"Stand By Your Man' is currently at the Flat Rock Playhouse in western NC and about to transfer to the Ryman Auditorium - I watched the show last night and urge you to see it if you can. The script is excellent and fast-paced, the design and direction first class and, most importantly, the music is totally uncompromised.
Jim Lauderdale and Nicolette Hart ('George Jones' and 'Tammy Wynette') sound wonderful together, and the musicians, all with major speaking roles, are terrific! Brad Albin's on bass, Miles Aubrey on guitars, Galen Butler on keyboards (and a creditable 'Burt Reynolds'!), David Lutkin on anything with strings and Bob Spencer on drums. Tricia Paoluccio is a great 'young Tammy' and Susan Mansur's 'Meemaw' underpins the whole show.
The Forum's very own Kevin Owen not only does a great job of playing his ancient Sho-Bud, he also 'treads the boards' as 'Billy Sherrill';(I did a few days rehearsal with the show, and I'm billed as 'Standby steel guitarist', but I fear my London accent would creak under the strain a bit should Kevin get sick
.....)By far the best country music 'biographical' show I've seen - don't miss it!
