Through Johnny Cash’s eyes and music, the legendary country singer and songwriter teaches that life is a journey. And he wanted people to ask themselves — at the end of that journey, how did you live your life?
Known and revered as “The Man in Black,” Johnny Cash became a country legend — with an instinct and knack for musical storytelling. Cash’s inspirational journey led him to the mountains of Appalachia, where he found not only a richer soil to grow his music, but also love and healing.
Nick Piper, associate director of new play development at Barter Theatre
As Barter Theatre’s associate director of new play development, Nick Piper specializes in creating theater that is real and relatable — which is one reason he is excited to be directing “Ring of Fire” on the Gilliam Stage this spring.
“It’s very universal and something we all think about, probably not enough. But at some point, your head is going to hit the pillow for the last time, and in that moment, you can think of all the bad things you did over your life and you can try to rationalize them, but at the end, there’s one last time you have to reckon with,” Piper said.
“What’s exciting about doing something like ‘Ring of Fire’ is that, in a few weeks, we will come together as a band and come together with the sound. And playing music together is about as collaborative a thing as you can do,” Piper said. “It takes listening and patience, and singing a song is very personal. It feels like all that fuels the storytelling of a show. Music is such a foundational part of Appalachian culture that it's another way our audience connects with us. Particularly when you’re telling the story of Johnny and June Carter Cash — people have their own personal connection with the music.”
The intimacy of the art form of theater becomes even greater with a story so woven into the roots of Appalachia as that of Johnny and June Cash. Piper added that, by doing so, you are not only asking an audience to recognize themselves in a story, but to emotionally connect to music that they may have grown up on, such as “Folsom Blues” or “Ring of Fire” itself.
Appalachians have been exposed to the music and story of Johnny Cash since they were old enough to sing the songs along with him, and Piper explains that it is that music and spirit coming together that strengthens connections to the region and each other.
“When an audience comes to see a show, whatever show that is, they want to be transported, they want to be drawn in and taken on a journey. Nothing transports people like music does,” Piper said. “When you hear a song you’ve heard a thousand times before, you’re connected to it — you don’t even have to work at it. It automatically connects you to a certain moment of your life. Then, when you see how that song is connected to the story, it provokes emotion. Whether that emotion is laughter or tears, you’re mixing your own story and your own connection with the story that’s being told. And I think that’s something that’s pretty powerful.
“There’s nothing that’s really being asked of the audience so much as just to be open to the journey. For a show like ‘Ring of Fire,’ it has an expectation of ‘I’m going to hear Johnny Cash’s music’ — so it delivers on that. But I think that what’s neat about this is it’s his story told through his music,” Piper said. “We want to capture the essence of Johnny and not the essence of Broadway. One of the things that is important to our audience is the authenticity of the sound of the music.”
Cash used his music to also focus on the idea of moving forward and returning home. Strewn along the tracks of his songs, Cash implements the image of a train as a euphemism and metaphor for life itself. In “Folsom Blues,” Cash sings, “I hear the train a-comin’, it’s rolling ’round the bend.” In “Casey Jones,” the lyrics “Trouble ahead. A lady in red. Take my advice, you'd be better off dead. Switchman sleeping, train hundred and two is on the wrong track and headed for you.” He even has a song called “Waiting for a Train.”
Much like Barter and its ability to share stories such as Cash’s throughout and beyond Appalachia, Cash explains that the nature of a train is to return home to where it started. Though it may take you away to other places, some part of it will always return to where it began.
It’s this love for his music, stories and spirit that brings a draw to Appalachians across the nation. Whether they have lived here their entire lives, or if they followed their roots back home like a roadmap, Cash proves we are all connected in our own “Ring of Fire,” a burning desire to connect, not only with each other, but with the mountains and places we all call home.
“Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash”
Created by Richard Maltby Jr. and conceived by William Meade
Performances begin on April 12 and continue through May 11 on the Gilliam Stage.
For tickets and more information, please visit bartertheatre.com.
