A-LISTS theatre by randy hope
SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE SERVES UP NOSTALGIA AT
‘SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ’
AUDIENCES OLD AND YOUNG ALIKE WILL RELATE TO THE TIMELESS SONGBOOK ON THE JUKEBOX MENU Music and lyrics written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
virtually invented rock ’n’ roll. Their songbook provides the basis for electrifying entertainment that illuminates a golden age of American culture. Encapsulated in the Broadway music revue Smokey Joe’s Café –The Music of Leiber and Stoller, the five Tony Award-winning production is a rollicking song and dance party set in the idealized ’50s. The show features nearly 40 of the greatest songs ever recorded by the likes of Elvis, The Drifters, Dion, The Coasters, Ben E. King and many other pop legends who defined a generation. Hilarious set-pieces are blended with slice-of-life emotions and classic themes of love won, lost and imagined. The San Diego Musical Theatre production of Smokey Joe’s Café will rock the stage at Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza, from Friday, Sept. 24 through Sunday, Oct. 10. The RageMonthly caught up with the production’s director and choreographer Ron Kellum, along with actor Lawrence Cummings, to discuss the compelling piece of musical theater.
Ron Kellum, director and choreographer The Rage Monthly: Some readers and theater goers may not recognize Leiber and Stoller by name, but they’ll certainly recognize their work. What are these two legendary talents responsible for? Ron Kellum: They are responsible for music that is really timeless at this point. It is music that is featured in a lot of movies and jingles on television commercials. And there are so many songs featured in the production, but what immediately comes to mind is “On Broadway,” “Charlie Brown” and “Yackity Yack” just to name a few. Their music tells a story of every generation’s coming of age.
Rage: What can the audience expect from the San Diego Musical Theatre production? RK: I think they are going to be thrilled to see some amazing talent, because I’ve taken
great care in finding people who can deliver this music with great actors who have amazing voices. This is a night that people will walk out of the theater and feel really good. Hopefully people will not go to a movie for a couple of weeks and will come to support local theatre, which is becoming a lost art.
Lawrence Cummings, actor The Rage Monthly: Your role as “Victor” is one you’re quite familiar with as this is the ninth produc- tion of Smokey Joe’s Café you’ve done. How do you keep each individual production fresh? Lawrence Cummings: Well life is forever changing, so I go back and take the text of the songs and make it relevant to myself now. Also the cast members make it different each time and they bring a whole different dynamic to the show. There aren’t a lot of ac- tors in the show—only nine including the ensemble—so each production is intimate and we play off of each other. Also, because it’s a high energy show, the reaction you get from the audience really makes a difference. People are usually standing up, dancing and singing right along with us.
Ron Kellum
Lawrence Cummings
Rage: “Victor” is one of four characters who make up a quartet of Smokey Joe’s Café modeled on The Drifters. What are the advantages or challenges to playing a role largely based on a real life group? LC: The fact that people including myself have actually known the songs we’re per-
forming makes it easier for me as an actor. Because people know the music, they sit up in their seats and listen more closely. And pop songs were meant to be redone, which makes it easier to take the song, add my new spin on it and introduce these songs to the younger kids in the audience who maybe haven’t heard them before.
Rage: Smokey Joe’s Café is billed as a music revue. Is there a storyline that connects the characters, or is the production an oldies-but-goodies concert? LC: That is really left up for interpretation by the audience. Some people think there
is no storyline and others would say, “yes, there is.” It also depends on the particular production of the show. For my character in the San Diego production, I think there is there is a storyline. Still, there virtually is no dialogue in the production. Instead the story is told through the songs we’re performing onstage. The story really starts out with the music of the neighborhood where the singers are growing up and goes on to them moving away and finding love, falling in love and losing love. We tell the story of coming back home and realizing that your friends will always be there for you. It really is a story about life—and the songs bring people back to a point in their lives in which everyone can relate.
For tickets and more information go to
sandiegomusicaltheatre.com.
20
RAGE monthly | SEPTEMBER 2010
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