Casting is now complete for the previously announced Audible Theater presentation of The Public Theater's production of Coal Country. The docu-play, written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen with original music by Steve Earle, will begin previews March 4 at Off-Broadway's Cherry Lane Theatre, ahead of a March 10 opening.
Kym Gomes and Carl Palmer join the cast that includes Mary Bacon, Amelia Campbell, Ezra Knight, Thomas Kopache, Michael Laurence, and Deirdre Madigan. Earle, a three-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, will return to perform his original score, though select performances will feature Joe Jung.
Directed by Blank, the piece shines a light on the 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion in Raleigh County, West Virginia. The Cherry Lane run will reunite the work's entire original creative team from The Public, with scenic design by Richard Hoover, costume design by Jessica Jahn, lighting design by David Lander, sound design by Darron L West, and movement by Adesola Osakalumi (who is currently performing in Broadway's Skeleton Crew). Janelle Caso will serve as production stage manager, with Andy Jones and Dylan Pager of Baseline Theatrical as general management.
The Public Theater's world premiere production opened March 3, 2020, shutting down due to COVID-19 just seven days later. Audible released a recording of the play featuring a majority of its original cast in September, 2021.
