Barter Theatre to Present GOOD OL' GIRLS, 8/16-9/7

Barter Theatre will open "Good Ol Girls" for a limited run on August 16 through September 7 on the main stage.

Six women rock the house with songs about first love, last chances, and all the good stuff in between. Ashley Campos, Katie Deal, Pam Dougherty, Thesa Loving, Carrie Smith and Martha Wilkinson star in the show and will be backed by a band on stage.

Adapted by Paul Ferguson, "Good Ol' Girls" is a musical revue based on the stories of two acclaimed Southern authors: Lee Smith and Jill McCorkle, with songs by Nashville hit-makers Matraca Berg (who has written for Reba McEntire, Dixie Chicks, Kenny Chesney) and Marshall Chapman (who has written for Jimmy Buffett, Wynonna Judd and more). Berg has been nominated for three Grammys.

What exactly is a good ol' girl? She can bake you a pie, change a flat, and tell a dirty joke. She'll go dancing Saturday night and teach Sunday school in the morning...and she's nobody's doormat. She might have been saved...more than once.

Women from all ages are represented because a good ol' girl doesn't have an age limit. It's about learning from each other, supporting each other, laughing and crying with each other.

It's a funny, sassy, high-energy and song-filled show that speaks to the real issues women face; like love in all the wrong places, wearing out your guardian angel and the complicated love between a mother and a daughter.

"Don't Make Me Pregnant" has a 50s doo-wop feel and is about a young girl who knows she doesn't want to get pregnant right now, she just wants to have a good time. "Booze In Your Blood" rallies the women with a country-style ballad and "Back in the Saddle" is a flirtatious song with a rodeo attitude. These are just a few of the toe-tapping songs.

"The show was Matraca's idea," said Author Lee Smith. "She wrote the song 'Good Ol' Girl' and thought it might be the basis for a musical. Once we got together with the other girls to talk about the possibilities of a show, it became clear that a lot of our songs and stories have a real resonance."

Paul Ferguson took all their materials and adapted it for the stage.

Any woman can be a good ol' girl, believes McCorkle. Good ol' girls are not just found in the South. "She might live in Durham, North Carolina, or Akron, Ohio, or Denver, Colorado, or, well, anywhere, " says McCorkle. She describes a good ol' girl as "women of all types and ages in all different places coming to terms with some big issues in life."

"Our characters don't shy away from these issues, either, such as love, marriage, pregnancy, work, abuse, faith, family and aging. These are not Southern issues. These are universal," addEd Smith

Barter Theatre assembled a discount package for groups of 7 or more. For $30 per person, each group member will receive a "Good Ol' Girls" gift bag with a custom nail file, shot glass, guitar pick and show ticket. Regular ticket prices are $32, $35 and $40.

Barter will host a special Writer's Night with the five creators on August 19 at 7:30. Tickets are $30 and all proceeds will benefit Barter's Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence. Purchase a ticket to the musical and add this event for just $22.

For tickets and more information on "Good Ol' Girls" call 276.628.3991 or visit www.BarterTheatre.com.

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