UWOpera performance is Smokin'

 

The musical, which runs through Saturday, includes such pop standards as Fools Fall in Love, Hound Dog, Yakety Yak, Love Potion No. 9, There Goes My Baby, On Broadway and Jailhouse Rock. It is the longest-running revue on Broadway with seven Tony award nominations and a Grammy award for original soundtrack.

 

 

Western President Paul Davenport opened the first performance of UWOpera's Smokey Joe's Cafe by welcoming the audience and sharing his keen knowledge of many of the tunes they were about to hear. 

 

Performances continue tonight at 8 p.m., with a matinee (2 p.m.) and 8 p.m. show Saturday.

 

“Smokey Joe’s has great roles and songs,” said Theodore Baerg, opera director. “It’s a fabulous show. It’s made for entertainment from beginning to end. People will recognize the music.”

 

Double casting the show provides an opportunity for more Don Wright Faculty of Music students to participate. A mix of 30 undergraduate and graduate vocal students and a stage band take the stage at Althouse.

 

“Some of them have experience in musical theatre,” said Baerg. “Many will go on to teach in public schools and teach musicals, not operas, so we have offered a musical theatre opportunity. The greater variety of music we can make provides depth to their education.”

One of the leads, Nathan Lucas, spent the summer as a music supervisor in Los Angeles, determining the music for ABC shows Army Wives, Dirty Sexy Money, The Ex List and Samantha Who. The experience turned his career aspirations from opera to musical theatre and television. “He’s fabulous in the show,” said Baerg.

Smokey Joe’s is also more laid back than opera.

 

“Leave the formality at home,” said Baerg. “Come and have a good time in your blue jeans and T-shirts. It’s a great show for families – toe-tapping, knee-slapping music.”