Ring of Fire Review: Chemainus Theatre Cashing in

Samantha Currie / Jonas Shandel

By Lexi Bainas, Cowichan Valley Citizen

The story of a country music legend is being told at the Chemainus Theatre starting Feb. 20 as Ring of Fire: Project Johnny Cash hits the stage.

This presentation follows the life of the inimitable Man in Black from his rockabilly roots in Arkansas to country’s hallowed halls: the Grand Old Opry.

Running until April 11, the revue-format all-ages show features more than 30 hit songs matched with narrated insights that give you the scoop on Cash.

Ring of Fire, conceived by William Meade and created by Richard Maltby Jr., is more than a biography or collection of Cash’s songs.

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By Editor M|March 3rd, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season, Reviews|0 Comments

Ring of Fire: Meet the Cast, Designers & Creators

RICHARD MALTBY, JR.

Richard Maltby, Jr. includes among his Broadway credits: Conceived/Directed Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978 Tony, NY Drama Critics, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards. Also Tony Award for Best Director); Fosse (1999 Tony, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards). Lyricist: Miss Saigon (Evening Standard Award 1990, Tony Nomination for Best Score 1991). Director and Co-lyricist of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song & Dance, 1986 (Tony Award for star Bernadette Peters). With composer David Shire: Director/Lyricist Baby, 1983 (book by Sybille Pearson; seven Tony Award nominations); Lyricist: Big, 1996 (book by John Weidman. Tony nomination: Best Score). Off-Broadway credits: Director/Lyricist Starting Here, Starting Now, 1977 (Grammy Award nomination); Closer Than Ever, 1989 (Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Score). Contributes devilish crossword puzzles to Harpers Magazine. Son of well-known orchestra leader; married to Janet Brenner; five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily and Charlotte.

WILLIAM MEADE

Bill Meade began his career as a musician. He has been a featured soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Zurich Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonic, and Jacksonville Symphony. He has produced concerts throughout the U.S. and Europe with artists ranging from Arlo Guthrie to BB Kind. Television: “The Miss America Pageant,” “The Super Bowl Half Time Show,” “Sex and The City,” “Love Monkey,” and “Sesame Street.” On Broadway, he has been involved with more than 50 musicals. He is a Grammy-nominated record producer with a wide range of theatrical releases to his credit, from Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing to Elegies by William Finn.

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TIMOTHY E. BRUMMUND

Timothy is an accomplished theatre, voice-over and film/TV actor and is a graduate of the Grant MacEwan Theatre Arts Program. Career highlights include The 39 Steps and Guys and Dolls (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Mamma Mia (Mirvish Productions), West Side Story (Vancouver Opera), The Light in the Piazza (PSP), Little Shop of Horrors (Citadel Theatre/Arts Club). This show is dedicated to a young cowboy who left us to soon… Eric Lehmann. Always for Lindy XOXO.

SCOTT CARMICHAEL

Scott Carmichael is delighted to be making his Chemainus Theatre Festival debut. An actor and musician, Scott is a veteran of seven productions of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Arts Club, Stage West Calgary, Magnus Theatre, Sudbury Theatre Centre, Theatre Aquarius). Selected other theatre include Sleuth, 12 Angry Men, Blood Brothers, The 39 Steps, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Rose Theatre), Doubt, and Urinetown, The Musical (Georgetown Globe). Favourite role: Father to his son, Jaden.

ANDREA CROSS

Andrea is thrilled to be making her Chemainus Theatre debut. Favourite theatre credits include three national tours of The Big Picture (Arts Engine, Brookstone), and four years with the critically acclaimed musical 2000 Candles (Arts Engine). Andrea is also the Education Coordinator at Chemainus Theatre Festival and loves sharing her passion for theatre with children all over Vancouver Island. Thanks Alana, Conor & Paul! www.andreacross.com

SAMANTHA CURRIE

Samantha is a graduate of the AMDA in New York. Select credits include: Eve in Waiting for the Parade (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Blanche in Brighton Beach Memoirs (Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre); Zerbinette in Delicious Lies (Chemainus Theatre Festival); and Marian Paroo in The Music Man (TUTS). She also teaches theatre and musical theatre at Adage Studios. Special thanks to Mark, Zach and among her klediments, her family, Alex, Cecilia and her autoharp.

T. ERIN GRUBER

Set & Projection Designer

T. Erin Gruber is an independent theatre designer with experience in set, lighting, costume and projected media design. She holds a degree in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta and is a founding member of the ShowStages video collective, a group expanding the boundaries of projected media role in theatre (www.showstages.com). For more information: www.eringruber.com.

