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Black cowboys celebrated in national musical production playing at Lexington's Lyric

Lyric Theatre





A musical celebrating the little-known history of Black cowboys who helped settle the American West takes the stage at the Lyric Theatre tonight. WUKY’s Arlo Barnette has a preview.

Award-winning musician and composer Allan Harris and his wife Pat co-wrote Cross That River, which opens in 1859 Louisiana. Harris stars as the adult version of the protagonist Blue, who escapes from slavery and becomes a cowboy in Texas.

The tale integrates fiction with historical fact, and Harris says he was influenced by his friends who are ranchers in Texas and Colorado and the people in their communities.

Harris and the Cross That River Band have taken the acclaimed musical all over the country, and they bring it to the Lyric Theatre tonight at 7:30. Day-of-show tickets are $35.