Check out the other photos on the Princess blog!

A new stage production, adapted from the independent film “A Christmas Snow,” will take stage at the Starlite Theater in Branson for the 2011 Christmas season.

The film, released direct-to-video in October of last year by Trost Moving Pictures, told the story of Kathleen, a woman still carrying the pain of her father’s abandonment on a Christmas Eve 30 years prior.

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Long time Roane County and Princess Theater supporter Muse Watson is in Oklahoma working on the male lead role in Tracy Trost's "Christmas Snow". Muse is having a ball and finally getting to show what he can do with a dramatic lead.

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Like I said in the previous post, Muse Watson was in town this week to support and promote the work being done to make the Princess Theater a center piece for a regional arts education and entertainment and communications center. The fulfillment of this dream by Gary Baker, Muse Watson, Chris Mason, and many local leaders and educators will also revitalize Downtown Harriman, Roane, and surrounding counties.

Several film clips promoting this dream were shot in front of the Princess Theater Friday afternoon, necessitating shutting down west bound traffic on Roane Street for several minutes. The people driving slowly by were treated to glimpses of Muse and Bill Landry standing in the middle of the street talking loudly to Doug Mills’ camera! Doug is famous in his own right, having filmed most of “The Heartland” episodes with Bill.

You’ll be able to see the spots soon, but from what I overheard; Muse and Bill were both very excited about the future of the Princess and the local area. When people with this kind of clout and determination get involved in a project it usually happens! All that remains is gaining the support of the local population – you! You can help by attending events produced by Princess Productions and by letting your local, state, and federal law makers know you believe in and support the Princess project.

Later Friday evening more promos were shot on the Roane Theater stage before the crowd was allowed into the auditorium at 7. Roane County Executive Mike Farmer and Harriman Mayor Chris Mason joined Muse and Bill on stage. Mike Farmer said he may be from Kingston, but the success of the Princess project, and the revitalization of Downtown Harriman, will be good from the entire county. He and Chris urged everyone, every citizen, to get involved now!

As Muse often says, “WE…can do this!”

Chris Mason added, “I want to ‘one up’ Muse and say WE WILL do this!” He further added, “You can support Harriman and Roane County by attending all the events each city puts on, like “Cruisin’ in Harriman”, “Hooray for Harriman”, the “Farmers Market”, now on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Riverfront Park, and other such activities.”

Prior to the main event, the audience saw the trailer for the upcoming “Appalachian Dreams” DVD, which Brooks had just finished an hour before arriving. This DVD will soon be available, and I will let you know HERE when and where you can obtain a copy. If you attended the show, you’ll one a copy to show friends and family what they missed. If you didn’t attend…it’s obvious that you need a personal copy too! Muse, who was unable to attend, was amazed at the talent that was assembled on the stage at Roane State for that show.

Finally, Muse introduced Brooks Benjamin to the audience. Brooks explained the reason behind the movie he had just finished editing, the version shown was finished just a couple of hours before the showing. The crowd was treated to a viewing, at the cost of a mere $5, of the latest “cut”. “No one else has ever seen this version,” he explained.

During the movie there were many moments of laughter, and at the conclusion, there was a rousing hand of applause, and again after the hilarious outtakes!

After the movie, Muse Watson opened up a Q & A Session, and questions flowed from the audience, and each attending member (Casey Payne, Allison Varnes, Linds Edwards, and Joe Wright that arranged the music) of the film took turns answering their questions.

After the event, several people, including Muse and Brooks, celebrated with a late supper at Los Premios in Harriman. To me, that was the best part of the evening…great fellowship!

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW BY CLICKING THIS LINK! Or visit the Princess Photos on Flickr!

Muse Watson is in town to promote Brooks Benjamin’s “Boys of Summerville”, that will be shown tonight (Friday June 26) at the Roane State Theater, beginning at 7 PM. He is also here to do promos for Harriman, Roane County, and the Princess Project with Chris Mason and Bill Landry. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE DOOR!

Wednesday evening, at the Roane County farm he calls his “hideout”, Muse served up an old fashioned wiener and marshmallow roast! It was a hoot, and all about family and fellowship! Several area friends were on hand to welcome Muse home and to just sit and listen to his “Hollywood” stories – most I wouldn’t dare repeat! I could have stayed all night, but the family only had enough tents for themselves.

See more photos and read the rest of the story HERE!

Hot on the heels of their successful 2008-2009 Film Festival circuit for the movie, Boys of Summerville, the Benjamin Brothers have decided to end their festival run in the same place where the movie began: Roane County. Boys of Summerville was filmed entirely in east Tennessee, the majority of which was in Roane County. "Tennessee has so much to offer filmmakers. You have everything you need right here. Mountains, rivers, lakes, plains, valleys. And Roane County had just the look we wanted for the movie."

Boys of Summerville was shot in the summer of 2007. The entire crew, and the majority of the cast was from east Tennessee. And even some of the characters were based on real-life east Tennessee natives. “One of the characters in the movie Charles “Buddy” Davis, was based on our father, Charles Davis Benjamin, who passed away from cancer in 2000. I wanted to make a movie as a tribute to him, and since he loved comedies and softball so much, I thought this would be a perfect movie to make.”

The movie will show as the second installment of the Appalachian Dreams series, produced by Princess Productions and Gary Baker. Princess Productions, in conjunction with Muse Watson and Bill Landry, has been promoting the restoration of the Princess Theater in downtown Harriman while simultaneously pushing to revitalize the artistic movement in the area. Boys of Summerville will show on Friday, June 26th at 7:00 pm at the Roane State theater. Muse Watson and Bill Landry will open the show and also be available with the cast and crew for the Q&A following the screening.

Tickets are only $5 and can be purchased at the Rocky Top General Store and Jewelry Exchange in Harriman, as well as at the door the night of the screening.

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"Point of Fear"
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"Boys of Summerville"
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It's true, there are not many people who care more about the future of the Princess Theater than TV and screen actor Muse Watson. Muse owns a beautiful piece of farm property in Roane County and has been involved with Gary Baker in reviving the Princess Theater since 2002.

Read the full history of this relationship here.