Listen to The Storied Song, and hear Appalachian ballads like never before.
After years of research, writing, rehearsals and fundraising $20,000 . . . our ballad podcast is here!
The Storied Song is an audio drama series from Appalachia Book Company that transforms traditional Appalachian ballads into fully produced radio plays with original sound design and live ballad performance. These stories have been passed down for generations because they still mean something. We asked contemporary playwrights to find out what.
The Ballads
Lord Bateman. A prison, a promise, and a woman who crosses the world to collect on both. One of the oldest ballads to come to America gets a modern take by playwright Ida Esmaeili.
Tom Dula. A love triangle, a knife, and no one left to tell the truth. Playwright Jess Wells brings to life the story made famous by The Kingston Trio.
The Farmer’s Curst Wife. The Devil comes to collect, then changes his mind. Playwright Diana Jean Skeen humanizes the Devil and his tormentor in this supernatural story.
The Wreck of the Old 97. A engineer pushes a mail train past its limits, and pays the price. One of the fascinating railroad disaster ballads, re-imagined by playwright Ann Gillespie.
Meet the Cast and Production Team
Tayler Bolling
Tayler Bolling, a native of Wise, Virginia, has been a member of the performing-arts community since the age of six, performing in ballets, plays, musicals, and operas. While she is mighty grateful for the opportunities this area of Appalachia has provided, she is excited to begin a new chapter of her life while always being thankful for her theater family. To quote her father's favorite NASCAR driver, Richard Petty, "My racin' days is over."
Photo: Brandon White
actor
G. Rosa Bott
Rosa graduated from UVA Wise in 2005 with a Bachelor's Degree in Technical Theatre. She worked at Barter Theatre, the state theatre of Virginia, from 2005–2010 as a Sound Engineer and Sound Designer for the Barter Players. She now works at UVA Wise as the Media Services Coordinator, where she handles A/V for all campus events. Rosa also designs sound for productions at UVA Wise Theatre and works with several Wise County schools on their theatre productions each year, as well as with the Pro-Art Association.
Sound designer
playwrightIda EsmaeiLi
Ida Esmaeili is a Swedish-Iranian writer, actor, and songwriter currently based in New York City. Her work has been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Ars Nova, Lenfest Center for the Arts, Guild Hall of East Hampton, and at Pale Blue Dot Theatre Company. She received her MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University and is represented by Paradigm Talent Agency.
playwrightAnn Gillespie
Ann Gillespie is a playwright and performer who lives in Brooklyn, New York. She recently performed her show "Flowers: Live! Onstage!" at The Owl Music Parlor. Ann's darkly comedic and nuanced writing for theater and film emphasizes movement, ambiguous moral dilemmas, and strong female characters. Plays include The End of a Sound; Choreographing a Rape Scene to go into a Feminist Play; and Bunnies Inside of Her. While earning her BFA in Drama at Syracuse University, Ann was able to study performance at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. Ann later went on to earn an MA in Text and Performance from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. The End of a Sound was a Semi-Finalist for The Relentless Award, and was workshopped at Texas Tech University.
Website: anngillespieplaywright.com
Photo: Leigh Pike
Celeste Holmes
Celeste Holmes is currently a theatre student at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Throughout her years as a performer she has played many roles including Popo in "The Marvelous Imaginary Menagerie," Missy Hart/Dance Captain in "9 to 5," Beatrice Joanna in "The Changeling," and many more. Celeste's passion for the performing arts stems from her love of dance. She will be spending the summer of 2026 at the American Dance Festival where she will further study dance and performance.
Instagram: @celestdriall
Photo credit: Ethan Stover
Actor
Holden Howard
Holden Howard originates from Chilhowie, VA and attends the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Holden has participated in numerous plays and theatre events, including Michael McNulty's production of "9 to 5" as Joe, and Michael Hunt's production of "A Thick Description of Harry Smith Vol. 1" as Blank Marlowe. Holden has also participated in and produced numerous plays with the New Play Festival, played Captain Hook/Mr. Darling in "Peter/Wendy," played Berenger in "Rhinoceros," and performed as Audrey in "As You Like It."
Instagram: @holdenhoward04
Photo: Ethan Stover and Celeste Holmes
actor
actorJess Mullins Fullen
Jess is the daughter of Kimberly Ellen, the granddaughter of Phyllis Jean, and the great-granddaughter of Wonnie Francis. A performance artist, writer, and organizer, she lives in Southwestern Virginia, rooted in the hills and hollers of Eastern Kentucky where she was born and raised. A trained theater practitioner, Jess has performed in more than two dozen original and revival productions, including Macbeth, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Urinetown, and Medea. Through poetry recitation and living history storytelling, her proudest work onstage has been lifting up the legacy of the "Songbird of the Cumberlands," Effie Waller Smith. Offstage, Jess is, above all, a mother to two little ones. She can make a mean meatloaf and cast iron pone — and she's still working on the apple stack cake. Check back later.
