East Tennessee State University presents Hear That Whistle Blow...Erwin Train 'a Comin'

In the late 1960s, the Broadway producer, Joseph Papp told the world that Broadway theatre would die if something was not done to bring minorities and the youth culture into the theatre. He called for the writing and producing of plays and musicals that spoke to the young and minority groups and he also advocated taking plays to the people. I have always admired him for this and as a theatre artist have tried to emulate Mr. Papp by finding ways to take theatre to those who may never have had the opportunity to experience it or appreciate this art form, and hopefully interest them into coming to the theatre. I want to do theatre that educates as well as entertains. For this reason, I became involved in the Kellogg III project. Thanks to an art and heritage grant we have been able to create two plays dealing with local subjects. The first was River Rising: TVA and The Town of Butler, presented last season. Now, we are honored to produce Hear That Whistle Blow . . . Erwin Train A Coming. Both of these productions have been adapted to the stage from research and oral histories taken from those individuals who lived the events. University students interviewed these wonderful people and learned a great deal about this region in the process. From the oral histories, the plays were created and in production the stories of these people in Johnson and Unicoi counties have been brought to life. They will now belong to the Unicoi County Heritage Museum and the Butler Museum to be performed again and again for generations to come. As a result, the heritage of the people in this region will live on. We are proud to be a part of this, to make theatre relevant to the people of this region. In doing so, we continue to learn and grow ourselves.

We hope you will enjoy tonight's performance and not forget the people whose stories we tell.
- Robert Funk Director, ETSU Theater Program

JOHNNY ARCHER is from Bristol, TN, now living in Johnson City. He is a recent graduate of ETSU with a major in theatre and minor in music. His professional acting credits include Trumpet in the Land, The White Savage, and Jesus Christ Superstar, in New Philadelphia, OH, and River Rising: TVA and The Town of Butler. Other shows include Tommy, The Music Man, You Can't Take It With You, and Much Ado About Nothing. Mr. Archer is also an avid hockey player.

KRISTY BEIDLEMAN is from Bristol, TN, and a theatre major at ETSU. She performed as ôPeggyö in last year's ETSU production of Godspell and played a role in River Rising: TVA and The Town of Butler. Ms. Beidleman is glad to be a part of the growth and expansion of ETSU's theater program.

KAREN BREWSTER is the newest faculty member in the ETSU Division of Theatre but is no stranger to the Division of Theatre, having studied with Bud Frank in the 1970s and earning her undergraduate degree in theatre from ETSU. Karen earned her MFA in Costume, Mask, and Make-up Design from Michigan State and subsequently worked for The Nebraska Theatre Caravan and Emmy Gifford Children's Theatre in Omaha, People's Light and Theatre in Malvern, PA, and served in the capacity of Resident Costume Designer at Barter Theatre for several seasons. Ms. Brewster and her husband of 21 years, Richard Major, their two children, Will, eight, and Shannon Elizabeth, six, reside in Johnson City.

ANNE COOK resides in Kingsport with her husband, Randy, and their children, Emily and Harrison. She is a graduate student in music and serves as an accompanist for the ETSU Chorale. She is a member of Gamma Beta Phi and Pi Kapa Lambda honor societies. In addition, she is actively involved in the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, has appeared in several Barter Theatre and Johnson City Community Theatre productions, and a Home and Garden Television (HGTV) commercial. She is the daughter of Paul and Leta Poston, Greenville, SC.

RON MCINTYRE-FENDER is a guest director and adjunct faculty member at ETSU. He is a professional director / actor who has worked in theatres throughout the Southeast, including the Asheville Community Theatre, the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, the Flat Rock Playhouse, the Tennessee Stage Company and the Oak Ridge Playhouse. In 1995, he directed a production of Falsettoland for Oak Ridge at the national festival of the American Association of Community Theatres. This production was chosen to represent the United States at the International Community Theatre Festival.

REBECCA GREASBY is a MasterÆs candidate in Professional Communication at ETSU. Originally from Milwaukee, she earned her BFA in theatre from the University of Wisconsin. Her most recent ETSU credit was the title role in Medea. She currently teaches theatre at University High on the ETSU campus.

ALLISON GUINN is a sophomore at ETSU and a native of Erwin, TN. This is her first role in a college production. Her most notable role was "Red Chief" in Unicoi County High School Drama Department's production of The Ransom of Red Chief.

DELBERT HALL is an associate professor at ETSU, where he has taught for the past 14 years. He has designed numerous sets including recent productions of Medea, A Midsummer Night's Dream, River Rising: TVA and The Town of Butler, and Dancing at Lughnasa. Dr. Hall is also known for designing & rigging flying effects.

JOSH HITE is from Kingsport, TN and is a sophomore at ETSU. He was in ETSU's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

CHAD MARTIN is majoring in Speech with a Theatre concentration at ETSU. He has appeared in A Midsummer Night's Dream and in A Christmas Carol, for which he received an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nomination. He will next appear as Biff in Death of a Salesman.

MAEGAN MCNERNEY is a Speech major with a concentration in Theatre at ETSU. She is from Ft. Myers, Florida. At ETSU she played for two seasons with the Lady Buc's Volleyball Team. She has appeared in Godspell and in Dancing at Lughnasa for which she received an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nomination. She will next appear as Miss Forsythe in Death of a Salesman.

JOE MORRIS is from Louisville, KY, and received his MBA from ETSU in 1997. He played ôJeffreyö in ETSU's production of Godspell. Joe resides in Greeneville, TN, where he is Vice-President of MTD, Inc.

MELISSA SHAFER is the Director of Design, Technical Director and Lighting Designer at ETSU. She has an MFA from Southern Illinois University and has taught at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and most recently, Loyola University, New Orleans.

MOLLY TATUM is from Elk Park, North Carolina and is a junior at Milligan College studying Public Relations and Advertising. Recent performances include ôClaireeö in Steel Magnolias and One-Acts.

THOMAS TOWNSEND is a Masters candidate in Professional Communication at ETSU and a 1993 graduate of Milligan College. He is making his debut at ETSU but has also worked at a number of different theatres, including Theatre IU in Richmond, VA. Some of his favorite roles are ôElwood P. Dowdö in Harvey and ten different characters in Greater Tuna.

Director: Ron McIntyre-Fender
Lighting Design and Tech Director: Melissa Shafer
Costume Design: Karen Brewster
Musical Director: Anne Cook
Set Design: Delbert Hall, Ph.D.
Stage Manager: Maegan McNerney
Assistant Stage Manager: Chad Martin
Wardrobe Supervisor: Rebecca Hickman
Light Board Operator: Heather Boone
Sound Board Operator: Marsh Usary
Production Assistants: Shana Solomon, Pam Adolphi, Rebecca Hickman, Monica Baldwin, Jenny Savery, Jonathon Taylor.