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County fourth-graders produce drama

By Rose Hooper
fourth-graders

Scotts Creek fourth-graders complete their washboard costumes for the play "Samantha Bumgarner," which will be performed at Southwestern Community College's Myers Auditorium tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m.

 Samantha Biddix Bumgarner, the first woman ever to record country music, was a Sylva native and a legend in her own time. She was called the "Fiddling Ballad Woman of the Mountains."

In his "Roaming the Mountains" column in the Asheville Citizen, John Parris wrote about Samantha, "Bascom Lunsford, the Minstrel of the Appalachians, who founded Asheville's far-famed Mountain Dance and Folk Festival and directed it for almost half a century, called her 'just about the most complete music-maker that ever come along. She could pick, fiddle, guitar, sing and dance!'"

To inspire the fourth-grade students of Jackson County to learn more about their mountain heritage, music and creativity, Samantha Bumgarner and the history of mountain string music has been the subject of a drama workshop conducted within the Jackson County Schools during January and February.

Sponsored by Jackson County Schools and the Jackson County Arts Council, and produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, the workshop has been directed by the Ammons Sisters - Amy Garza-McCann, author, and Doreyl Ammons Cain, artist, and natives of Jackson County.

"Those of us who sponsored and developed this drama workshop believe that through the research and study of Samantha's youthful accomplishments, and the process of writing, designing the costumes and the set, providing the music, the dance and the acting for the play, the children will glean not only knowledge of one of Jackson County's local legends, but also character development, encouragement and self-confidence enough to try their own wings," said Garza-McCann.

Four schools are participating, with more 200 fourth-grader children. The play was written by Smokey Mountain Elementary School students, costumes made by Scotts Creek Elementary School students, music and dance by Cullowhee Valley Elementary School students, with actresses and actors coming from Blue Ridge School. The finished script was completed by Garza-McCann, while the set artwork of the children was led by Ammons Cain. Blue Ridge art teacher Tom Harris and his art and design classes constructed the set. Diana Fisher, music teacher from Cullowhee Valley School, directed the combined school practices.

Other visiting artists in the schools included Irene Hooper of Cullowhee, storyteller and historian; Paul Contin of Sylva, costume designer; Suzanne Kehrberg of Cullowhee, choreographer; and Mary Jane Queen of Johns Creek, musician and balladeer.

Other local people involved with the completion of this project were Eric Mrozkowski, Amanda Dills, Don Petty, Vanessa Brannigan, James Spratt, Ryan Fisher and Will Peebles.

Another production of the play will be presented by the Jackson County students for the fourth, fifth and sixth grades (450 students) of Swain County at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 9, at Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City.

Read More about Samantha Bumgarner ...

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