The First and Last Town in Tennessee

The McKinney Center will debut a new play in February that is 250 years in the making. The First and Last Town in Tennessee shares stories from Jonesborough’s past and present to commemorate America’s Semiquincentennial. Written by Program Manager Anne G’Fellers-Mason, the play takes the audience on a journey from 1779, the year of Jonesborough’s founding, to present day.

“The title of the play is a combination of a nod to the Oldest Town in Tennessee as well as a report from 1801 that referred to Jonesborough as, ‘the last town in Tennessee,’” Mason explains. “For a moment, Jonesborough was the edge of the Western frontier. We have such a rich history right here with amazing stories that are a part of the American dream and experience, and we wanted to combine all that into this production. Where else do you get a chance to include stories about Governor John Sevier and President Andrew Jackson alongside Alfred Greenlee, who was known as a friend to all, Beverly Jenkins of Main Street Café & Catering, and Jimmy Neil Smith, the founder of the National Storytelling Festival. All the major American events, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and so on, each of these played out on the local level, and this play will capture that.”

The show includes a large cast of multiple ages. Characters in the play include the Shanks Oak (Jonesborough’s Heritage Tree), Julia Bullard Nelson (teacher at the Warner Institute and a suffragette), longtime resident Jimmy Rhein, Marat Moore (journalist/miner/advocate), David Deaderick (Jonesborough’s first merchant), Jesse Walton (Revolutionary War soldier), Ella Russell (only hospital trained nurse in town in the early 1900s), Elihu Embree (editor and publisher of The Emancipator), and so many more. The play will include music and dancing and will be an experience for the whole family. The play will serve as the kick-off to the 250^th celebration in Jonesborough.

“Want to feel connected to your community, country, and past? You’ll want to come and see this play. It’s the perfect opportunity to commemorate and think about where we’ve come from and what we’ve overcome as a country, and to look ahead to the next 250 years. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t want to miss,” Mason assures.

The First and Last Town in Tennessee will run February 27, 28, and March 1. There will also be a second weekend of shows on March 6, 7, and 8. Shows will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $20.00 for general admission and $18.00 for seniors 55 and over, as well as groups of 8 or more. The matinee on March 1 is a special, “Pay What You Can” performance with a $2.50 suggested donation. Seats must be reserved for all performances, including the “Pay What You Can” performance. Tickets can be purchased at Jonesborough.com/tickets or by calling the Visitors Center at 423.753.1010.

This project is supported in part by the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial.

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About the McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington: The mission of the McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington is to provide a comprehensive program through Jonesborough’s Mary B. Martin Program for the Arts, which teaches various art skills to all participants through a quality program of instruction open to all segments of Jonesborough’s population. In addition, a primary mission of the Center is to enhance minority participation in the planning and implementation in all activities in Jonesborough while specifically celebrating the contribution of the African-American community in the growth and development of the Town. The activities of the McKinney Center are designed to enhance the quality of life of all Jonesborough residents.

About StoryTown: Storytown is dedicated to bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds in Jonesborough to strengthen our community and enrich the lives of those who live here through the power of our stories.