Finley, Dotson, Burns Set for SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE at Paper Mill Playhouse, 4/7-5/2

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for Smokey Joe's Café. Directed by Mark S. Hoebee with choreography by Denis Jones, Smokey Joe's Café will run at the Millburn theater from April 7 through May 2, 2010. Smokey Joe's Café is proudly sponsored by American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse.

Press Opening is Sunday, April 11th at 7:00pm

Smokey Joe's Café will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:30PM, Thursdays at 1:30PM & 7:30PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 1:30PM & 8:00PM and Sundays at 1:30PM & 7:00PM. Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92. Student rush tickets are $20 and are available the day of performance in person with current student ID. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Paper Mill Playhouse gift cards, available in any denomination, can be purchased at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 25% discount on tickets and should call 973-379-3636 ext. 2438.

Join us for an eye-popping, chart topping celebration of on of the greatest songwriting teams of all time. Smokey Joe's Café, the songs of Leiber and Stoller, features a world-class live band and dazzling choreography, you'll have a blast bopping along to classics like "Hound Dog", "Stand by Me", and " On Broadway". Get ready to rock 'n' roll at Smokey Joe's Café - the longest running musical revue in Broadway history!

Smokey Joe's Café brings a spectacular cast to the Paper Mill stage including: Felicia Finley performed in the Broadway productions of The Wedding Singer; Aida; The Life; The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; and Smokey Joe's Café. Ms. Finley previously appeared at Paper Mill Playhouse as Pinky Tuscadero in Happy Days - A New Musical. Ms. Finley also performed in the Off-Broadway production of The Wild Party. Bernard Dotson recently performed in the Broadway production of Finian's Rainbow. Mr. Dotson's other Broadway credits include: Imaginary Friends; Sweet Smell of Success; Dreamgirls; Jesus Christ Super Star; Ragtime; and Chicago. Jackie Burns was recently seen on Broadway in Hair and Rock of Ages. Ms. Burns' Off-Broadway credits include: Unlock'd; Ripper; and Hello My Name Is. Devin Richards Broadway credits include: Carousel; Victor/Victoria; Smokey Joe's Café; Jesus Christ Superstar; The Life; Seussical: the Musical; Wonderful Town; Pajama Game; 110 in the Shade; Tale of Two Cities; and Finian's Rainbow. Mr. Richards performed in the Live at Lincoln Center production of Passion, the New York Philharmonic's production of Camelot, and Carnegie Hall's Showboat. E. Clayton Cornelius was in the Broadway productions of The Music Man; The Lion King; and Kat and the Kings. Mr. Cornelius' national tour credits include: Hairspray; The Lion King; The Goodbye Girl; and The Wiz. Carly Hughes recently performed on Broadway in Ragtime and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Andrew Rannells was in the Broadway productions of Hairspray and Jersey Boys. Mr. Rannells was featured in the first national tour of Jersey Boys. Eric Lajuan Summers was in the Broadway productions of The Little Mermaid; The Wedding Singer; and Aida. Mr. Summers performed in Paper Mill Playhouse's critically acclaimed production of Pirates!. He starred in the national tour of Porgy and Bess. Maia Nkenge Wilson performed on Broadway in 9 to 5; The Color Purple; and Rent. Ms. Wilson's regional credits include: Menopause: The Musical and Ain't Misbehavin'.

Smokey Joe's Café will be directed by Paper Mill Playhouse's Artistic Director, Mark S. Hoebee, who directed last season's critically acclaimed production of The Full Monty, featuring Elaine Stritch. He has directed the Paper Mill productions of Disney High School Musical; Meet Me in St. Louis; Dreamgirls; The Will Rogers Follies; Victor/Victoria; The King and I; Miss Saigon; Grease; Harold and Maude: The Musical with Estelle Parsons; Hello Dolly!, starring Tovah Feldshuh; and Romance/Romance. Mr. Hoebee directed the Actor's Fund Benefit Concert of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the August Wilson Theatre which starred Terrence Mann, Emily Skinner, and Jennifer Hudson and has directed national tours of Company; Victor/Victoria; and Dreamgirls. His Broadway performance credits include: Victor/Victoria; Beauty and the Beast; Nick & Nora; and Jerome Robbins' Broadway. He served as an Adjunct Professor in the Dance and Theatre Department at Northwestern University and currently sits on the Board of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Choreographer Denis Jones returns to Paper Mill Playhouse where he last choreographed The Full Monty, featuring Elaine Stritch. Mr. Jones also choreographed Paper Mill's productions of Disney High School Musical and Meet Me in St. Louis. He served as Dance Coach/Associate Choreographer on the MTV reality series 'Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods'. Mr. Jones choreographed Broadway's The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; A Wonderful Life; On the Twentieth Century; and the national tour of Legends starring Joan Collins and Linda Evans. He served as the Director of Broadway Bares from 2005 to 2007 and was the Associate Choreographer to Jerry Mitchell for Broadway's Legally Blonde and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. His Broadway performance credits include: Grease; Chicago; Little Me; The Full Monty; and Never Gonna Dance.

Jonathan Spencer will serve as the Scenic Designer. Costume design is by Brian Hemesath. Lighting design is by Charlie Morrison. Sound design is by Randy Hansen. Mark Adam Rampmeyer is the Hair and Wig designer. Tom Helm will serve as Musical Director. The Production Stage Manager is Andrea Cibelli. Casting by Alison Franck

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Free Audience Enrichment Activities for Smokey Joe's Café
Wed. April 7 6:30pm Art Gallery Directors Notes & Coffee Series
Enjoy coffee on us as Director Mark S. Hoebee discusses Smokey Joe's Café.

Thurs. April 8 6:30pm Mezzanine Conversation Series
Thurs. April 15 Learn more about the show you are about
Thurs. April 22 to see, led by members of Paper Mill's
Thurs. April 29 Artistic and Education Departments.

Sat. May 1 Post Show Orchestra Cast Talk-Back Series
Meet the cast and ask actors questions about the show or the role they are portraying.

Don't Miss a New Jersey News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...