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JONESBOROUGH REPERTORY THEATRE |
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JONESBOROUGH REPERTORY THEATRE |
February 2007
Jonesborough Repertory Theatre
performed Smokey Joe’s
Café – the songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. This fun 1950s themed
revue "provides the basis for an electrifying entertainment that
illuminates a golden age of American culture," says Rodgers and Hammerstein
Theatricals. "Leiber and Stoller, as much as anyone, virtually invented rock
'n' roll."
Smokey Joe’s Café opened on Broadway in 1995. That same year "Smokey
Joe’s" was was awarded the Grammy for Best Musical Show Album and was
honored with nominations for seven 1994-1995 Tony Awards. The show ran for 5
years making it "the longest-running musical revue in the history of
Broadway."
Some favorites of this popular Leiber and Stoller revue include: Love
Potion #9, Jailhouse Rock, Stand By Me, Young Blood, Ruby Baby, Dance With
Me, Kansas City, Poison Ivy, Don Juan, On Broadway, D.W. Washburn, Saved,
Yakety Yak, Charlie Brown, I'm a Woman, and so many more!
Regardless of age “people want to relive the 50s,” says the show’s director, Jennifer Schmidt, “I just want to take the audience back.” “And she does,” exclaims Kathleen Buttolph, JRT Artistic Director, “This is going to be a hot one. We are very excited about bringing this jivin’ musical to the JRT stage."
Most of JRT’s audiences will remember Schmidt as the director of JRT’s 1940s USO Shows. Along with some familiar singers and actors such as Josh Baldwin, John Beard, Janette Gaines, Kim Jones, Kim Lundin, and Sharon Squibb.
However, this is far from all as JRT welcomes to the stage Bob Browning, Bleu Copas, Shannon Frazier, Mary Kavanaugh, Dennis
& Kristen Smith, Adrian Thomas, and Victor Thompson.
Our student stars include Meygan Bailey, Lacie Black, Annie Carr, Emma Dalton, Alonna Donavan, Shannon Duffy, Carrie Mae Jones, Victoria Judy, Courtney Morrow, Brandy Mosier, Jennifer Sampson, Alex Short, Dennis (DJ)
& Josh Smith, and Emma, Merry & Milly Thompson.
Technical Director is Mike Schmidt, assisted by artist and cast member, Dennis Smith. Lighting Director is Scott Hardy of Light Impressions. Lead Choreographer is cast member Kristen Smith. Band Director is Dana Bellino.
“What is so amazing about this show,” says Buttolph, “is how much local talent we prove to have in the tri-city area. These are community volunteers who share their gifts through venues like local community theatre. This show is a show for everybody. We Dance. We Sing. We Rock. We Roll.”
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125˝ West Main Street
Jonesborough, Tennessee 37659