The Coldharts, Katie Hartman and Nick Ryan, were hosted by House of Ithaqua on July 31, 2019, for a performance of their music-theatre piece, The Legend of White Woman Creek.
A thirteen-song cycle of love, betrayal, and revenge on the American frontier, sung by the Ghost of Anna Morgan Faber.
Since the late 1800s, inhabitants of western Kansas and eastern Colorado have claimed to witness the specter of a woman singing to herself at twilight, as she wanders along a dry, cracked stream-bed known as White Woman Creek. Some say she was killed, some say she killed herself, others say worse… but to hear the truth, you must hear Anna's song for yourself.
The Legend of White Woman Creek is a music-theatre piece inspired by a ghost story that weaves a tale of frontier life and peril through thirteen original folk songs, based on the traditional music of the era.
Created and performed by Katie Hartman
Created and directed by Nick Ryan
“A series of magnificent narrative songs, performed just perfectly... An absolute triumph of music, production and mischievous willingness to unnerve.”
“Her voice is a trained heart-tugging tool, and she expertly controls her vast range. Hartman can move from soft murmurs to cries so powerful you’ll need to have some tissues handy for when she really lets loose.”
“Not only best show of the Winter Mini-Fest, but one of the most moving musicals I’ve seen in many moons.”