Ken Bethea takes the stage

by Mike Orren

Old 97's guitarist Ken Bethea is performing the role of Thomas, the butler, in the Garland Civic Theater's production of The Philadelphia Story.

Garland — Old 97's guitarist Ken Bethea is performing in the Garland Civic Theater's production of The Philadelphia Story, running January 26 to February 18. He will play the role of Thomas, the butler, which was performed by Rex Evans in the classic 1940 film.

"I play a small role...but it's the first non-musical role I've had in a show since I was a junior in high school so it's what I wanted," Bethea wrote in a message to the Hitchhiking listserv.

He also said that there's not likely to be much live performance from the Old 97's in the first half of the year: "Unfortunatly, that's all I have on stage until maybe summer or fall. With Rhett's cd coming out and his new baby, (his wife is pregnant, you guys probably know), 2006 will be tough on the 97's getting to do any tours. :-(

"I guess that's life in the slow lane though."

Ticket information for The Philadelphia Story is available here.