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Founded 05-05-05

8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s Opens Blowing Rock Stage Season May 23

Story by Anna Oakes

The Blowing Rock Stage Company’s 2008 season is set to begin on Friday, May 23, with the opening night of 8-Track: The Sounds of the 70s, a musical revue of the decade. The production will be performed at the Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock and continues through Sunday, June 8.

Throughout the show’s run, performance times are 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays.

Created by Rick Seeber, 8-Track is a 90-minute performance of almost 60 different tracks from the 1970s, taking the audience through a nostalgic examination of the themes and events of that time in American history.

The Stage Company production stars Chris Kent, part of last season’s Keep on the Sunny Side cast, his wife Lisa Manuli, making her Stage Company debut, and Tyson Jeanette and Tonya Thompson, who were recently featured together in a production of The Full Monty.

The singing quartet pays tribute to the stereotypical disco tunes of the decade with a 13-tune medley that includes “We Are Family,” “YMCA” and “Do the Hustle.” But it doesn’t dwell there. The revue moves on to socially conscious songs such as “What’s Going On” and “Peace Train,” party anthems like “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and “Shake Your Booty” and powerful hits including “I Am Woman” and “Don’t Cry Out Loud.”

Director Melvin Tunstall said in a press release, “Many of the songs from the seventies were ‘story songs,’ and I think the characters created in the music, like ‘Brick House,’ ‘YMCA’ and ‘Lady Marmalade,’ are legendary, so the songs are also. And frankly, good music will always last!”

“Many of the popular songs of today ‘sample’ the beats and melodies of the great seventies hits,” Tunstall added.

Tunstall also directed the Rocket Players Youth Theater production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown earlier this month.

Tickets are $32 for adults and $14 for students. The Hayes Performing Arts Center is located at 152 Jamie Fort Road off U.S. Highway 321 in Blowing Rock. For more info, call 828-295-9627.

Want To Go?

Date: Friday, May 23, to Sunday, June 8
Time: 8:00 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays/2:00 and 8:00 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays/2:00 p.m. Sundays
Location: Hayes Center, Blowing Rock
Cost: $32 adults/$14 students