Rock & Roll Remembered In The Buddy Holly Story

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The indoor Hafen Theater at the Tuacahn production of “The Buddy Holly Story” is not to be missed by any classic rock & roll fans. This production is an account of a tremendously talented young man’s short public life superbly blended in with a rock concert of his iconic music. And everyone walked out feeling good.

Charles Hardin Holley was born September 7, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas. He grew up with the nickname of Buddy.

In 1956 Buddy made a record contract with Decca Records who misspelled his last name and he became Buddy Holly to the world.

Today Buddy’s story is being told by the talented actors in the Tuacahn production. Andrew Harvey portrays Buddy and he is also the director of the production.

Even those who were around to see the real Buddy perform will admire Harvey’s depiction. They may also see other not-so-known facets of Buddy Holly’s personality and talent represented.

The Crickets were connivingly played by Mike Dorsey (Tommy) and Roy Brown (Joe Mauldin)
Brown’s harmony and balance kept our eyes on him and his string bass throughout the show.

The play’s musical director, Angela C. Howell also portrayed Vi Petty in the production. She is a talented actor and musician in her own right.
“The show was originally written for a cast of thirty-two, but often produced with fourteen to eighteen actors,” Howell said.

This was the case in the smaller Hafen Theater. Many of the actors in the cast are making their Tuacahn debut.
“These actors have to be capable of telling the story and comfortable playing the bass in the first act and drums in act two,” Howell said. “Finding that kind of talent can be difficult, but we have done it for this production.”

The actors all played their own instruments in the show.

It was apparent the audience agreed with Howell about the multi-talents of the cast. When we got to the Apollo Theater, I thought this was the highlight of the show with the outstanding entertainment from Justin Marriel Boyd (Tyrone) and Jannie Jones (Marlene).

But then came the Winter Dance Party theater with the Big Bopper (Jayson Elliott) and Ritchie Valens (Estevan Hernandez). Both theater performances blew us away to yesteryear.

Over twenty favorite bopping tunes are performed in the production. And there are even a few you may not remember.

The tragic ending of Buddy Holly was handled well and you walked out feeling good…well maybe just a little sad – because the show was over. We all wanted to see and hear more of Buddy singing, Big Bopper personality and Richie’s enthusiastic dancing. It all proved that rock and roll is still a hit today.