RING OF FIRE opens at The Gaslight Theatre in Dickson for 9/15-10/13 run

Ring of Fire - The Music of Johnny Cash, directed by Pacer Harp, opens September 15 at the Gaslight Dinner Theatre at Dickson's Renaissance Center, running through October 13. The "jukebox musical", which opened on Broadway in March 2006, is not a biography of Cash, but instead it's described as "a unique mosaic that follows the life and times of Johnny Cash through his most famous songs."

Johnny Cash is considered by many to be one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century and a singer-songwriter who is respected by those in all genres of music. He has been inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. A troubled but devout Christian, Johnny Cash led a complicated and often contradictory life which is evident in his music, from lyrics about prison, crime and drugs to gospel favorites about faith and family.

Conceived by William Meade and created and directed by Richard Maltby Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Fosse), the show evokes the life experiences of Cash as he progresses through life, from his hard life growing up in the cotton fields of Arkansas through his rebellious and sometimes troubled adult life to the redemption and peace that Johnny Cash eventually found through his family, faith and music.

"It's not a concert at all," explains Tony Award-winning director Maltby. "Ask anyone who's seen it, because in a way, you can't describe what it is. It's a book musical without a book - a play made up of songs."

The Gaslight Dinner Theatre production includes a first-rate professional cast of actors and musicians, including several members who have been in national productions of Ring of Fire; Jeff Lisenby was the original music director of Ring of Fire on Broadway, and Pete Roze and Tom Mason have both been in national tours of Ring of Fire. The other cast/band members include: Amanda Bridgette, Bryan J. Wlas, Charlynn Carter, Chris Buck, Jenny Stodd, Nathan W. Brown, Pacer Harp, Todd Meredith and Will Sevier.

The band is a vital part of the show and story-telling and the Gaslight Dinner Theatre production boasts Jeff Lisenby as the musical director. Jeff was the original Musical Director of the Broadway production and is a veteran of the Nashville music scene.

"The whole band's on stage the whole time, there's no pit," he explains. "We had to learn the choreography, be in different places on stage at different times."

The show's song list includes Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues", "I Walk the Line,", "A Boy Named Sue", "I've Been Everywhere", "Jackson", "Daddy Sang Bass", "Get Rhythm" and, of course, "Ring of Fire".

Because of the special multi-media aspects of the show and the cast and band musical numbers, this production will be presented in The Renaissance Center's larger theater, the Performance Hall instead of the 80-seat Gaslight Dinner Theatre.

"We're thrilled to be able to offer this great entertainment to a larger audience and to those who may not want to pay the full dinner theatre ticket," says Pacer Harp, director of theatre at The  Renaissance Center. "Being in the Performance Hall also allows us to add multi-media aspects that we normally couldn't accomplish in the Gaslight Dinner Theatre. In addition, the Gaslight Dinner Theatre, while cozy and intimate, can only accommodate 80 people and being in the Performance Hall opens tickets up to 450!"

"We've had a number of people ask about "show only" tickets to Gaslight Dinner Theatre productions in the past, but because these shows are professional productions, and actors, band members and technical crew need to be paid, we just couldn't commit our seats to the lower ticket prices," explains marketing director Melissa Cross. "But this show is the perfect opportunity to put it in the larger Performance Hall, open up the seating and let people who might not be able to pay those prices now come and see a professional theatrical production."

Performances of Ring of Fire run through October 15 and include Friday and Saturday evening shows (dinner at 6:30, show at 7:30) and Tuesday and Thursday Matinee performances (lunch at 12 noon and show at 1pm). Tickets are: $37 for the full dinner/show evening performances and $27 for lunch/show matinees. "Show Only" tickets are available for $15 (adults), $12 (seniors), $8 (children 12 and under). For tickets, call (615) 740-5600, (615) 740- 5572 or toll-free (888) 700-2300. More information is available on the website at www.rcenter.org. 

pictured: Jeff Lisenby and Pacer Harp

To post a comment, you must register and login.