CRYSTAL HANSON

Costume Designer

Crystal is a graduate of the Fashion Design & Technology Program at Kwantlen University College. Past costume designs at the Chemainus Theatre Festival include Waiting for the Parade, All Shook Up (Gateway Theatre co-production), Countryside Christmas, and Ah, Wilderness! She would like to thank her parents for their support and encouragement in what probably seemed an impractical career path at the time.

REBEKAH JOHNSON

Lighting Designer

It is always a pleasure to design at the Chemainus Theatre. Past favourites include Buddy:The Buddy Holly Story and The Miracle Worker. Other recent work includes Gaslight ( Blue Bridge Theatre) and The Incomplete Folksinger (The Other Guys Theatre). Upcoming projects include MacBeth (Blue Bridge, where she is also the General/Theatre Manager). Rebekah has a BFA (Theatre) and an MFA (Visual Art) from UVic.

MARK MACRAE

Mark is excited not only to be making his Chemainus Theatre Festival debut in Ring of Fire, but also his Vancouver Island winter debut, which promises to be much warmer than he’s used to. This actor/singer/sailor/filmmaker was born in Fredericton and is now based in Toronto. Select Theatre: Music Man (Port Hope), Buddy Holly Story (Sudbury), Cabaret (Northern Stage); Film/TV: Covert Affairs. @Mark_MacRae. Proud member of CAEA & ACTRA.

JONAS SHANDEL

Singer, songwriter, musician and performer, Jonas now lives in Chemainus! He is best known as co-founder of the Vancouver band Headwater which for a decade has headlined festivals and concert halls throughout Canada and Europe. When Jonas received a call from Nashville, he was on the first plane to music city where he now co-writes material with the best in the business. Jonas has recorded a collection of classic country songs for this show. “Six Days on the Road” is available in the lobby after the show.

ZACHARY STEVENSON

Musical Director

Zachary is enjoying being home on the island for the third year running making his debut as musical director in Ring of Fire. An accomplished actor, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, audiences will recognize him best as “Buddy” having performed in ten productions of The Buddy Holly Story throughout North America including twice here in Chemainus. He has performed in Hank Williams: the Show He Never Gave, Red Rock Diner, FIRE, Urinetown, Hair, Assassins among others. Follow Zach on facebook or visit www.zacharystevenson.com.

ANNE TAYLOR

Stage Manager

Anne spent last season Stage Managing with Patrick Street Productions on Floyd Collins and Out of a Dream with the Arts Club Theatre Company as Assistant Stage Manager on Mary Poppins. Other recent and favourite productions include Stage Managing Blue Box with Nightswimming Theatre in Vancouver, The Light in the Piazza with Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon and Café Daughter with Gwaandak Theatre in Whitehorse.

PAUL TEDESCHINI

Sound Designer

Recent design credits include Gaslight (Bluebridge Theatre), Sherlock Holmes, Over The River and Through The Woods, Les Mis, Buddy, It’s A Wonderful Life (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Home Is A Beautiful Word ( The Belfry Theatre), Fresco (Shadbolt Centre / The Cultch), Noises Off (Western Canada Theatre), Circle Mirror Transformation (Arts Club Theatre). Upcoming ; 39 Steps (Western Canada Theatre), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (The Belfry Theatre).

KRAIG WAYE

Kraig is thrilled to be here in beautiful Chemainus. He has appeared all across Canada in theatrical shows such as Songs For A New World, The Wedding Singer, The Last Resort, Forever Plaid and The Buddy Holly Story to name a few. When not in theatre, Kraig is kept extremely busy working as a bassist/ vocalist for numerous bands/ensembles in southern Ontario. as always, love to Stephanie. enjoy the show!

MEL WATKINS

Apprentice Stage Manager

For the Chemainus: Debut. Elsewhere: Apprentice SM: A Bedfull of Foreigners, Lend me a Tenor and Lights, Camera, Christmas… (Upper canada Playhouse); On a First Name Basis, Henry and Alice: Into the Wild and I’ll be Back Before Midnight (Lighthouse festival Theatre); Laura’s Cow (Canadian Children’s Opera Company); Queen Milli of Galt (Theatre Aquarius); SM: The Greatest Story Never Told (Smile Theatre); ASM: Half Life (rose Theatre) Education: recent graduate of the University of Windsor’s Ba(H) Drama program.

