Photo Flash: Cooperstate's COUNTRY JUKEBOX

Country Jukebox

is the World's First and Only Interactive Country Musical!! Country Jukebox is the world's most unique musical revue. During their delicious dinner, audiences are invited to select their favorites from our giant jukebox of over 100 of the greatest Country songs ever written. The choices are tallied and a brand-new, world premier revue, created by the audience, is brought to life before their very eyes by our talented and versatile cast. Each show is as unique and as different as the audience that created it! Broadway Jukebox was an enormous hit 4 years ago at Copperstate, winning many awards including being named Best Original Musical by both the AriZoni Awards and The East Valley Tribune, Hollywood Jukebox played to sold out houses and Christmas Jukebox also won the AriZoni Award for Best Production of the Year for the 2008-09 season. Country Jukebox is sure to be a hit as well.

When no two shows are ever the same, it can be - to put it mildly - a challenge. As exciting for the performers as it is for the audience, a great part of the show takes place backstage out of the audience's sight. Country Jukebox requires an amazing cast of actors whose versatility is put to the test each night as they adapt to the demands of each evening's audience. Only one half hour before curtain, the cast mingles with the audience, and collects their jukebox selections for the evening. The pages are then carried backstage where the choices are quickly tallied and the most requested songs are compiled. With the help of the staff, songs are frantically put in dramatic and comedic order, divided by style, duets and ensemble numbers and then with literally only minutes to go until curtain, the final list is copied on to a giant whiteboard which is posted backstage, just in time for the cast to make their first entrance!

Peter J. Hill, who created Broadway Jukebox, Hollywood Jukebox, Christmas Jukebox and now Country Jukebox, says that the audience misses possibly the most entertaining part of the show. "Half the fun is watching the performers prepare each show. Since they have no idea what they will be singing each night, this show really keeps them on their toes! Remember, the six member cast must have nearly 100 songs at the ready - lyrics, harmonies and even the dance steps. To call that daunting is a gross understatement!"

"I had this idea a few years back and after Broadway Jukebox was named ‘Best Original Musical of the Year' by both the AriZoni Awards and The East Valley Tribune, I knew I just had to do this again and in Arizona what could be more fun than a Country Jukebox? And what great fun to premier the new musical in a wonderful new venue inside the Encore Room of The Arizona Broadway Theater!"

The Copperstate Dinner Theater production of Country Jukebox is created and directed by Copperstate's Producing Director Peter J. Hill, choreographed by Noel Irick, musically directed by Reynaldo Saenz and accompanied by Flora Mogerman. It stars Kathy Donald, Charlie Jourdan, Dominic Kidwell, Amy Powers and Janine Smith.

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