If you will be in Dallas, Texas, soon I have the perfect thing for you to do. Larry Gatlin’s musical “Quanah” will be debuting at the Irving Art Center Carpenter Performance Hall on April 28th. The musical, written by and starring country music legend Larry Gatlin will be featured there through May 7, 2017 and tickets are on sale now at www.lyricstage.org or by calling the box office at 972-252-2787.

Lyric Stage Presents The World Premiere Of Larry Gatlin’s Quanah

Today, country music legend Larry Gatlin announced the debut of his new musical, Quanah, presented by Lyric Stage. Larry explains, “For almost thirty years, I have been working on a musical about Quanah Parker, the last Comanche chief. It is the story of Quanah, his mother Cynthia Ann Parker, and the Parker family’s settling in Texas and the survival and ascendancy of the great Comanche people. It is, in part, a tragic, sad, heartbreaking story – a story of war, bloodshed, death and heartbreak – but it is, more importantly, a story celebrating the strength and power of the human spirit.”

“As a kid in west Texas, I had a vivid imagination and I loved to make up stories with which to entertain my family and friends. For the last 30 years, as I have grown into a crusty old coot, I have allowed my already vivid imagination to run wild – much like Quanah Parker, the last Comanche chief. We are going to perform this at the Irving Arts Center Carpenter Performance Hall from April 28th through May 7th. I invite you to come join us, use your imagination and to let our wonderful cast, orchestra and crew tell you this incredible story.”

“My wife Janis – who is NEVER wrong – believes that it is the best music I have ever written. Why don’t you come to the show and see if I am right about her always being right? Also, my sweet, beautiful, talented granddaughter Campbell did the pencil drawing of Quanah. It’s wonderful, don’t ya think?”

“One of the great blessings in my life is that the very best singer that I have ever heard, is going to play the double roles of Peta Nocona, Quanah’s father and Quanah, the last Comanche chief. HALLELUJAH. Almost 20 years ago, when I heard the background vocals on my solo gospel album, In My Life, I asked Mike Smith, the producer of the album, ‘who are those people singing the background vocals?’ He said, ‘Tanya Goodman Sykes, Michael Sykes, and some kid named David Phelps.’ I said, ‘Wow, that is the best vocal sound I have ever heard that wasn’t sung by someone named Gatlin.’

A couple of years later I heard David Phelps sing with the Gaither Vocal Band and I said to myself, ‘he’s the greatest singer I have ever heard.’ It was true then and it is true now. It is truly a God thing that David is going to play the double role of Quanah and Peta in our new musical. I thank God. I thank David Phelps. And I thank my old and dear friend, Bill Gaither, for making this happen.”

“I made my publicist write the press release this way… to better tell the story in my own words, so don’t give him any CRAPOLA!”

Multiple Dove and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, David Phelps is Quanah. Larry will play Old Ranger. The supporting cast includes Brett Warner as Lucinda, Lauren Scott as Cynthia Ann, Daron Cockerell as Nauda, Sony Franks as McKenzie and Tim Brawner as James Parker. Other supporting roles and members of the ensemble are played by Abigail Gardner, Jonathan McGinnis, Teresa Natera, Ian Moore, Angela Davis, Jamal Houston, Mindamora Rocha, Michael McMillan, Alison Wheaton, Steve Sifford, Shelbie Mac, Caitlin Galloway and Mindy Bell.Quanah arranger Galen Butler conducts the Lyric Stage Orchestra with direction and choreography by John De Los Santos. Performances are April 28 and 29 and May 4, 5, and 6 at 7:30 PM and April 30 and May 6 at 2:30 PM in the Irving Arts Center Carpenter Performance Hall in Dallas, Texas.Tickets on-sale now at www.lyricstage.org.