Dark of the Moon

This perennial favorite, first produced on Broadway in 1945, is based on the haunting Scottish folk song “The Ballad of Barbara Allen.” Employing a large cast and imaginative settings, Dark of the Moon recounts the story of John, a strange “witch boy” who falls in love with the beautiful Barbara Allen in a small town in the Smoky Mountains. John is given human form to woo and marry Barbara – on the condition that she remain true to him for at least one year. The marriage is consummated, and Barbara gives birth to a witch child, whom the townspeople destroy in a superstitious frenzy. During a religious revival, Barbara is led to betray her husband, thus breaking their spell of love. As she dies, John returns forever to the world of the mountain witches.

The play has been highly praised for its unique blend of Appalachian storytelling, gothic spiritualism and powerful exploration of love and fate. Described as a “hicksville meets Shakespeare,” Dark of the Moon delves into the clash between religious fundamentalism and otherworldly paganism, raising compelling questions about faith, love and death.