Pillow Academy Drama Director Cathy Roberts says the school’s upcoming musical production of “A Tribute to Johnny Cash” will be a “foot-tapping good time.”
Two performances will be held — at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday — in the Craig Performing Arts Center on the campus of Pillow Academy.
Jessica Roberts, left, and Alan Jones rehearse “Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man.”
The production will feature the band and cast from the hit jukebox musical “Ring of Fire,” which was recently staged at the Mid-Delta Arts Association’s Brindley Theater in Indianola. “Ring of Fire,” an all musical stage presentation about Johnny Cash, also had a successful run at the Greenwood Little Theatre in 2017. Many of the GLT cast members returned to the stage for the recent Indianola production. Roberts served as a co-directer in both the Greenwood and Indianola productions.
Pillow Academy Band Director Bobby Whittington, who is seated at the piano, will join the band of “A Tribute to Johnny Cash” and will also sing. With Whittington during a recent rehearsal for the upcoming production are, from left, students Ally Gravlee, Mary Kathryn Shaw, Hannah Randle and Jessica Fulgham, who will all be featured in the show.
Joining “these incredibly talented people” on stage, said Roberts, will be skilled performers who are staff members and students at Pillow Academy.
Many “Ring of Fire” favorites will be performed, including “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Big River,” “Jackson,” “Tennessee Flat Top Box,” “Hey, Porter,” “Cry, Cry, Cry,” “Daddy Sang Bass” and many more.
The tribute will include 18 of Johnny Cash’s hits and 14 songs by country music stars, such as Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Lorretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Some of the 14 songs will include Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” performed by Pillow senior Sarah Mooneyham, Tammy Wynette’s “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad” performed by Pillow juniors Jessica Fulgham and Hannah Randle, and the Lorretta Lynn and Conway Twitty hit “You’re the Reason Our Kids are Ugly” performed by Greenwood musical favorites Lee Makamson and Jessica Roberts.
“Pillow Academy would like to invite our entire community to bring your family and enjoy the best entertainment around,” said Roberts.
No tickets will be presold. Admission is $10 at the door. Doors will open 45 minutes prior to stage time.
All proceeds from “A Tribute to Johnny Cash” are earmarked to fund new sound and light equipment for the Craig.
For more information, contact Roberts at glt0437@yahoo.com.
