12th Annual Tour of Homes

1:30 - 6:30 pm

 

  Theatre Bristol presents;

Do You Hear What I Hear: A Collection of Holiday Stories

December 11th - 13th 

Theatre Bristol's Art Space

This December, Theatre Bristol will present an original holiday tale that is sure to warm any heart.

Written and directed by local artist and actor Jonathan Luttrell, Do You Hear What I Hear: A Collection of Holiday Stories centers on an original story around popular and traditional holiday songs to provide a personal and emotional look at how a group of friends and family members experience the holidays.

We find a young army lieutenant from North Carolina recording a greeting from Iraq for his family back at home. Being so far away at Christmas isn't easy for him, but it's even harder for his new wife who waits by the phone for his calls. We also learn about one of the soldier's friends who works as an elf for the mall Santa. Down the hall is the department store worker at the perfume counter who can't imagine spending Christmas without snow, like the Florida radio DJ who longs for the white Christmases of his past. We later meet the soldier's family at home.

The outer appearances are that of a slightly dysfunctional country Christmas, but it soon becomes clear that the true spirit of the holidays can bring us all together to remember the real reason for the season. Don't miss this instant classic that will tug at your heart strings and have you singing along with all of your favorite Christmas songs!

This production showcases a cast of eight Theatre Bristol veterans who bring the characters to life. They are Sierra Allen, Brant Colvin, Kaitlin Dodi, Lori Gates-Addison, Michael-Thomas Griffith, Jonathan Luttrell, Elizabeth Paxton, and Nick Spencer.

Performance dates are Dec. 11, 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 2:30 p.m. at Theatre Bristol's ARTspace.

Seating is limited so reservations are encouraged. Please call (423) 968-4977.

Admission: $5

The Nutcracker

 

December 12 - 14th 

Journey's End

New Businesses;

Bristol History 101 

While many are familiar with Ralph Peer's historical 1927 recording sessions held in Bristol, few are familiar with his return to the twin-city in 1928.  Following his successful field recordings in Bristol in 1927, which included future Country Music Hall of Fame members Ernest Stoneman, the Carter Family, and Jimmie Rodgers, Peer returned in October, 1928 to conduct another recording session. For nine days, from Oct. 27 through Nov. 3, Peer set up in a building about a block west from the original recording site, on the second floor of a bank building at the corner of the alley which now runs beside the Paramount Center for the Arts. Peer scheduled several acts from the previous year, including Stoneman, Karnes, A.L. Phipps, and members of the West Virginia Coon Hunters. He also included new artists, including the Piedmont Blues duo of Stephen Tarter and Harry Gay, James Howard and Charles Peak -"The Blind Musicians," Clarence Greene, the Stamps Quartet, the Carolina Twins, the Smith Brothers, the Palmer Sisters, and George 'Shortbuckle' Roark and Family.  In all, Peer recorded 64 songs, 46 of which were released, by 18 different artists.

 

To learn more about the 1928 Bristol Sessions and our region's musical heritage, visit www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org