"Keep On The Sunny Side - The Songs and Story of the Carter Family"

A.P. Carter played by Eugene Wolfe courts Sara Daugherty played by Theresa Williams, in the Barter Theatre production of "Keep On The Sunny Side"

The Barter Theatre production of Dr. Doug Pote's play about the original Carter Family -- A.P., Sara, and Maybelle -- was originally one of approximately seventy submissions to the 2000 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights, sponsored by the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. Seven scripts were selected for readings, and "Keep On The Sunny Side" was among them. Dr. Pote, a Chilhowie, Virginia physician, BCMA member, and long-time friend and fan of the Carter Family, had written the play over a six-year period in order to share the joys and struggles of the Carters by using the family's own songs to tell their story.

The reading of the play was a success and the play was developed as a 'mini-production' performed at the Barter Stage II in 2001. Response to the experimental Stage II version was so encouraging that it was further fashioned into a full production also presented at Stage II in 2002. By 2003, it was felt that the play had "legs" enough to be presented as the season opener at the Barter Theatre main stage, where it played for a month. In 2004, the play toured several states, and finished the run with four sold-out performances at the Carter Fold in Maces Springs, Virginia -- the homeplace of the original Carter Family.

Beginning in October 2004, "Keep On The Sunny Side" will barnstorm through twenty states, including eight performances at the Carter Fold. The tour will run in October & November 2004, and January & March 2005. Tickets for the performances at the Carter Fold are $20 (ages 5-18), and $25 adults. No children under 5 admitted.

Click here for the most current performance schedule for "Keep On The Sunny Side -- The Life and Songs of the Carter Family"

Click here for the upcoming schedule for "Keep On The Sunny Side -- The Life and Songs of the Carter Family" performances at the Carter Family Fold in October & November 2004, and March 2005.