THIS AIN'T YER GRANDMA'S OPERA...
Dead Guy Opry is the first-of-its-kind Country Music opera, adapted by long-time Nashville singer/songwriter Ty Hager from his novel, "Diary of a Dead Guy - a Country Ghost Story." This raunchy and uproarious comedy tells the story of a slain country singer channeling his memoirs through a redneck kid, as the singer's widow stands trial for the murder in small-town Tennessee.
Previously in development in Nashville (with national touring act Sean Patrick McGraw cast in the lead), Hager has recently returned to his home state of Oklahoma, where production opportunities are now being explored.
Dead Guy Opry is the first-of-its-kind Country Music opera, adapted by long-time Nashville singer/songwriter Ty Hager from his novel, "Diary of a Dead Guy - a Country Ghost Story." This raunchy and uproarious comedy tells the story of a slain country singer channeling his memoirs through a redneck kid, as the singer's widow stands trial for the murder in small-town Tennessee.
Previously in development in Nashville (with national touring act Sean Patrick McGraw cast in the lead), Hager has recently returned to his home state of Oklahoma, where production opportunities are now being explored.
ROUGH AUDIO DEMOS (links open in new window)
ACT I COMPLETE
(sung by the writer in a style one friend compared to "Neil Young after a stroke")
(sung by the writer in a style one friend compared to "Neil Young after a stroke")
Scene 1 HOW THE STORY ENDS
Scene 2 MEET THE BLEVINS
Scene 3 JARED MEETS ANGEL
Scene 4 JUST WEIRD THAT'S ALL
Scene 5 RECOUPABLE/SPEECHLESS
Scene 6 THAT COUNTRY SINGER DONE POSSESSED MY BOY
Scene 2 MEET THE BLEVINS
Scene 3 JARED MEETS ANGEL
Scene 4 JUST WEIRD THAT'S ALL
Scene 5 RECOUPABLE/SPEECHLESS
Scene 6 THAT COUNTRY SINGER DONE POSSESSED MY BOY
Act II, Scene 4 DON'T LOOK NOW Performed by Anna Lynn Ferris
Jail in Wilson County’s a lonely place to be
But it don’t hurt nearly as much as why
On the way to beautiful we detoured tragically
And my eyes are the only ones can cry
‘Cause don’t look now, but you’re dead
I’m sorry I got angry, and that you lost your head
I still recall the last words you said
“Put that thing away” Now you’re dead
You know I wasn’t playin’, you knew I had a gun
You thought that I’d gone home mad
And while I ain’t sayin’ my finger was the one
That pulled the trigger, it still makes me sad
But don’t look now, you’re dead
Your smile’s less disarming when it’s full of melted lead
Do you recall those words I said?
“Put that thing away” Now you’re dead
Act III, Scene 5 TOP OF THE WORLD Performed by Anna Lynn Ferris
Just you and me
An empty room, a closed door
Just like before, before the world went crazy
Just you and me
No distractions like before
Can broken hearts be restored
To doom or save me?
And it only took bein' without you to make me understand alone
And it only took a second to get there
From the top of the world to nowhere
To here
Just you and me
Fires burnin' deep inside
You can't hide
From what I know you're feelin'
And from what I've seen lately about you, you seem angry and alone
And I'm sorry I helped you get there
From the top of the world to nowhere
To here
And I know that little voice inside you's crying out to just come home
And it only takes my touch to get there
Back to the top of the world we both shared
Look in my eyes and you'll see I still care
Come to me, come to me
Jail in Wilson County’s a lonely place to be
But it don’t hurt nearly as much as why
On the way to beautiful we detoured tragically
And my eyes are the only ones can cry
‘Cause don’t look now, but you’re dead
I’m sorry I got angry, and that you lost your head
I still recall the last words you said
“Put that thing away” Now you’re dead
You know I wasn’t playin’, you knew I had a gun
You thought that I’d gone home mad
And while I ain’t sayin’ my finger was the one
That pulled the trigger, it still makes me sad
But don’t look now, you’re dead
Your smile’s less disarming when it’s full of melted lead
Do you recall those words I said?
“Put that thing away” Now you’re dead
Act III, Scene 5 TOP OF THE WORLD Performed by Anna Lynn Ferris
Just you and me
An empty room, a closed door
Just like before, before the world went crazy
Just you and me
No distractions like before
Can broken hearts be restored
To doom or save me?
And it only took bein' without you to make me understand alone
And it only took a second to get there
From the top of the world to nowhere
To here
Just you and me
Fires burnin' deep inside
You can't hide
From what I know you're feelin'
And from what I've seen lately about you, you seem angry and alone
And I'm sorry I helped you get there
From the top of the world to nowhere
To here
And I know that little voice inside you's crying out to just come home
And it only takes my touch to get there
Back to the top of the world we both shared
Look in my eyes and you'll see I still care
Come to me, come to me
OKAY THEN! HOW 'BOUT SOME STAGING CHARTS?!
(for an "enhanced readers' theater" production on a small stage)
(for an "enhanced readers' theater" production on a small stage)
