Southern Fried Funeral
Logan Country Club, Chapmanville, WV
October 28-30 & Nov 4-6, 2022
CAST & CREATIVES
Production Staff
Melissa Frye- Director
Melissa is thrilled to once again be directing a show at Logan Country Club! Dinner and a comedy! What could be better!!!!Melissa is a graduate of Marshall University where she received her B.A. in Music Education. While at Marshall, she was a 2-time award winner of the Eloise Campbell Long Vocal Scholarship. She taught chorus, theatre, piano, and general music for 26 years in Logan County. Over the years, Melissa had the privilege of being a vocal and audition coach to many people who have gone on to perform with many diverse theatrical organizations.
Melissa has worked professionally as an actor at Theatre West Virginia and Jenny Wiley Summer Music Theater. While living in NYC she studied voice with Harry Garland (vocal coach of Faith Prince, Tony winner for "Guys and Dolls" and Jodi Benson, voice of the Little Mermaid) and audition techniques from Sara Louise Lazarus (Broadway's "Grease" and coach at the Tony award winning theater, Papermill Playhouse).
Some of Melissa's favorite acting roles are Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz,” Fanny Brice in " Funny Girl,” Peter in "Peter Pan,” Miss Hannigan in "Annie,” Rizzo in "Grease,” Ginger in " 1940's Radio Hour,” Louise in "Always, Patsy Cline,” Anita in "West Side Story,” and Lizzie in "Baby.” Among her directing credits are "The Wizard of Oz,” "Bye Bye Birdie,” “Grease,” “Mama Mia", "Always, Patsy Cline,” "Honky Tonk Angels,” “Steel Magnolias", "Dearly Departed,” “Aladdin Jr.", and "Frozen Jr."
Melissa is the mother of Jackson and Griffin Frye. In her free time she enjoys reading her Bible, decorating for holidays, and spending time with her sister's family. Melissa is celebrating her 40th anniversary with The Aracoma Story, Inc. this year.
“Thank you to the hardworking cast and crew of Southern Fried Funeral! I’ve had a ball creating this with all of you! I sure hope the audience wears their Depends! They’re gonna need it!”
—-Melissa Frye
Cathy Green - Technical Director
Cathy graduated from the BFA program at West Virginia University in the field of visual arts. She began making art for youth groups and plays in high school.; However, her love of costuming began in childhood, sewing doll clothes from dish rags and paper towels with her grandmother. Over the past 15 years she has had the opportunity to design, build or fabricate, sets and large featured props for plays and athletic performance groups from our region. She feels very grateful to all the people who show up ready and eager to learn and participate backstage. Sharing this creative process with them and the community is one of her greatest joys."I would like to thank my family for their love and support. Without them, I would never be able to pursue this beautiful adventure I love so much." - Cathy Green
Emma Parsons - Stage Manager/Set Construction/Backstage Crew
Emma Parsons is the 17 year old daughter of David and Shannon Parsons of Six Mile. She is a Senior at Scott High School. Emma is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as the Tri-M music honor society. She is active in Show Choir and Theater. Emma has attended ACDA and All State Choir. Emma appeared in the TAS productions of "Deadly Divide" and "Lion King Jr.". She worked backstage and doing lighting for the TAS productions of " Ring of Fire" and " The Aracoma Story". Emma hopes to attend the University of New Mexico next year and study for her degree in Tech and Design for Production.
Keith Stephens - Lightboard Operator/Set Construction
Keith is always willing to gather up this tools and show up to help with building set pieces. He has been volunteering time for many years and enjoys teaching others how to build. Keith is retired from Hobet Mining and resides at Julien with his wife Rachael.
Jason McCoy - Sound Engineer
Jason McCoy and his wife, Tamala, reside at Pecks Mill. He Is a graduate of Logan High School and a Board member of the Aracoma Story Inc. Jason and his wife are faithful and active members of the West Logan Church. He has participated in several plays including "Deadly Divide" in which he played Asa Harmon McCoy- Jason's Great, Great Great grandfather. Needless to say, Jason was elated to be playing that role. He portrayed Jake Coleman in the 2021 production of "Coal" and this past summer he portrayed Chief Cornstalk in "The Aracoma Story." He has made a lot of wonderful friends being a part of The Aracoma Story Inc.
