Smokey Joe's Cafe
Theatre-by-the-sea, RI
“…has assembled nine of the most delightfully
talented performers for this all music revue. From the opening number, ‘Neighborhood,’ the
audience is taken on a wonderfully entertaining trip down memory lane
with 42 songs that are presented in such a manner that you wonder where
the time went. A standing and thunderous ovation at the end was truly
justified…”
“There are so many songs in this show and they
are all so well presented…”
“Director/Choreographer Gary
John La Rosa has to be credited with the flow of this show.”
“It was such a good show!” “…wonderful
production…” “…absolutely outstanding…”
“This show has it all folks – order
your tickets today!!”
Don Gillis – Little Rhody Theatre
Firing up the juke box
Smokey Joe’s Café gives oldies a new
spin at Matunuck
“If Doo-wop’s your thing, then head down
to Matunuck, where Theatre-by-the-Sea is serving up a sizzling production
of Smokey Joe’s Café, the nostalgic, Grammy-Award winning
salute to the music of the ‘50’s.”
“…has cast well and was able to bring in
talent that’s as good as you’ll hear in any touring production
around here – probably better.”
“…’Saved’,
a hand-clapping gospel number that brought the house down at the end
of the first act.”
“The group had the style
down, along with some smooth moves.”
“Call it a concert, a revue,
whatever. It works...”
Channing Gray – Providence Journal
Hit Parade: The good times roll at Smokey Joe’s
“Smokey Joe’s Café is a dangerous
show to see if dumb lines like ‘Fee-fee-fi-fi-fo-fo-fum, I smell
smoke in the au-di-tor-i-um’ tend to do Mobius strip loops in your
brain. But if you can handle the risk, and 50’s and 60’s
rock and R&B gets your booty bopping, then the current Theatre-By-The –Sea
production is where you’ll want to be.”
“This staging of Smokey Joe’s Café is
paced and constructed to keep things flowing.”
“…‘Some Cats Know’ is
a sinuous treat.”
“…a captivating rendition of ‘Spanish
Harlem’ complemented by some lovely, low-key choreography. By the
time the company, led with authority by Willis White, brought down the
curtain with ‘Stand by Me’, they had also once more brought
down the house.”
“…a rollicking romp
down memory lane, and this production is certainly worthy of its material.
You might even find yourself, as did the couple behind me, singing
along.”
Bill Rodriguez – Providence Phoenix
Smokey Joe’s Café
“The final show at Theatre-by-the-Sea this season
is Smokey Joe’s Café. It is a very high energy musical revue
of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller’s music. 42 of their hit songs
are sung and danced to by 9 talented performers with expert direction
and choreography by Gary John La Rosa and fantastic music direction by
Bill Stanley. What a dynamite way to close the summer season in Matunuck.”
“Gary keeps things moving from number to number
making it flow…with nonstop music from start to finish.”
“Gary’s choreography is another
seamless part of this show…”
“So for a superb evening of familiar
standards…be
sure to see Smokey Joe’s Café, you won’t be disappointed.”
Tony Annicone – Theater Mirror
Fast-paced, fun filled Smokey Joe’s Café resurrects
the doo-wop days of the 1950’s
“Even if you weren’t around for the fun-filled
days of doo-wop, the upbeat, catchy tunes of Smokey Joe’s Café,
now showing at the Theatre-By-The-Sea, will keep you entertained.”
“It is obvious the entire
company is having a blast as it performs this fast-paced, fun musical
directed and choreographed by Gary John La Rosa.”
“…just pure fun…” “fast-paced
and exciting…” “songs that transport the audience…”
“Smokey Joe’s Café is
sure to please.”
Anne Kumar – The Newport Daily News
Smokey Joe’s Café Wows ‘Em
“Theatre-By-The-Sea’s 69th season draws to
a close with a rousing trip down memory lane courtesy of Smokey Joe’s
Café.”
“The show opens and closes with two heartfelt renditions
of ‘Neighborhood’ performed by the entire cast, featuring
a large video screen and a nostalgic look at days gone by in the form
of black and white slides. Despite such sentimental leanings Smokey Joe’s
Café also delivers many laughs.”
