The Public Theater celebrated the official opening of Coal Country, a new docu-play with music about West Virginia's deadly Upper Big Branch mine explosion, on March 3. Based on first-person accounts of the tragedy, the world premiere weaves folk-inspired songs with stories from survivors and members of the community.
Coal Country is co-written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, with music by Grammy winner Steve Earle. Blank directs a cast made up of Mary Bacon, Amelia Campbell, Michael Gaston, Ezra Knight, Thomas Kopache, Michael Laurence, Deirdre Madigan, and Melinda Tanner.
Read reviews for the Off-Broadway production, extended through April 5, below.
The Daily Beast (Tim Teeman)
The Hollywood Reporter (David Rooney)
New York Stage Review (David Finkle)
New York Stage Review (Michael Sommers)
The New York Times (Elisabeth Vincentelli)
Theater News Onlie (Jeremy Gerard)
Theatrely (Juan A. Ramirez)
Time Out New York (Raven Snook)
The Wrap (Robert Hofler)
Coal Country features sets by Richard Hoover, costumes by Jessica Jahn, lighting by David Lander, and sound design by Darron L. West. Performances began February 18.
