The Cumberland Theatre continues its 33rd season this weekend with the opening of the juke box musical Ring of Fire. A biographical musical revue, the show tells the story of Johnny Cash through award-winning music. More than two dozen classic hits —including “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and the title song — performed by a multi-talented cast, paint a musical portrait of The Man in Black that is appropriate for all ages.
The cast features a blend of local stage veterans, returning guest performers and actors making their CT debut performances. Returning to the stage following their recent performances in Shakespeare in the Park: A Midsummer Night’s Dream are Adam Marino and Alexandra Shephard. Marino is a native of Rochester, NY and has performed in various regional productions, theme parks, cruises and concerts. He also serves as a tenor for the 1950's doo wop rock group The Diamonds. Shephard is originally from Williamsburg, VA and has appeared in theatres and theme park shows throughout the east coast. She currently resides in New York City.
Also returning to the Cumberland Theatre is Kai B. White who now resides in Virginia Beach, VA. She was last seen on the CT stage as Dionne in Hair. Since then, she has worked as lounge singer/performer at The Greenbrier Resort, a mainstage singer with Disney Cruise Lines, and several theatres throughout the region.
Local performers Hayden Kline and Mikayla Dodge are making their return to the local stage. Kline was last seen in the April production of The Great Gatsby and has also speared as Tommy Ross in Carrie the Musical and Wolfe in Hair. Dodge has graced the CT stage in Little Shop of Horrors, Young Frankenstein and, most recently, as Abigail Adams in 1776.
Frostburg native Matthew Clark joins the cast after last year’s Assassins the Musical in which he played John Hinkley. He has also recently worked with West Virginia Public Theatre, Great Plains Theatre and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.
Making their Cumberland Theatre debuts are Allie Tamburello, Thomas-Matthew Elijah Shands, Shane Lynn and Lillia Rose. Tamburello is a singer-songwriter and musician who was born and raised in New York. She holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from Cortland State University and is a proud alum of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting’s professional conservatory program. Shands is originally from The Poconos of Pennsylvania and now calls East Orange, NJ home. He has recently appeared in shows with the Shoestring Theatre Company and Cocoa Village Playhouse. Lynn was born in North Carolina and raised in Michigan, where he performed in several regional theatres. He now resides in Bedford, PA. Rose is from Oakland, MD where she dances with Brenda’s Body Shop.
The show being directed and choreographed by Danny Durr with musical direction by Chris E. McCabe, who also the leader of the five-piece band that is featured in the show. The design team includes Rhett Wolford (set/lighting design) and Jennifer Clark (costume design). Bekah Brown is serving as the production stage manager.
Performances are July 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, and 17th at 8:00 pm and July 10th, 11th, and 18th at 2:00 pm. The show is approximately two hours with an intermission and is appropriate for all ages. Tickets are available online at www.cumberlandtheatre.com.