The Town of Old Oak Ridge
A fictional South Carolina town celebrates its 350th anniversary in the shade of a majestic 500-year-old angel oak. Wrapped in small-town gossip, iconic townsfolk, plenty of Southern sass, and a foot-stomping 1950s rock-and-roll score, Old Oak Ridge asks how we honor our roots while still letting new branches grow.
Welcome to Old Oak Ridge! This story began with a desire to explore the things closest to my heart: family, my Southern roots, and our responsibility to the environment. Set against the backdrop of a fictional South Carolina town celebrating its 350th anniversary, this musical centers around a majestic 500-year-old angel oak tree. Inspired by the famous Angel Oak in Charleston, this ancient tree serves as a symbol of our history, our beauty, and our connection to one another.
At its core, Old Oak Ridge asks some of life's most meaningful questions: How do we pass down what is important from our family and carry on a legacy? How do we avoid staying too tied to the past when there is an important call on our present and future? How do we balance honoring our roots while still allowing new branches to grow?
To explore these themes, we chose to wrap them in the vibrant energy of small-town gossip, iconic townsfolk, plenty of Southern sass, and a foot-stomping score. The 1950s is a favorite musical era of mine, and using that golden age of rock and roll felt like the perfect way to draw audiences into this world. When I brought this concept to Carol Taubl, our Co-Founder and Music Writer/Director, she immediately jumped on board, drawing from her own deep Southern roots to help bring this soundscape to life.
Collaborating to make this show both hilariously funny and deeply moving has been an absolute privilege. We wanted to offer a production that captures the warmth of Southern hospitality while telling a story about a community bound by generations of love and ambition. It is a tribute to the "angels" in our lives and the deep roots that keep us grounded, even when outside forces try to shake the branches.
Thank you for sitting under the oak tree with us tonight, and we hope you enjoy the show!
Musical Numbers
Tap a performer's name in Cast & Crew to learn more about who's singing.
The Old Oak Ridge Band
Cast & Crew
Tap anyone to read their story. Every person on this page — on stage and behind it — is part of what makes this town feel alive.
Our Sponsors & Local Partners
These local businesses and friends make original theater possible — please give them your support, just as they’ve supported us. Sections below follow our sponsorship packages, and each sponsor’s ad appears just as it does in a printed playbill ad book. If you visit, tell them Old Oak Ridge sent you!
Support Us
As a nonprofit theater company, SOUND & Stage relies on the generosity of our community to bring original musicals like Old Oak Ridge to life. If you laughed, cried, or left inspired — help us create the next one.
Enjoyed the show?
Every contribution makes a difference — and every dollar goes back into original theater, music education, and this community. SOUND Affect is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; donations are tax-deductible.
Thank you for being part of the story!
Tree Angels for Haiti
Dedicated to preventing environmental crises and reducing poverty through education, wellness initiatives, community gardens, and tree-planting programs. In a country prone to hurricanes, floods, and landslides, trees are nature's defense mechanism — just like our angel oak.
Thank You
Donors
- New England Brewing Company
- Blur Barber Shop
Volunteers
- Sarah Culburtson
- Marjorie Drucker
- Gary Drucker
- Emma Gilshannon
- Davis Modarelli
- Frank Williams
Front of House
- Frank Williams
- Nathan Riddle
- Cheri Charney
- Vicki Acampora
- Lisa Coppola
Supporters
- Congregation of B'nai Jacob and Ezra Academy, for their support of our nonprofit and the use of their facilities and resources
- Gwen Ketchum, for donating family antiques from Ernest August June
- Christian Heritage School, for donating costumes and props
From everyone at Sound & Stage and the Old Oak Ridge family — thank you.