Tammy Wynette musical coming to Red Bay theater

The Bay Tree Council for the Performing Arts stays busy every year producing plays that attract crowds from several different states, but as a special treat for residents this year, instead of producing the play, the BTCPA will host a brand new musical about Red Bay legend Tammy Wynette.

“Standing by Tammy Wynette: The Donna Chapel Story,” written and directed by Robert Baker and performed by the Renaissance Theatre out of Huntsville, will take place on July 22 and 23 at the Red Bay Arts and Entertainment Center. Scotty Kennedy, who has served several times as chairman of the BTCPA board and director of numerous plays, said he is excited Red Bay will host such a great group of performers.

“I have seen this play and it is outstanding,” Kennedy said. “I think the citizens of Red Bay will enjoy this production.”

The production chronicles the life of Wynette as told from the perspective of her stepdaughter from 1967 until 1968, Donna Chapel.

Chapel sang alongside Wynette when her father, Don, was married to her and served as her road manager. Chapel kept in touch with Wynette even after Wynette and her father divorced in 1968 and she married country music legend George Jones. Chapel’s account of the early years in Wynette’s budding musical career up through her passing in 1998 cover the struggles and adventures she encountered when “standing by” Wynette.

The musical naturally features some of Wynette’s biggest and most well-known hits and is a must-see for music fans everywhere.

“Standing by Tammy Wynette: The Donna Chapel Story” will be July 22 at 7 p.m. and July 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Red Bay Arts and Entertainment Center in downtown Red Bay. Tickets are $14. Tickets can be purchased by calling 256-356-8758 or by visiting www.renaissancetheatre.net.