The Saluda Historic Depot Theatre Troupe will produce Saluda’s first musical, which will debut Saturday, Nov. 17. 

The performance will be held at the Party Place & Event Center, located at 221 Friendship Church Road, Saluda. The performance will start at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m.

The production will depict Saluda’s historical progression from the time the Cherokee Indians settled in the land of “green corn” until today. The original play was written by Corinne Gerwe in collaboration with members of the newly-formed Young Acting Krew of the Saluda Historic Depot Theatre Troupe, with a musical score written by Dan Foster to be performed by his band, the Radio Rangers.

Gerwe is an author of several fiction and nonfiction novels, three of which are a series of murder mysteries set in a small town much like Saluda. Her latest mystery, “The Silent Scream of the Straw Man,” has just been released. She has been a contributing board member and supporter of the depot since its inception. 

Foster is a singer/songwriter based in Atlanta, Georgia. “Saluda Grade” was written by Foster after walking around Saluda before performing at the Purple Onion, where he noticed the historical marker describing the Saluda Grade.

In 2009, the song was featured on an album by High Cotton that spent several weeks on the Georgia top 20 Roots music charts. Foster rearranged the song for the play with his current group, The Radio Rangers, in addition to new songs featuring acoustic music with strong vocal harmonies. 

For more information about the musical and the sponsorships, please contact Corinne Gerwe at cgerwe@rsnet.org or 828-749-4803.

– Submitted by Cathy Jackson