Friday 5: SPARKLEY CLEAN's Hancock and Webster

There's a new show premiering at Crossville's Cumberland County Playhouse: The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers by Lori Fischer, the author of last year's Barbara's Blue Kitchen. Fischer's latest musical follows the adventures of two singing sisters from Ashland City, Tennessee, and the people who love them. Our question: Does Stratton's Diner (arguably the best burger joint ever in the history of the world) still exist in Fischer's depiction of the Cheatham County town? Director Bryce McDonald is being tight-lipped about it.

Guess we'll all have to wait for the show to find out, but in the meantime you can get to know two of the actors taking on roles in the musical and discover what makes them tick, theatrically-speaking, and read their answers to the all-important question of "why see this show?" Afterwards, of course, you'll want to make reservations to see this new musical.

Before that, read all about Britt Hancock and Weslie Webster, two of our all-time favorites (the onstage equivalents to the heady reputation enjoyed by Stratton's Diner in Ashland City)...

Britt Hancock

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? My first taste would have to be our annual elementary school production of The Nutcracker. It was a scripted version of the ballet performed by the fifth grade every Christmas.

What's your favorite pre-show ritual? An iced coffee from Starbucks is a must have!

What's your favorite, most memorable, example of "the show must go on"? When I was 16, I played Seymour in a high school production of Little Shop of Horrors. On my first entrance I tripped and fell breaking a clay flowerpot I was holding. One of the broken pieces cut my wrist open. I was trained to keep going, so I did until about halfway through the first act when the show was stopped and I was taken to the emergency room!

What's your dream role? I've been lucky enough to play many of my dream roles throughout the years - Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, and Billy Flynn in Chicago to name a few. Brick in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof is a dream role that I've not gotten a chance to do.

Who's your theatrical crush? Sherie Rene Scott. She's so natural and quirky onstage. I saw her Everyday Rapture numerous times on Broadway and was always in awe of her performance.

EXTRA-SPECIAL BONUS QUESTION: Why should people come see SPARKLEY CLEAN? The show is funny, heartwarming, quirky, hopeful...the list goes on. The music is complex, toe tapping, and speaks to your soul. Lori Fischer has created a a world in which the audience gets completely immersed and invested in these charmingly flawed characters. You are laughing one minute and crying tears of joy the next.

Weslie Webster

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? I played one of the vultures in our fifth grade production of The Jungle Book!

What's your favorite pre-show ritual? I like to get to the theater early, eat a chicken leg, and drink some coffee.

What's your favorite, most memorable, example of "the show must go on"? When I was on tour with Carousel, the big umbrella carousel unit got stuck and we had to stop the show for a few minutes for the crew to work on it. They got a huge ovation once it was fixed and we started again. I love it when the audience gets to glimpse the backstage crew doing what they do best!

What's your dream role? Mame.

Who's your theatrical crush? Jack Irvin.

EXTRA-SPECIAL BONUS QUESTION: Why should people come see SPARKLEY CLEAN? It is fresh and new! Very funny and incredibly moving at the same time!

About the show: On Friday, April 1, Cumberland County Playhouse presents the Southern Premiere of a new musical comedy by Lori Fischer (Barbara's Blue Kitchen) and Don Chaffer, The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers! CCP's producing director Bryce McDonald directs the show, which had its world premiere at the Capital Repertory Theatre in 2013.

"Lori has been working non-stop on rewrites for our new production," says McDonald. "This new version is even funnier - and more touching - than the original. And is literally tailor-made for our wonderful cast."

The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers centers around the Lashley Sisters, a country-singing duo whose star was on the rise (with hit tunes like "Big Boned Dreams, Tiny Tambourines") until the publicity surrounding an accident brought their careers to a screeching halt. It seems Lashley Lee Lashley (Weslie Webster) was driving the band's tour bus while under the influence.

Now the girls are back in their hometown of Ashland City, where sister Junie (playwright Fischer) has taken over the family business, The Sparkley Clean Dry Cleaners. She also takes care of her father Lyle (Bill Frey), who's been having trouble remembering things lately. With Lashley fresh out of rehab and Junie up to her elbows in laundry, a professional comeback for the Lashley Sisters seems unlikely. That is, until Pastor Phil (Britt Hancock) of the Third United Separated Harmony Church informs them that Bindy Moss, the church's Funeral Singer, has gone to her eternal rest and asks them to take over the job. Junie pens the unforgettable tune "Bindy, Take A Seat At The Banquet Table (Cause There's No Need For Food Drives In Heaven)" and together with a reluctant Lashley, starts the sisters on a new career path: performing personalized sendoffs for the dearly departed!

Will Lashley be able to stay clean and sober? Will Junie be able to juggle her taking care of the business - and her father - while writing her unique funeral songs? And will the Lashley Sisters make it back to Nashville? Audiences can find out beginning April 1, in The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers, an unforgettable new musical comedy that's equally hilarious and heartwarming.

The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers runs through May 28. Tickets may be obtained by calling (931) 484-5000 or at www.ccplayhouse.com.

Pictured: The cast and creatives of The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers, left to right: Bill Frey, Britt Hancock, playwright/actor Lori Fischer, director Bryce McDonald, Weslie Webster and music director Ron Murphy.

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