Smokey Joe's Cafe

Seabury Hall Performing Arts

presents

The Songs of Leiber and Stoller

Words and Music by

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

Original Concept by

Stephen Helper and Jack Viertel

Director/Choreographer: David Ward

Vocal Director: Molly Schad 

Band Director: Phillip Proctor

Costume Design: Andre Morissette & Vanessa Cerrito

Set and Light Design: Ava Notarangelo & Todd Van Amburgh

Sound Design: Peter Della Croce

Video: Filippo Lippi

Friday and Saturday February 26th and 27th, 2021 @ 7pm

A’ali’ikūhonua Creative Arts Center

Makawao, HI

 

Performed with permission from R&H Theatricals and Concord Theatricals

Smokey Joe’s Café showcases over 30 pop, rock, and rhythm and blues songs written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. One of the most important songwriting teams of the 1950s and 60s, Leiber & Stoller helped give birth to Rock & Roll with hits like Spanish Harlem, Jailhouse Rock, Stand By Me, Fools Fall in Love, Yakety Yak, and Love Potion # 9. 

The cast of 26 includes11 principle performers: Jordan Akana, Marina Carosso, Jadyn Gurley, Josh O’Connor, Stefani Peterson, Sophie Preiser, Noah Reisenauer, Kristian L. Roque, Preston Summit, Max Tramontin, and Leela Waterford. 

“In a turbulent year when so much has been taken away from students, we are grateful to be able to give them this opportunity to shine,” says Director and Choreographer David Ward.  

“Our amazing cast have been working for the past five months on this show. It has been so great to see the growth of these young performing artists, singing and dancing, while learning about the history of music for this golden age.”

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were like the rap artists of the early '50s, pushing buttons, inviting scorn and testing the limits, as rock and roll roared into being from its roots as blues and rhythm and blues. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Their hits have been recorded by everybody from Peggy Lee to the Drifters, Elvis Presley to John Lennon.