Janie Adkins - Costumer/Backstage Crew
Janie is the Costumer/Seamstress for TAS. She has been a TAS family member since 2014. She has performed in numerous productions over that time. Janie enjoys all the TAS productions because she gets to work and/or perform with her TAS family members.
C'Anna Decker - Hair/Wigs
C'anna Decker is a cosmetologist who graduated from Appalachian Beauty school. C'anna will be offering a wide range of services in her salon "The Beauty Shop" opening in the Logan area, but enjoys blonding services and hair extensions most. She is a resident of Verdunville. C'anna's hobbies include art and baking. She is beyond excited and honored to be helping The Aracoma Story Inc. with hair and wigs for "Southern Fried Funeral."
Greg Gray - Set Construction
Greg is a retired Mine Foreman, husband, father, and grandfather. He has coached youth athletics in a variety of sports for most of his adult life. He began his DIY training in his late teens by helping his family, friends and community with any number of tasks. For the past 7 years, and 9 shows, Greg has been putting all those skills to work building sets and stages for his family of artsy theatre people.
Geoffrey Khun- Set Construction
Geoffrey is a Scott High School graduate and currently attends Southern WV Community and Technical College. He has been working along side Cathy, Greg, and Keith for the past 7 years. Geoffrey builds, moves props, and can operate various lighting equipment. He has also been known to be a model for hair and makeup artists, help actors run lines, and jump in to assist with quick changes. He has a wonderful aptitude for entertaining restless young cast members and keeping them out of mischief.
Emery Adkins - Backstage Crew
Emery is married to Janie Adkins who is the Costumer/Seamstress for TAS. He has been a member of the TAS family for over 4 years since marrying Janie and has performed in the TAS productions of Deadly Divide, Mamie in 2019, Coal in 2021 & The Aracoma Story in 2022. When not performing he can be found somewhere on the TAS production area helping out. Emery lives in Chapmanville with Janie, where he is also an Assistant Coach for the Chapmanville Regional boys' basketball team.
Cast
Cindy Armstrong - Fairy June
Cindy Armstrong( Fairy June) is the wife of John Armstrong of Holden, WV. She is a member of Cornerstone Family Fellowship Church of Whitman, WV. She is Memaw to Avery Hale and Nana to Graci, Palmer, Maggi and Will Armstrong. Cindy has performed in several TAS productions including Aracoma Story, Mamie, Deadly Divide, Steel Magnolia and Dearly Departed. Cindy would like to thank the Aracoma Story, Inc , director Melissa Frye and her fellow actors in the production of Southern Fried Funeral.
Rachael Stephens - Martha Ann/Props Mistress
Rachael is a veteran performer who has enjoyed working with various local theatre groups through the years since her very first show in 1988. She has performed with The Appalachian Community Theatre (ACT), The Aracoma Story Inc., Southern Coalition for the Arts, and The Guyandotte Players. Some of her favorites include "Steel Magnolias" (Clairee), "Wizard of Oz" (Auntie Em), "Cinderella" (Queen Constantina), "The Aracoma Story" (Dream Teller), "Willie Wonka" (Grandma Georgina), "Annie" (Ms. Pugh), "Footloose" (Ethel McCormick), "Southern Fried Funeral" (Dorothy), "Southern Fried Nuptials" (Dorothy), "Smoke on the Mountain/Saunders Family Christmas" (Maude), and several Murder Mystery performances.
Rachael is the current president of ACT, helps with props for S.T.A.G.E. productions for students at Boone County Schools, is active in her community and volunteers for several other local organizations.
Rachael retired as Payroll Clerk for Boone County Commission. She wants to give a shout out to her husband, Keith, who is her biggest supporter and helps with props and set building for most of her shows.
