You might be a regular patron of Greater Escambia Council for the Arts’ (GECA) productions, or you may never have seen a show they’ve done through the years. But I encourage you to see their show this weekend.
“Smoke on the Mountain” is a great show with familiar (to most of us) music and good clean humor. And it’s loaded with talented people – some you know, some you don’t.
Show dates are November 15-17; Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m., at The Strand (not at the GECA building).
Set in a small town in 1938, “Smoke on the Mountain”tells the story of the Sanders Family Singers as they take the stage at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, hoping to lift spirits and maybe even win a few souls. Pastor Oglethorpe tries to keep the service on track amid the Sanders family’s chaos and personal confessions.
The show is directed by Jerry Janes.
The cast is as follows:
* Pastor Oglethorpe – Ollie Jaye
* Burl – Damon Jernigan
* Vera – Carla Jernigan
* June – Monica Booker
* Denise – Emmylou Norris
* Dennis – Simon Bush
* Stanley – Ayden Roynon
* Miss Maude – Sharon Poulsen
* Miss Myrtle – Wanetta McGinty
The show is blessed with very talented musicians – Amy McCrory on piano, Damon Jernigan and Bryan Fayard on guitar, and Ascher Hampton on banjo.
This is a musical but unlike some musicals you attend, you’ll know these songs – at least some of them.
Many of your friends may have seen “Smoke on the Mountain” Sunday afternoon. It was part of Myrna Monroe’s 90th birthday celebration hosted by Pride of Atmore and GECA at The Strand and Encore.
Tickets, $15 each, are available at www.gecarts.org and at the door (while they last).