An impressive season of summer theatre continues at the historic Drayton Festival Theatre with Smokey Joe’s Café, a sparkling tribute that highlights chart-topping hits by legendary song writing duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The record-breaking musical revue is on stage for three weeks only from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3.
Smokey Joe’s Café shares the musical stories of nine strangers with no dialogue through 39 of Leiber and Stoller’s iconic songs that climbed the Billboard charts in the late 50s and early 60s.
“Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller are the Rodgers and Hammerstein of rock ‘n’ roll,” said Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment. “Smokey Joe’s Café is packed with memorable songs performed by an all-star cast – I know audiences are going to love this fun-filled musical.”
Stylistically, their songs range from humorous high-energy tunes to sweeping ballads – all grounded in rhythm and blues. As lyricists, the team became known for their storytelling ability and wit, as well as their depictions of teenage life during the era.
Leiber and Stoller helped establish the rock ‘n’ roll sound when they wrote Hound Dog in 1952.
With classic songs recorded by everybody from Elvis Presley to the Drifters to John Lennon, their list of hits sounds like the very history of rock ‘n’ roll almost from the moment of its birth.
Throughout his career, Presley recorded more than 20 Leiber and Stoller hits including Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock. Smokey Joe’s Café features those iconic tunes as well as hits like On Broadway, Yakety Yak, Fools Fall in Love, Spanish Harlem, Love Potion #9, Stand By Me and more.
Accomplished director and choreographer Mike Jackson is at the helm of this production. For Drayton Entertainment, Jackson recently directed and choreographed Chicago and Little Shop of Horrors; he also choreographed All Shook Up.
No stranger to the stage, Jackson has appeared in numerous Drayton Entertainment productions including playing the Tin Man in last season’s The Wizard of Oz.
Jackson is joined by music director Michael Barber, set designer Samantha Burson, costume designer Adrienne Vranckaert, lighting designer Jason Hand, and assistant director and assistant choreographer Robin Calvert.
A first-rate cast of performers with remarkable voices has been assembled, officials state, including Aurianna Angelique, Mark Cassius, Michael Clarke, Graham Scott Fleming, Kira Guloien, Jennifer Kee, David Lopez, Lee Siegel and Shahi Teruko. A six-piece band lead by Michael Barber will ensure the hottest joint in town sizzles through the hit parade of classic tunes, officials say.
Tickets are $44 for adults and $26 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for groups of 20 or more are $36. HST is applicable to all ticket prices.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.draytonentertainment.com, in person at any Drayton Entertainment box office, or by calling toll free 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
