ELIZABETHTON -- Ron Moorefield and his son, Taylor, 14, who live in nearby Cocke County but have a Mosheim address, are members of the cast of "Liberty!" -- Tennessee's newly-designated "official outdoor drama."

The drama is being presented each Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening through July 25, in the Fort Watauga Amphitheater at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton.

Written and formerly directed by Jon Ruetz, the drama is performed by a volunteer cast including the Moorefields.

"Liberty!" depicts the muster of "Overmountain Men" from this area at Sycamore Shoals in 1780, and other events that preceded their march from East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia to King's Mountain, S.C.

There at King's Mountain, they helped win what proved to be the pivotal battle in the southern theater of America's Revolutionary War.

There has been an outdoor drama at Sycamore Shoals for 31 years, but "Liberty!" has only been performed for five years.

Taylor Moorefield's introduction to the outdoor drama came when he was performing in Mary Jane Kennedy's production of "America Sings."

"Mrs. Kennedy told me about Sycamore Shoals, and the play ["Liberty!"], and she suggested that I might want to try it. So I did."

Taylor, then just eight years old, made his debut in "Liberty!" in 2004, portraying a young pie thief who just can't pass up the smell of a fresh cobbler cooling in one of the cabin windows.

Over the next several seasons, he played a variety of roles, including Adam, the young patriot of the Watauga settlement, bedeviled by a cantankerous father.

He also portrayed Landon Carter, son of early pioneer John Carter and hero of the Revolutionary War victory at King's Mountain.

This year Taylor is taking on a new challenge, portraying Valentine Sevier, the younger, supportive brother of famed Indian fighter and pioneer leader John Sevier.

John Sevier, also known by his nickname "Chucky Jack," rose to prominence in the settlement and went on to attain the rank of general and become the first governor of the "Lost" State of Franklin.

When Tennessee became a state in 1796, John Sevier was elected its first governor.

[Editor's Note: A nephew of John and Valentine Sevier, born in 1780 and also named Valentine Sevier, later became a prominent public official and philanthropist in Greeneville.]

"One of the most enjoyable things in my life is to walk out there and be a part of the drama," Taylor said. "I look forward to it all the months we are not performing."

Sycamore Shoals Manager Jennifer Bauer leaves no doubt that the Moorefields' participation is appreciated.

"Taylor and Ron are such delightful people," she said. "They give so much.

"When you look at them, you literally see the picture of what we're trying to accomplish here, with families getting together to tell the old stories of some of our first families."

Ron Moorefield, Taylor's dad, "started out as a chauffeur" for his son, transporting him between home and Elizabethton, and then graduated to walk-on player himself.

"I was scared to death the first time I went out to say lines. I'm not an actor, and never will be. I knew that I had to try it, because I wanted to do whatever I could to be supportive. But I was terrified," he said.

Ron managed to overcome his encounter with stage fright and now exuberantly portrays Julius Caesar Dugger, one of the founding fathers of the Watauga Association.

Taylor is comfortable in front of audiences. He has traveled widely and performed as a musician and singer with the Highlands Youth Ensemble.

He began his vocal career at a young age, as a member of the Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy. He then sang three years with the East Tennessee Children's Choir under the direction of Beth McCoy.

Since 2004, Ron Morefield has been manager of Goodwater Vineyards, located about 200 yards into Cocke County from Greene County on Goodwater Road.

Taylor is home-schooled by the Moorefields, and Ron and his wife are firm believers in quality education.

"This is a great learning experience for all these young people," Ron said.

"You can watch them grow and mature. They are developing skills all along the way, personal skills, and learning how to work together ... the kind of people skills that they will be able to use in any type of work."

Equally, father Ron knows that hard work pays off. Thousands of grapevines have prospered at the tender touch of his calloused hands.

"Experts say that it typically takes five years to get the first harvest, but, after only three years, we gathered 20,000 pounds of grapes," he said. "They predict we will top out at around 100 tons when the vines are fully matured."

All of the Moorefields -- including Taylor's mother, Sarah, and his brother, Chris -- have performed in the drama, no doubt spurred on by Taylor, the family enthusiast.

"I love acting!" Taylor said with a wide smile. "I love the people here. The script. The stories. All of it."

"Liberty!" is continuing on Thursdays through Saturdays, through July 25, in the Fort Watauga Amphitheater, located behind the Visitors Center at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, 1651 W. Elk Ave. in Elizabethton. Show time is 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults; $9 for seniors; $8 for students; and children five years old and under are admitted free. For more information, call 423-543-5808.