PRESS KIT: The Kings of Country and Their Queens

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 7/20/11

The Kings of Country and Their Queens

Continuing the blockbuster of Country Queens; Nashville’s Leading Ladies, Benjamin P. Robinson has created a brand new concert event, focusing on the kings of the country-western genre and adds back in some of those country queens we love! Expect to be wowed with some of the finest vocal talent this side of Dixie paying tribute to the great country artists: George Strait, Hank Williams Sr., Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Ray Stevens, Tennessee Ernie Ford and George Jones as well as Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Dottie West, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Skeeter Davis and Tammy Wynette.

Written and directed by Benjamin P. Robinson with musical arrangements and direction by Charlie Miller, The Kings of Country and Their Queens salutes these “Kings” and “Queens” presenting musical moments that echo every country gal and guy’s heart and soul. In the “love em and leave em, can’t live without em” theme, you will be serenaded by the vocal talent of John Brigham, Lavin Cuddihee, Kristi Parker Martin, Diane Mitchell, Tiffany Morton, Meredith Reed, Brady Smith and Tim St.

Clair. Continuing the blockbuster of Country Queens; Nashville’s Leading Ladies, Benjamin P. Robinson has created a brand new concert event, focusing on the kings of the country-western genre and adds back in some of those country queens we love! Expect to be wowed with some of the finest vocal talent this side of Dixie paying tribute to the great country artists: George Strait, Hank Williams Sr., Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Ray Stevens, Tennessee Ernie Ford and George Jones as well as Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Dottie West, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Skeeter Davis and Tammy Wynette.

Written and directed by Benjamin P. Robinson with musical arrangements and direction by Charlie Miller, The Kings of Country and Their Queens salutes these “Kings” and “Queens” presenting musical moments that echo every country gal and guy’s heart and soul. In the “love em and leave em, can’t live without em” theme, you will be serenaded by the vocal talent of John Brigham, Lavin Cuddihee, Kristi Parker Martin, Diane Mitchell, Tiffany Morton, Meredith Reed, Brady Smith and Tim St. Clair.

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Sponsored by Rogers Financial Group, Collins and Collins and Regent Bank, The Kings of Country and Their Queens will perform August 4-27, 2011 with 8 p.m. performances August 4-7, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27 and 3 p.m. performances August 7, 14 and 21. Shows Thursdays-Sundays ONLY. Adult tickets are $30 with discounts available for students, seniors and groups. All seats reserved. The box office can be reached at 864.233.6733 from 2-6p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 2 hours before performances. The theater is located at 501 River Street inside the Smith Barney building just one block off Main Street in downtown Greenville. For more information, visit Centre Stage online at Centrestage.org

MEDIA ONLY: FOR MORE INFORMATION Glenda ManWaring, Executive/Artistic Director 864.233.6733 [email protected]

Production details

Play title: Kings of Country and Their Queens Tickets: All tickets are $30 by Benjamin P. Robinson Student and group discounts available Play type: Concert Box Office: Hours are 2-6 pm Tuesday-Friday Dates/times: August 4th -27th, 2011 and 2 hours before performances

Location: Centre Stage Contact: Glenda ManWaring, 501 River Street Executive/Artistic Director Greenville, SC 29601 864.233.6733 (First floor of the Smith Barney building, one block behind the Westin Poinsett Hotel) [email protected]

Website: www.Centrestage.org

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CAST Production Personnel John Brigham Benjamin P. Robinson, Writer/Director Lavin Cuddihee Charlie Miller, Musical Director Kristi Parker Martin JeanE Bartlett, Stage Manager Diane Mitchell Corey Granner, Lighting Designer Tiffany Morton Leslie Preston, Set Designer Brady Smith Wade Williams, Sound Designer Tim St. Clair II

