Lisa Soland’s original play to be performed this Veteran’s Day

WISE – “Sergeant York: The Play” will be presented at Lee Theatre in Pennington Gap on Veteran’s Day, Monday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. Written and directed by Lisa Soland, this one-man-show starring Greg Helton depicts the life and times of Pall Mall, Tennessee resident Sergeant York. Alvin C. York was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest wherein he killed 28 German soldiers and singlehandedly captured 132 others in the battle of the Argonne forest, France. Gary Cooper won an Academy Award for best actor portraying York in the beloved 1941 film, Sergeant York.

Lisa Soland’s work also dramatizes what York accomplished in his community following the war. She received a Tennessee Arts Commission Grant for her work on the play and currently teaches playwriting at Maryville College. Ms. Soland has over 50 international publications with four of the top play publishers, and has produced and/or directed over 100 shows, most of which have been premieres.

Greg Helton was born and raised in Morristown, Tennessee, and has been involved in many theatre productions throughout the region, including Lisa Soland’s play “Waiting”. Mr. Helton is the proud father of Heather Mariah who shares in her father’s love for the theatre.

“Sergeant York: The Play” originally opened in the HUB on the campus of West Park Baptist Church on April 20, 2018, and the one-man show has been touring ever since, with performances in Pall Mall, the Alvin York Institute in Jamestown, and New York City!

Soland did two years of research to put the play together, wanting to ensure its historical accuracy. Deborah York, Executive Director of the Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation and great granddaughter of Alvin York, said about the play: “‘Sergeant York: The Play’ is wonderful. Playwright Lisa Soland has really captured the heart and soul of what my great grandfather, Alvin York, was all about. She’s done extensive research, not only on Sergeant York, but interviews with the family, spending a lot of time in Pall Mall, getting to know the culture and the family, and the story about the man behind the medals. This play captures Sergeant York’s loyalty to God and country, and his service to the community. It’s simply a wonderful play.”

A talkback with Lisa Soland and Greg Helton will follow the performance. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at leetheatre.org. All students and veterans are free to attend, and Pro-Art season tickets will be honored. This performance is brought to you by the Pro-Art Association, for more information and to purchase season tickets, please visit proartva.org.