PR2012 Mar 27

Smoke on the Mountain Press Release

9500 Old Greensboro Road #135 • Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405 • (205) 391-2277 • FAX (205) 391-2329 • theatretusc.com

Contact:

Adam Miller, Managing Director

(205) 391-2925 / amiller@sheltonstate.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THEATRE TUSCALOOSA PRESENTS SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, A MUSICAL COMEDY REVIVAL

March 27, 2012 (TUSCALOOSA, AL) – Theatre Tuscaloosa will present Smoke on the Mountain April 13-22 in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State’s Martin Campus. This musical comedy tells the tale of a traditional church revival set at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in North Carolina in 1938.

When Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe invites the Sanders Family Singers to his church for a good old fashioned Saturday Night Singing, he gets more than he bargains for when Burl, Vera, Stanley, June, Dennis, and Denise Sanders bring their unique mix of traditional hymns and hilarious family anecdotes to the congregation of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. It’s a recipe for an evening of music, laughter, and nostalgia.

Directing Smoke on the Mountain is Theatre Tuscaloosa’s Executive Producer, Tina Turley. Although Theatre Tuscaloosa produced Smoke on the Mountain in 2005 and Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming in 2007, this revival is her first opportunity to direct the show.

“Our previous productions of Smoke were directed by Paul Crook,” said Turley. “Together with our cast, Paul laid a strong foundation for the work we’re doing now. Most of the cast from our 2007 production is back with the addition of Wheeler Kincaid in the role of Dennis.”

Smoke on the Mountain has been one of Theatre Tuscaloosa’s most requested productions. With such well-known hymns as “I’ll Fly Away” and “Smoke on the Mountain,” many audience members find themselves transported to their childhoods as they hear traditional hymns that they grew up singing in church.

“Directing this production brings back such wonderful memories for me, personally,” said Turley. “I grew up singing these songs in church with my mother, and I met my husband, Ernie, singing in church, so this show sits in a very comfortable place in my psyche.”

The cast of Smoke on the Mountain includes Arthur Bosarge, Wheeler Kincaid, Chap McDaniel, Charles Prosser, Ray Taylor, Ernie Turley, Lisa Waldrop, Laura White, Jeff Wilson, and Kathy Wilson. The production team includes Jesse Tilton (scenic designer), Jeanette Waterman (costume designer), Erin Hisey (lighting designer), Frank Duren (sound designer), Ernie Turley (musical director), and Ashlyn Lambert (stage manager).

Theatre Tuscaloosa’s 2011-12 Winning Season is presented in cooperation with Shelton State Community College and is sponsored by Alabama One Credit Union, Jamison Money Farmer, PC, al.com, Cumulus Media, and the City of Tuscaloosa. Smoke on the Mountain is sponsored by the Bank of Moundville, The University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies, and WTSK radio. f8 Productions is serving as the Play-It-Forward sponsor for Smoke on the Mountain, allowing Theatre Tuscaloosa to offer 75 free tickets to tornado relief workers. Additional sponsors include Ameriprise, Afflink, Mercedes, the Yellowhammer Inn, Tanner & Guinn, LLC, TotalCom Marketing, and D. Harkey Design.

Smoke on the Mountain will be presented April 13-22 in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State Community College’s Martin Campus (9500 Old Greensboro Road). Performances will take place Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays and Wednesday at 2pm. All proceeds of a pay-what-you-can final dress rehearsal on Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 pm, will benefit the Charlie Dennis Memorial Scholarship Fund. Tickets to the regular performances are $22 for adults, $18 for seniors (60+), and $14 for students and children. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased online at www.theatretusc.com or by phone at (205) 391-2277.

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Media Note: If you would like to arrange to cover a performance of Smoke on the Mountain, a limited number of complimentary press passes are available. Contact Adam Miller at (205) 391-2277 to make arrangements.

Theatre Tuscaloosa is a not-for-profit community theatre located on the Martin Campus of Shelton State Community College. Theatre Tuscaloosa has been enriching the greater Tuscaloosa community since 1972 through quality theatrical productions and educational outreach.