Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

February 28, 2008 issue


Senator Sam Returns to Blowing Rock March 14

The Blowing Rock Stage Company looks back at one of North Carolina’s favorite sons, Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr., in a return engagement of the wildly popular one-man play Senator Sam. The show, part of the Blowing Rock Stage Company’s Flying Solo Series, plays Friday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Hayes Performing Arts Center.

As a result of popular demand, this production marks the fourth time that BRSC has performed North Carolina playwright Steve Bouser’s historical re-imagining of an evening in the life of the famous Democratic senator who served his N.C. constituency from 1954-74, infamously turbulent years in the South.

Awaiting President Nixon’s televised resignation, Senator Ervin, resting on his back porch and reeling with mixed emotions, reflects on his life—from growing up in the mountains, serving in World War I and meeting his wife, to the tragic childhood accident that thrust him into public service and his fights against the monkey bill, Joseph McCarthy, Robert Kennedy and various witnesses in the Watergate hearings. Filled with personal insight, political confrontation and homespun mountain humor, this one-man tour de force draws us into the mind and world of the famous N.C. senator.

The play has made its way to other venues around the country—Florida’s The Times recently praised it as “thoughtful and touching.”

Reprising in his role as the Southern gentlemen is BRSC regular and audience favorite Gary Lee Smith (Camping With Henry and Tom, Chapter Two, Wait Until Dark, ART, Deathtrap, Jan Karon’s Journey to Mitford, The Christmas Bus). A staple of regional television and radio commercials, Smith has also narrated or acted in many industrial and independent films, including the full-length independent film Stealing Elvis, as well as appeared onstage at numerous venues around the country. Smith, raved The Times, “captured the true spirit of a type of Southern gentleman that has now all but disappeared.” For his part, Smith considers Senator Sam one of the country’s greatest individuals.

“I consider it a great honor, as well as a great responsibility to portray Senator Ervin and bring the story of his life to the stage,” said Smith. “If you weren’t a president, inventor or explorer, your contributions to society are often overlooked. But Senator Ervin is such an important part of the country’s history that he shouldn’t be forgotten, and Steve Bouser has done a wonderful job capturing the essence of the late Senator’s personality and humor in this play.”

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. For tickets or more info, call the Hayes Center Box Office at 828-295-9627.

Want To Go?

Date: Friday, March 14
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hayes Center
Cost: $10 adults/$5 students