IN SOME DARK VALLEY

The Testimony of Reverend Brand

Written and Performed by Robert Bailey
Directed by Billy Siegenfeld

One moonlit night, Reverend Brand, a fiery 19th century circuit preacher, emerges from the shadowy mountains of Appalachia and our collective history to weave a tale of religious fervor set against a landscape scarred by war, poverty and disease… a story that also shines a light on rare moments of tender and resilient redemption. Robert Bailey’s solo performance grapples with the inevitable clash between an unyielding vision of moral rectitude and the tragic personal destruction it leaves in its wake. Embodying multiple characters while also singing gorgeous traditional songs handed down through generations of Southerners, Bailey transports the audience to a land and era that is haunting and illuminating in its relevance to today.

Opening August 16th

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“Finely crafted… delightfully dark but there is also humor and outstanding storytelling through finely etched characters… a powerful and highly entertaining show that takes full advantage of the lights and sound design to draw you into a musty, backwoods world.”

Dan Ruth, LA Hidden Gems

“Bailey commands the stage masterfully, with a robust physical presence while he envelops the theatre in the essence of post-bellum America through his sincere singing from hymns of the period… exceptional and exquisite work.”

Ernest Kearney, The TVolution

“Inspired by Ibsen’s Brand, Robert Bailey has created a soul-searching depiction of a man called to preach repentance to his neighbors while struggling to reconcile his own personal decisions before God. Bailey gives a masterful performance filled with the voices, spoken and sung, of 19th century Appalachia. The transitions between characters are seamless, like a mountain stream over smooth stones, as Bailey brings to life each person’s witness. In Some Dark Valley is one of those rare works that asks the difficult questions of life with unflinching honesty and emotion.

— Reverend Greg Batson, First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica CA