Woody Guthrie's American Song

We're bound for glory and declaring that the land was made for you and me, after seeing Theater 3's production of Woody Guthrie's American Song this afternoon. The husband, of course, had read about this show and gotten us three tickets. Yes, we took the teenager. She mumbled later that she liked it, though I suspect deep down she loved it. I can hope, can't I? In three weeks, we're dragging her to Lubbock to see Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and others at Jones Stadium. We'll be obliged to point out that Woody was their inspiration.
The Web site woodyguthrie.org calls the show, "An exuberant musical celebration of America." A group of actors-singers-musicians tells a two-part tale loosely based on Woody's life story and is woven together by his songs. The narrative focuses less on Woody and more on what inspired his music: dust storms, poverty, rambling, hard-living, war, loss. And yes, it really is exuberant. The message is that music, specifically folk music, can build up the listener's sense of worth that those hard times can knock down. The show features more than 20 songs, including So Long It's Been Good to Know Yuh, Bound for Glory and The Grand Coulee Dam.
Huntington's disease did eventually knock down Woody's mind and body. His soul lingers in the songs he left, in his family who perpetuate his legacy and in the musicians whom he inspired.