After years of waiting, it is finally official: Atlanta's Alliance Theatre will host the musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County in Spring 2012.
FearNet reports the collaboration between legendary author Stephen King
and veteran rocker John Mellencamp
has been in the works for nearly 11 years, and now it is keeping audiences waiting no longer. It is described as a "Southern Gothic musical fraught with mystery, tragedy and ghosts from the past" based on murders in Mississippi that took place in 1957. The only man that knows the secret behind the 40-year legend is the main character, who must confront the ghosts of the murder victims before they annihilate him and his sons.Mellencamp was inspired by these real-life events to create the songs for the play, then had King write the play - with renowned producer T Bone Burnett
(O Brother, Where Art Thou?
) as the music director, along with Alliance artistic director Susan V. Booth directing. Booth also was said to have given input on the script, according to DreadCentral.Here is the synopsis of the play, courtesy of DreadCentral & the Alliance Theatre:
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County is a chilling new musical with music and lyrics by John Mellencamp and book by Stephen King. Based on a true story, one of the world's most popular authors and one of America's most honored musicians have created a riveting Southern Gothic musical fraught with mystery, tragedy, and ghosts of the past along with a roots and blues-tinged score that is sure to leave audiences asking for more.
In the tiny town of Lake Belle Reve, Mississippi, in 1957, a terrible tragedy took the lives of two brothers and a beautiful young girl. During the next 40 years the event of that night became the stuff of local legend. But legend is often just another word for lie. Joe McCandless knows what really happened; he saw it all. The question is whether or not he can bring himself to tell the truth in time to save his own troubled sons and whether the ghosts left behind by an act of violence will help him- or tear the McCandless family apart forever.
The musical will premiere on April 4, 2012 and run until May 13, 2012.
told TMZ he wants to investigate the "possibly demonic" entities in the house. Even though the contestants moved out of the house weeks ago, he feels the best way to try to contact the spirits is by bringing the "idols" back to the house to use them as "trigger objects," which could possibly stir up activity.