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“Moonshine and Thunder - The Junior Johnson Story” covers the early moonshine and racing career of NASCAR legend, Junior Johnson up to his big super speedway win in 1960 at the Daytona 500. The story is told with a mixture of live onstage performances by local actors, filmed performances by local actors on a large screen and actual racing footage from The NASCAR Archives as well as from Enoch Staley’s personal collection - courtesy of his son, Mike Staley. Directed by Karen Reynolds, with a musical soundtrack by David Johnson and filmed sequences by Mule Ferguson - the show is a multi media event - with a multitude of eye candy for theatre goers and race fans. There’s a 1940 Ford Coupe, and a 1939 Ford Pick Up Truck - courtesy of Willie Clay Call. There are also moonshine stills, explosions, a semi streaker, a crazy woman with a shotgun and a fast paced story that revolves around one of Wilkes County’s true legends. “Moonshine & Thunder - The Junior Johnson Story” is produced through a partnership with The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and is sponsored in part by American Drew/Lea Industries/La-z-boy Hospitality. All tickets are $15 with group rates available for groups of 10 or more upon request. Tickets may be purchased by calling 336-838-7529 and leaving your name and number or by ordering on this website at www.wilkesplaymakers.com (just click on the “tickets” button located to your left) Tickets may also be purchased at the guard house entering Fort Hamby Park on the nights of each show one hour prior to each performance. Mastercard and Visa are accepted. Showdates for this production are July 26, 27, 28, 30, July 1, 2 & 3. This show is performed outdoors at the beautiful Forest's Edge Amphitheatre located right off of Hwy 421 North in Wilkesboro, NC on South Recreation Road in Historic Fort Hamby Park. IF YOU LIVE 60 MILES OR MORE FROM THE FOREST'S EDGE AMPHITHEATRE AND PRESENT YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE AT THE GATE WHEN BUYING TICKETS - YOU CAN RECEIVE $5 OFF FOR EACH TICKET THAT YOU BUY! Time : 8:30 p.m. Location : Forest's Edge Amphitheatre - Wilkesboro, NC Starts :4/2/2009 Ends : 7/3/2009
In 1868 Thomas C. Dula (pronounced Dooley) was hanged for the murder of Laura Foster. He proclaimed his innocence just seconds before he plunged to his death on the gallows. All the evidence was circumstantial in the case and many believe the murder or murderers involved with Tom in this lover’s triangle, walked free after his death. The New York Herald covered the trial and hanging of “Dooley” and the story became one of the nation’s first highly publicized crimes of passion. In the late 1950’s The Kingston Trio’s ballad Tom Dooley brought this story back into the media where it received both national and international attention. People flocked to the gravesites of Tom Dula and Laura Foster in Wilkes and Caldwell Counties in North Carolina – but many were still left with very little information and a lot of curiosity.Now, in Wilkes County at the Forest’s Edge Amphitheatre in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the lover’s triangle of Tom, Laura and Tom’s married mistress Anne Melton, lives on in a staged outdoor adaptation of the legend. The script won the 2001 Paul Green Multi Media Award from NC Society of Historians in its first season and The President’s Award from the society in 2002. Now in its 9th season, the show will open on July 5th for a two week run. Show dates are July 5, 7, 8, 9, 10,11,12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 at 8:30 p.m. each evening. All tickets are $15.00 each with group rates available for groups of ten or more upon request. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling 336-838-7529 and leaving your name and number on the line and we will get back to you or by ordering on this website at www.wilkesplaymakers.com. Just click on the “ticket” button to your left! Tickets may also be purchased at the guard house entering Fort Hamby Park on the nights of each show one hour prior to each performance. Mastercard and Visa are accepted. The popular cast was invited to perform for the North Carolina Governor’s Conference on Tourism in March of 2002, has performed at Merlefest and for the NC Supreme Court Society of Historian’s Annual Meeting in November of 2002 in Raleigh, NC. The society voted on Tom’s guilt or innocence based on the performance and their knowledge of the case. This show is a mixture of fact and folklore written and directed by North Carolina playwright, Karen Wheeling Reynolds with a dynamite soundtrack of music from the foothills of North Carolina performed by David Johnson. The Forest’s Edge Amphitheatre is located off of Hwy 421 North, on South Recreation Road in Historic Fort Hamby Park in Wilkesboro, NC. This show is sponsored in part by The Kulynych Family Foundation and American Drew/Lea Industries/La-z-boy Hospitality. And while you are here - check out the Dooley Weekend Package below: Tom Dooley Saturday, July 11th Day Package: 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. – Picnic Lunch and tour of Whippoorwill Village 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Interpretative Tour of the Tom Dooley and Laura Foster Gravesites 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Explore Wilkes (attraction information will be provided) 7:00 p.m. – Gates open at Forest Edge Amphitheater for the “Tom Dooley – Wilkes County Legend” outdoor drama Cost: $50 per person or $90 per couple For more information on this fun filled "Dooley Day" click on The green Wilkes Chamber of Commerce icon at the bottom of this page. IF YOU LIVE 60 MILES OR MORE FROM THE FOREST'S EDGE AMPHITHEATRE AND PRESENT YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE AT THE GATE WHEN BUYING TICKETS - YOU CAN RECEIVE $5 OFF FOR EACH TICKET THAT YOU BUY! Time : 8:30 p.m. Location : Forest's Edge Amphitheatre, Wilkesboro, NC Starts :4/2/2009 Ends : 7/18/2009
Wilkes Playmakers will offer Drama Camp this summer at Benton Hall! Drama Camp is Monday through Friday for two weeks. There are two sessions to choose from. Elementary age students can attend the two week camp from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and Junior High Students can attend the two week camp from 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Dates are July 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31. The cost of the two week camp is $150.00. The group will write and perform their own work on the final Friday of Drama Camp for family and friends. Drama Camp will be instructed by Karen Reynolds and Jacob Reeves. For more information e-mail Karen Reynolds at pan4life@embarqmail.com. Registration will be on Monday, July 13th from 6 - 8:00 p.m. at Benton Hall, 300 D Street, North Wilkesboro on the main floor in the Great Hall. Or you can e-mail Karen at the above e-mail address for a registration form should you wish to register early. Time : 8:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Location : Benton Hall, 300 D Street, North Wilkesboro Starts :5/15/2009 Ends : 7/20/2009
If you live 60 miles or more from the Forests Edge Amphitheatre where "Moonshine and Thunder" or "Tom Dooley" are performed - show your Driver's License at the gate when you buy your tickets and receive $5 off each ticket that you buy! Time : 8:30 p.m. Location : Forest's Edge Amphitheatre, Wilkesboro, NC Starts :6/27/2009 Ends : 7/3/2009
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Moonshine & Thunder - The Junior Johnson Story - Tickets On Sale! 
