Her enthusiasm is infectious and her talent is awe-inspiring. Linda Miller Logan, writer and director of the upcoming Cushing Community Theatre production “Caravan of Stars”, said her number one goal in writing the show was “to honor and celebrate Cushing businesses who have survived – some long before and long after the early 1950s, and to remember those innocent times after the wars and before Rock and Roll hit the nation.” Miller Logan and husband A.W. “Ace” Logan not only wrote the musical Caravan of Stars, they combined their talents to write two of its songs.
And it’s not the first time Miller-Logan has written a musical. In 2001, her “Fabulous 40s – a USO Show of Appreciation” was performed at UC Berkeley, California; Stillwater and in Cushing. Her musical talents are numerous. She not only has performed professionally around the world, she has taught private music lessons since the age of 13. It is precisely this kind of expertise that makes Caravan of Stars a must-see production.
Here is the premise of the show:
It’s 1953 and the local radio station is hosting a HUGE EVENT – the traveling celebrity singers group from Hollywood and New York City, the renowned and popular ‘CARAVAN OF STARS’ – Frankie Laine, the Four Lads, Perry Como, Billie Holiday, The McGuire Sisters, Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, Brenda Lee, Jo Stafford and Jackie Gleason.
The bus tour will be rolling through Cushing from St. Louis to their show in Oklahoma City and stopping to do a live broadcast to promote their concert. The station owner sells out studio audience tickets, then spends all of his money on new sound and light equipment – banking that the CARAVAN OF STARS celebrity promotions and performances will bring him more advertisers and revenue.
And then…..disaster strikes! The CARAVAN OF STARS bus breaks down in Joplin and the expected stars won’t arrive as planned. The station staff and local radio talent are promoted to save the day by “putting on the show” themselves.
Caravan of Stars is an original, real live musical comedy play with big time storyline and script, a little music from the early 1950s in Act I and a lot more music in Act II. Besides the two original songs written by the Logans, the play will feature more than 25 songs, including ‘Hey, Good Lookin’, ‘You Belong to Me’, ‘Jambalaya’, ‘Sugartime’, ‘Standing on the Corner’ and more.
Talented cast members include: “Shotgun O’Sullivan” (Sean Kelly), “Guy Griffen” (Walter ‘Sonny’ Webb), “Major Millie” (Bill Maschino), “Rev. C.C. Cardinal” (A.W. ‘Ace’ Logan), “Margie Mae” (Dana Fisher) and Ginny, Ollie, Deenie and Patsy Ruth Withers of “The Withers Sisters” singers (Holly Maschino, Linda Miller-Logan, Carol Cubbage and Emily Moore).
Also in the cast as “Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout Winners” include talented area youth: “Freddie Franklin” (Jacob Skinner), “Lillian Lynch” (Sage Love), “Debbie Dunahoo” (Sylvia Skinner) and “Mack Masters” (Tristan Hesson).
Stage manager Debbie Webb is behind the scenes ensuring “the show must go on”!
Production Dates: June 17 – 20 and June 25 – 27.
Thursday, June 17th is preview night with show time at 7 p.m.
Dinner Theatre: Friday, June 18th, Saturday, June 19th, Friday, June 25th and Saturday, June 26th.
Matinee performances: Sunday June 20th and 27th
Tickets are on sale now – but hurry! This production is expected to be SOLD OUT SOON! Matinee and preview tickets: $12
Dinner Theatre: $25
Dinner Theatre reservation DEADLINES are Tuesday, June 15th for June 18th, 19th and Tuesday, June 22 for June 25th, 26th.
Call 918-225-4141 to make your reservation TODAY!
**Tune in to 1600 KUSH radio at 8 a.m. Friday, June 11th to the Donna and Molly Show as Linda Miller-Logan and other cast members visit with the KUSH Girls.**
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