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“What a wonderful success the JENA Company presentation of My Soul Is a Witness was at Springfield College. The dramatic elements of the play were riveting, and the gospel and protest music was inspiring.
The house was more than sold out, and compliments flowed to me following the show. Many members of the local community telephoned the college president's office to express their gratitude that Springfield College had hosted such a memorable drama.
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Carol Mitchell, Springfield College
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“On behalf of California University of Pennsylvania, I want to thank you for bringing My Soul Is a Witness to our campus. We have had several of your productions here in the past such as Black Broadway and Unsinkable Women and the standards you set with these programs has always been excellent. However, with this production, you have truly exceeded yourselves.
The program itself was amazing. It offered such a wide range of overwhelming emotions. It challenged my heart, my consciousness and my respect for other people. And the actors were spectacular! I have heard these same stories about some of the peole depicted in this production from my own family members. However, the vividness and depth that these talented people brought these people and their stories is absolutely incredible. I have no doubts that I will carry this performance with me for the rest of my life and I have the JENA Company and everyone associated with the production of My Soul Is A Witness to thank for that. ”
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LaMont Coleman, California University of PA
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“Last night I witnessed one of the most incredible theatrical performances I have ever encountered. My Soul Is a Witness not only was an extraordinary well written piece by David Barr III, but it was as though I lived through the Civil Rights Movement myself. This play was well directed, produced, performed and met all expectations for a show of this nature.
This show is great for any campus across America; two year, four year, or graduate school. Every person in attendance has something to learn and gain from this experience. I will strongly encourage other institutions to bring My Soul Is A Witness to their campus. This is a must see and a guarantee.”
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Aaron Worley, Coordinator of Student Activities, Western Oregon University
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“My Soul Is a Witness is a powerful and moving experience. The relevance of the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement to today's world is clearly articulated through word, music and action.
As we reaffirm our dedication to educating the community regarding social justice, I can think of no better organization to turn to for support than The JENA Company. We are interested in bringing My Soul Is a Witness back to the area for next year, as well as other of your productions in future years.”
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Mike Frantz, Martin Luther King Committee, Wilkes University
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“It seems like we have been talking about My Soul Is a Witness and planning for David Barr III and the performance at Wartburg for a long time. Now that it is all over, all I can say is WOW! WOW! WOW! You produce some great "stuff".
The performance was professionally done. The superb acting and singing by the five actors made the Civil Rights Movement come alive. The singing at times sounded like it was coming from a twenty-five-piece chorus. One patron who has been attending the Artist Series for 45 years said, "Myrna, this ranks right up there as one of the best."
You have a definite winner and I hope JENA and David Barr III will continue to collaborate on other projects.”
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Myrna Culbertson, Artist Series Director, Wartburg College
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“A sensational thought provoking piece of theater…don’t miss it.”
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Charles Ferruzza, The Sun Newspapers
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“David Barr is probably Chicago’s most gifted playwright.”
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Al Boswell, Post Tribune Review
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“…A playwright who sees shades of gray in America’s encounters between Blacks and Whites.”
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Andrew Patner, WFMT/Network Chicago
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“David Barr’s characters always reveal the strength of his convictions…He is a name to watch.”
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Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
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“Touching on everything from the destructive effects of misogynistic rap lyrics and TV’s ability to exploit and shape racial attitudes to the inner decay that leads to the self-destruction of a revolutionary movement, Barr’s play is multifaceted. This is the best kind of theater.”
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Heddy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
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“Barr’s strengths as a playwright include his finely delineated characters and vivid, sometimes explosive dialogue.”
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Charles Ferruzza, The Sun Newspapers
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“Rousing…Mesmerizing…Rock-solid…Downright Hilarious!”
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The Oakland Press-Detroit
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“Rousing, unbridled fun…A baby boomer’s dream come true!”
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Saint Paul Pioneer Press
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“An infectious, joyous celebration… Hear the tunes, feel the memories, forget reality!”
