Leiber and Stoller's SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE 'Shimmies' at Noho's El Portal 12/10

Weddington Street Productions in association with Corky Hale Productions presents Leiber and Stoller's award winning musical Smokey Joe's Café with an all star cast and orchestra on the Mainstage of the historic El Portal in North Hollywood (NoHo). The show previews on Dec. 10,11,12 with a gala premiere opening on Saturday, December 13. This dazzling musical revue will be directed and choreographed by Jeffrey Polk with musical direction by Daryl Archibald.

Cast members include the Tony nominated original "shimmying" DeLee Lively, Robert Torti who starred in the Los Angeles/ Pre Broadway and London Smokey Joe's and was Tony nominated for Starlight Express and Ovation Winner for Reefer Madness , T.C. Carson who has multi film, television including Fox Network's Living Single and national stage credits including Dreamgirls and Seasame Street, Sharon Catherine Blanks (Sharon Brown) who starred in Dreamgirls on Broadway and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jackie Seiden whose Broadway and National credits include Jersey Boys and Hairspray. And featuring Dionne Figgins , Maeco Oliverand Niles River. Director/choreographer Jeffrey Polk has a long history with the show with Broadway, National and International Tours as well as regional productions at CLOSBC, La Mirada and Sacramento Music Circus.

Smokey Joes Café premiered on Broadway on March 2, 1995 at the Virginia Theatre and was nominated for seven Tony Awards including Beat Musical. Smokey Joes Café made its theatrical debut in 1994 in Los Angeles at the then Doolittle Theatre and its London Premiere in 1996 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The New York production closed on January 16, 2000 after 2,036 performances making it the longest running musical revue in Broadway history. The Original Broadway cast soundtrack Smokey Joe's Café, The Songs of Leiber and Stoller won the Grammy Award for Best Musical show Album on DVD in 2001.

Audiences will be transported back to the days of do-wop and drive-ins. This Grammy Award winning musical features every hit created by the Top 40 song writing team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Featuring the solid gold singles of Elvis, The Coasters, Ben E. King, The Drifters and many more. The production showcases 39 pop standards - including some of the most memorable rock n' roll and rhythm and blues songs of the 20th Century. The songs include Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, Yakety Yak, Love Potion Number 9, Stand By Me, Kansas City, and On Broadway. The king himself (Elvis) recorded more than 20 of these Leiber and Stoller hits.

Audiences are invited to celebrate their favorite holidays in December at the El Portal Theatre at 5269 Lankershim Blvd. The Lobbies of the historic El Portal will be trimmed appropriately for the season. Special New Year's Eve celebrations with inclusive after- parties will be scheduled on Wednesday, December 31 at 4 pm and at 9 pm to bring in the new and hopeful year.

For tickets and information please call 818-508-4200 www.elportaltheatre.com for Single Tickets and Groups. Prices range from $25-$55 Groups are welcome with reduced ticket prices to accommodate holiday office and business functions throughout the month of December.

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