Hills On Fire is an Appalachian Ghost Story…
Kelsey Stray is the youngest member of the Stray family, and last survivor of Perdue, Pennsylvania - a town that's been on fire for the last fifty years...
Told in a series of flashbacks and folk tales – the Stray family and the ghosts of Perdue recount the cycles of addiction, poverty, bad luck, calamity, and downright curses that led to the town's demise. And Kelsey's journey to find hope for the next generation.
Created by
Coyote Joe Stevens & Keaton Wooden
The composing duo known for their work on the award-winning musical ALBERT CASHIER - HILLS is their first solo show, and was inspired by personal lives, loved ones, and stories of addiction, poverty, religion, Appalachia, and myth and legends in rural America.
HISTORY
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While recording in Seattle at Empty Sea Studios, Stevens &Wooden conceive the topics of their next show - and write a list of the most important topics they’ve rarely seen on stage.
The list included: addiction, abuse, generational poverty, American myth, religion, and the community music of Appalachia.
Hills On Fire begins…
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Stevens & Wooden spend two weeks in Chicago and sketh the outline of the show: inspired by Centralia, a real-life town in Pennsylvania that has been on fire for the last fifty years.
They invite friends and artists for a private reading of their first songs, and begin recording…
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Hills On Fire receives residencies by Tony-winning Producer John Pinckard at the University of Florida, and Columbia College Chicago.
A developmental production occurs at UF, where an initial score and demos for the full show are completed.
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Director Ameenah Kaplan (Stomp, Lion King National Tour) joins for development, and HILLS receives a private reading with the national touring cast of Lion King in Memphis.
Stevens & Wooden record a full podcast of the show for private listening.
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HILLS is named a finalist for the Relentless Awards, the largest prize for an un-produced musical in the United States, and performs a song selection at Theater Row.
HILLS announces its first industry reading and public concert in Manhattan.
Stills from the developmental residency at University of Florida,In the News…
Hills On Fire was named Finalist for the Relentless Awards, the largest prize for an un-produced musical in the United States.
Created in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman, and this year the late Adam Schlesinger, the Relentless Award is given to works of art that are challenging, exhibit fearlessness, exude passion, and are relentlessly truthful.
– (Rolling Stone)
