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About the Show
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The Rocket Boys return to West Virginia this July 2023, where the musical has been give the permanent status of a State Historical. It is the only stage production anywhere bearing native son and author Homer Hickams's name (Co-Book) and approval, and continues striving to honor the legacy of Mr. Hickam's life and work.

Rocket Boys The Musical tells the true tale of a misfit coal-miner's son who engages some skeptical friends to join his dream of rockets and space. The original memoir by Homer Hickam is one of the leading Community/Library Reads across the country, a staple on school lists, and is now published in nearly every language across the globe.

The musical held its NY industry-read June 2010 with a cast of Broadway pros under the esteemed Musical Direction of Joe Baker. It had its full staged reading premiere in Huntsville, AL ("Rocket City") in 2008, and also won ANMT's Search for New Musical Voices that year. In 2011 the beautiful 1260-seat Theatre West Virginia hosted Rocket Boys for its "official" World Premiere, followed by runs there in 2012, 2013, and 2018, with abridged versions presented annually at the Rocket Boys Festival. Fairmont State University presented a run of the show in 2014, and the final song "Rise" is frequently sung by high schools through the nation. The show enjoyed a month's professional development run at The Legacy Theatre in Atlanta in the spring of 2015, receiving a coveted Suzi Nomination right on opening night!

Theatrical Management

Latest News

TWV 2023 Production
July 14th -29th

Tickets at TheatreWestVirginia.org

Melissa Van Der Schyff

Broadway's Melissa Van Der Scyhff sings
" Why Stay" in the Legacy Threatre production of Rocket Boys the Musical.

Watch the Video >>
Read the Review >>

Big Creek High Yearbook 2023

Michael Williams
"SONNY" HICKAM

Brooks Cline
HOMER HICKAM

Carrie Poh
ELSIE HICKAM

Larry Smith
ROY LEE COOKE

Stevie Jenkins
WASHINGTON O'DELL

Ty Eller
QUENTIN WILSON

Rebekah New
VALENTINE CARMINA

Josie Jarrett
MISS FREIDA RILEY

Josh Taylor
JIM HICKAM

Sarah Leigh Beason
DOROTHY PLUNK

Greyson Grimmett
MR. TURNER

Ryan Johnson
BUCK

Timothy Runyan
IKE BYKOVSKI

Jax RF McAtee
JOHN EYE BLEVIN

Xander Alvarez
BASIL OGLETHORPE

Nick Yurick
BILL BOLT

Click on the Yearbook to download

2023 Rocket Boys Ensemble

Fence Wives
Savannah Vance
Sam Jenkins
Amy Taylor

Cheerleaders / Dancers
Kristen Fisher
Bailey Heffernan
Molly Featherston
Bella Wolfe
Emma Hanks

Football Boys / Miners

Policeman

Dr. John Lassiter
Timothy Runyan

Deck Manager

Mrs. Bykovski/Secretary (voice)
Amy Taylor

Savannah Vance

Sam Jenkins

Amy Taylor

Kristen Fisher

Bailey Heffernan

Molly Featherston

Production Team

TWV PRODUCTION TEAM

Sharon Chadwick - Director

Terry Chasteen - Music Director

- Stage Manager

- Choreographer

Paul Chadwick - Scenic Designer

Chase Stephens - Carpenter/ backstage tech

Tonry Lathrom - Lighting Designer

Nathaniel Bloomfield - Light Board Operator

Anthony Harbison - Master Sound Engineer

Susie Sayer - Costume Designer

Samanatha Ingram - Costume Assistant

Chris Bellinger - Props Manager

Chris Bellinger - Pyrotechnics

Sharon Chadwick

Choreographer

Susie Sayre

Chris Bellinger

Production Gallery

click image thumbnail for gallery

Quotes

"…one of the nation's most promising musicals… a timeless theme of a young man in search of his father's attention… dialogue, even song lyrics, coming directly from the author's words… this year's TWV production is fresh, with the addition of some new songs and/or lyrics to the show's already acclaimed score… it would hard to pick a favorite among the musical numbers! …The perfect extension of Hickam's work… sure to inspire kids everywhere, as well as exhilarating even the hardest of adult hearts."

