Tracee Beazer, T. Oliver Reid and More Star in SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, Beginning Tonight at TUTS
By: BWW News Desk Jul. 14, 2015
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) presents Smokey Joe's Cafe, playing tonight, July 14, through July 19 for TUTS' 48th consecutive year of offering FREE musical theatre at Miller Outdoor Theatre.
This Tony Award-nominated and Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriters Leiber and Stoller is a dazzling, song-and-dance celebration of over 40 of rock 'n' roll's greatest hits including "Hound Dog," "Stand by Me," "Yakety Yak," "Jailhouse Rock," "Spanish Harlem," "On Broadway," "Kansas City," "Love Potion #9," "Fools Fall in Love" and more. The New York Times claims, "Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller are the Rodgers and Hammerstein of rock 'n' roll!" The New York Daily News calls Smokey Joe's Cafe "wildly infectious" and Time Magazine says, "it sails and soars!"
Get ready to sing the night away with this soulful cast:
TRACEE BEAZER (Tracee, pictured) Broadway: Hairspray (2002 Best Musical Tony Winner), The Wedding Singer (2006 Best Musical Nominee), Memphis (2010 Best Musical Winner), Good Vibrations (...nothing), Holler If Ya Hear Me (hmm...) and Honeymoon In Vegas (don't ask.) Broadway Tour: All Shook Up (Lorraine). Off-Broadway: Radiant Baby and Two Gentlemen Of Verona. Favorite Regional: Dreamgirls (starring Jenifer Holiday), Anything Goes (starring Sandy Dunkin), Hello Dolly (Minnie Faye), Sophisticated Ladies and Fly. Film/TV: "Law&Order SVU," "Spinning into Butter" and "Camp."
CARRIE COMPERE (Carrie) is excited to be a part of TUTS Smokey Joe's Café! Broadway: Holler If You Hear Me, The Color Purple opening December 2015. Off Broadway: Sistas the Musical. Tour: Shrek the Musical (1st National). TV: "NYC 22" (CBS/Robert Deniro), "Gurland on Gurland: Pilot" (Showtime), "Live at Lincoln Center presents Showboat" starring Vanessa Williams (PBS).
RHETT GEORGE (Rhett) is excited to be making his debut at TUTS. He was last seen in Houston playing Gator in Memphis. Other credits include The Snow Queen (sdrep), In The Heights (Walnut Theatre), Wicked, Sweet Charity (Broadway). Rhett has two self-written albums available on itunes and cdaby. www.Rhettgeorge.com
HARRIS MILGRIM (Harris) is thrilled to make his TUTS debut. Directly after his time in Houston he'll be playing Rooster in the world premiere of Moonshine: That Hee-Haw Musical at Dallas Theatre Center.
T. OLIVER REID (T. Oliver) Broadway: Kiss Me Kate, Follies, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Never Gonna Dance, Chicago, La Cage Aux Folles, The Wedding Singer, Mary Poppins, Sister Act, and After Midnight. Recipient of 2013 Bistro Award, 2012 & 2013 MAC Awards, performances at Feinstein's, Dizzy's Coca Cola Club, Oak Room, Royal Room, Appel Room, Rose Hall, The Metropolitan Room and 54 Below. 2013 member of the Directors Lab at Lincoln Center Theater and currently is Original Programming Producer at 54 Below.
DEVIN L. ROBERTS (Devin) A Philadelphia native, Devin has danced with Philadanco! Broadway: The Lion King (Minskoff Theatre). Off Broadway: Venice (The Public Theater), Soul Doctor (NY Theatre Workshop). Regional: Stagger Lee (Dallas Theater Center), Chicago (North Shore Music Theatre), Smokey Joe's Cafe (FL Studio Theatre), Hairspray (Walnut Street Theatre). TV: "SMASH", Tony Awards 2012, America's Got Talent (BG Vocalist).
VANESSA SONON (Vanessa) is thrilled to make her debut here at TUTS! Broadway credits include Anything Goes (Erma u/s.), Spamalot (Lady of the Lake u/s.), 42nd St, (Peggy Sawyer u/s.). Her First National Tours include the above Broadway shows except she was Assistant Dance Captain and took over for Erma and was Anytime Annie u/s. Regional: Crazy for You (Polly), A Chorus Line (Val/Cassie u/s), White Christmas (Judy).
BROOKE WILSON (Brooke) Favorite TUTS credits: Reefer Madness (Sally), First Date (Woman #1), Waiting for Johnny Depp (Rita), Whorehouse (Doatsey Mae), Hands On A Hardbody (Cindy), Urban Cowboy (Sissy), Whorehouse (Shy), The Music Man (Ethel), LMNOP (Ruth/LaGreer), When You Wish, Singing In The Rain, Cats, Beauty And The Beast, Other favorite regional credits include: Trailer Park Musical (Jeannie), Full Monty (Georgie), RENT (Maureen), Trailer Park Musical (Pippi), Evita (Eva cover), Footloose (Ariel), Christmas Carol, The Miser and Forum at The Alley.www.brookewilson.comMaking her TUTS' directorial debut is Director/Choreographer Michelle Gaudette. Creative team also includes Musical Director/Conductor Thom Culcasi, Lighting Designer Richard Winkler, Set Designer Ryan McGettigan, Costume Designer Colleen Grady, Sound Designer Andrew Harper and casting by Binder Casting/Jay Binder, CSA.
Free tickets for the covered seats are available on the day of performance between 10:30 A.M. and 1 P.M. at the Miller Theatre Box Office. Free tickets are limited to four per person (over the age of 16). Any tickets remaining will be given out one hour before curtain.
Don't want to wait in line? For each $50 tax-deductible donation to TUTS, the organization will set aside two tickets for assigned seats under the pavilion so you may enjoy the show and experience firsthand how your generosity makes the music happen.Visit tuts.com/donatenow or call 713.558.2648 for more information. Ticketholders are asked to arrive early as any unfilled seats will be released to the general public at 8 P.M.
No tickets? No problem! Bring a cozy blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the show from the Miller Theatre lawn, the perfect place for a picnic and a show! Patrons are encouraged to utilize public transportation to Miller Outdoor Theatre. Click here for a complete list of bus schedules and routes.
For more information about TUTS, visit TUTS.com.
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