A World Premiere Kennedy Center Co-Commission with Nashville Children’s Theatre
A Mythic Mountain Musical Adventure
Written and directed by Scot Copeland Music by Paul Carrol Binkley Lyrics by Paul Carrol Binkley and Scot Copeland Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by
Telling Stories Out Loud
In a Manner of Speaking
For many years, early American settlers passed down stories through oral tradition (telling them aloud rather than writing them down). That’s exactly how Jack’s Tale writer Scot Copeland learned about the hero named Jack from his grandmothers. Now, they weren’t talking about the Jack you may know from “Jack and the Beanstalk.” No, they were telling stories about a character created by the people who settled along America’s Appalachian mountains—a unique young man who is playful, kind, hardworking, practical, and honest and who always figures out what to do.
Reckon you’ll notice that the performers speak English a might different, with different vocabulary (“reckon” to mean “think” and “might” to mean “little”), pronunciation (“crick” for “creek”), grammar (“some days is a feast”), and expressions (“pretty is as pretty does”). This is called a dialect (pronounced DAHY-uh-lekt), and it’s one you might hear in places like eastern Kentucky and eastern Tennessee.
As a grownup, Scot studied how these tales represented the history and values of his ancestors, the Scots-Irish Americans. He decided to write a new story combining and reworking several classic “Jack” tales to reflect that history. So pull up a chair and get comfortable. Imagine it’s the 1930s, somewhere in the mountains on the east coast of America. Four actors and four musicians will tell and sing Jack’s story. Through the voice, humor, and music of the mountain people, our young hero comes to life.
What Happens in the Story
A
king is about to make Jack, his mama, and his brothers Will and Tom leave the land they cleared, farmed, and lived on all their lives. In his quest to save the farm, Jack confronts a blue-bearded giant, a dishonest king, wars, and even Raggedy Bones (death himself)—all while falling in love with the king’s daughter. Will Jack’s magical axe, pickle jar, and gunnysack, along with his wits and good luck, help him triumph?
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A Few Words to
Know
vittles—food taters and mat ers—potatoes and tomatoes rack rent—unfa irly high rent m eant to force people from th eir homes gunnysack—a large woven cl oth bag blubbers—bub bles
About the Scots-Irish The people who first told these tales knew a lot about tough times. Back in the 1600s, they lived on the border of Scotland and England. Their king moved them to Ireland, where they worked hard, fought wars, and faced religious discrimination and rising rents (rack rents). In the 1700s, many settled on “new ground” in the mountains along the east coast of the United States and became known as ScotsIrish or Scotch-Irish Americans. During the performance, listen carefully for how Jack’s story—being forced from his home, facing a greedy king, fighting war, and crossing the ocean—mirrors their story. And think about how the blue-bearded giant might represent (stand for) the wilderness.
Scotland
H
Kennedy Center Eastern United States
Ireland England
Atlantic Ocean
The shaded mountainous area settled by the Scots-Irish and other European immigrants later became known as Appalachia (which locals usually pronounce ap-uh-LACH-uh).
Telling the Story on Stage Jack’s Tale is a story theater performance— that’s something in between storytelling and a fully performed play. It features: vS torytelling and Acting—the actors both narrate (tell) the story and perform roles; for example, Jack might say: “Jack made the only choice he felt he could, and off he went to soldier… I’ll be back directly.” vD oubling—some of the actors perform multiple roles (called doubling by quickly changing their voices, movements, and costumes. vP lain Costumes—the performers wear plain costumes and add or remove simple costume pieces, like hats and scarves, to become different characters. vS imple Sets—everyday items such as benches and chests are moved frequently to become different items, like a bed or a tree.
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Music and More The Sounds of Mountain Music
New to America, the Scots-Irish and other European immigrants made their own music. At first, they used just the fiddle (violin) and their voices singing ballads (folksongs that told stories) or songs with Christian religious themes. Soon they wrote their own songs and added the banjo, guitar, and mandolin among other instruments. They created a distinctive sound now often called mountain, or old time, music. That music later led to the similar-sounding but faster bluegrass music, which also uses vocal harmonies (different musical notes played at the same time).
Listen for these instruments played by the musicians and for the harmonies the actors sing. Also listen for the hymn (a song of praise) at the beginning and end of the performance.
Upright Bass
Deborah F. Rutter President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education Musical Theater at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Adrienne Arsht Musical Theater Fund. Additional support for Jack’s Tale: A Mythic Mountain Musical Adventure is provided by The Clark Charitable Foundation; Kaplan, Inc.; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.
Banjo
Dobro Guitar Mandolin
Your Story Theater Take a short part from a family story or other favorite tale and find a friend or two to help you perform it storytheater style. Use simple items from around your home and classroom and narrate as well as act out your story.
When Axes Fly In the story, Jack’s magic axe flies through the air. How would you show this on stage without using a real axe? Share your ideas with family or friends, and then watch how this and other fantastical events are performed.
Think about… In the story, you’ll hear characters say, “pretty is as pretty does,” which means to judge people by their actions. As you watch the performance, think about the importance of how Jack behaves in each challenge he faces.
Remember… Be a good audience member by turning off and putting away your electronics, staying seated and quiet, not eating vittles, watching and listening carefully, and clapping at the end.
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David M. Rubenstein Chairman
Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program. Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
www.kennedy-center.org /artsedge Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org /education The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2015 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
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