance locations, dates, and times, accommodation suggestions, tickets, and employment opportunities. Seasonal tickets and group rates are available. Please, check out Special Events when planning your trip to JWT. You may be in for a truly unique treat!

Come visit the beauty and wonder of Kentucky's slice of Appalachia and enjoy top-notch theatre for the whole family. You will be very glad you did.