“Quanah,” the Parker Family Saga, is a new musical written by Grammy Award-winning country music legend Larry Gatlin. It is the story of Quanah Parker, the last Comanche chief, his mother Cynthia Ann Parker and the Parker Family settling in Texas — and the survival and ascendancy of the great Comanche people. It is, in part, a tragic, sad, heartbreaking story — a story of war, bloodshed, death and heartbreak — but it is, more importantly, a story celebrating the strength and power of the human spirit. Gatlin’s wife Janis, who says he is never wrong, believes that it is the best music he has ever written.
Gatlin says, “As a kid in west Texas, I always had a vivid imagination and I loved to make up stories with which to entertain my friends and playmates. For the last 30 years, as I have grown into an old coot, I have allowed my vivid imagination to run wild, much like Quanah Parker, the last Comanche chief. I invite you to come join us… use your imagination and let our wonderful cast, orchestra, and crew tell you this incredible story.”
“Almost 20 years ago, when I heard the background vocals on my solo gospel album, ‘In My Life,’ I asked Mike Smith, the producer of the album, ‘who are those people singing the background vocals?’” notes Gatlin. “He said, Tanya Goodman Sykes, Michael Sykes, and some kid named David Phelps. I said, ‘Wow, that is the best vocal sound I have ever heard that wasn’t sung by someone named Gatlin.’ A couple of years later I heard David Phelps sing with the Gaither Vocal Band and I said to myself, ‘he’s the greatest singer I have ever heard.’ It was true then and it is true now. It is truly a God thing that David is going to play the double role of Quanah and Peta in our new musical. I thank God. I thank David Phelps. And I thank my old and dear friend, Bill Gaither, for making this happen.”
Multiple Dove and Grammy Award-winning artist David Phelps is Quanah. Gatlin will play Old Ranger. The supporting cast includes Brett Warner as Lucinda, Lauren Scott as Cynthia Ann, Daron Cockerell as Nauda, Sonny Franks as McKenzie and Tim Brawner as James Parker.
Other supporting roles and members of the ensemble are played by Jonathan McInnis, Justin Duncan, J. Anthony Holmes, Rhett Warner, Teresa Natera, Ian Mead Moore, Angela Davis, Jamall Houston, Mindamora Rocha, Michael McMillan, Alison Wheaton, Branden Loera, Nik Blocker, Robert Twaddell, Nicholas Godfrey, Parker Weathersbee, Steve Sifford, Shelbie Mac, Caitlin Galloway, and Mindy Bell.
“Quanah” composer Galen Butler conducts the Lyric Stage Orchestra with direction and choreography by John De Los Santos.
Performances are April 28th and 29th and May 4, 5, and 6 at 7:30 PM and April 30th and May 6th at 2:30 PM in the Irving Arts Center Carpenter Performance Hall in Irving, Texas.
Tickets on sale now at www.lyricstage.org or by calling the Box Office at 972-252-2787.
