Lauren Stewart

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Julia Roberts Goad

Staff Writer

MCCARR, Ky. — Area residents who have a flair for drama and an interest in history can pursue both of those passions with a part in the new outdoor drama based on the Hatfield McCoy Feud.

The play will be staged this summer at the Hatfield-McCoy Park at McCarr, Ky. The play is being produced by the Artist Collaborative Theater (ACT), Kentucky’s most winning theater, based in Elkhorn City.

Auditions will be held May 18 at the Phelps Public Library from 1 until 4 p.m. Volunteers are also needed for musicians, set designers, sound and lighting technicians, carpenters, persons to help with costumes and people who will volunteer to help with the many other aspects of producing a play.

Having a production that is faithful to the history of the Feud is important to ACT, so local historians Betty Howard and Randall Osborne are on the Board of the production, as well as Phelps resident Chris Coleman.

“Our goal is to balance entertainment and accuracy,” said Stephanie Richards, director of the Artist Collaborative Theater and Fine Arts Agent with the UK Extension Service told the Daily News. “Our production will use local talent, both new people and ACT veterans.”

At a recent meeting of the Pike County Fiscal Court, some of the actors who will play major roles in the play performed monologues from the play. The monologues were written by Betty Howard.

Lauren Stewart is the artistic director of ACT. Lauren, along with Kaitlyn Howell, who plays Sarah McCoy, Jason Justice, playing Devil Anse Hatfield and Treyton Blackburn, who plays Cottontop Hatfield, performed at for the Fiscal Court.

The play will debut at 7:30 Friday, July 26, and run Friday through Sunday throughout July, August and September. While Friday and Saturday productions will begin at 7:30, Sunday plays will be a matinee, beginning at 3 p.m.

For more information about ACT, visit http://www.act4.org or facebook/ArtistCollaborativeTheaterInc.