“The Life of Hank Williams” A Musical- Historical- Play Experience created by Theatre Atchison
By Lynn Marie Allen
Lynn is a freelance writer who writes about material and content she is passionate about!
Layne Roate wrote and directed “The Life of Hank Williams.” The current theatre experience is set to hit the stage in Atchison, Kansas, for a limited engagement. The theatre will show the production November 16-19, 2023. There will be nightly 7 pm showings, with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon showings at 2 pm. The play is a concert/play experience emphasizing the life of Hank Williams. Layne described that he has been with Theatre Atchison for almost a year and is thrilled to have had the creative opportunity to bring Hank Williams, his artistic interpretation of Hank’s history, to life. Layne wrote the screenplay for the current production. Layne shared he is confident that people have been listening to Hank for years, and many didn’t even realize it in this historical and musically relevant interpretation brought to life with three actor portrayals of characters. All the actors have musical and theater experience that breathes the current musical production into life.
Hank Williams, portrayed by Chris Owen, will also play acoustic guitar in the production. Shelly Verdon portrays Sammy and Mr. Rose. Kameryn Behrend portrays Audrey and Bobby. Layne expressed he is confident that the portrayal by these actors takes his screenplay and makes it even better. Layne shared that the production will feature many of Hanks’s most popular music, such as “Hey Good Looking,” “Jambalaya,” “Honky Tonk Blues,” “Love Sick Blues,” “Your Cheating Heart,” “Lost Highway,” “I Saw the Light,” and “Message To My Mother” to name a few. Layne considers himself a musical storyteller and is privileged to have worked with such fantastic talent in this production.
Layne shared some of the history surrounding Hank Williams and what brought the story to life for him. Hank is musically talented and recognized by Hanks’s mother, Lillie, very early. Hank got his start in the church chorus. Layne described that Hank was a part of traveling musical troops where his rise to fame began. Layne said that Hank struggled with chronic back pain that would develop into a drug and alcohol dependence. The struggles Hank experienced were not the limelight of Hank’s story but merely a backdrop of the history and relevant facts. In the end, shortly before his very untimely death at 29 years old, Hank had recently completed rehab and passed away in the back seat of his Cadillac on January 1, 1953. Hank had a strong desire to fulfill the realization of his mother, Lillie William’s. Hank will take that added with a personal determination to be the inspiration to share his potential and the human experience. Layne shared he considered it a true privilege to work with actors who could take his screenplay as he described and make it even better. Layne said the story becomes even better when the actors take what he created in his script and breathe the story to life with their effort and inspiration! If you are thirsty for more about the life and musical journey of Hank Williams, then this production will not be something you want to miss! You can purchase tickets in advance online or at the door.
Stay tuned for more musical history play collaborations from Theatre Atchison January 2024: A musical rendition of the music and journey of Elton John and Billy Joel. March 2024 will be an unauthorized rendition of the cult classic “The Breakfast Club.”
For everyone thirsty for a little more of the history behind Hank, as I was after speaking with Layne, I dug for a little more history. Hank was born Randall Hank Williams on September 23, 1923, in Mount Olive, Alabama. Hank began playing guitar at the age of 8. Hank made his musical debut on the radio at age 13. Hank, who you may not know, had Spina Bifida and was debilitated by the pain. In later life, Hank will develop addictions to morphine and alcohol, probably to manage the pain. Hank died at the age of 29 in the back seat of his powder Blue Cadillac in Oak Hill, West Virginia, on his way to a concert. Hank’s cause of death was a heart attack. Hank is considered one of the leading contributors to music in the twentieth century and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize, Grammy Award (multiple), and entered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Photographs are the intellectual property of Theatre Atchison Productions.
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