"Sing Down the Moon" Hits EMU

This rollicking, high-energy, musical presentation of six Appalachian folk tales, ideal for ages 5 and up, weaves a tapestry of folktales, ballads, and legends. It intertwines three lively "Jack" tales with "Catskins," a Cinderella tale, "The Sow and Her Three Pigs," who battle evil in the form of a cunning fox, and "The Enchanted Tree," a tale of enchantment and unconditional love. The play premiered at George Mason University's Theater of the First Amendment in March of 2000.

Appalachian folktales speak of the hardships of the physical world in contrast with the wisdom and spirit of those who live there. They tell stories about the need for self-reliance, the strength of tenacity, the importance of community, and the enduring necessity for humor - as well as the importance of simple luck and good fortune in everyone's life! Many Appalachian folktales are based on the oral traditions of the peoples who settled in the rugged mountains and reflect the homeland cultures of the British Isles and Germany.

Performance dates: October 3-6 and 10-13, 2001.