[NEohioPAL] Critics Rave about WOODY GUTHRIE'S AMERICAN SONG at Actors' Summit

[Neil Thackaberry]

*WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING*



Excerpts from David Ritchy's Review in the West Side Leader. The full review
is available at www.akron.com


DOWNTOWN AKRON - "I never thought his music would be that relevant, today."
With these words, a woman expressed her reaction to "Woody Guthrie's
American Song," which is on stage at Actors' Summit Theater.



Director Neil Thackaberry developed an ensemble company without singling out
any one performer to be a star. Each of the eight-member company had solos
and most played instruments. The cast includes MaryJo Alexander (vocals),
Ryan Anderson (vocals, bass, guitar), Scott Davis (vocals, banjo), Sally
Groth (vocals, fiddle), Dana Hart (vocals, guitar, mandolin, penny whistle),
Mark Leach (vocals, guitar), Emma Pieth (vocals, fiddle, mandolin) and Keith
Stevens (vocals).



One of the most interesting cast members is Pieth, a seventh-grader at
Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts. She plays the violin
and sings and holds her own as a musician and actress with the older, more
experienced performers.



The adult members of the cast sing and play musical instruments and bring
Guthrie's music to life and relevance on the stage.



This is a sound production, as solid as Guthrie's music. This production
with songs out of the heartland of America deserves the attention of those
who like theater, music and who might want to dabble in political science,
for this is a political production.



"Woody Guthrie's American Song" will continue in Actors' Summit through Oct.
30. Fans of Guthrie's music should call 330-374-7568 for ticket information.




*Excerpts from Kerry Clawson's review in the Akron Beacon Journal. The full
review is available atwww.ohio.com*



The soulful female vocals of MaryJo Alexander, Groth and Pitch are beautiful
in Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way, and Groth induces shivers as her migrant
worker character puts a face on the throngs of poor, singing "Ain't much
difference between you and us" in Pastures of Plenty.



*Woody Guthrie's American Song* has a nice blend of humor, including a great
bit with buskers Leach, Stevens and Anderson in a bar singing Don't Feel at
Home on the Bowery No More.



The Actors' Summit set is dominated by a huge box car that Thackaberry
replicated to look like those from the '30s, created in an open fashion so
the musicians can perform from inside the car. The set piece is phenomenal,
complete with train lanterns that flicker.



No Woody Guthrie show would be complete without a performance of his most
famous song, This Land Is Your Land, which he wrote in 1940. On opening
night Friday, the audience spontaneously broke into song as the cast sang
this final, rousing number.

 * *
*

Ticket Prices
*



Individual ticket prices range from $19 at preview performances and Saturday
matinees to $30 for Friday and Saturday evenings. All full time students
with ID can attend any performance for $9.  Season subscriptions are still
available.



*Tickets*
Tickets can be purchased by phone at (330) 374-7568.www.actorssummit.org.

-- 
Neil Thackaberry
Co-artistic Director
Actors' Summit, a professional theater
103 South High Street
6th Floor
Akron OH 44308
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