Sedona AZ (January 17, 2018) – On Saturday January 27th at 630 pm, at The Hub at Sedona Posse Grounds, there will be a celebration of the birthday of author and environmental activist Ed Abbey. Several of Sedona’s most notable voices will lend their talents so that the words of Edward Abbey can be heard once again. Abbey’s works, both fiction and essays concern themselves with preserving America’s wilderness and bolstering individual liberties. Abbey’s most famous works were the nonfiction classic Desert Solitaire and the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang a call to militant defense of the earth. Abbey was famous for confounding his enemies and inspiring his admirers.
The show will also pay tribute to recent passing of long time Jerome resident and fellow environmental activist Katie Lee. Inducted into the Arizona Entertainer Hall of Fame for her singing and songwriting she was a friend of Ed Abbey’s. The two of them were united in their mutual hatred of Glen Canyon Dam and defense of the earth in general. Candace Gallagher will share some personal anecdotes of her good friend, author and songwriter Katie Lee. As a special treat visual artist, spoken word performer and traveling troubadour Wendy Harford will join Candace in rousing renditions of some of Katie Lee’s songs such as the Muddy River Drinking Song.
Sedona is home to James Bishop Jr., author of the best biography of Ed Abbey ever written, Epitaph for a Desert Anarchist. Bishop had unprecedented access to Abbey’s personal papers, photos, friends, family and acquaintances while writing this classic biography. Bishop will be on hand to lend his own words, thoughts and memories to the event.
In what is expected to be one of the evening’s highlights, words from Bishop’s Epitaph for a Desert Anarchist will be either directly quoted or paraphrased, followed by quotations using Edward Abbey’s own words. It was difficult deciding whom to cast reading Edward Abbey’s words. It needed to be someone who could carry the same level of literary gravitas which Abbey carried with him. Promoters of the show thought immediately of John Soderberg. Soderberg is as famous for his charity work as he is for his sculptures. With a big booming voice and a charismatic aura it was felt that Soderberg was the perfect choice to deliver the words of Edward Abbey so they might be seared into the hearts of the audience.
Kate Hawkes made an immediate splash on the Sedona scene both as founder of Red Earth Theater and organizer at The Hub. When she discovered there was going to be a show about Ed Abbey, she insisted on being a part of the production. Abbey’s words are near and dear to her heart and she wanted to make sure these words were heard and not forgotten. She will be helping adapt an essay by Katie Lee about a visit she made to Abbey’s fire watch tower one summer.
Tickets are $12 ahead of time and $15 the day of the show. Tickets are available online through Brown Paper Ticket athttps://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3236274. Tickets are also available at The Hub during business hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday12 -2 and Friday 9-1 or by directly contacting Gary Every garyevery@gmail.com or Wendy Harford at NotJustPapier@gmail.com.
Producer’s Wendy Harford and Gary Every felt that the current political and environmental climate make Ed Abbey’s words as important and prescient as they have ever been. Organizing this show, they hoped that hearing the words of Edward Abbey would once again inspire people to action and passionate defense of wilderness. After the show, cake will be served for what we hope will be an inspiring discussion about how to create a better world. Won’t you join us at The Hub in Posse Grounds Park at 525B Posse Grounds Road at 630 pm on Saturday January 27th for a theatrical celebration of the great author as well as pay tribute to the life of Katie Lee.