This powerful true-story theatrical event brings testimony, music, and urgent human storytelling to Middle Georgia
Coal Country, the acclaimed documentary play by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, with music and lyrics by Steve Earle, will be presented June 4–14, 2026, at the Tattnall Square Center for the Arts, 1096 College Street, Macon by Barking Dog Productions with support from Macon Arts Alliance.
Based on interviews, public testimony, and official records surrounding the 2010 Upper Big Branch mining disaster in West Virginia, Coal Country tells the true story of the explosion that killed 29 miners and forever changed an entire community.
Part documentary theatre, part memorial, and part act of witness, Coal Country gives voice to miners, family members, investigators, and survivors in a deeply human exploration of labor, grief, accountability, and resilience.
Directed by Sydney H. Chalfa, the production brings this nationally recognized documentary work to Middle Georgia audiences in an intimate black box setting that creates direct emotional connection between performers and audience.
“Coal Country asks us to listen,” said director Sydney H. Chalfa. “Not to abstractions. Not to statistics. To people.”
Producer John Chalfa added: “This is a story about labor, community, responsibility, and human dignity. It begins in Appalachia, but its questions belong everywhere.”
The production includes live music by singer-songwriter Steve Earle, woven throughout the storytelling.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Thursday, June 4 — 7:30 PM
Friday, June 5 — 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 6 — 7:30 PM
Sunday, June 7 — 2:30 PM
Thursday, June 11 — 7:30 PM
Friday, June 12 — 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 13 — 7:30 PM
Sunday, June 14 — 2:30 PM
VENUE
Tattnall Square Center for the Arts
1096 College Street
Macon, Georgia
TICKETS
$10 plus fees
Purchase tickets HERE
A portion of proceeds benefits Centenary Community Ministries.
About Barking Dog Productions
Barking Dog Productions is a Macon-based collective of theatre artists dedicated to documentary, socially engaged, and conversation-starting performance. Barking Dog Productions creates work that explores urgent social questions through story, testimony, music, and live performance.
About Macon Arts Alliance
For 40 years, Macon Arts Alliance has fostered support for the advancement of arts and culture in Central Georgia. We strive to be an innovative leader of a thriving regional arts community. We value strategic partnerships that strengthen the diversity and vibrancy of arts and culture for tourists, residents, artists, businesses, and civic organizations.
