Smoke on the Mountain
by Connie Ray, Alan Bailey, Mike Craver, and Mark Hardwick
Directed by Margie Beck
October 25-28, 2001
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Smoke on the Mountain tells the story of a Saturday Night Gospel Sing at a country church in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in 1938. The show features two dozen rousing bluegrass songs played and sung by the Sanders Family, a traveling group making its return to performing after a five-year hiatus. Pastor Oglethorpe, the young and enthusiastic minister of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, has enlisted the Sanders Family in his efforts to bring his tiny congregation into “the modern world.” Between songs, each family member “witnesses” – telling a story about an important event in their life. Though they try to appear perfect in the eyes of a congregation who wants to be inspired by their songs, one thing after another goes awry and they reveal their true – and hilariously imperfect – natures. By the evening’s end, the Sanders Family have endeared themselves to us by revealing their weaknesses and allowing us to share in their triumphs.

Cast
Mervin Oglethorpe - Matt Hester 
June Sanders - Hannah Gould 
Burl Sanders - Andy Betterton 
Vera Sanders - Margie Beck 
Stanley Sanders - Ken Stovall 
Denise Sanders - Rebecca Wilson 
Dennis Sanders - Torrey Lewey 
Musicians - Linda Stovall, Donnie Ezzell, Daphne Murrell 
Congregation - Mary Mills, Peggy Inman, Oscar Glover, Adam Mills, Ella Ferguson, Anne Vinson, Sandra Betterton   
   
Crew
Margie Beck - Director
Mary Dyer - Stage Manager 
JC Weeks - Lighting and Sound
Todd Hardin - Set Design/Construction 
Linda Jackson - Set Design/Construction 
Scotty Kennedy - Set Design/Construction
Mary Mills - Set Design/Construction    
Linda Jackson - Hair and Makeup
Nancy Frame - Box Office