Tyler Vandiver and Liat Faver rehearse a scene from the opening of ‘The Valley Where They Danced,’ in which Old Hannah Conley begins to tell Kelvin Boggs the shocking secret of his family’s past. (photo/David Price)
Rehearsals are underway for the upcoming Piedmont College North Georgia Theatre production of “The Valley Where They Danced,” a new play by White County author Emory Jones that opens at the Swanson Center in Demorest June 15.
North Georgia Theatre is Piedmont’s professional summer stock company and performances will be held at the Swanson Center Black Box Theatre at 7:30 p.m., June 15–17 and June 22–24; and at 2 p.m., June 18 and June 25. Tickets are $10 general admission. Piedmont students, faculty and staff are admitted free.
Tickets can be ordered online at piedmont.edu/theatre-schedule or by calling the box office at 706-778-8500 ext. 1355.
The Swanson Center is located at 365 College Drive, Demorest.
From the page to the stage
Based on Jones’ book of the same name, “The Valley Where They Danced” is set in the Sautee Nacoochee community just after World War I. A young doctor from middle Georgia, Tom Garrison, moves to “The Valley” to start a new practice, taking over for the community’s long-serving local doctor. Many of the people he meets are based on actual residents of the time, but the story tells a fictional tale of the enduring quality of love.
“Thank you to all who auditioned and interviewed,” said director Bill Gabelhausen. “The decision-making process was difficult due to the large pool of talent.”
The cast includes Tyler Vandiver as Kelvin Boggs, Liat Faver as Old Hannah Conley, Brecken Watts as Lenore Conley, Katie Deal as Hannah Conley; Kendall Kiker as Lanier Conley, Aleek Reed as Dr. Tom Garrison, Chris Wright as Alton Boggs, Jack Molnar as Dr. David Dyer, Levi Doublet as Odell Stovall, Dashawn Crawford as Ray Garrison, Mikayla Walters as Fannie Stover, Mike Fisher as Preacher Yarborough, and Savana Owensby as Child Lenore.
The cast also includes ensemble members Hunter Blackburn, Kaitlyn Echols, Aubrey Peat, and Luna Cox. Production dramaturg is Kathy Blandin, and the scenographer is Henry Johnson. Stage Manager is Rebekah James; and company staff includes Samantha Autry, Todd Blandin, Kadence Cole, Rachel Danford, Jessica Eves, Grace Lyman-Barner, Tamara Morris-Thompson, Kristian Tice, Mac Tinius, Cheyenne Turner and Tatum Williams.
