live music, dance, & puppetry inspired by Appalachian ballads
Gloaming Project presents
The Ballad Tree
Inspired by Appalachian ballads - old English, Scottish, and Irish folk songs carried over to early North America - the ballads are presented through live music, song, dance, and puppetry.
The Ballad Tree embraces the oral tradition of ballads while acknowledging their journey of modification with new interpretations and inspirations. Focusing on the romantic “Murder Ballads” the songs will include both popular and lesser-known ballads as well as original ballad-inspired music and dance.
Akin to fairytales, the ballads speak to challenging emotions and situations. Despite their dark themes, there is a serene beauty in their trance-like, emotional states.
The Ballad Tree has been developed through performances supported by the following: Dixon Place NYC Performance Residency 2014, Delaware County Community Arts Grant 2024, and a gracious 2025 winter run at The Open Eye Theater in Margaretville, NY. We are currently pursuing performance and touring opportunities. More information coming soon.
“As long as people love a story and their senses respond to sound and movement, the ballad tree, rooted in the past, living today, will send forth its branches into tomorrow.” – Evelyn Wells
Run-time approx 1-hour
