Bluegrass songwriters and artists Becky Buller and Tom Brown have written a new southern-style musical comedy, set in the fictional rural Tennessee town of Gribbleville, called The Great Skillet Killin’ of Jericho County.
They describe the songs as having a 1950s throwback vibe, serving a story about a colorful cast of small town characters, and the happenings that surround an annual county fair cornbread contest. Heartfelt moments collide with sharp humor, which is capped by a wedding that takes place inside the Jericho County jail.
From the announcement yesterday…
The musical centers on Irene McGibboney, the long-reigning champion of Jericho County’s coveted cornbread competition. After winning the contest for the eleventh year in a row, Irene returns home to face her hard-drinking, abusive husband Dan. When a moment of frustration leads to a fatal skillet blow and a hasty cover story involving a mule, the town’s well-meaning but earnest Sheriff Ron Pursley must untangle the truth—leading to gossip, courtroom drama, and an unlikely romance.
Well I never!
The bluegrass world knows Buller from her long career as a songwriter, bandleader, recording artist, and performer. She’s the first female winner of the IBMA’s Fiddle Player of the Year, just one of her ten trophies over the years. On top of her extensive touring schedule, Becky is an adjunct professor of Roots Music Marketing at East Tennessee State University.
Brown is a grasser as well, a founding member and banjo picker with Spatial Effects in northwest Georgia, and a songwriter whose music has been recorded by a number of both regional and national artists. He is also the co-writer of a previous musical comedy with a bluegrass theme, Fat Shirley’s: A Trailer Park Opera, with bandmate David Crawford. Tom retired as an educator for the Whitfield County Schools in Georgia, and has been involved in bluegrass most of his life.
Becky and Tom say that this collaboration grew from their shared love of traditional music, southern humor, and real life storytelling.
Brown says of this new effort…
“Country and bluegrass songs have always told great stories. A musical comedy gives us the chance to let those stories unfold with larger-than-life characters, a little mischief, and plenty of music.”
Buller agrees, noting that writing this stage play and musical has combined her love of songwriting and storytelling.
“It’s got everything—great characters, a bit of scandal, a lot of laughter, and of course plenty of music.”
An initial run for The Great Skillet Killin’ of Jericho County is scheduled for November 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15, staged by the Murray Arts Council, at the Dèrr-Berry event space in Chatsworth, GA.
Auditions are set for August 4 and 6 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., and August 8 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Additional information can be found by contacting Tom Brown by phone (706-581-8025) or email ([email protected]).
Sounds like a hoot!
