Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

July 31, 2008 issue

Auditions for Wilkes Moonshine & Thunder August 11 and 12


From last year’s production, Harold Bass gives the Johnson kids “a talkin’ to” about sliding down the stairs on cartons of ‘shine during a raid in the film portion of Wilkes Playmakers production of Moonshine & Thunder – The Junior Johnson Story. Playing the Johnson kids were (from left) Kaitlyne Colbert, Walter Poplin and Carson McGuire.Auditions for the Wilkes Playmakers production of Moonshine & Thunder - The Junior Johnson Story will be held at Benton Hall, 300 D Street, North Wilkesboro on Monday and Tuesday, August 11 and 12, at 6:00 p.m. The auditions will be held on the main floor of Benton Hall as you enter the building. This year marks the second season for the show, and all roles are open with the exception of the role of Junior Johnson. Marty Roten is returning to reprise his outstanding performance from Moonshine’s inaugural season. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.

Moonshine & Thunder - The Junior Johnson Story will be performed at the Forest’s Edge Amphitheatre in Fort Hamby Park located off Highway 421 N in Wilkesboro through a partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Show dates are October 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 at 7:30 p.m. Rehearsals will begin in late August. Some of the first rehearsals will be at Benton Hall on the main floor, and then rehearsals will move in September to the Forest’s Edge Amphitheatre.

“For anyone that’s interested in acting, this is a great way to begin,” said Director Karen Reynolds. “It’s part stage and part film, so you are exposed to several kinds of acting. Plus, because it’s a Wilkes County story, there’s no need for anyone to sound different. The play works best if everyone involved stays natural. It makes it more authentic. Wilkes County good ol’ boys are in high demand for this project! I don’t think anyone involved in last year’s production can say they didn’t have fun!”

Moonshine & 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.

For more info, call 336-838-PLAY or email office@WilkesPlaymakers.com.