The Reece Museum will host “An Evening with Eugene Wolf: A Benefit for the Sammie
L. Nicely Collection at the Reece Museum” on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 7:30-9 p.m.
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a reception and cocktail hour, when guests will
have the opportunity to meet Wolf before the performance begins. Wolf was a personal
friend of Sammie Nicely, and has worked with the Reece and community partners to hold
an intimate performance of his award-winning one-man show, “The Book of Mamaw.”
All proceeds from this event will go toward the purchase of collections storage equipment
to house the growing Sammie L. Nicely Collection, museum officials said.
“The Book of Mamaw” is a one-man musical comedy that tells the story of Wolf and his
Mamaw, a Church of Christ grandmother who raised him. She entered him in his first
talent contest at 2 at the Capitol Theatre in his hometown of Greeneville, which he
won. The play is an autobiographical musical journey through self-discovery and revelation.
Wolf has been a member of the Barter Theatre acting company for 25 years, and was
a member of Johnson City’s Road Company for 16 years. Along with Ed Snodderly, he
is a 35-year member of the Brother Boys, a country singing duo. Wolf was nominated
for Grammys through his work on albums with Jerry Douglas and Missy Raines. He is
the host of a weekly radio show, “What in the World,” and is a member of the Actors’
Equity Association.
Sammie Nicely (1947-2015) was an artist and educator who embraced his cultural heritage
as an African American man from Appalachia. Born in Russellville, Tennessee, he was
a self-described folk artist whose work explored the connections between his ancestral
African roots and his home in Appalachia.
Tickets are $40 per person. Only 120 seats will be available for this special performance.
Visit the ETSU Marketplace website to purchase tickets, or visit the Reece Museum Events page at etsu.edu/reece.
The Reece Museum, housed in the Department of Appalachian Studies at ETSU, is a unit
of the Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services, which resides in
the same department. For more information, visit etsu.edu/reece or phone (423) 439-4392. The Reece Museum is located on the campus of East Tennessee State University and
is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.