David Hurt, "Dark Hollow" or "East Virginia Blues"

David Hurt grew up on a farm near Shakertown, Kentucky. He studied theatre at the University of Kentucky and at the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana. He came back to Kentucky and lived in Monterey working on a farm. He bought a farm near Frankfort and raised sheep, tobacco, and pigs for 20 years-- and two children. Then he went to New York and studied acting with the well-known director of the Saratoga International Theatre Institute, Anne Bogart. After his return he began to write, act and direct in Lexington and Louisville theatres for 10 years. Since 2000 he has taught speech at Morehead State University. He has written and performed two Chautauqua programs—historical one man shows about John CC Mayo, the Kentucky coal baron, and Grandpa Jones, a country musician. He became interested in the banjo and received a Kentucky Folklife Grant from the Kentucky Historical Society to learn the banjo style of the legendary George Gibson in Knott County. Now he and Normandi Ellis are jointly restoring the home on their farm as a spiritual and artistic retreat center, PenHouse Retreat Center.

Added 2 Oct 2026