Melissia-Dawn Hopson

If you grew up in a coal town, or have family who did, you know that life in a coal camp wasn’t just hard work. It was community, struggle, dreams, and stories passed from one generation to the next. The historical drama Coal , written by Joyce Robertson and produced by The Aracoma Story Inc., brings these moments to life with accuracy, heart, and a respect for the lived experience of Appalachian miners and their families. Here are ten ways the play gets it right. 1.  The Weight of Illiteracy Coal captures the essence of the King Coal era by highlighting the burdens carried by its characters. Audiences will resonate with John Mahone's illiteracy, a stark reminder of how vulnerable individuals were to exploitation during that time. In a time when reading and education were gateways to empowerment, John finds himself at the mercy of powerful coal companies who take advantage of his inability to decipher their complex contracts and agreements. As the story unfolds, we learn that John...

An Investment That Keeps On Giving As summer approaches, business owners are presented with a unique opportunity to invest in their local communities and make a lasting impact. One such investment that often goes overlooked is sponsoring local theatrical productions. While it may not seem like an obvious choice for businesses, supporting theater offers numerous benefits, including its positive impact on local culture, education, and community engagement. In this blog post, we will explore why sponsoring local theatrical productions, such as The Aracoma Story, Inc., is a great investment and how it can benefit both businesses and the community at large. Building Brand Reputation and Goodwill Sponsoring local theatrical productions provides businesses with a unique opportunity to build brand reputation and foster goodwill within their communities. By aligning their company with a well-regarded theatrical production, businesses demonstrate their commitment to supporting the arts and inves...

Shana Nelson and Krista Brown-Trogdon Krista Brown-Trogdon as Patsy Cline in 2006 The Aracoma Story, Inc. is proud to announce its upcoming production of "Always, Patsy Cline." The show has been a fan favorite in this part of the coalfields ever since Melissa R. Frye and Krista Brown-Trogdon brought it to life for the very first time in 2006. Krista portrayed the legendary songstress, Patsy Cline while Melissa led the audience on a tour of Patsy's life as fan-turned-friend, Louise Seger. Crowds sang along and danced in their seats-even during rain storms!  But they still wanted more! They got it four years later when Melissa and Krista reprised their roles for another season of Patsy in 2010. The friends shared a chemistry that simply created a magic on the stage.  They made sense together and to fans, their names became synonymous with the show.  

 The Aracoma Story, Inc. presents Always Patsy Cline is a musical tribute to the country music singer of the same name. The show follows Patsy's successful career and her friendship with a Texas housewife named Louise Seger. Patsy's story is told through Louise's memories of the singer as she takes a journey down memory lane. As Louise reminisces, Patsy is brought to life through her classic songs such as "Walkin' After Midnight", "Crazy", "I Fall To Pieces" and more. We also explore Patty’s personal struggles and hardships, including her marriages and her untimely death. Always Patsy Cline paints a vivid portrait of an iconic woman and brings to life one of country music's most memorable voices. Chapmanville Regional High School, Chapmanville, WV Mar 10-12, 17-19, & 24-26, 2023 CAST & CREATIVES Production Creatives Melissa Frye-  Director Melissa is over the moon to once again be directing “Always…Patsy Cline” for The Aracoma S...