Bleu Moon Productions to Present Moonshine and Thunder – The Junior Johnson Story, 9/14

Junior Johnson (Marty Roten), doing a little quality check on his latest batch of ‘shine as he heads out on a liquor run in his old buddy Willie Clay Call’s 1940 Ford, White Lightnin’!

Bleu Moon Productions will present Moonshine & Thunder – The Junior Johnson Story, beginning September 14th for three consecutive weekends.   Tickets may be purchased online at www.bleumoonproductions.com or they may be purchased at the gate on the night of each performance, one-hour prior to the show.  COUNTY NIGHT for Watauga County will be each Thursday night and by showing your driver’s license you will receive $5 off the regular ticket price!  Thursday County Nights include the following counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes & Yadkin; Friday County Nights include the following counties: Alexander, Avery, Caldwell, Catawba, Davie & Iredell; Saturday County Nights include all other NC counties not previously listed.  Otherwise, all tickets are $15 with group rates available for groups of 10 or more people.

A North Carolina story of Moonshine & NASCAR, Moonshine & Thunder – The Junior Johnson Story, is a multi media outdoor drama that uses both film and live actors to tell the story.  The show begins with Junior Johnson as a boy and shows how his growing up years steeped in mountain tradition, were influenced by fast cars and running liquor.  The play takes attendees through the beginnings of The North Wilkesboro Speedway – from cow pasture to race track – and Junior’s evolution from out running the law to out running everything on that track.  The production ends with Johnson’s first big win in Daytona.  Peppered with Wilkes County stories, Moonshine and NASCAR history, the show offers vintage automobiles, footage from the North Wilkesboro Speedway & Darlington, and tells personal stories from Junior Johnson himself.  The story is written by Karen Reynolds.

The multi media event will be presented outdoors at the Forest’s Edge Amphitheatre off Hwy 421 North in Historic Fort Hamby Park, 1534 South Recreation Road in Wilkesboro, NC.  Moonshine & Thunder – The Junior Johnson Story is produced through a partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers and Friends of the Lake.  Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. each evening and the gate begins Will Call and selling tickets at 6:30 p.m.  Seats are not assigned, but staff will reserve seats by phone for groups of 10 or more upon request.  Show dates are September 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 & 30.

The cast list is as follows:

Junior Johnson – Marty Roten

Enoch Staley – John Kolbow

Gwyn Staley – Alex Hernandez

Jack Combs – David Wingler

Charlie Felts – David Reynolds

Sam Cabe – Shannon Reynolds

Joe Carter – Jordan Walker

Robert Glen Johnson – Jim Scruggs

Lora Belle Johnson – Kathy Moffett

Bill France – John Kolbow

Annie France – Lisa Mitchell

Judge Hayes – Jon Snider

Attny. Kyle Hayes – Blake Comby

Joshua/Moonshiner – Wayne McNeil  

Woman With Gun – Susan Ringo

Naomi – Kendra Jackson

Juanibe – Kimberly Lewczyk

Effie – Kathy Snider

Mary Staley – Susan Ringo

Amy the Secretary – Kathy Snider

Hickory Promoter – Wayne McNeil

Willie Clay Call – Richard Shumate

Millard Ashley – Garrett Griffin

Thurmond Brown – Blake Comby

Streaking Moonshiner – Richard Shumate

Junior’s Brother, LP –  Alex Hernandez

Queen of the Speedway – Kimberly Harrold

Queen’s Mother – Kimberly Lewczyk

Teacher – Bella Clayton

Teenage Junior Johnson – Samuel Lewczyk

Child Junior Johnson – Isaiah Lewczyk

Child Willie Clay – Nathaniel Bumgarner

Child Thurmond – Kolby Wise

Dwight Johnson – Knox Sloop

Junior’s child brothers and sisters – Jaxon Walker, Caroline Jackson, Sheridan Jackson, Adrienne Hamby, Samuel Lewczyk

Patrolman – David Wingler

Musical Soundtrack by David Johnson and Filming by Shaun Cardwell

Bleu Moon Productions will have soft drinks, chips, popcorn and candy for sale beginning at 6:30 p.m. each evening.

Moonshine & Thunder – The Junior Johnson Story is a proud member of The National Institute of Outdoor Drama headquartered in Greenville, NC and is sponsored by The Law Offices of Timothy Welborn.