Powell Playhouse Presents “A Day at the Java Shop and Greyhound Bus Depot” EXCLUSIVE Press Release

Performance includes music, ensemble cast and wacky plot

Powell, Tenn. – It’s just your typical day at the Java Shop and Greyhound Bus Depot in Fort McLeod, Alberta. There’s your usual assortment of oddball townies, cops stopping in for coffee and a donut, lovelorn waitresses singing Patsy Cline, and escaped convicts disguised in drag with plans to rob a bank. Anything else? Oh, a young Johnny Cash just walked through the door with his guitar. “Ring of Fire” anyone?

That’s what audiences will see and hear in the latest comedy from the Powell Playhouse - “A Day at the Java Shop and Greyhound Bus Depot” by Roger Cosgrove. This hilarious and family-friendly play includes one of the PPH’s largest and most experienced casts ever – 16 people. Will the people who frequent the java shop find true love? Will the coppers catch the bad guys? Will the man in black make it to his next gig in time? Come to the play to find out.

“A Day at the Java Shop and Greyhound Bus Depot” will be performed on Thursday, Oct. 15; Friday, Oct. 16; and twice on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, at the Jubilee Banquet Facility on Callahan Road. The play starts at 7 p.m. for the three evening performances, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets are $10 for all performances with a $5 senior discount for the matinee and can be purchased at the door.

Dinner will also be offered with each performance with a lunch before the Saturday matinee. Dinners prior to evening performances are $15 and the lunch is $10. For meal reservations and times, please call the Jubilee Center at 865-938-2112.

“It’s refreshing and exciting to meet all the new people auditioning with the Powell Playhouse. We open our fifth season with our second play in a row that has a large cast, and they’re going to bring lots of laughs!” says Gina Jones, president of the PPH and director of this play.

Carly Johnson, a frequent performer and volunteer with the PPH, plays the role of Josie. Carly was last seen on the PPH stage in “The Night of January 16^th.” Carly is a sophomore engineering major at UT. “Josie is a very relatable character,” Carly says. “This play feels like a sitcom with multiple storylines. It’s very fast-paced and funny.”

Katie Dake returns to the PPH stage to play Jo’s waitress sidekick Linda. Katie has appeared in “Steel Magnolias” and “Crimes of the Heart” for the PPH, and teaches Language Arts at Karns Middle School.

Brandon Lloyd Hicks makes his PPH debut as a young Johnny Cash. Brandon is also a talented musician who recently played Elvis in “All Shook up” at the Oak Ridge Playhouse.

Veteran actor Gary Mullins returns to the PPH stage as Larry, one of the criminals looking to score a major heist. Gary was in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” and has appeared on stage at Theatre Knoxville Downtown more than 30 times.

Gary/Larry’s partner in crime is Grant McMahan, who plays Bob/Mary/Angel. Grant has appeared in “Everybody Loves Opal” and “The Night of January 16^th.”

RedPaint Spilman returns to the PPH as bumbling Constable Larsen. Steven Miller is also a PPH veteran, and plays shy mechanic Kevin, who has eyes for the lovely Josie.

Charles Denney makes his seventh PPH appearance as Leroy, the rancher looking for love in all the wrong places. He’s joined by pals Bill and Mac, played by PPH newcomers Dave Stair and Brian Cooney. The PPH also welcomes another newcomer — Debra Pope — who plays dual roles of bus driver Annie and waitress Maxine.

The rest of the cast includes actors who’ve made appearances on the PPH stage before. Melody McMahan is Chantico, a Mexican bus boy-girl, Colby Russell Benjamin is the Police Chief, Tabitha Neilson and Scarlet Bell Silva are wayward sisters Mary and Sherri, and Mark Johnson is the peddler with a coat full of iffy watches to sell.

Christy Rutherford will serve as head makeup artist, and Paula Johnson will be in charge of props. Mona Napier handles ticket and ad sales, oversees the ushers, and greets guests.

This is the 13^th play presented by the Powell Playhouse since it was established by the late Nita Buell-Black in 2010. Next up, the PPH will team with One Life Church to bring “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” to our community on Dec. 10-12! 

“This will be our first children’s play and we are very excited about it!” Jones says.