The Story
In the summer of 1931, deep in the mountains of Tennessee, eighteen-year-old Eli Walker dreams of a life beyond Briar Hollow. A gifted guitar player with hopes bigger than the holler he calls home, Eli finds his greatest champion in Maggie Boone, the spirited young woman he has loved since childhood, despite the bitter feud that has existed between their families for generations. As Eli and Maggie meet in secret and dream of a future together, old wounds begin to surface to haunt the present and threaten the future.
Set against the beauty and hardship of Depression-era Appalachia, SHINE is a story of forbidden love, family secrets, violence, forgiveness, and the courage to reach for something beyond the life you were given. With a score steeped in the musical traditions of the mountains, it asks what happens when a new generation dares to break free from the sins of the one before it.
Intended for mature audiences only. Contains mature explicit language and adult content.
From mountain melodies to soaring ballads, discover some of the music of Shine.
Moonshine Sonata (Teaser)
SHINE: A New Musical
In The Holler
SHINE: A New Musical
About The Musical
SHINE is a new two-act musical set in the fictional community of Briar Hollow, Tennessee, during the summer of 1931. Blending an intimate love story with the larger world of Depression-era Appalachia, the show brings the holler to life through a cast of 14 characters and 16 original musical numbers.
The score is rooted in the sounds and musical traditions of Appalachia, moving from foot-stomping ensemble numbers and moonshiner songs to intimate love songs, haunting ballads and moments of genuine mountain worship. Songs such as “Moonshine Sonata” and “In the Holler” capture the humor, grit and communal spirit of Briar Hollow, while “Our First Kiss,” “How Lucky Am I” and “Me and You” give voice to the growing love between Eli and Maggie. As the story darkens, so does the music. The instrumental “The Fallen” accompanies one of the story’s most somber moments, while “His Love Divine,” an original old-time gospel hymn, is sung in beautiful harmony by the townspeople.
At the center of SHINE are Eli Walker and Maggie Boone, two young people caught between a generations-old family feud and a future they desperately want to make their own. Around them is a colorful community of moonshiners, lawmen, family, neighbors and a preacher, creating a story that can be funny and exuberant one moment and deeply moving the next.
Acts
Characters
Original Songs
The People of Briar Hollow
Male | Stage Age: 35–45
A lifelong resident of Briar Hollow and father of Eli. Unemployed since the mill closed, Ray now makes and distributes moonshine to earn a living.
Male | Stage Age: Approximately 18
Son of Ray Walker and an accomplished guitar player.
Male | Stage Age: 35–50
Sheriff of Briar Hollow and head of the Boone household.
This role is not available for audition.
Female | Stage Age: 35–45
Wife of Sheriff Jim Boone and mother to their three daughters.
Female | Stage Age: Approximately 17
Eldest daughter of Jim and Clara Boone.
Female | Stage Age: Approximately 15
Middle daughter of Jim and Clara Boone.
Female | Stage Age: Approximately 8
Youngest daughter of Jim and Clara Boone.
Male | Stage Age: 35–50
A lifelong resident of Briar Hollow and longtime friend of Ray's. Musician and moonshiner.
Male | Stage Age: 35–50
Lifelong resident of Briar Hollow. Musician and moonshiner.
Female | Stage Age: 35–50
Lifelong resident of Briar Hollow. Musician and moonshiner.
Male | Stage Age: 30–45
Lifelong resident of Briar Hollow. Musician and moonshiner.
Male | Stage Age: 25–35
Deputy to Sheriff Boone and husband of Caroline Simmons.
Female | Stage Age: Approximately 25
Wife of Deputy John Simmons, eight months pregnant with their first child.
Male | Stage Age: 35–55
Church leader and new resident of Briar Hollow.
All available roles require vocal and cold reading
auditions. Vocal ranges are to be determined.
No dance experience is necessary.
The Creative Team Behind SHINE
Lead Writer
Born into a musical family in Georgia in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Matt Parrish has carried a lifelong connection to the music, stories, and people of Appalachia. Now living in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, he draws inspiration from the region’s rich traditions and storytelling heritage.
His work on SHINE brings those influences to the stage through an original story rooted in family, music, love, and the enduring spirit of the mountains.
Orchestration and Writer
A music teacher by profession, Eric has performed as a musician and actor throughout the Shenandoah Valley, and served as Music Director for ShenanArts productions of The Cemetery Club, Once, and Bright Star. Eric most recently provided music arrangements and orchestration for the ShenanArts production of Some I Wrote.
He lives in Harrisonburg with his wife, Lea, where he has taught private music lessons in his home studio for many years.
Writer and Editor
Lea has performed in local productions throughout the Shenandoah Valley since 1988, and has written and directed several original productions, including For You, Sweet Child and Journeys, two musical collections of monologues and one-act plays. She most recently appeared in the ShenanArts production of Once, and most recently directed the ShenanArts production of The Cemetery Club.
Lea lives in Harrisonburg with her musician husband, Eric, where they raised their two children, John and Julie.
A Special Thanks
