InTucker Magazine

Main Street Theatre

The talents of Tucker will be on display this month as Main Street Theatre brings its production of “Smoke on the Mountain” to the Tucker Recreation Center.

The play, written by Connie Ray and conceived by Alan Bailey, tells the story of a 1930s family of gospel singers in Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina who are coming to grips with their mother’s death.

“It is a show that is very well-known throughout the south,” explains the play’s director Maria Karres-Williams.

Karres-Williams has a wealth of directing experience, but never at Main Street Theatre. She says leading the troupe in its first musical production is an honor and a challenge.

“Directing a musical is a whole other beast entirely,” she says. “You have to develop characterization and relationships, but then you also have music, the logistics of choreography, what instruments are played. It’s just a whole other level of considerations.”

The play will run for two weekends from May 12-21, and in spite of the sad premise, the audience is in for a night of singing and laughter.

“There will be very tender moments, but I would say this is more of a comedy,” Karres-Williams says. “The audience actually doubles as members of a gospel church, so they will be given printed music and encouraged to sing along.”

Between cast and crew, this is a 30-person production, with rehearsals three days a week for the past three months. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. with a set of 2:30 afternoon matinees also scheduled.

Tickets range from $10-$15 and can be purchased at tuckertheatre.com. You can also find information on the site about Main Street Theatre’s partnership with Main Street eatery M572 for pre-show meal.