Cain Park to Open 75th Anniversary Season with SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE

The City of Cleveland Heights and Cain Park present the Broadway hit Smokey Joe's Café - The Songs of Leiber and Stoller June 14-June 30 (preview June 13). Directed by Scott Plate, the musical will open in Cain Park's Alma Theater.

SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE will be performed Thursday-Saturday at 7pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $15 for the June 13 preview and matinee performances (no discounts). Evening performances are $24/22 in advance and $26/24 the day of the show. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com, in person at Cain Park and by calling 216-371-3000, as well as by mail. More information about ordering can be found at www.cainpark.com/tickets.

Leiber and Stoller, as much as anyone, virtually invented rock 'n' roll, and now their songs provide the basis for an electrifying entertainment that illuminates a golden age of American culture. In an idealized '50s setting, the classic themes of love won, lost and imagined blend with hilarious antics and slice-of-life emotions. Featuring nearly 40 of the greatest songs ever recorded including "Jailhouse Rock", "Love Potion #9", "On Broadway", "Spanish Harlem", and "Stand By Me", SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ isn't just great pop music - it's compelling musical theatre for all generations.

The songs made popular by Elvis Presley, The Drifters, The Coasters, Peggy Lee and so many more are brought to life by a stellar ensemble of nine actors.

Kelly Autry plays the suave one who evokes the memory of a young Elvis Presley. Autry has appeared in Love Story at the 14th Street Theatre at Playhouse Square. Nicole Sumlin is the witty one, combining brains and beauty. Sumlin was recently seen as Mayzie LaBird in Seussical at The Fine Arts Association, as Erzulie in Once On This Island for the Orchard Arts Project, and as Sarah in Ragtime as Near West Theatre. Nyla Watson's role is inspired by the titanic rhythm and blues singer Big Mama Thornton. Watson previously played the Witch in Into The Woods at the Clinton Area Showboat Theater and Carlotta in Follies at Baldwin Wallace University. Katherine DeBoer is the throaty voice of experience. DeBoer recently played Diana in the critically acclaimed production of Next To Normal at The Beck Center. Julia Rose Hines suggests the innocence of teenage girls with a hint of a wild side in her role. Hines previously played Val in A Chorus Line and Ariel in Footloose at Straw Hat Theatre.

Rounding out the ensemble is a quartet modeled on The Drifters featuring Ellis Dawson, Darryl Lewis, Eugene Sumlin, and Malik Victorian. Dawson recently appeared as Henry in Next To Normal at the Beck Center. Lewis has been seen on the Cain Park stage as Marty in Dreamgirls and the Lion in The Wiz. Sumlin played several roles at The Barter Theatre in Virginia including Schroeder in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Lemar in Godspell and locally, he recently played a Wickersham Brother inSeussical at The Fine Arts Association and Jimmy in Grand Hotel at Mercury Summer Stock. Victorian has been seen in Follies at Baldwin Wallace University and School House Rock Live! at the Lagniappe Theatre Company.

SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ is directed by Scott Plate, who is the chair of the music theatre department at Baldwin Wallace University. Musical direction is by Nathan Motta. Set design & lighting design is by Trad A Burns, costume design is by Tesia Dugan Benson and sound design is by Richard Ingraham. Thomas W. Humes is the show's stage manager.

Cain Park 2013 season sponsors include Friends Of Cain Park, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, the Ohio Arts Council, Cleveland.com, Intercontinental Hotels - Cleveland, Severance Town Center and Motorcars Honda/Toyota/Scion. Promotional support is provided by WKSU, WCPN, 91.3 The Summit and Z107.9.

Cain Park, a municipally owned and operated summer arts park and one of the nation's oldest landmark outdoor theatres entering its 75th season, is produced by the City of Cleveland Heights and is located on Superior Road between Lee and South Taylor roads.

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