This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Patch Entrtainment Event: Laguna Playhouse Opens 2014, With a Delightfully Fun/Energetic Musical To Johnny Cash

RING OF FIRE-- The Life & Songs Of Johnny Cash Come to Life
With A Terrific Cast And Direction
  

                        Reviewed
By: Joseph Sirota

 

RING
OF FIRE

has turned the Laguna Playhouse Stage into a bevy-of fine singing, dancing
& playing a plethora of Country instruments. The troupe creates a shining
Gold-Mine of some great Americana Country songs of the legendary "Man-in-Black", Johnny Cash.
The music is irresistibly brought to vivid life by a wonderful passel of 10
Super-Talented, diverse & heartfully
energetic performers
(7 outstanding men, and 3 very much their equal, women(gems
at every turn). Unstoppable songs, instruments & dance light up the stage
in solos, duets & joyful groups. From opening to finale, the audience gets
a plethora of lively memorable experiences . Indeed, we soon find ourselves tapping
.to the beats and clapping-n'-whooping with happy faces illuminated with glee
and appreciation. The show wisely brings us a real "Feel" of J.Cash's
LIFE, but NOT with any stuffy readings of his every key days, but rather,
fluidly blends his songs & moves with the show's 35 well done music numbers.
   We
find ourselves tasting Cash's exciting life path, as if we're there with him,
not just hearing a bio of data. The whole evening's tribute leaves us knowing a
unique Americana star-- also a down to earth person born with little wealth or
fame, but builds global recognition & stature due to Johnny Cash reaching
real "Everyman(AND Gal)", by being an real-life earthy American, who
surely "earns" his success, and caring about real folks even if
they're poor or in "prisons". He still feels he Owes them his best entertaining
& energy. His gift is always caring & giving his best.



Simply Said, The
RING OF FIRE
is a Darn Dynamite Entertainment at Night or Matinee. I
must add, it's also a worthy Tribute to Country Music and Grande Ole Opera,
albums and even movies. It's a Wise, Heartfelt Reminder to never forget that
Country Music is a GIANT in the Financial size of Music and Entertainment (...&
recall Car Racing holds it's own financially vs. Football, Baseball,
Basketball, Hockey ... though many "self- called sophisticates" may have
a far low idea of the power of Country Music and Stars, It's a solid, key
portion among USA's 330 Million music!



Here's just a
small taste of some of the  very
well-received 2Hr-2Act Show:   “I Walk The Line”, “Folsom Prison Blues”,
“I’ve Been Everywhere", "5 Feel High & Rising", "Tear
Stained letter",  If I Were A
Carpenter", "Daddy Sang Bass", "In The Sweet By &
By", "Cry, Cry, Cry", "Man In Black", "Why Me
Lord", "Hey Porter",  “Boy
Named Sue” and the Show's Title Song...“Ring of Fire”… & lots more!

Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.





The
grand
cast of 10 Non-Stop, High-Energy performers
offers us more like 60
abilities (half a dozen blended styles each). It's no wonder they make us
laugh, cry, sing-along, tap-our-feet, Clap our hands loud and excitedly, --
even more than we expected to HOT TIME at the RING OF FIRE. I
can't write about how many  WOW's each
one merits as I have less print space than they have plentiful talent. I'll
just ay, every person worked sparklingly with each other again & again, yet
each also stepped into the spotlights to Truly be a STAR. Here is the spectacular 10-some: Stephen
Brunson
, Amberly RosenZach Sicherman. Nathan Yates Douglass, Justin Droegemueller,
Logan Farine, Allison Fund, Dale W Given, Romain
Rachline
, Courtney Rada. And let's salute the
Gone-to-Heaven couple, the show was all written about, Johnny & June Carter
Cash... made for each other.



Back Stage, two Important Creative
Show Musts: Show Concept by William Meade & Show Created by Richard
Maltby Jr.


Director(& Musical Director): An absolutely wining dual challenge &
impressive key to show's success of the, Steve
Steiner..Bravo!

Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.



Choreography & Ass't Direction powerfully/and
successful done by Paula Hammons Sloan.  Set
Design
: P&G Designs,  Costumes: Keith Schneider.
 Lighting & SoundEileen Smitheimer.  Production Stage Mgr: Kristin Sutter.
 Production Supervisor: Gail
Anderson.



Assistant Stage Manager: Ashley Senss.
Playhouse LBPH..Executive Director: Wood Karen Wood & Artistic
Director Ann E Wareham



==>Every Person related
to this Very Satisfying 2014 Show on-or-back stage Can be proud of being
part of a worthy Hit in a new year!



-->RING OF
FIRE

:  Re-enjoying the late/great Johnny
Cash--Wowing Audiences @ Laguna Playhouse- 606 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA 92652
Schedule: Tues-thru Saturday Evenings at 7:30pm, Sat & Sun Matinees at
2:00pm Closes: Feb 2, 2014. Tkts: ($36-$71)(Call for Some Added
Showtimes, or any special Tkt Rates). 
Box Office: (949) 497-ARTS [-2787




We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?