Jack in the City is the culmination of a year-long cultural identity project based on the life stories of urban Appalachian residents in Covington, Kentucky. We began in the Fall of 1996 gathering oral histories in the community, with training provided by folklorist Lynn David and Jean Donohue of Media Working Group. Author and scholar Gurney Norman worked with the collaborating team exploring Appalachian identity and the Jack and Molly tales. Writer Brenda Saylor led writing workshops with community members.

 The collaborating team met once a month to process the stories and information that had been gathered. In April of 1997, Angelyn Debord, former Roadside Theatre member, worked with us on ways to tell our own stories. In July, visiting playwright Eddie Kerr from Derry, Ireland worked with the group on the process of developing theatre based on community stories. By September, the rehearsals began and the piece was performed in early November, 1997.

 For me, this project has been one of the most exciting and challenging productions I have ever participated in. The process of developing the project has been as significant as directing the production itself. In the spirit of true community arts Jack in the City has been developed by the community, for the community and is presented in the community.

• Director's Notes
  
• The Power of Tradition
  
• The Oral Histories
  
• The Photographs
  
• Performance Notes
  
• The Music
  
• The Documentary
  
• The Monograph
  
• The Study Guide
  
• Supporters of Jack in the City