Kacee Clanton Leads ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN at ZACH Theatre, Beginning Tonight

ZACH Theatre's much-anticipated staging of ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin stars Kacee Clanton, the Los Angeles-based rock and blues singer-songwriter who previously played Janis Joplin in Love, Janis and has toured as lead vocalist with Big Brother & The Holding Company. ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin opens tonight, July 10, at ZACH.

The production will also feature Tiffany Mann as the Blues Singer, and Tricky Jones, Felicia Dinwiddie, and Cari Hutson as Joplinaires.

The Texas premiere of ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin was created, written, and directed by Randy Johnson, and is produced in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc.

"Kacee Clanton is one of the foremost interpreters of Janis Joplin's music in the world," says Dave Steakley, ZACH's producing artistic director. "When it comes to Janis, ZACH's audiences have seen the very best channelers of her musical force, and we are excited to introduce them to Kacee's powerhouse vocals as the spirit of Janis returns home to Austin. As the Blues Singer, Tiffany Mann is going to be a revelation. She is one of the only singers I've encountered with classical training and a sound as soulful as they come - perfect for a role that demands the vocalist take us from the opera house with Porgy & Bess, to the earthiness of Odetta, to the blues shout of Etta James, and whip up a gospel-infused rock revival courtesy of the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. When Kacee and Tiffany combine forces, you will have some of the most thrilling singing ever to hit ZACH's stage."

Kacee Clanton (Janis) is a Los Angeles-based rock and blues singer-songwriter who previously played Janis Joplin in Love, Janis and has toured as lead vocalist with Big Brother & The Holding Company. She has also worked as a background vocalist for recording artists such as Joe Cocker.

Tiffany Mann (Blues Singer) is a Fort Worth-based musical theater actress who has been a part of numerous ZACH productions, including Spring Awakening, Hairspray and Ragtime. She comes from a family of notable performers, including her father David Mann, who is a stage actor, gospel singer, and stars in Tyler Perry's ficitional family "The Browns" as MR. Brown in the films Meet The Browns, Madea's Family Reunion, and more.

Tricky Jones (Lead Joplinaire) has spent the past few years taking Austin by storm, fronting various bands in the city's diverse music scene. She has appeared at ZACH in Caroline or Change as The Washing Machine and Dottie, and also starred in Crowns and Hair.

Felicia Dinwiddie (Joplinaire) has also been a recurring favorite on ZACH's stage, most recently in Ragtime. She also performed in Beehive, Jelly's Last Jam, The Gospel at Colonus, Rockin' Christmas Party, Dreamgirls, and Ain't Misbehavin'. She lends her voice to special events at ZACH as part of the ZACH Disco Divas group, performing current and classic music to packed crowds.

Cari Hutson (Joplinaire) is a native Austinite and has spent several years performing in the Texas Hill Country singer-songwriter community, where she is equally at home on intimate acoustic stages like the Saxon Pub or full-tilt blues haven Antone's.

ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin is a musical journey into the inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends. With a voice like whiskey and a laugh like pure joy, Janis Joplin took the music scene by storm. Simultaneously rough and vulnerable, Joplin was dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, proving music wasn't just a man's world anymore. ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin explores the inspirations of Joplin in this musical journey packed with classic songs including "Piece of My Heart, "Summertime," and "Mercedes Benz." The show also shines the spotlight on the musical trailblazers who influenced Joplin, including Bessie Smith, Etta James, and Aretha Franklin.

Janis Joplin is famously connected to Austin, where she attended the University of Texas and was a fixture at Threadgill's in its early days as a venue for singer-songwriters. She eventually left Austin for San Francisco, and changed the history of rock and roll forever.

Presented by ZACH Theatre in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, The Estate of Janis Joplin, and Jeff Jampol of JAM, this new musical celebrates Joplin's genius for crafting a unique style of the musical forms she loved. Playwright-director Randy Johnson received unprecedented access to the Joplin family archives to create ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin, which enabled him to give audiences a profound immersion in this blues-belting innovator's musical brilliance.

ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin at ZACH is sponsored in part by donors Broadway Bank, Carolyn Bartlett, and Joan and Jeff Lava.

To post a comment, you must register and login.