‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’ ready to entertain

Published 11:00 pm Tuesday, September 13, 2011

If you’ve ever wanted to be entertained at a quaint café that has more “atmosphere” than the entire universe, then you’ll want to go to “Smokey Joe’s Café.”

The Grammy award winning musical revue, “Smokey Joe’s Café” will be presented at The Studio on East Walnut Street Thursday through Sunday and it’s a “don’t miss” event.

Richard Metzger, director of the Johnson Center for the Arts, said only a few tickets remain for the Thursday night production, which is a benefit for the Johnson Center for the Arts.

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“This is the first time that the Johnson Center has partnered with the Troy University College of Communication and Fine Arts Department of Theater and Dance in bringing a production to the stage,” Metzger said. “We are extremely excited about the opportunity to open ‘Smokey Joe’s Café’ at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night at The Studio.”

“Smokey Joe’s Café” showcases 39 pop standards, including rock and roll and rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

The “review” includes novelty songs like “Charlie Brown,” romantic ballads, including “Spanish Harlem,” and infectious melodies such at “There Goes My Baby.”

Songs that will be familiar to the be-bop crowd include, “Young Blood,” “Fools Fall in Love,” “Poison Ivy,” “Yakety Yak,” “Treat Me Nice,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Potion #9,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Stand By Me.”

The Original Broadway cast recording, “Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller won a Grammy Award in 1996.

After a Los Angeles tryout, the revue opened on Broadway in 1995, running for 2,036 performances and had a London run in 1996.

Troy University College of Communication and Fine Arts performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and matinee performances are at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

General admission tickets are $10.

Tickets are very limited for all performances. For ticket information, contact the Troy University box office.