The name of Casey Jones may be familiar to many, but few know the true story of his life and the accident that made him famous. Born in the little town of Cayce, Kentucky, Jones dreamed of being a railroad engineer. As he rose through the ranks, from telegraph operator to brakeman to fireman to engineer, he picked up a reputation as a daredevil who would do anything to go a little faster. At the same time, his lifelong friendship with Wallace Saunders, an African-American laborer and musician, was strong evidence of his loyalty and kind heart. Saunders wrote several songs about Casey's exploits, including the ballad that made him famous. But was Saunders telling the truth, or did he stretch the facts to honor his friend? Was Casey really the brave engineer described in the song? Did he deserve to become an American folk hero? Does a song have the power to change history?

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In the tradition of John Henry, Mad River Theater Works uses drama, storytelling, and music to dig into the background of a familiar traditional song. It is a revealing journey that presents a little known aspect of our common history and challenges us to look beneath the surface of our American heritage.