The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. (VR) -Founded in Clifton Forge by M. Ray Allen on Dec. 6, 1985, Appalfolks of America Association (AAA) has completed 40 years of community service by promoting the literary and performing arts in Southern Appalachia.
The late Poet Laureate of Kentucky Dr. Jim Wayne Miller, who served on AAA’s Board of Directors and conducted writers’ workshops for AAA in Kentucky and Virginia, once remarked that Appalfolks is a force for good in Southern Appalachia.
A turning point for AAA occurred on Dec. 20, 1991, when John Wayne Anderson, president of R-C Theatres based in Reisterstown, MD handed Allen the keys to the Historic Stonewall Theatre at 510 Main Street in Clifton Forge as a charitable donation. Anderson represented Irwin R. Cohen, the owner of R-C Theatres and owner of the Historic Stonewall Theatre (later renamed the Historic Masonic Theatre after AAA donated the theatre to the Town of Clifton Forge following more than $200,000 worth of restoration improvements that restored the twin cinema to its original (circa 1905) purpose, a performing arts facility.
During the 12 years of restoration work with Allen serving as the theatre manager, AAA founded performing arts programs to help fill the seats. Two of those programs, The Virginia Opry (est. 1992) and Special Theatrical Artists Revue & Showcase (STARS) that followed in 1996, continue to serve the Alleghany Highlands community.
The Virginia Opry that made its debut on stage at the theatre as a troupe of 10 that featured one band now includes 10 bands and 72 members. Honored by the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly in 2017 via the passage of “Resolution 397” on Feb. 17, 2017, for producing country music shows in the Alleghany Highlands for 25 consecutive years. The Virginia Opry became the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Opry on March 31, 2020, via the passage of “Senate Bill 283” filed by Senator R. Creigh Deeds on Jan. 6, 2020.
Encyclopedia of Appalachia, a 2006 publication by the University of Tennessee Press, features AAA and cites the nonprofit organization for its good work with Appalachian youth.
Also, in 2006, AAA completed a documentary film shot in Clifton Forge titled STARS The eight-minute documentary film featuring members of STARS performing at the Historic Masonic Theatre won a Bronze Telly, one that can be viewed at the Clifton Forge Public Library.
One special aspect of AAA’s musical programs that have been performed in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky is that many of the productions have been held to benefit those in need. Allen said, “An example of our programs benefiting others beyond Southern Appalachia is that a musical benefit that AAA conducted at Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton enabled the 9/11 Fund to receive $1,200 donation.”
He continued, “One unique aspect of The Virginia Opry is that the benefits that The Virginia Opry has performed have provided financial aid to such nonprofit organizations as Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnel to Towers, Crohn’s Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network, and the Clifton Forge Little League.”
The Virginia Opry was invited to perform at the Virginia State Fair in Doswell in 2024, and Governor Glen Youngkin was on stage with The Virginia Opry to introduce Dan Tyminski who was the headliner following Gentlemen South, one of The Virginia Opry’s 10 bands.
Following the performance at the Virginia State Fair, The Virginia Opry performed at the War Memorial in Richmond on Veterans Day, in 2024. The concert was televised by CBS News.
Before AAA received the Historic Masonic Theatre, the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors designated AAA and Total Action Against Poverty (TAP) as the official literacy agents for Alleghany County, and after traveling to Richmond to meet with First Lady Jeannie Baliles concerning the forming of a literacy outreach in the Alleghany Highlands, AAA and TAP cosponsored Literacy Volunteers of America Alleghany Highlands. When TAP’s building
burned down in Roanoke, AAA held a musical benefit at Alleghany High School that provided $500 of relief aid to TAP.
AAA also conducted a literacy outreach at a prison in Augusta County prior to receiving the Historic Masonic Theatre. During that time, AAA was sponsoring Appalfolks in Action at Alleghany High School, and the club members filmed inmates at the prison sharing the way drugs had been their downfall. The film was shown to students at AHS as part of the outreach AAA began to persuade students to live drug-free lives.
Also, AAA was invited to conduct writers’ workshops for high school and college students at the Kentucky Highlands Folk Festival held annually at Jenny Wiley State Park in Prestonsburg, Ky. Students from 11 high schools in Floyd County and nearby counties attended the free writers’ workshops that were conducted by professional writers, Dr. Miller, Albert Stewart, Dr. Jack Justin Turner, and Allen.
AAA’s most recent program to serve Appalachian youth was founded in Covington, Va. In 2022, when the Appalfolks of America Cloggers made its debut. Since then, the troupe of more than 20 performers have won awards for excellence in competition in North Carolina
and Virginia.
Allen concluded, “Appalfolks has had a positive impact on the lives of many, including tornado victims, flood victims, victims of life-threatening injuries, those suffering from life-threatening diseases, and those who are suffering from physical disabilities and/or intellectual challenges.”
STARS that began with 10 members has increased its number to 36, and in 2025, the troupe has performed at the Brian Center in Low Moor, the River Rock Amphitheatre at the Jackson River Complex in Covington, during the Harvest Festival, at the Living Word Assembly of God Church in Covington, at the Heritage Festival in Clifton Forge, and on stage at The Historic Masonic Theatre.
Mountain Empire Publications, a publishing company based in Clifton Forge that was owned by the late Kendrick Taylor, was donated to AAA in 2006, and AAA launched the Appalachian Poetry Series which has three books of poetry by Appalachian poets to its credit.
Also, AAA published a magazine titled Appalachian Legacy.
