Smoke on the Mountain

Smoke on the Mountain is an Off-Broadway musical that was written by Connie Ray and conceived by Alan Bailey. 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.

Cast and crew

Book by Connie Ray, 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.

Plot

The songs used in the production were mostly old hymns. The setting is in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina Baptist church in 1938 and it revolves around the Sanders family.

Song list

• I'll Fly Away
• The Church in the Wildwood
• Built on the Rock
• Wonderful Time Up There
• No Tears in Heaven
• Christian Cowboy
• I'll Never Die
• Jesus Is Mine
• Blood Medley
• I'll Live Again
• I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now
• Angel Band
• Bringing in the Sheaves
• Whispering Hope
• 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
• When the Roll is called up Yonder

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.

Longest Run

It is believed that the longest continuous run of "Smoke On the Mountain" is at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tennessee, first directed by Terry Sneed. His production ran for 10 years. The opening on May 30, 2014 for 22 scheduled performances represents the 21st consecutive year the play has been performed there. Cumberland County Playhouse produces 16 shows in a normal season, playing to over 130,000 patrons. ^[1]

References

Other Sources