Website: linkedin.com/in/jessmullinsfullen | Instagram: @jlmxxo
Photo: Dalton Emershaw, Co-Founder, Mountain Misfits Theater Company
directorMichael McNulty
Michael McNulty is a passionate advocate of inclusive, transformational experiences in pursuit of civic virtue, a committed tryer-on of others' shoes for mile-walking, and a chaser of challenging perspectives, inspired recognitions, and good cheer. Having worked for more than 25 years as a theatrical designer and director while holding a number of positions in arts and educational leadership, Michael generally enjoys wrestling with questions about life and art while attempting to render some difference in both. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Pro-Art Association and as a Professor of Theatre Arts at the University of Virginia's College at Wise.
Website: amusemeants.com
Ashlyn Mullins
actorAshlyn Mullins is a native of Wise, Virginia, and a graduate of the University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA–Wise). A performer, director, and singer, she is deeply committed to arts education and to creating meaningful theatrical experiences for young performers. Her recent credits include work with Florida Repertory Theatre and Shreds & Patches Theatre Company, where she appeared as Wendy in Peter/Wendy. She has toured nationally with the National Theatre for Children and across the East Coast with Bright Star Touring Theatre.
Website: ashlyngabrielle.com | Instagram: @ashlyn.g.mullins
Photo: Michelle Mullins
Samuel O’Sullivan
post audio mixerIn 2012, Samuel O'Sullivan received two bachelor’s degrees in Audio Engineering and Music Composition simultaneously. Since, he has worked in Film, Television, and Music recording on location and in his studio, SOS Sound Studio in Tillson, NY.
Website: sossoundstudio.com | Instagram: @sossoundstudio
narrator/MusicianWilliam Ritter
William Ritter is a seasoned old-time fiddler, seed-saver, and ballad singer from the mountains of Mitchell County, North Carolina. Deeply passionate about preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of his region, William weaves together stories, songs, and seeds, believing that these old ways hold the key to building resilient communities. His dedication to Appalachian traditions led him to a life-changing apprenticeship with renowned ballad singer and storyteller Bobby McMillon in 2020. The following year, William released his first solo album, Mentor.
Website: songtoseed.com | Instagram: @songtoseed
Photo: Liz Terry
artist/illustratorJess Shadrick
Jess Shadrick is an independent graphic artist and illustrator with a passion for creative storytelling and visual design. Alongside freelance and personal artistic projects, Jess works full time with Appalachian Regional Healthcare under the ARH Institute, managing learning management systems and training content that support internal education across the hospital system. Blending technical expertise with an artistic perspective, Jess enjoys creating engaging visuals across a variety of mediums and projects. Their work is driven by creativity, adaptability, and a love for meaningful design.
Website: jshadrick.crevado.com | Facebook: jshadr00
Diana Jean Skeen
Diana Jean Skeen is an artist from Kentucky who writes poems, plays, and songs about her experiences growing up surrounded by poverty, addiction, and love. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and holds an MFA in Poetry from Saint Mary's College of California. Her poems can be found in New Overland Review, Rococo Beat, and Jimson Weed. In 2024, she was longlisted for the Ploughshares Emerging Writers Contest. Diana writes music with her partner in their band Please Save My Earth and still hopes love will change the world.
Website: pleasesavemyearth.bandcamp.com | Instagram: @dianajeanskeen
Photo: Collin Skeen
playwright
Jess Wells
Born and raised in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, Jess Wells is a writer interested in place, sound, and the things that power love and hate. She credits her passion and craft of writing to the mamaws and papaws in her life, where storytelling and song came second to breathing. This is her first radio play production.
Instagram: @thebeejess and @juneobug
playwright
Writer/ProducerNatalie Axton
Natalie is the founder and director of programs at Appalachia Book Company.
PublisherAppalachia Book Company
The Storied Song was recorded at the Appalachian Center for the Performing Arts in Pikeville, KY on Sept. 26, 2025. Thank you to all who attended!
Acknowledgements
This podcast started as a murder ballad pilot in Sept. 2020. Our original funding came from West Virginia Humanities Council, and our initial team included Michael McNulty, Trevor McKenzie, Natalie Axton, Joe Necessary, Samuel O’Sullivan, Jess Shadrick, Ashlyn Mullins, Kara Dotton, John Luke Sage, Trevor Meade and Elizabeth LaPrelle.
The Storied Song was recorded at the Appalachian Center for the Performing Arts in Pikeville, KY on Sept. 26, 2025. Thank you to all who attended!
Thank you to our funders.
Get in Touch
Want to bring The Storied Song to your stage, or help us make the next season? We'd love to hear from you.