- John Blankenship - Review, The Register-Herald

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"Rocket Boys pulls you into the action and quickly invests you in the characters with a passion rarely seen… punctuated with bright and intelligent humor… No character here is a 'throwaway' secondary role… each song is memorable… Rockets Boys makes science fun, human, and…cool. I have no doubt at all that it will premiere and succeed!"

- Jennifer Gunnel, The New York Review of Science Fiction

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"The opening number, aptly titled 'Coalwood', has lyrics so perfect they must be heard to be believed… composer/lyricists Diana Belkowski and Dan Tramon give us lyrics that mean something, lyrics that advance the plot… set to a score that sticks with you long after you leave the theater… Lessons are learned throughout the course of Rocket Boys The Musical… about integrity, morality and, yes, 'All Kinds of Love'."

- Dreama Denver, WGAG 93.1 FM - West Virginia

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"Rocket Boys is simply great theater, with a tremendous message… To be offered the opportunity to produce this show… is a chance of a lifetime and an extreme honor."

- Marina Hunley-Graham, Artistic Director, Theatre West Virginia

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"…A beautiful piece of work that touches the power of the individual and the majesty of the universal in the same gesture…"

- John Yurick, Composer / Arranger - Theatre West Virginia, West Virginia Dance Co.

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"Rocket Boys is simply great theater, with a tremendous message… To be offered the opportunity to produce this show… is a chance of a lifetime and an extreme honor."

- Marina Hunley-Graham, Artistic Director, Theatre West Virginia

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CreativeTeam

Homer Hickam (Co-Book)

Homer Hickam (Jr.) is probably best known for his # 1 New York Times best-selling memoir "Rocket Boys". The work is studied in many American and international school systems, and was the basis for the popular Hollywood film "October Sky." Now "Rocket Boys" has gone from the page to the stage, with the author himself part of the Creative Team.

Hickam also has legions of fans for his "Josh Thurlow" historical fiction series, plus his many other books (18 NY Times bestsellers!) Winner of the prestigious University of Alabama's Clarence Cason Award and the Appalachian Heritage Writer's Award for his memoirs and fiction, plus many other writing awards, include an honorary Doctorate of Literature from Marshall University. Mr. Hickam, a Vietnam combat veteran, has also been a coal miner, scuba instructor, NASA engineer, and an avid amateur paleontologist.

While working on his writing career, Mr. Hickam was employed as an engineer for the U.S. Army Missile Command from 1971 to 1981 assigned to Huntsville, Alabama, and Germany. He began employment with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at Marshall Space Flight Center in 1981 as an aerospace engineer. During his NASA career, Mr. Hickam worked in spacecraft design and crew training. His specialties at NASA included training astronauts on science payloads, and extravehicular activities (EVA). He also trained astronaut crews for many Spacelab and Space Shuttle missions, including the Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission, the first two Hubble repair missions, Spacelab-J (the first Japanese astronauts), and the Solar Max repair mission. Prior to his retirement in 1998, Mr. Hickam was the Payload Training Manager for the International Space Station Program.

Mr. Hickam is married to Linda Terry Hickam, an artist and his first editor and assistant. They love their cats and share their time between homes in Alabama and the Virgin Islands.

With Rocket Boys and Flyer, Dan Tramon and Diana Belkowski became two-time (consecutive-year, unprecedented) winners of the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Award. Both are "grads" of the by-invitation-only BMI Lehman–Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and recipients of two Billboard Music Awards for work in musical theatre and Contemporary Christian music.

Diana Belkowski (Co-Composer/Lyricist; Choral Arrangements)

A Juilliard alumnus, Diana won numerous awards as a classical pianist as a child and young adult. She traveled nationwide as a member of the Presidential Arts Committee, and has written material for both presidential and gubernatorial campaigns. A long-time Director of Sacred Music, Diana has extensively written for both children and adult choirs, including a Latin Concert Mass, a congregational Mass setting (Mass of Salvation, with arranger Paul Tate), and countless variations of well-known hymns. Aside from her collaborations with Dan Tramon, solo compositions include the score for Clarissa (Circle Rep Theatre), a 50-song educational series for Random House, regional & national jingles, and TV theme and credit music. Diana is delighted to have taken part in setting Homer Hickam's life-story to music and stage, and hopes the score will also serve to inspire, as Mr. Hickam has inspired millions to overcome circumstances and reach for the stars!