“In fact, after seeing some impressive
dancing in ‘On Broadway’ and ‘Jailhouse Rock’ it is
disappointing that there are not more ensemble dance numbers.”
Mark Morin – The Sun
Smokey Joe’s Café a rockin’ good
time
“If you’re looking for a finger-snapping,
toe-tapping good time, you’re sure to find it at Theatre-By-The-Sea’s
production of Smokey Joe’s Café.”
“The entire show is a smooth blend of music, dance
and pure nostalgia. And although the show doesn’t have a typical
storyline, the songs flow in such a way as to create the power and feel
of a story you want to hear again and again.”
“The golden age of rock ‘n’ roll is
relived in Smokey Joe’s Café. Don’t miss out on this
opportunity to take a stroll down memory lane.”
Stacey Cabral – The Herald News
Great Voices Make Smokey Joe’s The Place To Be
“Get ready to laugh. Get
ready to rock. Get ready to roll. And get ready for old-fashioned entertainment,
up-town style.”
“Smokey Joe’s Café the finale of Theatre-By-The-Sea’s
summer musicals, mixes the rich history of foot-tapping pop tunes of
the ‘50’s and ‘60’s with all-star talent to do
the singin’, dancin’ and playin’.”
“Like a mountainous layer cake with fluffy whipped
cream, the delivery at Smokey Joe’s is what really tastes fine.”
“The company, always beautifully
costumed and directed to be in synch with one another. Plays often
as a whole as well as in bits and pieces.”
“…outrageously entertaining…”
Michael Holtzman – The Call
Smokey Joe’s Café Terrific Musical at
Theatre-By-The-Sea
“Credit the producers at Fourquest Entertainment
for finding the perfect end of season show at Theatre-By-The-Sea. Smokey
Joe’s Café is simply a delight to the eyes and ears….”
“If you want a story, go to the library, but if
you want a couple of hours of musical numbers which will have you clappin’ and
tappin’, then don’t miss this one .”
“Director/choreographer Gary John La Rosa is no
stranger to this show, and he’s got the cast to make these great
old songs sound almost new and he’s found everyone’s special
gift and let’s them shine.”
“It’s always sad to see both the summer and
the TBTS season end, but you can extend the sunshine a bit by visiting
Smokey Joe’s Café before Sept. 8th.”
David Howard – East Providence Post
Smokey Joe’s Café A Toe-Tappin’ Good
Time That’s All About The Music
“As the curtain came down, some folks older than
me were glowing. ‘That was a wonderful show!’ said one. ‘I
couldn’t stop my feet from tapping,’ said another. We’d
just seen Smokey Joe’s Café, the final show of the season
at Theatre-By-The-Sea.”
“TBTS’s version doesn’t rely on imitation.
I applaud the director…”
Frank O’Donnell – The Valley Breeze
Smokey Joe’s Café by the Sea
“With a monumental bang,
Broadway has officially arrived at the beach.”
“Smokey Joe’s Café is taking audiences
by storm at Theatre-By-The-Sea – and it promises to please music
lovers endlessly.”
“Award-winning director Gary
John La Rosa is at the helm of this joyful show, along with Musical
Director Bill Stanley.”
“…this bluesy classic
had the entire theater in stitches.”
“Whether you danced to the music then and want
to relive a piece of history or you’re hearing the songs for the
first time, Smokey Joe’s Café is a musical explosion that
promises to bring you to an era of blue-light dinners, first kisses and
hot summer nights.”
Amanda Roberge – The Narragansett Times
Smokey Joe’s Café Raises The Roof
“…One of the summer’s
most entertaining nights out.”
“Imagine dusting off you favorite old 45’s,
stacking them on top of one another on your ancient record player, and
while you listen to them, live singers and dancers jump out of the woodwork
to perform. That’s the feeling you get from Theatre-By-The-Sea’s
rousing rendition of Smokey Joe’s Café, a hip-swaying, head-bobbing,
toe-tapping collection of pop hits by legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber
and Mike Stoller.”
