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CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK CLOSES SEASON WITH NEW SHOW (CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will close its 2006-2007 theatre season with the popular musical Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming. An all new show by the creators of sell-out Playhouse hits Smoke on the Mountain and Sanders Family Christmas, Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming begins public previews on May 5 and continues through June 24. The Sanders Family is back. It’s October, 1945. The war is over and America’s years of prosperity are just beginning. But there’s another kind of rite of passage at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, where the Reverend Mervin Oglethorpe is giving his last service. Having been called to preach in Texas, he’s already bought a 10-gallon hat and is preparing to ride into the sunset with his wife June, who is eight months pregnant. Tomorrow morning, June’s brother Dennis will take over as the congregation’s pastor. Audiences are invited to join the Sanders Family as they send Mervin and June off in style, with hilarious and touching stories and 25 fabulous Bluegrass Gospel favorites, including “Leaning On the Everlasting Arms,” “Just Over in the Gloryland,” “Standing on Promises” and many more. Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming was written by Connie Ray and conceived by Alan Bailey, who also will return to the Playhouse to direct. The original Smoke on the Mountain was commissioned in 1988 by the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey. The show also ran for 500 performances at off-Broadway’s Lamb’s Theatre Company. Numerous other regional productions have made it the most produced musical in the United States for nearly two decades. Connie Ray is best known for writing and starring in NBC’s The Torkelsons. Her other works include Betsy Loves Snapbeans, Catfish Loves Anna, Hurtling Through Space and Vanilla Triplets. In addition, she has appeared in the films Flags of Our Fathers, Thank You for Smoking, About Schmidt and Stuart Little. She currently is filming Them, a one-hour television pilot for FOX/CBS. In addition to the trilogy of Smoke shows, Alan Bailey directed the Playhouse productions of Squeeze Box and Shakespeare's R&J. Regionally, he has directed at theatres including McCarter Theatre Center, Pasadena Playhouse, Denver Center Theatre Company and Goodspeed Musicals, among many others. Mr. Bailey is a five-time undefeated Jeopardy champion. The cast for Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming includes returning favorites David Hemsley Caldwell as the Reverend Mervin Oglethorpe and Constance Barron as Vera Sanders. Joining them are Tommy Hancock as Stanley, Tess Hartman as June, Giorgio Litt as Dennis, Angela Brinton Mack as Denise and Scott Wakefield as Burl. Other members of the production team include Mike Craver (musical director/arranger), Peter Harrison (set designer), Jeanette deJong (costume designer) and Susan Terrano (lighting designer). The stage manager is Andrea L. Shell. Tickets to Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming are on sale now. Prices range from $47.50-$56.50, depending on day and seat location. All tickets are $40.50 for the preview performances at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 5; 7 p.m. Sunday, May 6; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 9. The official opening night is Thursday, May 10 at 8 p.m. Any unreserved tickets are half-price every day when purchased between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day of the show (for performances Tuesday through Saturday) and from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available. For tickets to Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming or for more information, call the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility. For single tickets purchased by telephone through the Playhouse box office there is a $3 convenience fee per call. Tickets also can be purchased on the Playhouse web site at www.cincyplay.com. Artists fly to and from Cincinnati on Delta Connection Comair, the Playhouse’s official airline. The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to the Fine Arts Fund. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the City of Cincinnati. |
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Meet the Artists 2p.m. Sunday, May 13 Dining Options Karlo's Bistro at the Playhouse offers full-service dining prior to most evening performances. Dinners include salad, entrée and dessert. Reservations are required by noon on the day of the show. The price is $21, which does not include gratuity. Karlo's Casual Fare offers busy theatre patrons an alternative light, quick bite prior to the show. Options include salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta and desserts. No reservations are required. Sponsors Production Sponsors: Design Sponsors: Artist Sponsor: Honorary Producer: The 2006-2007 Shelterhouse Theatre Series is presented by The Shelterhouse Season Design Sponsor is ### |
