People's Light to Present RING OF FIRE, 7/20-8/14

Take an exuberant ride alongside an American icon in the regional premiere of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, playing at People's Light from July 20-August 14, 2016. Virtuoso David Lutken, star of the hit show Woody Sez: The Life and Music of Woody Guthrie, returns to the Leonard C. Haas Stage in a musical mosaic of the "Man in Black". People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets, call 610.644.3500 or visit peopleslight.org.

Joined by an ensemble of talented actor-musicians, Lutken drives down a nostalgic track of family, humor, tragedy, colorful characters, sin and redemption to explore the muses and musings of Johnny Cash. Songs like Folsom Prison Blues, Hey Porter, Far Side Banks of Jordan, Country Boy, Sunday Morning Coming Down, I've Been Everywhere and I Walk the Line reveal the sidetracks, branch lines, backwoods, and wide open roads of a legendary music man.

Creator Richard Maltby, Jr. says of the production, "It's about home and family and getting together and loving somebody and having a backyard and generations living together. It's about what holds you together in the face of a hard life. It's about the really basic family values."

"It's amazing. It doesn't matter your age or where you're from, Johnny Cash inspires something rebellious and joyous in your heart," says Producing Director Zak Berkman. "With Sherry and David Lutken at the helm, this production is an energetic, inclusive, summer celebration of Cash's legacy that will appeal to theatergoers, music lovers, patriots and rabble-rousers. All are welcome at People's Light."

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash tells its story through over 30 songs. There's no "book" per se, no linear narrative, but there is a beginning, middle, and end. Shared life experiences emerge through the song lyrics-the frustration of longing for love, the commitment to keeping the love fires burning in middle age, the joy of sharing a meal with multiple generations, the challenges and triumphs of traveling

through a lifetime. This isn't just Cash's story, but the story of some of our most powerful, collective, American experiences, shared through song.

Returning guest David M. Lutken (Woody Sez) anchors the ensemble, which includes Eric Scott Anthony, Jon Brown, Nyssa Duchow, Neil Friedman, Michael Hicks, Deb Lyons, Helen J. Russell (also seen in Woody Sez), Sam Sherwood, and Scott Sowers. Sherry Lutken directs the production, which was created by Richard Maltby, Jr., conceived by William Meade, and orchestrated by Steven Bishop and Jeff Lisenby. People's Light Director of Design James F. Pyne creates the set and Resident Costume Designer Marla J. Jurglanis creates costumes. People's Light regular Gregory Scott Miller designs lights. Company member Kate McSorley Fossner stage manages the production.

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash runs approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one 15- minute intermission. Best enjoyed by ages 12+.

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