MELISSA YOUNG

Assistant Director

Melissa is thrilled to be back in Chemainus working on this show. as a choreographer, Melissa’s credits include: The Wizard of Oz, Seussical (carousel Theatre), As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors (Bard on the Beach) and Oklahoma! (Chemainus.) Melissa has also appeared in: High Society, The Producers, Gypsy, Beauty and the Beast (Arts Club), Guys and Dolls (Chemainus.) She recently received her Masters Degree in Theatre from SOU.

By Editor M|February 28th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season, Reviews|0 Comments

Ring of Fire: Director’s Notes

Mark DuMez

The American South and its icons hold a curious fascination for even those who live very far away from the Mason-Dixon Line. To me, there is something appealing about the contrasts and duplicity. Southern Gothic writers seem to put their finger on it – wild individualism set against the fabric of community, pious faith next to reckless abandon and the notion of fallen gentry. The Civil War, fought only 150 years ago, is an epic demonstration of a national divide fought to the death. In a former life I spent the better part of a year in and around Nashville and got to take it all in first hand – the magnolia blossoms, the thick heat and the many kindnesses of strangers. It was thrilling and foreign, wonderful and weird and left a lasting impact. While it’s hard to sum up, you can feel it when you’re there and, the beauty of Johnny Cash is he let us hear it.

Johnny Cash’s music and the songs he sang bring together so many strands of a growing nation finding its groove. He was a wild gentleman, a rustic poet, a saved sinner – call it what you might – Cash was a American icon that was unique through many eras. “The thing about Johnny Cash,” wrote Anthony DeCurtis in the Rolling Stone, “is he was both Saturday night and Sunday morning.” His music still kicks it today.

It’s been a thrill to work with such a talented and intuitive cast on this tribute. In it, there are Chemainus favourites that have thrilled us in years past, as well as new local sparks and some good old’ boys from the other side of Canada. Enjoy the show.

About Mark

Mark is a proud resident of Vancouver Island and has enjoyed directing Sherlock Holmes, Jeeves in Bloom, A Pretty Girl (A Shayna Maidel), Delicious Lies, Harvest, The 39 Steps and Amadeus for Chemainus Theatre Festival. Other favourites include: A Christmas Carol, Strindberg’s Easter, Anne, Mr. Pim Passes By and Pet the Fish. He has collaborated with companies including Theatre X, Pacific Theatre and TheatreOne to develop over a dozen new plays. Favourite acting credits include: Mass Appeal, Enchanted April, Queen Milli of Galt and Streetcar Named Desire.

By Editor M|February 23rd, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season|0 Comments

Winter Message from the Managing Director

Welcome to our 23rd season of live professional theatre on Vancouver Island. We are ecstatic to launch it with Ring of Fire!

We have a wonderful 2015 line-up on offer for you – a diverse blend including musical legends, a British farce, Southern country charmer, the world’s most famous whodunit and the whimsical story of Buddy the Elf and his ultimate calling to save Christmas.

We are now in the midst of our Season Ticket campaign and it’s not too late to jump on board. Season Tickets secure your place at the heart this theatre, grant you access to the best seats at the best price and provide you with a year of experiences to look forward to.

Thank you to everyone that participated in our 2014 season by buying tickets, supporting us with charitable gifts, volunteering and spreading the word to your friends. It was a great year marked by eight excellent productions, the launch of a new studio venue and the renovation of our Playbill Dining Room. In all, nearly 68,000 attended theatre in Chemainus – up from the year before and really making it a success by all measures.

Theatre cannot exist without an active, engaged audience. You sustain us and give us life. Thank you for attending today.

Randal Huber

By Editor M|February 20th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season, Your Support|0 Comments

Ring of Fire: Show Gallery

Scott Carmichael, Zachary Stevenson, Kraig Waye, Mark MacRae, Timothy E. Brummund, Andrea Cross, Samantha Currie, Jonas Shandel.

Ensemble

Samantha Currie, Andrea Cross, Jonas Shadel

Andrea Cross and Timothy E. Brummund

Zachary Stevenson

Click Here for the Full Gallery

By Editor M|February 20th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season|0 Comments

Ring of Fire: Johnny’s Timeline

Jonas Shandel

For many people, when they think of a “legend”, they think of Johnny Cash. from his birth in Arkansas in 1932 through his amazing recording career and marriage to June Carter Cash, he lived life to the fullest right up to the very end. Here are a few of the milestones in his life.

1932

John R. Cash born in Kingsland, Arkansas to Ray Cash, a farmer, and Carrie Rivers Cash.

1937

Dyess flood evacuation is later memorialized in 1959 song “Five Feet High and Rising.”

