Jason Petty performs a song backed by David Martin on bass and Steve Newman on guitar.
Jason Petty and Carolyn Martin sing and play the two iconic stars’ chart-topping songs from the 1950s and early 1960s while recounting what both did to further country music in the show, “Country Royalty.”
In this show neither Petty nor Martin pretend to be the singers — they just cover their songs, Petty said.
“We call it a musical narrative,” he said.
The show begins with Petty explaining what country music was like before Williams came along, Petty said. Then he performs about 10 to 12 of his songs.
In the second act Martin covers Cline’s hits, while they tell the story of how she helped restore country music to prominence with the “Nashville Sound” when rock ’n’ roll hit the scene, Petty said.
Petty said he wants Martin and him to be able to interact with the audience.
“I want the show to be personal,” Petty said.
“Country Royalty” has been running since 2009, and travels across the United States and internationally, he said.
“There are only four to five states we have not been to,” Petty said.
They have performed in Norway and Amsterdam, he said.
“When I started to sing [in Norway] the Hank Williams songs they started singing every word to every song,” Petty said.
“You don’t have to be a country music fan to enjoy this show, you just have to be a fan of music,” he said.
Petty’s musical credits include portraying Williams in the off-Broadway show “Hank Williams: Lost Highway.”
He also performs in three other shows, “Hank And My Honky Tonk Heroes,” “The Swinging Cowboys,” and his new show coming out this year, “Honky Tonk Holidays.”
Tickets for the show are available online at dallastheater-civiccenter.com or at the box office, according to the theater’s website. Tickets are $25 for the main level and $20 for the balcony. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more on the website.
“Get your stomping shoes on and clapping hands ready and come on,” Petty said.
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