‘The Ryman Diaries’

Award-winning actor/playwright/director Tom Dolan and author/musician/educator Debbie Mathis Watts will portray Music City legends Captain Tom Ryman and Bettie Baugh Ryman in the multi-media musical stage play “The Ryman Diaries” at 2:30 p.m. April 12 (Sunday) at The Williamson Country Public Library, 1314 Columbia Ave. in Franklin, Tenn.

The performance is part of the library’s “Theatre at the Library” series. Admission is free. Described as a 19th Century love story, “The Ryman Diaries” is a historical drama that depicts the life and times of Cumberland riverboat Captain Tom Ryman as told through the eyes of his wife, Bettie Baugh Ryman. The story covers 70 years of the couple’s lives through film media, stage acting, and original musical numbers. It tells of their unlikely romance, marriage, entrepreneurship, raising seven children on a riverboat, ultimate success, Christian conversion at a tent meeting, and the building of the Union Gospel Tabernacle.

The play is based on Watts’ book, with additional dialog from Dolan. The actors penned seven original songs for the production. Film clips feature flashbacks of young Bettie and historical stills provided by the Metro Archives. “Both Bettie and Tom had the hearts of musicians, so it was totally fitting that they would play and sing,” said Watts. “They were true romantics who laid the musical foundation for Middle Tennessee.” A veteran educator, professional pianist-vocalist, and author, Watts’ theatrical roles include Mollie in “Mousetrap” and Agnes in “I Do, I Do”. Dolan has received national acclaim starring as Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey”, Dr. Albert Schweitzer in “Memoirs from Africa”, and Sam Clemens in “Mark Twain Live”.

To learn more about the presentation at the Williamson County Library, visit http://lib.williamson-tn.org/. To learn more about the play, visit http://wattsd2.wix.com/rymandiaries or send an e-mail inquiry to [email protected] . (Photo by Chuck Whiting)