Tales of Our 250^th: A Jonesborough History Variety Show

Pay What you Can

Join the Jackson Theatre and the McKinney Center for a series of programs celebrating local history and America’s 250^th birthday. Tales of Our 250^th includes skits, historians, re-enactors, musicians, and much more in a tapestry of Jonesborough stories and community history. These events will run June-October and start at 7:00 pm. They are Pay What You Can but go ahead and reserve your seats at Jonesborough.com/tickets.

Each evening will include a scene or scenes from the original play The First and Last Town in Tennessee, written by Anne G’Fellers-Mason, which premiered earlier this year at the McKinney Center and was featured in The New York Times. Join Jonesborough historian Paul Fink, portrayed by Tim Herron, as he walks you through the big and small moments that make Jonesborough an important part of the American story.

Programming dates and times are listed below. Acts are subject to change. Each performance starts at 7pm will last about 90 minutes.

June 25^th – Embracing the Past: Historic Preservation in Jonesborough with a presentation by Dr. William Kennedy and a performance by local band The Ozone Rangers

July 23^rd – Forging a New Nation: Revolutionary War History featuring re-enactors from Sycamore Shoals and a performance by the Watauga Valley Fife and Drum Corps

August 20^th – The Road to Freedom: African American History in Jonesborough including a special presentation of the original and award-winning play Nancy, presented by the Heritage Alliance

September 24^th – The Lost State of Franklin with a presentation by Dr. William Hardy from MTSU and the stories behind the Battle of the State of Franklin with Tipton Haynes State Historic Site

October 22^nd – A House Divided: Civil War History in Jonesborough with a presentation by Dr. Tom Lee form ETSU and a performance by the 52^nd Regimental String Band

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