Rachael is the current president of ACT, helps with props for S.T.A.G.E. productions for students at Boone County Schools, is active in her community and volunteers for several other local organizations.
Rachael retired as Payroll Clerk for Boone County Commission. She wants to give a shout out to her husband, Keith, who is her biggest supporter and helps with props and set building for most of her shows.
Steve Gray - Benny Charles Greenwood
Steve Gray has served on the Aracoma Story Board of Directors since 2015. He is a retired electrician and magistrate. Steve is the father of two daughters and two stepsons. He has seven grandchildren from ages eight to twenty four. He has been cast or crew for over twenty shows.
Sybil Vance - Dorothy Frye
Sybil Vance is a proud mother and grandmother. She resides in Harts, WV. Her priorities are God and family. She began her love of theater in the SWVCC productions of "Shenandoah" and "Oklahoma." She was the opening act for Jerry Lee Lewis in 2003 at the Times Union Theater in Jacksonville, FL. She has been in several TAS productions both behind the scenes and on stage. She has performed in both productions of "Mamie" as Hazel the gossip lady, "Steel Magnolias" as Ouiser, "The Beverly Hillbillies" as Cousin Pearl and "Coal" as Eleanora. She would like to thank The Aracoma Story Inc. for this opportunity and hopes to continue her love of theater through them.
Marksie Lee Dunn II - Dewey Frye Jr.
Marskie Dunn II is the 19-yr-old son of Ashley and Josh Goodman and Marksie and Crystal Dunn of Man. He is a former student of Man High School. His acting credits include "The Aracoma Story" (Boling Baker), "Coal" (Robert Farley), "Charlotte's Web" (Gander), and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (Aid Williams). His hobbies include . Playing Fortnite, watching football, helping his family, and trying his hardest to impersonate Forrest Gump.
Anne Justice - Sammy Jo Frye-LeFette
Anne Justice is from Pike County KY. She is a middle school Spanish teacher in Mingo County, WV and enjoys creating videos for her YouTube channel, playing ukelele, and walking her dog, Charlie. Anne loves to spend time with her friends and family as well as serve at her church, East Point Fellowship Church. In her spare time, Anne likes to hike and enjoy a good ice cream cone.
Anne has participated in several shows throughout her life. Some of Anne’s favorite roles include Grandma Taylor in “A Cricket County Christmas”, Rosie in “Mamma Mia” and Granny Clampett in “The Beverly Hillbillies”.
Anne is so excited and grateful to be a part of the hilarious and talented cast and crew of Southern Fried Funeral.
Charles Wallace - Uncle Dub Frye
Charles Stephen Wallace is a teacher, actor, singer, and director in Boone County, WV. He currently works as the Choir Director at Chapmanville Regional High School. Charles attended Concord University where he received a BS in Music Education and a master’s degree as a Reading Specialist. Charles has a long history with The Aracoma Story Inc. He began acting as Shere Khan in their production of "The Jungle Book, Jr.", his first directorial role was as music director in their production of "Little Shop of Horrors", and he met his wife, Brittany Wallace, during their production of "The Addams Family Musical." He has directed shows at CRHS such as "Disenchanted", "Into the Woods", and "Little Shop of Horrors." Charles is a baritone and sings with his church’s, Cornerstone Family Fellowship, Praise and Worship team. Off the stage, Charles enjoys improv and acting during Dungeons and Dragons with his friends. Charles would like to thank his parents, Charles L. Wallace, Ladie and Karl Viars, for their support and love.
Kaity Dingess - Harlene Juniper Frye
Kaity is the 23 old daughter of Rebekah and the late David Earl Dingess of Chapmanville. She has been involved in shows for over then years with various companies including TAS Inc., Southern Coalition, Appalachian Players Guild and Southern Theater. Kaity was recently seen on stage as Dream Teller in the 2022 production of "The Aracoma Story" and Lurvey in APG's production of "Charlotte's Web." In her free time, Kaity can be found working at Gino's Pizza in Chapmanville.
