 Based on Mississippi author Borden Deal's 1959 novel "The Insolent Breed", the story centers on Shade Motley, a fiddler who arrives in a small Southern town and shocks the stern community with his exuberant love of hillbilly music and life in general.The musical underwent significant changes, both in performers and creators, during the tryout period.The book originally written by Edward Padula was rewritten by Dore Schary, who also took over as director.