Company Biographies Production Biographies

John Brigham - … John Brigham is excited Benjamin P. Robinson(Writer/Director)- earned about making is Centre Stage debut. He has his MFA from Bob Jones University where he also performed with many local theaters including taught theatre. He’s listed in Who’s Who in Arts Greenville Little Theater, South Carolina and Entertainment in the South and Southwest. Children’s Theater and Fountain Inn Reparatory With over 50 years experience as a director, actor, Experience. Some of his favorite roles include: writer and educator, Ben has appeared in numerous Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor productions at Greenville Little theatre, The Dream Coat), The Beast (Beauty and the Beast), Warehouse Theatre and Centre Stage. He has Curley (Oklahoma), Frank (Annie Get Your Gun) taught and directed at the Greenville Fine Arts and Nicky Arnstein (Funny Girl). John is Center, North Greenville University, Lander employed by United Airlines where his travels University and Furman University. He was have taken him to Europe, South America and associated with The Singing Christmas Tree for Asia, and have opened his eyes and interests into sixteen years and was the director of Apprentice many cultures. When he is not working or on Program at Flat Rock Playhouse and the SC stage, John enjoys his large family and circle of Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. At friends. He particularly enjoys his place in the Centre Stage, Ben has Directed The Edith North Georgia mountains. John dedicates this Whartons, Beehive, Sophie Tucker: Last of the Red show to his beautiful mother. This is the first show Hot Mamas (which he also wrote), Moonlight and without her in the front row. Miss you Mom! Magnolias, The Fantastic’s, Crimes of the Heart, The Dining room, Country Queens, A Christmas Lavin Cuddihee - … Lavin Cuddihee, recently Memory, Our Leading Lady, See Rock City, Side By moved from Southern California now living in TryonSide by Sondheim and most recently, Sherlock NC, appeared last year at Centre Stage as Harry HawkHoles – The Final Adventure. in “Our Leading Lady” and as Dasher in “The EIGHT” - Reindeer Monologues at the HUB-BUB in Spartanburg. He also performs regularlyCharlie Miller (Music Director)-… This is Charlie with the Tryon Little Theater, most recently as FaginMiller’s first collaboration with Centre Stage “Oliver”. Other productions with TLT include “MonkyTheatre and longtime friend and director, Ben Business” as Brother Clarence, “The Sound of Music”Robinson. as Captain Charlie had been a recording session player, Georg von Trapp, “Little Shop of Horrors” as the arranger, and producer for many years. Some of the

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Dentist, and R.P. McMurphy in “One Flew over clients he has written and produced music for the Cuckoos Nest”. His theatrical training is from include the Dept. of Defense, Delta Airlines, NBC, Webster College, St. Louis, MO and The American and Sony Records. Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. During the late 70’s and early 80’s, Charlie was a recording session player and arranger in Nashville. Kristi Parker Martin - … Kristi is a resident of 2 of Charlie’s fondest memories from that time Greenville and is no stranger to the stage or period include performing on the Grand Old Opry, television. In addition to performing concerts for and playing for the Inaugural Dinner of Governor area churches, social events, and festivals, Kristi is Lamar Alexander. That evening Charlie had the also a featured National Anthem singer for the honor of performing a duet of the “Tennessee Greenville Drive. Performing since the age of 3, Waltz” with the newly elected governor on the Kristi has appeared with various local theatres and Tennessee State Steinway. Charlie has 5 CDs with the Foothills Philharmonic. She teaches 5th available online on iTunes, Rhapsody, and grade at Bell’s Crossing Elementary School and Amazon.com. He is currently completing his 4th loves to sing with her 10 year-old daughter. Kristi Christmas CD, entitled “A Baby Changes thanks her family, especially her mom, for the Everything”, which will be available on iTunes by country-girl roots that bring her to this stage. Thanksgiving. Charlie is also a published arranger. Special thanks to Ben Robinson and Centre Stage His first book of hymn arrangements is entitled for this amazing opportunity. “Songs of Assurance”. His newly released book is entitled “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”, a book of Diane Mitchell - … Diane Mitchell is returning to Christmas arrangements. Charlie is thankful for the Centre Stage Theater, her last appearance being the opportunity of performing with this talented in the Queens of Country Music production. Diane group of singers, and as always is thankful for one also appeared in Beehive at the Centre Stage. Her of God’s greatest gifts, the gift of music! other acting credits include Swingtime Canteen, Honkey Tonk Angels, A Honkey Tonk Christmas, JeanE Bartlett (Stage Manager)-…was last and Always Patsy Cline. Diane received the onstage at Centre Stage as Boo Levy in the Last Joanne Woodward Award for Best Actress in a Night of Ballyhoo. Previous onstage credits at Musical for her portrayal of Patsy Cline. Diane is a Centre Stage include A Christmas Memory, member of the Berea First Baptist Church Quilting the Sun, Buddy Holly, World Goes Sanctuary Choir, and a featured soloist in their ‘Round, Sordid Lives, and The Laramie Project. annual production of the Living Christmas Tree. Onstage roles at other theaters include The Diary Diane is the mother of 4 wonderful children, and is of Anne Frank, Tartfuffe, and The Sisters employed by the Dority & Manning Law Firm. Rosensweig. Other Stage Manager credits at Diane is happy to be working with her friend, Ben Centre Stage include: Skin of our Teeth and Sylvia Robinson, and a great cast of talented performers! with Director John Fagan, Bus Stop and Driving Miss Daisy with Director Chip Egan, and Crimes Tiffany Morton - … Tiffany Morton is both of the Heart, The Dining Room, Side By Side By thrilled and honored to be making her debut at Sondheim and Country Queens with Director Centre Stage. She was last seen in Christmas Benjamin Robinson. JeanE also was SM for the Spectacular 2010 at Greenville Little Theater and original Rock ‘n Roll Heaven with Directors is so excited to be back on the stage. Some favorite Kimberlee Ferreira, Joe Wehunt and Glenda