Jacob Green - Atticus van Leer
Jacob Green lives with his wife, Cathy, and his two kids- Cadee Mae and Zachary in Madison, WV. He works as Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools of Diversion and Transition under the West Virginia Department and West Virginia Board of Education. Jacob began acting in high school as part of the Oak Glen High School Little Theatre program in New Cumberland, WV. Locally, he has taken on roles as Mr. Cocker in the Boone County STAGE production of "Back to the 80’s" and as Attie in the Appalachian Community Theatre’s productions of "Southern Fried Funeral" and "Southern Fried Nuptials." He made his Aracoma Story Inc. debut in June 2022 as a cast member in "Ring of a Fire." This is his second show with TAS. In his spare time, he likes to read, strum his guitar, and most importantly, spend time with his family.
Dawn Hopson - Ozella Meeks
Dawn Hopson has been a part of the TAS family for over 30 years, having worked both onstage and behind the scenes. She attended Piedmont Community College in Yanceyville, NC, where she majored in Film, Video, and Animation. While in North Carolina, Dawn volunteered with Paperhand Puppet Intervention and worked professionally with the North Carolina Children's Theatre, The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Theatre, and Kersey Valley Spooky Woods. She worked as a Simulation Actor for High Point University Schools of Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physical Therapy, UNC Greensboro School of Nursing, and Duke University as well as several first responder agencies including Danville Fire Department and Burlington City Police.
Her film credits include "Murder on the Dance Floor" (Julie House), "The Holy Heist" (Patty Jefferson), "Our War" (Samantha), and "The Haunting of Four Points" (Gilly), and as a patient and caretaker in "Social Determinant of Health Interactive Cases", which is a series interactive videos used to educate nursing students nationwide. Her theatrical credits include "The Aracoma Story" (Aracoma, Nonhelema, Oceana, Katheryn, Snow Lilly), "The Crucible" (Tituba), "Grease" (Rizzo), "Bye Bye Birdie" (Gloria Rasputin), "The Nerd" (Tansy McGinnis), "Annie" (Edie, Mrs. Greer), "Ducktails & Bobbysox" (Alice), "Headin' for the Hills" (Miss Winslow), "The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The -Moon Marigolds" (Ruth), and "Coal" (Sarah), for which her performance earned her Broadway World's award for "Best Supporting Actress in a Play." She was most recently the Assistant Director of "The Aracoma Story" and is a member of The Aracoma Story Inc. Board of Directors. Dawn is currently a student of Arizona State University where she is getting her TESOL Certification to teach English as a second language.
"I want to thank my mother and daughter for their support in my uncontrollable need to be creative. I want to thank The Aracoma Story Inc. for cultivating a passion in me, giving me some of the best life mentors I could have ever been blessed to know, and for welcoming me onto the Board of Directors so that I may be for others what my own TAS mentors were for me. I also want to thank Katie, Melissa, and Cindy for all of their help getting my gang to and fro as needed. We couldn't have done it without you!" - Dawn
Mitch Vance - Beecham LeFette
Mitch Vance resides in Harts, WV, where he is a Lincoln County School bus driver. He is Vice President for the board of The Aracoma Story, Inc. and has been a part of the TAS family since his first role in the 2015 production of "Mamie." His roles include Uncle Jedd in "The Beverly Hillbillies", the Narrator in "Coal", the Narrator in the 2019 TAS Production of "Mamie" for which he won the West Virginia Broadway Award for "Best Actor in a Play"; and, most recently, the Mountain Man in "The Aracoma Story", which was a childhood dream come true. This show sparked his love of theater and left him with a desire for more and for this he would like to say "Thank you," to The Aracoma Story, Inc.
A Special "Thank You" to Our Sponsors
Guyan Service Company
Bob Noone, Attorney
Senator Rupie Phillips
Mine Lifeline
Cook & Cook, Attorneys at Law
Hatfield & McCoy Convention & Visitor's Bureau
Denny Frost & Friends
Superior Pocahontas
Logan Regional Medical Center
City of Logan
DeHart Insurance
Rob Kuenzel, Attorney
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