Dan Tramon (Co-Composer/Lyricist; Orchestrations)

Dan Tramon has been involved in New York musical theater for most of his life. A Juilliard Prep graduate (piano), he gave many recitals in Lincoln Center and sang numerous boy soprano roles at the Met. He then attended Columbia University, where he co-wrote and performed in the famed Varsity Shows, Rodgers and Hammerstein's original stomping grounds. After studies at the Institute of Audio Research, he began working for Broadway productions, eventually becoming one of the most sought-after Sound Engineers in NY theatre.

Dan has served as chief Broadway Sound engineer most recently for Kinky Boots, and in the same capacity for countless other B'way productions, such as In The Heights, Sister Act, Catch Me If You Can, Bonnie & Clyde, Billy Joel's Movin' Out, Dolly Parton's 9 To 5, Phil Collins/Disney's Tarzan, Swing, The Life, and many others. He was
Associate Sound Designer for Broadway's The Will Rogers Follies and Victor/Victoria. Dan served as Music Programmer for Paul Simon's Capeman, and Broadway's How To Succeed, Cats, and Beauty and The Beast. He orchestrated and performed digital music for Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Westbeth Theatre in NY. Dan also composed the pre-show music for The Rocky Horror Show on Broadway, and the score for a regional adaptation of Moliere's The Miser.

Carl Anthony Tramon (Co-Book / Sonny)

Three-time, twice Tony-nominated Broadway producer Carl Anthony Tramon grew up with the stage under his feet since age three. He is currently Director of the prestigious ATNY (Actors Technique New York) School, which now has affiliate studios in Tenafly and Ridgewood NJ. Directorial credits include Rocket Boys (New York City, Theatre West Virginia, Huntsville, AL, and ASCAP Disney Workshop, NY); Plain Beautiful (The Freeman Stage, DE); Flyer (The Freeman Stage and The Lamb's Theatre, NY); Einstein's Breakfast (Delaware PAC); Coconut Road (World Premiere, Delaware PAC); Fame, The Musical (Bardavon Opera House, NY); The Jeweler's Shop (Carnegie Hall and The United Nations, NY). Carl's most recent Broadway Producing Credits include the original Broadway production of Matilda, the Tony-nominated teen-pleaser Be More Chill (also London's West End), and the current hit Mr. Saturday Night with Billy Crystal (5 Tony nominations, 2022).

As an actor: Broadway, National Tours, and Equity Regional productions include Fame, the Musical; Amadeus (as Mozart); What Makes Sammy Run (title role); Peter Pan (w/Sandy Duncan); Gypsy (w/Angela Lansbury); Rags (directed by Stephen Schwartz); and many others. Carl received a coveted Best Actor award nomination by the Broadway League. He was privileged to enjoy and be featured in numerous boy soprano roles at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, many televised on Live from the Met, as well as other acclaimed TV or album recordings (The Clock, Amahl, etc).

Carl was also the lead member of the hugely successful international pop group UNETI. The music video of their hit "Take a Little Step" aired globally at length on MTV, and was chosen for a time to be the soundtrack for The New York Yankees in TV & Radio promotions for NYC.