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______past roles include Linda (The Wedding Singer), ManWaring and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Portia (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), Director Glenda ManWaring. and Tiger Lily (Peter Pan). She works full time at Cleveland Park Animal Hospital and also stays Leslie Preston (Set Designer)-… Lesley Preston is busy as a licensed Cosmetologist. Tiffany is so the resident designer and chair of the Department thankful to Ben for this opportunity to be on stage of Theatre at Presbyterian College. She received again with her brother, Tim St. Clair and would like her Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Dalhousie to thank Josh for his love and support. University and her Master of Fine Arts in Design from the University of Calgary. Before moving to Meredith Reed - … Meredith L Reed is a the United States, Ms. Preston worked classically trained musician who fell in love with professionally in Canada as a scenic artist and the theatrical stage at a very young age. Meredith free-lance designer. Her latest professional work has sung professionally all over the country and was with Centre Stage in Greenville, where she traveled the east coast for 12 years with a rock ‘n designed the set for See Rock City. Ms. Preston roll band. Some of her credits include: Oh, Miss has adjudicated regional high school festivals, and Tucker (Sophie Tucker), Blithe Spirit (Madame at one time taught elementary and high school Arcati), Carousel (Nettie Fowler), Side By Side By drama for five years. She currently serves as the Sondheim (Vocalist), Dracula (Doctor Seward), chair of the College and University Division of the Guys & Dolls (Miss Adelaide), Christmas Southeastern Theatre Conference. Spectacular 2010 (Soloist), Country Queens (Vocalist), Fiddler on the Roof (Grandma Tzeital), The Wedding Singer (Ensemble/Dancer), Taffetas (Kaye), ‘World Goes Round (Vocalist), Miss In the Gallery at Centre Stage Manhattan/Greater New York Pageant (Soloist), The art of Benjamin McKamey will be on display Healing Journeys National Conference (Soloist). July 29th through September 5th, Tues.-Fri. 2-6pm. When not performing, Meredith is the Director of Presented in cooperation with the Metropolitan Development for Greenville Light Opera Works, an Arts Council. Admission is free. Opening exciting new theatre company in the Upstate reception will be held 6:30-9:00p.m. on Friday, proudly going into their second season in July 29th. September 2011. OTHER INFORMATION (if any) Brady Smith - … Brady Smith is glad to be back …...... at Centre Stage where he was last seen in Side by ...... Side by Sondheim. He has also played numerous ...... roles such as Curly in Oklahoma! at Greenville ...... Little Theater, West Side Story, The Wedding Singer, ...... Pippin, Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mungojerrie in CATS, The Fantasticks, The Music Man, Green Gables, Urinetown, Honk!, Grease, Hello, Dolly!, Annie, South Pacific, and Cinderella. Brady lives in Greenville, SC and teaches music at Duncan Chapel Elementary school. Brady would

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______like to thank his family, friends, and Tim for their love and support, as well as the rest of his ensemble family.

Tim St. Clair II - … Tim is thrilled to join the amazing cast and crew in his first production at Centre Stage. He was last seen in Greenville Little Theater's Christmas Spectacular 2010. Tim is a manager at Panera Bread and also teaches theater with Artios Academies. Tim and his wife Sarah moved to the Greenville area a year ago with their three daughters, Rennah, Nessa, and Aislynn. Thanks to Ben and the amazing team at Centre Stage for this opportunity!

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