Sierra Rep brings back Hank Williams’ life, sound

That lonesome whippoorwill will sound again at the Sierra Repertory Theatre.

The foothills theater company is bringing the musical biography “Hank Williams: The Lost Highway” back by popular demand. The show, which chronicles the life of the legendary country singer, was last presented to packed houses in 2008. It returns for a run at the Fallon House Theatre on Friday, April 1.

Director Scott Viets said the show is more than just a musical revue and gives viewers a look into Williams’ life, which was cut short when he died at the age of 29 from heart failure likely brought on by substance abuse.

“It’s a really well-written musical biography, and those are sometimes hard to come by,” Viets said. “You do get the full musical experience, but at the same time you are getting a lot of great information about him, his life, his demons and his success.”

Williams is credited as one of country’s first superstars, and blended blues and western music to create a unique sound. Over the course of his six-year recording career, he composed more than 30 songs and had 11 No. 1 hits on the charts.

The production features more than 25 of Williams’ songs, including his legendary hits like “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “Move It on Over,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” The production features a cast of nine actors, many of whom had to do double duty as musicians and play instruments. Because of that, Viets said casting was extremely challenging. He was looking for actors who were musicians but could also portray real-life people.

Finding the right actor to play Williams, in particular, who has a distinctive voice and sound, was key, he said. The company hired Seattle native and New York-based actor Joey Shaw to step into his cowboy boots. Viets said at first Shaw might seem an odd fit to embody the torch and twang of the lanky honky-tonk singer.

“It’s interesting; he sent us his résumé first, and it’s almost all Shakespeare. Then he sent us a video of him playing guitar. Then did Hank for us, and it just blew us away,” Viets said. “He even kind of looks like Hank. He can play like Hank, can sing like Hank. And the guy can act. So he is able to play Hank Williams, but also be able to get deep within this complicated man.”

Shaw, who is making his Sierra Rep debut, said he wasn’t too familiar with Williams’ life and repertoire before taking the part. He knew his hits, but always listened to and played more rock ’n’ roll growing up. So this was the first time actually singing Williams’ music live on stage.

What he said he connected to most were Williams’ deeply personal lyrics and the emotional depth of his music.

“He was one of the first people to really write about his experiences. He was very personal with his music, which I think was a new thing at the time,” Shaw said. “I really appreciate that he was willing to put himself in his songs like that.”

The production, Shaw said, focuses on much more than just the singer’s tragic and sudden death.

“Even in just 29 years he had such a full life. The play follows him from a young age, 8 or 9, when he starts singing in church with his mother,” he said. “It goes from when he gets a guitar to when he meets his wife Audrey. It’s a really full story that takes you through the chapters in his life. You can look at Hank and admire him so much for artistry and bravery.”

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Sierra Rep brings back Hank Williams’ life, sound."