A new wrinkle has developed in the ongoing trials of Song Of The Mountains, the popular PBS program featuring live bluegrass and old time music, currently airing on more than 120 television affiliates in the US.
Last week the Board of Directors of The Lincoln Theatre, who manages the show produced in their venue in Marion, VA, terminated the contract of the show’s host, Tim White. The following day, they announced that the show would be going on hiatus after the next two scheduled tapings in June and August.
And now the production company who films and edits the show for broadcast, Horse Archer Productions, has announced that they will not continue in that capacity beyond their current contract, unless White returns as host.
Sean Kotz, the show’s producer and co-owner of Horse Archer says…
“At no time prior to Tim White’s termination was anyone in our company consulted or even informed about this decision. Had we been asked, we would have recommended retaining Mr. White at all costs and made it clear then that they’d lose the production company as well.”
Kotz’s partner and Song Of The Mountains director Chris Valluzzo agreed fully.
“We want the community, especially the bluegrass and old time community, to know that we have a wonderful relationship with Tim White.
We anticipate that Tim will return to television somewhere and we’ve been discussing that possibility with him in the future.”
Kotz is meeting with the Lincoln Theatre Board tomorrow night (5/21), and is hopeful that all differences can be resolved and they can get the band back together for another successful run. We plan to speak with him on Friday to see how that meeting goes.
Stay tuned…
