Auroraadvocate.com - 'Unforgettable,' 'Mark Twain' begin festival

Reggie Scott ‘Nat King Cole’

Actors' Summit Theatre has launched its first two shows for its inaugural summer festival, American Mirrors.

Both "Unforgettable" and "Mark Twain: Semi-literate Lecturer, Liar & Loafer" opened June 19, at Actors' Summit Theatre and at the Hudson Library and Historical Society respectively.

Unforgettable

The music and life of Nat "King" Cole are the subject of "Unforgettable," a bio-revue that opened American Mirrors at the Actors' Summit theater in downtown Hudson. The show will have 25 performances and will run in repertory through July 26 as one of four shows which make up the festival.

An earlier production called "Nat King Cole & Friends" which ran in 2006 was the highest attended show in the history of Actors' Summit. The new script, written by Artistic Director Neil Thackaberry, focuses on Cole's family, career, and his role in the expansion of civil rights in America.

Nat "King" Cole is best known to the general public for the popular music he sang from the 1940's through the mid 1960's. He is recognized as one of the most accomplished and influential jazz pianists of his generation. His "signature" songs included "Unforgettable," "Let There be Love," "The Christmas Song," "Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer," "Ramblin Rose," "Route 66," and his own composition, "Straighten Up and Fly Right."

"Unforgettable" stars Reggie Scott, a singer, actor, writer, director, and professional corporate trainer with an extensive background in the arts as well as corporate America. His theatrical career began at The Karamu House where he has trained and performed under the legendary direction of Vinnette Carroll, Tally Beatty and Mike Malone.

Mark Twain

The wit, quips, humor and stories of America's most famous author are brought to life in "Mark Twain: Semi-literate Lecturer, Liar & Loafer." Developed for the stage and performed by Ric Goodwin, the show reminds us of the range of Twain's observations and the sense of humor that underlies his work.

The play will have 11 performances and will run in repertory through July 26th as one of four shows which make up American Mirrors. All performances will take place in the Flood Room of the Hudson Library and Historical Society, a co-sponsor of American Mirrors.

Ric Goodwin has been performing as Mark Twain for 28 years. The stories Ric presents come from Life on the Mississippi, Roughing It, Innocents Abroad, A Tramp Aboard, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Performance schedules

"Unforgettable" will be performed June 26 at 2 and 8 p.m.; June 27 at 2 and 8 p.m.; June 28 at 2 p.m.; July 2 at 8 p.m.; July 3 at 2 p.m.; July 5 2 p.m.; July 11 at 2 and 8 p.m.; July 12 at 2 p.m.; July 15 at 2 and 8 p.m.; July 16 at 8 p.m.; July 17 at 2 and 8 p.m.; July 23 at 8 p.m.; July 24 at 2 and 8 p.m.; and July 26 at 2 p.m.

"Mark Twain, Semi-literate Lecturer, Liar & Loafer" will have performances June 25 at 7:30 p.m.; June 26 at 7:30 p.m.; June 27 at 7:30 p.m.; June 28 at 2 p.m.; July 9 at 7:30 p.m.; July 23 at 7:30 p.m.; July 25 at 7:30 p.m.; and July 26 at 2 p.m.

Tickets

Preview tickets are $15. All seats on Fridays and Saturdays are $28. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening performances and all matinees are $25 for adults, and $22 for seniors over 60. All full-time students are admitted for $7 at all performances.

American Mirrors Good-Time-Any-Time coupons and festival passes are now available. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more.

Tickets can be purchased by phone by calling 330-342-0800. For details, visit www.actorssummit.org online.