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March 12, 2007

' Woody' coming to life at Sooner Theatre

For The Transcript

K.C. Mathey, acclaimed Woody Guthrie scholar and musician, will present his free two act presentation, "Woody Guthrie: An Oklahoma Living Legend" 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the historic Sooner Theatre, 101 E Main St.

The performance is an official Norman Centennial program sponsored by the Cleveland County Historical Society and part of the Norman Libraries "Big Read" Program.

Mathey started his focus on Guthrie' s life and times by playing at the open mic area at Okemah' s Woody Guthrie' s Folk Festivals for a few years before being hired to do specialized performances on Guthrie for the Oklahoma Humanities Council "History Alive!" programs, designed for Oklahoma school students from fourth grade to high school seniors.

Mathey' s performance is endorsed by Mary Jo Guthrie Edgmon, Woody' s youngest sister and only living sibling. Mathey participates in Mary Jo' s benefit for Huntington' s Chorea at the Okemah festival every year, and has played at the Pampa, Texas, Woody Guthrie Tribute for three years, headlining the event in 2005.

Mathey, born in Tulsa, grew up in Oklahoma City before moving to Santa Fe, N.M., and then traveling with a guitar and two cats to Ashland, Ore., before returning to the city.

His life seems to mirror Guthries' in some ways. Both have worked as sign painters, have traveled far and wide with little to live on but wits, and chronicled their travels in a series of songs.

Mathey' s "Living Legends" show is set in 1946.

Guthrie was living on Mermaid Avenue in New York City with wife Marjorie and small daughter Kathy Ann. He wrote most of his biggest hits and was well-known as a columnist and a champion for the poor and downtrodden.

Mathey will tell the tale of Guthrie' s writing "This Land is Your Land" on Feb. 23, 1940, and recording it in 1943. He' ll discuss the song based on "Grapes of Wrath," and Tom Joad, based on the lead character in the film play by Henry Fonda.

The performance also will include "Oklahoma Hills" several songs from the "Grow Big" series and extensive stories from Guthrie' s life.

"Woody Guthrie: An Oklahoma Living Legend" is financially supported by the Oklahoma Humanities Council and Norman Arts Concil.

For more information, call 364-9647, visit www.soonertheatre.com or www.NormanOK.gov and click on the Centennial calendar.

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