FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The Montevallo Main Street Players will hold auditions for its upcoming production of “Smoke On the Mountain” on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 2-4 p.m., in the Parnell Memorial Library Theater.

Set in the 1930s, this musical tale introduces the singing Sanders family, who perform their traditional and bluegrass gospel songs for the members of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant, N.C. Pastor Oglethorpe welcomes the family to the church, where they share their individual stories and beliefs during the concert. The audience serves as the members of the congregation.

A musical in two acts, “Smoke On the Mountain” was conceived by Alan Bailey and written by Constance Ray. Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick arranged the score.

The seven-member cast includes four men and three women.

The characters include:

-Burl Sanders (40s)

-Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe (late 20s-early 30s)

-Stanley Sanders (40s)

-Vera Sanders (40s)

-Dennis Sanders (late teens-early 20s)

-Denise Sanders (late teens-early 20s)

-June Sanders (mid-late 20s)

Actors may play to age. With the exception of June, all characters sing.

Smoke On the Mountain is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French.

For their auditions, actors will sing a selection from a Protestant hymnal and read an excerpt from the script. MMSP will provide the piano accompaniment and hymnal. The ability to read music and play an instrument is a plus but not a requirement. Headshots and resumes are appreciated but also not required.

The score includes some 30 gospel tunes, all of which could have been performed during the period by such a group. A pleasant mixture of energetic rousing numbers, plaintive hymns and soulful praise songs, the score varies from the well-known, such as “Amazing Grace” and “I’ll Fly Away,” to more obscure tunes, such as “Filling Station” and “Christian Cowboy.”

Callback is Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the theater. The show will run April 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. and April 21 at 2 p.m. Libby Medicus will direct, and Steve Gilbert will produce. Parnell Memorial Library is located at 277 Park Road in Montevallo.

For more information, contact Steve Gilbert at 960-8587 or steve.gilbert59@gmail.com or Libby Medicus at libby.medicus@gmail.com. For more information on Smoke On the Water, see Guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_s/smokeonthemountain.html.

Visit the Montevallo Main Street Players at Montevalloartscouncil.org/mmsp.