Jack in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Gather ‘round, friends. Here are four Appalachian folktales your audiences will love … and your actors will love performing, too! Our favorite folk hero, Jack, appears in all four stories: “Jack’s Mother’s Second Marriage,” “Jack and the Mean Old Man,” “Foolish Jack,” and “Soldier Jack.” All four tales are fast paced and humorous, and still hold true to the oral traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In fact, playwright R. Rex Stephenson gathered some of the material from the archives of the WPA Virginia Writer’s Project and some tales from interviews with local story tellers. The casts are widely flexible and can be any gender. The plays need almost no costuming and require only simple props, many of which can be mimed. Ideal for any stage, inside or out!

Enhance your performances with "The Jack Tales Study Guide and Songbook" which includes many Appalachian folksongs as well as additional background information and games. Order item #7360.