Smoke On The Mountain
Encyclopedia
Smoke on the Mountain is an Off-Broadway
musical
that was written by Alan Bailey and Connie Ray
. It was originally workshopped at the McCarter Theatre
in 1988, given a full staging at the McCarter in 1990, and was subsequently moved by the McCarter to Lamb's Theatre
in New York City
, New York
in 1990 and had 475 performances. The Lamb's revived it in 1998. The name of the musical comes from Psalm 104:32: "He who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke" (Psalm 104:32). Smoke on the Mountain is one of the most produced shows worldwide.
, conceived and directed by Alan Bailey, sets by Peter Harrison
, lighting by Mary Jo Dondlinger, costumes by Pamela Scofield, musical direction by John Foley, musical arrangements by Mike Craver
and Mark Hardwick, production stage manager was Erika Feldman, and technical supervision by Joseph L. Robinson. The associate producer was Nancy Nagel Gibbs. Presented by Carolyn Rossi Copeland and Marie B. Corporation.
The 1998 cast was as follows: Constance Barron as Vera Sanders, Sean Dooley as Dennis Sanders, Dionne McGuire Gardner as Denise Sanders, John Griffith as Stanley, Jonah Marsh as June Sanders, Robert Olsen as Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe, and Bobby Taylor as Burl Sanders.
, North Carolina
Baptist
church in 1938 and it revolves around the Sanders family.
The story continues with the sequel, "Sanders Family Christmas," released in 1999 (with musical arrangements by John Foley and Gary Fagin). The setting is 1941 and the family has gathered together for a Christmas sing at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church before Dennis is shipped off to the Pacific in World War II.
A third production was released in 2006 entitled, "Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming" (with musical arrangements by Mike Craver). The setting is October 1945. The war is over and Rev. Oglethorpe has received a call to preach in West Texas. The Sanders Family has come together for one last sing at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church before the family disbands.
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
that was written by Alan Bailey and Connie Ray
Connie Ray
Constance "Connie" Ray is an American film and television actress and playwright. Among her highest profile appearances are Thank You for Smoking and Stuart Little , and the television drama ER...
. It was originally workshopped at the McCarter Theatre
McCarter Theatre
McCarter Theatre is a not-for-profit, professional company on the campus of Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of the most active cultural centers in the nation, offering over 200 performances of theater, dance, music and special events each year...
in 1988, given a full staging at the McCarter in 1990, and was subsequently moved by the McCarter to Lamb's Theatre
Lamb's Theatre
Lamb's Theatre was an Off-Broadway theater located at 130 West 44th Street, New York City inside the Manhattan Church of the Nazarene, near Times Square in New York City. It seated approximately 350 and specialized in musical productions...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1990 and had 475 performances. The Lamb's revived it in 1998. The name of the musical comes from Psalm 104:32: "He who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke" (Psalm 104:32). Smoke on the Mountain is one of the most produced shows worldwide.
Cast and crew
Book by Connie RayConnie Ray
Constance "Connie" Ray is an American film and television actress and playwright. Among her highest profile appearances are Thank You for Smoking and Stuart Little , and the television drama ER...
, conceived and directed by Alan Bailey, sets by Peter Harrison
Peter Harrison
Peter Harrison was a colonial American architect who was born in York, England and emigrated to Rhode Island in 1740. Peter Harrison and his brother, Joseph Harrison, came to the American colonies and established themselves as merchants and captains of their own "vessels." Peter Harrison returned...
, lighting by Mary Jo Dondlinger, costumes by Pamela Scofield, musical direction by John Foley, musical arrangements by Mike Craver
Mike Craver
Mike Craver is an American composer and lyricist. He was born in North Carolina.-Biography:Mike Craver graduated from the University of North Carolina. He was also, for 12 years, a member of the band, Red Clay Ramblers. He has appeared in Sam Shepard's "A Lie of the Mind". He has toured, with the...
and Mark Hardwick, production stage manager was Erika Feldman, and technical supervision by Joseph L. Robinson. The associate producer was Nancy Nagel Gibbs. Presented by Carolyn Rossi Copeland and Marie B. Corporation.
The 1998 cast was as follows: Constance Barron as Vera Sanders, Sean Dooley as Dennis Sanders, Dionne McGuire Gardner as Denise Sanders, John Griffith as Stanley, Jonah Marsh as June Sanders, Robert Olsen as Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe, and Bobby Taylor as Burl Sanders.
Plot
The songs used in the production were mostly old hymns. The setting is in Mount PleasantMount Pleasant, North Carolina
Mount Pleasant is a town located in eastern Cabarrus County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,259....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church in 1938 and it revolves around the Sanders family.
Song list
- I'll Fly AwayI'll Fly Away"I'll Fly Away", is a hymn written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in a collection titled Wonderful Message...
- The Church in the WildwoodThe Church in the Wildwood"The Church in the Wildwood" is a song that was written by Dr. William S. Pitts in 1857 following a coach ride that stopped in Bradford, Iowa. It is a song about a church in a valley near the town, though the church was not actually built until several years later...
- Wonderful Time Up There
- No Tears in Heaven
- Christian Cowboy
- I'll Never Die (I'll just change my address)
- Jesus Is Mine
- I'll Live a Million Years
- I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now
- I'm Using My Bible for a Road Map
- I'll Walk Every Step of the Way
- I'm Taking a Flight
- Smoke on the Mountain
Sequels
Connie Ray and Alan Bailey issued two sequels to "Smoke on the Mountain."The story continues with the sequel, "Sanders Family Christmas," released in 1999 (with musical arrangements by John Foley and Gary Fagin). The setting is 1941 and the family has gathered together for a Christmas sing at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church before Dennis is shipped off to the Pacific in World War II.
A third production was released in 2006 entitled, "Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming" (with musical arrangements by Mike Craver). The setting is October 1945. The war is over and Rev. Oglethorpe has received a call to preach in West Texas. The Sanders Family has come together for one last sing at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church before the family disbands.