**** Recommended If country music is your jam – like my friend Nancy - you’ll definitely want to see Country Is: The Music of Main Street in Concert, the last musical of the Canterbury Summer Theatre’s season. Even though country music is not my jam, I really did enjoy the show. The three cast members are talented, enthusiastic and energetic, although they were a teensy bit pitchy on a couple of songs. 3 ½ Spotlights
Country Is features Noah Bryant (Baritone), J. Cole Becton (Tenor) and Angel Purl (Alto), all part of the resident company. CST Music Director John Berst is at the piano.
(L-R) J. Cole Becton, Angel Purl and Noah Bryant
This show is all music, no dialogue. All of the songs and lyrics are in medleys or mash-ups – which are organized into themes. In Act I, we have Greetin’, Workin’, Lovin’, Leavin’ and Home. In Act II, Drinkin’, Singin’ Prayin’ and the Finale, I Saw the Light. After the applause, there’s a short encore, Don’t Rock the Jukebox.
Greetin’ leads off with Home on the Range with I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, Jukebox in My Mind and more. In Workin’ we have Sixteen Tons, Nine to Five, Take This Job and Shove It and more. The only song I recognized in the Lovin’ section was a beautiful rendition of Crazy sung by Angel Purl. The highlight of Leavin’ – an enthusiastic and breathless - I’ve Been Everywhere that brought the house down. Home featured Back Home Again and Thank God I’m A Country Boy among others.
The highlight of Act II’s first segment, Drinkin’ segment had to be the line dancing fun of Boot Scootin’ Boogie which was so much fun to watch! Singin’ only had two songs, one of my favorites, Troubadour and Long Time Gone. The last song of Prayin’, Down to the River to Pray, really led right into the Finale – I Saw the Light
(L-R) J. Cole Becton, Angel Purl and Noah Bryant
Canterbury Summer Theatre is a summer stock theater which means they produce several shows in a limited amount of time with a resident cast. While one show is on stage, the actors are rehearsing the next. After this show concludes, they’re all hitting the road back to school!
CST’s 56th season, will conclude with mystery/drama, Murder at the Howard Johnson’s, August 1st through 3rd (no Wednesday show, Saturday show is matinee only). This production features a cast from Bossier Parish Community College. After the weekend in Michigan City, they will have a run in Louisiana.
Artistic Director Ray Scott Crawford is in his 43rd season with CST, his 39th as AD. During the rest of the year, he is Program Director of Theatre at Bossier Parish Community College in Louisiana. Associate Artistic Director David Graham, now based in Michigan City, is in his 35th summer at Canterbury. Music Director/Associate Director John Berst returns for his 5th season.
CST’s resident company includes: J. Cole Becton (Actor); Landon Brewer (Actor), student at Dobbins conservatory of Theatre and Dance; Noah Bryant (Actor), student at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Robin Eaken (Lighting Designer, Lighting Technician), recent graduate of Ohio State University; Elena Farley (Choreographer/Actor), student at Boston Conservatory; Kaylee Herr (Stage Manager/Choreographer/Technician), student at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana; Peyton Kistler (Scenic Designer/Technical Director), student at Ball State University; Julia Parr (Costumer), student at Bossier Parish Community College; Cherilyn Percy (Actor/Costume Assistant), student at Roosevelt University: Chicago College of Performing Arts; Tony Pethtel (Carpenter/Technician), student at Aurora University; Angel Purl (Actor), Associate Degree from College of the Mainland; Emily (Garnett) Vires, (Associate Director/Stage Manager), graduate of Ball State University.
Country Is runs through July 27th at Canterbury Summer Theatre, 807 Franklin Street, Michigan City. Plenty of street parking is available.
Running time is just about two hours with an intermission. Performances are Wednesdays at 2:00 pm, Thursday through Saturday at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $20, $18 for seniors. FYI (219) 874-4269 or www.canterburytheatre.org.