Modernization on the 'Mountain'-top

The IU Department of Theater and Drama summer season opens tonight at the Brown County Playhouse in Nashville, Ind. with "Smoke on the Mountain." It runs until July 2.\nThe year is 1938, and the Sanders Family Singers are returning to the gospel singing circuit after a five-year hiatus. Their comeback performance takes place at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in North Carolina with the help of the flamboyant Pastor Oglethorpe, who wishes to bring his church into the "modern world." Despite a fiasco early in the evening involving a toppled bus and the seemingly insurmountable resistance from two of the church's most important patronesses, the show must and does go on. Complete with personal testimonies and over 27 songs, the "Saturday Night Sing," starring the returned Sanders family, "Smoke on the Mountain" sparkles with light-hearted, daffy and touching moments.\n"It was challenging to deal with material that, for some of us, strikes very close to home," said John Olson, who plays Pastor Oglethorpe. "It's very reminiscent of our own backgrounds. This especially causes us to feel a responsibility to bring as much truthfulness and authenticity to the performance."\nThe cast, which is responsible for playing the entire gospel group's instruments live for every production, includes Brown County regulars like Dave Cole, who was featured in past Playhouse productions of "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "The Odd Couple," as well as John Armstrong, who bedazzled Brown County audiences in "Forever Plaid." Professional Equity performer Paul Blankenship, who hails all the way from New York City, is also amongst the cast. Blankenship brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from working with renowned directors like Doug Hughes and George Faison, as well as highly-esteemed actors such as Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris. Blankenship received his Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from Southern Methodist University and his Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater from Missouri State University. \n"Smoke on the Mountain" is directed by George Pinney, a professor of theater and drama at IU. He has directed or choreographed more than 150 productions for national tours and regional and university theaters, including IU and the Brown County Playhouse. His recent productions at IU include "Sweet Charity," "Sweeney Todd," "Parade," "A Chorus Line" and the IU Broadway Cabaret. \nAt the Playhouse, Pinney directed "Forever Plaid" last season. Pinney also teaches musical theater and stage movement and mentors numerous musical theater majors. \nThe Playhouse summer season poses challenges for cast and crew because of its accellerated, summer stock like pace, according to John Armstrong, who plays Dennis Sanders in the show.\n"We rehearse two months for shows during the school year, but in the summer, we only have two weeks. It's kind of hard since normally, with two months, the show becomes engrained in your brain, more solidified. We have still have plenty of time, but we have to jump right into the show."\nTonight's opening marks this show's debut at the Playhouse. \n"Smoke on the Mountain" opens June 8 and continues Wednesday to Sunday until July 2 at the Brown County Playhouse in historic Nashville, Ind. Audio description for the blind and visually impaired will be offered July 2. Curtain time for performances is 8 p.m., except Sundays, which begin at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are: Sunday, $18.00 ($10.00 for age 25 and younger); Wednesday to Saturday, $20.00 ($11.00 for age 25 and younger). Tickets are available at the Brown County Playhouse Box Office or the IU Auditorium Box Office, by phone through Ticketmaster at 333-9955, at Ticketmaster outlets or online at ticketmaster.com.\nVisit www.indiana.edu/~thtr/bcplay.html for more information. For ticket information, please call the IU Auditorium at 855-1103 or the Brown County Playhouse Box Office at 988-2123.