“Before the curtain rises, a blend of voices and
harmonies oozes from a darkened stage, foreshadowing an evening of joyful
music. There’s no attempt at plot, thankfully, although songs sharing
similar sentiments are often loosely connected in skits with clever sight
gags and fancy footwork. Many of the songs are little stories in and
of themselves – the song writers thought of them as ‘playlets’ – which
gives the production its share of memorable characters.”
“There isn’t a false
note here, as a stellar cast, backed by a top-notch band, belts out
one great tune after another.”
“…entertaining visual sequences…”“…excels
again in the classic ‘On Broadway’”“…sets
a blistering pace…”“…used to good effect…”“…a
fun number…”
“There isn’t a dud in this show. It’s
hard to imagine a better way to close out a summer season than by dipping
into the menu at Smokey Joe’s Café.”
Doug Norris – South County Independent
Smokey Joe’s Café
“Fourquest Entertainment wraps up the 2002 season
at Matunuck’s Theatre-By-The-Sea with an outstanding performance
of Leiber and Stoller’s award-winning song and dance sensation
Smokey Joe’s Café.”
“This reviewer worked as a radio disc jockey in
the late 1950’s and early ‘60’s, and I must say that
Smokey Joe’s Café is a memory trip of major proportions.”
“Smokey Joe’s Café at
Theatre-By-The-Sea is simply dynamic.
WOON 1240 AM
Foothills Theatre, MA
Music smokin’ at Foothills
Smokey Joe’s’ cast shines in 42 songs
“If one judges a performing arts piece by sheer
entertainment quotient, then Foothills Theatre Company’s season-concluding
production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe succeeds sublimely. The music of
the ’50s and ’60s songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike
Stoller is legend, including such standards as ‘Kansas City,’ ‘Stand
By Me,’ ‘Love Potion No. 9,’ ‘On Broadway,’ ‘Spanish
Harlem,’ ‘Hound Dog,’ ‘Jailhouse Rock,’ ‘Why
Do Fools Fall in Love’ and ‘Poison Ivy.’ Artists associated
with the hits include Elvis Presley, The Drifters, The Coasters, The
Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand.”
“Sunday’s crowd-pleasing hard-to-resist
performance defies conventional category. It is simply a nonstop tour
of the early days of rock ’n’ roll that glides effortlessly
across the stage like a perfect world version of ‘American Idol.’ Even
Simon Cowell would have trouble suppressing an approving smile at this
display of talent. “There really isn’t a weak link in this
crisply performed ensemble. Gary John La Rosa’s direction and choreography
are smoothly executed, and Ken Goldstein’s set design slyly alters
from one song to the next, finally revealing at the opening of Act 2
the marvelous five-piece band stationed by the Smokey Joe’s Cafe
sign hovering above. It might not be musical theater, but musically grand
it is.”
Paul Kolas – Worcester Telegram & Gazette
This 'Smokey Joe' Is Hot:
Cast of Worcester Foothills Theatre puts soul
into their performance
“You may not know the names Jerry Leiber and Mike
Stoller, but if you have spent any time on this planet, you are sure
to have heard some of their songs. They wrote ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Jailhouse
Rock,’ songs that Elvis Presley made famous. They are responsible
for the beautiful love song ‘Spanish Harlem’ and the evocative ‘Stand
By Me,’ which is featured in the film by the same name. In fact,
they wrote all 38 songs in Smokey Joe's Cafe, a well-known musical revue
that is playing at Worcester Foothills Theatre through the month of May.
And so it seems especially fitting that the Foothills' cast is a refreshing
mixture of black and white singers, including five men who sing a wonderful
blend of doo-wop harmonies.”
“This is not musical theater
with a plot and characters that develop through the whole show. But
each song has it's own sense of characters and sometimes a mini-plot
that are enhanced by appealing costumes and snappy dance steps. The
show's not all smoldering. There is some terrific humor, too.”
“Director and choreographer Gary
John La Rosa has pulled together a polished soulful show. The kind that asks
you to just kick back and enjoy yourself.”
David Brooks Andrews – Metrowest Daily News |