Theatre West Virginia – A Family Tradition

by: Lisa Strader

Everyone has family or friends that visit on occasion, and of course, when they do, they rely on you to tell them what to see and do in your area. Do you have that one, tried and true tradition that you share? Well I do, and I want to share it with you.

Honey In The Rock

Southern West Virginia is fortunate to be the home of Theatre West Virginia (TWV). This year they will open for their 52nd season of entertaining and educating the masses under a canopy of stars.

As a child I remember my Mom packing us up for not one, but two ‘past our bedtime’ nights out. We would see both “Honey in the Rock” and the “Hatfields and McCoys” every summer. It was a good lesson in our state’s history, a great introduction to live theatre and an economical family night out. I remember learning about the Civil War and how West Virginia became a state and watching the family feud of the Hatfields and McCoys play out on stage.

As I got older, the time just wasn’t there for our annual visits to Grandview’s Amphitheatre so the tradition was passed down to my children. Mom/Grandma got to introduce the same experience to my two sons. They, like me, have fond memories.

At the time TWV produced only these two dramas. Each year there were new actors and directors so it was always like seeing it again for the first time but we were still excited when TWV added to their play bill. The last few years they have produced additional plays and I’ve added a daughter to go along with the two boys. We’ve enjoyed Cinderella, (even had breakfast with her), High School Musical and we can’t wait to see the Wizard of Oz which will be performed this summer.

The 2013 season will kick off June 11th with the “Honey in the Rock” and “Hatfields and McCoys” alternating on the

Hatfields and McCoys

schedule. “The Wizard of Oz” debuts on July 12th then, what appears to be becoming a third staple for TWV, “Rocket Boys – The Musical” will be performed from August 15-25th. “Rocket Boys”, is a musical based on the 1998 New York Times #1 bestseller by West Virginia native and NASA engineer Homer Hickam Jr. (also immortalized in the 1999 film October Sky),

TWV is closed on Mondays.

If you have never visited the Amphitheatre at Grandview for one of TWV’s performances then I invite you to share in my family tradition. If you have . . . I hope you have made it a tradition of your own.