The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

This is a little post on a little play in a little town in Southwest Virginia. It's actually a good-sized production, with a big status--the official Outdoor Drama for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The theatrical treat I'm referring to is "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" in Big Stone Gap, VA.

The Post newspaper in Big Stone Gap puts it nicely, it is "John Fox Jr.’s enduring love story of the dashing mining engineer, Jack Hale, and the demure and lovely mountain lass, June Tolliver." No, this one has never featured Henry Fonda or Fred MacMurray; that's the 1936 movie by the same name. But the same story and author, and with local talent to boot.

"The Trail" begins its 44th season this evening in Big Stone Gap. If you've never seen it...well then...shame on you! Some nice evening this summer, get over to Big Stone and enjoy theater under the stars.

And if you're not already reaching for your keys, here are a few links to whet your appetite:

Official Site of The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Official Drama Program, courtesy the Coalfield Progress

Resource Guide by Judy Teaford, Mountain State University

GoTriCities.com Article

And some links on John Fox, Jr.

John Fox, Jr. Museum

Bio from the Kentucky DAR