Productions

2023 - Theatre TWV Production

Theatre West Virginia Presents
Rocket Boys the Musical

July 14th - July 29th, 2023

Cast

Director .............................................. Sharon Fenwald Chadwick

Sonny Hickam .................................................... Michael Williams

Homer Hickam Sr ...................................................... Brooks Cline

Elsie Hickam ................................................................ Carrie Poh

Roy Lee Cooke ........................................................... Larry Smith

Wash O'Dell ........................................................... Stevie Jenkins

Quentin Wilson .................................................................. Ty Eller

Miss Frieda Riley ....................................................... Josie Jarrett

Basil Oglethorpe ................................................... Xander Alvarez

Dorothy Plunk / Assistant Director ................ Sarah Leigh Beason

Vanlentine Carmina ................................................ Rebekah New

Jim Hickam.................................................................. Josh Taylor

Buck / Miner............................................................ Ryan Johnson

Ike Bykowski / Lassiter ................. ...................... Timothy Runyan

John "Eye" / Choreographer ....................................... Jax McAtee

Fence Wife .......................................................... Savannah Vance

Fence Wife ................................................................... Amy Taylor

Fence Wife ................................................................ Sam Jenkins

Cheerleader ............................................................. Kristen Fisher

Cheerleader ......................................................... Bailey Heffernan

Cheerleader ....................................................... Molly Featherston

Ensemble / Cheerleader................................................ Bella Wolfe

Ensemble / Cheerleader ............................................ Emma Hanks

Miner / Bill Bolt ............................................................... Nick Yurick

Miner / Turner ..................................................... Greyson Grimmett

Ensemble ................................................................. Caroline Moore

Ensemble .................................................................. Noah Munique

Production Team

Director ......................................................................... Sharon Fenwald Chadwick

Costume Designer ............................................................................... Susie Sayer

Scenic Designer ............................................................................... Paul Chadwick

Lighting Designer .............................................................................. Tonry Lathrom

Production Stage Manager ............................................................ Meaghan Macey

Musical Director ............................................................................... Terry Chasteen

Master Sound Engineer ............................................................... Anthony Harbison

Pyro Specialist .................................................................................. Chris Bellinger

Carpenter/ backstage tech/Football Player/Miner Rocket Boys ......Chase Stephens

Props Manager .................................................................................... Caysee Diehl

Costume Assistant ...................................................................... Samanatha Ingram

Light Board Operator ................................................................ Nathaniel Bloomfield

2022 - Theatre TWV Production

Theatre West Virginia Presents
Rocket Boys the Musical

July 8 - July 23, 2022

Cast

Sonny Hickam ........................................................ Jeremy Varner

Homer Hickam Sr .................................... Stephen Mitchell Brown

Elsie Hickam ............................................. Melissa van der Schyff

Roy Lee Cooke ............................................... Griffeth Whitehurst

Wash O'Dell .............................................................. Jared Brodie

Quentin Wilson .................................................. Justin Thompson

Miss Frieda Riley .................................................. Jordan Godwin

Basil Oglethorpe/Mr. Turner ................... Chase Steven Anderson

Dorothy Plunk .................................................. Alexandra Duncan

Vanlentine Carmina ................................................ Julissa Sabino

Jim Hickam/Ensemble ............................................. Joshua Brook

Bill Bolt/Ensemble ................................................ Robbie Kirkland

Ike Bykovski/Ensemble ................. ............................... Bert Lyons

John Lassiter/Policeman/Judge2/Ensemble .... Dakota Kuykendall

John "Eye" Blevin/Buck/Ensemble ......................... Paul Gourdeau

Fence Wife #1/Judge #1/Ensemble ........................ Tara Chiusano

Fence Wife #2/Ensemble ...................................... Katie Patterson

Fence Wife #3/Mrs. Bykovski/Ensemble ...................... Amy Alford

Fence Wife #4/Ensemble ....................................... Mandy Mitchell

Male Ensemble

Chase Steven Anderson (Miner)
Joshua Brook (Miner)
Dakota Kuykendall (Miner)
Robbie Kirkland (Bill Bolt)
Paul Gourdeau (John "Eye" Blevin")

Cheerleaders

Kelly Wilson
Kaley Bunce
Ann Marie Meeker
Catherine Cervone

Teen Ensemble

Chris Copelan
Lily Ramos

Youth of Coalwood

Morgan Miller
Elizabeth Wilson
Alex Huff

Ethan Schindewolf

2015 - The Legacy Theatre

Atlanta's Legacy Theatre Presents
Rocket Boys the Musical

April 17 - May 10, 2015