1950

Signs up for the Air Force. Stationed in Germany where he learns guitar and writes to Vivian every day.

1954

Elvis Presley releases “That’s All Right” on Sam Phillip’s Sun Records.Presley and Cash become friends.

John R. Cash and Vivian Liberto marry.

Cash obtains audition for Sam Phillips. Sam advises him to drop gospel and changes his name to Johnny.

1955

Cash releases his first recordings with the Tennessee Two: “Hey Porter” and “Cry, Cry, Cry.”“Cry, Cry, Cry” reaches #14 on Billboard C&W.

1956

Cash makes debut at Grand Ole Opry and meets June Carter same night.Cash releases the hit single “I Walk the Line.” reaches #1 on Billboard C&W.

1960

San Quentin Prison concert. First of many free prison concerts. 22 year old inmate Merle Haggard sat in the front row.

1961

Carter family joins the Cash road show.

1963

Cash releases “Ring of Fire.” Tops Billboard C&W. Cash would go on to have 13 #1 singles and release 96 albums.

1965

Police arrest Cash in El Paso, Texas for possession of amphetamines in his guitar case.

1966

Vivian Liberto files for divorce.

1968

Folsom Prison concert recorded by Columbia.
Cash & Carter win Grammy for Best C&W Performance by a Duo for “Jackson.”
Johnny Cash and June Carter marry.

1969

“Folsom Prison Blues” wins Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance
Johnny Cash Show premieres on ABC with special guest Bob Dylan.

1970

“A Boy Named Sue” wines Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance.
Cash invited to White House to perform for President Nixon.

1971

“If I Were a Carpenter” wins Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo

1980

Country Music Hall of Fame inducts Cash.

2002

“Give My Love to Rose” wins Grammy for Best Country Male Vocal Performance.

2003

The music video for “Hurt” wins a Grammy for the Best Short Form Video.
June Carter Cash dies due to complications with heart surgery at age 73.
Johnny Cash dies from complications with diabetes at the age of 71.

2005

Motion picture “Walk the Line” opens nationwide.

2006

Jukebox musical “Ring of Fire” opens on Broadway.

By Editor M|February 18th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season|0 Comments

Ring of Fire: Hard at Work

We’re hard at work in the theatre with the creative and technical details coming together. Rehearsals are going well and we’ll be ready for Preview night on Thursday, Opening Night on Friday Feb 20. Book your tickets early, lots of shows almost sold out already.

Click Here to Book!

By Editor M|February 16th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season|0 Comments

Current Gallery Exhibition: Sue Coleman

Sue Coleman

February 20 to April 11, 2014

About Sue

Sue maintains a studio on the shores of Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island, Canada. She paints a variety of subjects from misty west-coast scenes, wildlife and landscapes, to art that has a strong First Nations influence. Sue actively works to promote environmental awareness and wildlife conservation.

Her work is represented in Limited Edition Reproductions, Art cards, Posters, Plates, and several books which she has both written and illustrated.

More Info

For Sue Coleman’s website Click Here

By Editor M|February 16th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season, The Gallery Gift Shop|0 Comments

Ring of Fire: Song List

Zachary Stevenson

Country Boy

Jackson

Straight A’s In Love

I’ve Been Everywhere

In The Highways

Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

(written by Kris Kristofferson) Published by Combine Music Corp.

While I’ve Got It On My Mind

All Over Again

Five Feet High and Rising

Going to Memphis

Daddy Sang Bass

Delia’s Gone

Flesh and Blood

Folsom Prison Blues

Cry, Cry, Cry

Man in Black

Big River

I Walk the Line

I Still Miss Someone

Waiting on the Far-Side Banks of Jordan

Get Rhythm

Why Me

(Written by Kris Kristofferson) Published by Resaca Music Publishing Co.

Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog

Hey Porter

Angel Band

A Boy Named Sue

(Words & Music By Shel Silverstein) TRO – Evil Eye Music, Inc. – ASCAP

Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart

If I Were A Carpenter

Ring of Fire

By Editor M|February 13th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season|0 Comments

Ring of Fire: Rehersals

Looks like the boys are having a lot of fun in rehearsal! Everyone is hard at work getting ready for opening Feb. 20. Lyrics rolling around today … “I fell into a burning ring of fire, I went down, down, down as the flames went higher And it burns, burns, burns, The ring of fire, the ring of fire.”

Kraig Waye and Zachary Stevenson

Zachary Stevenson – Musical Director hard a work.

Zarchary Stevenson, Scott Carmichael, Kraig Waye and Mark MacRae

By Editor M|February 11th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season|0 Comments