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Minneapolis Star Tribune
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“8-Track is full of driving energy, pop sweetness and lush harmonies.”
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The Pioneer Press- Chicago, IL
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“A fast paced musical romp through one of the most impassioned decades of the 20th Century…A non-stop song and dance extravaganza…Excellent!”
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Between The Lines
Curtain Calls-Detroit
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“I lost count of the tunes, but it’s 90 minutes of non-stop music!”
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Hometown Publications-Milwaukee
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“Superb…First-rate…Undeniably Infectious!”
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Hometown Publications-Milwaukee
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“’8-Track’ shakes its groove thing, yeah, yeah! A blisteringly paced production that rings a plethora of musical memory bells from bouncy Top 40 pop and ballads that have achieved immortality. A spirited and lighthearted romp through a slice of pop history!”
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The Rocky Mountain News
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“I simply can’t imagine anyone not having a good time!”
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The Detroit Monitor
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“David Wright has the man down pat in the comeback Brother Dave never got in real life. It’s a unique portrayal—powerful and funny. You’ll be doing yourself a favor by attending.”
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Charity Apple, The Times News, Burlington, NC
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“Folks used to say, 'You’ve been listening to too much Dave Gardner.' With any luck, that phrase will make a comeback.”
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Roger Creasy, The Times News, Burlington, NC
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Reviving Brother Dave
By Dennis Rogers, The News Observer, Raleigh, North Carolina
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So you're a Southerner, huh? Sure, you may know that the secret ingredient in red-eye gravy is strong, black coffee, but here's the real test: Do you smile when you hear the words, "Rejoice, dear hearts!" bellowing from a scratchy old album?
Yes, dearly beloved, we're talking about that Sage of the South, Brother Dave Gardner. For much of the 1950s and 1960s, Gardner was the South's favorite comic.
"His humor was rooted well south of the Mason-Dixon line, but he was never a hayseed," said David Wright, artistic director of the Paramount Acting Company in Burlington. "He was decidedly not 'Hee-Haw.' "
It's easier to wrestle fog than nail the essence of Brother Dave's humor. His was an often stream-of-consciousness goof that was as much style as content. You had to experience it for yourself.
And now you can. Wright has written a one-man show that tells the story of Brother Dave, who died of a heart attack in 1983. He plans to tour the show next year.
"It is a rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-redemption story," Wright said.
Gardner's talent took him from childhood poverty in Tennessee to a Beverly Hills mansion. His spectacular downfall was brought on by atrociously bad business decisions-- and a lifestyle that made him a popular player in the high-living show biz party scene.
But along the way, this Southern hipster lifted the banner of down-home humor like no one before or since. He didn't hold the South up to ridicule. He celebrated our peculiar ways but made us sound cool, not corny. He laughed with us, not at us.
Wright's show is part a retelling of Brother Dave's life and part word-for-word recreation of his comedy routines. Mister Chuck and Miss Baby take that last motorcycle ride. Brutus kills Julius Caesar again. And Little David whacks the giant, just like always.
Wright worked with Gardner's daughter Candace to bring him and his humor back to life.
"It would be nice if the critics liked it, and I appreciate the audience coming," Wright said. "But the main person I wanted to please was Candace. And she said she loved it."
Gardner, fighting a heart condition and the fallout from a high-living lifestyle, was making a comeback of sorts when he agreed to do a movie produced by North Carolina's famous B-movie maker Earl Owensby and co-starring the equally down-and-out Lash LaRue.
Gardner's death even reflected his offbeat humor. He had agreed to sign autographs after a day's shooting in Myrtle Beach, but no one had any paper. So he signed dollar bills.
"Bring forth those federal reserve notes," he said. "And let's see if we can make them worth something."
That's when his pacemaker conked out and he fell dead on the spot. As he so often said on stage, "Ain't that weird?"
"I didn't want this to be an impersonation or a documentary," Wright said. "What I'm hoping is that the show will rekindle Brother Dave's memory. He was an amazingly funny man."
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My Soul Is A Witness