Fowler Center to Present Musical, ‘All Hands On Deck’ for Riceland Distinguished Performance Series
JONESBORO – The Riceland Distinguished Performance Series at Arkansas State University’s Fowler Center will present the 1940’s Big Band-style musical, “All Hands On Deck!” written by Jody Madaras.
The performance will be Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Riceland Hall. The sponsor for the show is Posey Peddler, according to Dr. Wendy Hymes, director of Fowler Center.
The two-act revue based on Bob Hope’s 1942 USO tour uses four performers, an announcer and a nine‑piece Big Band-style orchestra to recreate a road show for American troops. The show features the songs, dances and laughs that America has loved since the ‘40s.
According to Hymes, the audience is transformed into a live studio audience of a radio show in the second act, including on‑air antics, classic commercials, timeless songs, and hilarious, impromptu skits.
The show includes more than 40 classic Big Band hits including “Chattanooga Choo-Choo,” “Atchison Topeka And The Santa Fe,” “I’m In The Mood For Love,” “Pennsylvania Polka,” “I’ll Never Smile Again,” “Any Bonds Today?” “Don’t Fence Me In,” “America, The Beautiful,” “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” “Thanks for the Memory” and a powerful “Military Medley” honoring all active-duty military and veterans.
Reviewer Rick Mellerup notes, “the music is the true attraction of this show, sure to make older patrons wax nostalgic, to get them tapping their toes and maybe, just maybe because of the nine-piece orchestra, get them swing-dancing in the aisles.”
A wealth of talent, composer Jody Madaras is not only the show’s writer, but also the director and choreographer and one of the lead performers. Madaras has performed in “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” the international tour of “Crazy for You,” and the national tour of “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
All seating is reserved. Individual tickets for the Riceland Distinguished Performance Series are $30 and $20 for adults, and $23 and $15 for senior citizens and students, $24 and $16 for ASU faculty and staff, and $10 and $6 for ASU students with a current ID. Group discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Season tickets are also available and offer a savings of nearly 30 percent.
Tickets may be purchased at the ASU Central Box Office in the Convocation Center, 217 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro, or by calling (870) 972-ASU1 or toll-free at (888) ASU-FANS. Tickets also are available online from the ASU Central Box Office, http://www.astate.edu/a/tickets, and from Fowler Center, www.yourfowlercenter.com.
For more details, contact Hymes at Fowler Center, whymes@astate.edu or (870) 972-3471.
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