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Roanoke, VA – Mill Mountain Music, the mini-series of one-performance live music concerts, takes to the stage with a tribute to special women who made American country music its own genre. Opry Divas on June 6 will showcase the big voices of an international musical-theatre singer plus two favorites of recent MMT productions.“This is a show that not only recalls the music of Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Carrie Underwood and Shania Twain, but it tells with affection about their impact on America’s collective voice,” said Ginger Poole, MMT’s Producing Artistic Director.
“If you’re a fan of country music, this will be a two-hour treat. If you respect the impact of these extraordinary women on American culture, you are in for a great evening with some surprises. If you just want to be entertained, invest in this laid-back evening,” Poole said.
Special arrangements of familiar songs and insights about the big names of country music are the work of Matthew Glover, MMT’s Associate Artistic Director.
In addition to a live, on-stage band, the cast of Opry Divas includes:
Alexa Green, a New York City based singer, actor, dancer and recording artist best known for her turn as Glinda in the Los Angeles and San Francisco companies of the hit Broadway musical Wicked. She also appeared alongside Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone in the international cinematic release of Stephen Sondheim's Company with The New York Philharmonic live from Lincoln Center. Alexa has toured both nationally and internationally as an actor and singer, known for her wide vocal range and expressive musical flexibility. She toured as Martha Cratchit on the national tour of Scrooge: The Musical and played Mary Magdalene in the Italian musical Emmanuel in Rome. Alexa was recently nominated for two Carbonell Awards (South Florida's regional theatre honor) alongside her cast for her work as Hedi in The Arts Garage's production of Cabaret Verboten. Favorite regional productions include Fiddler on the Roof, Shenandoah, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables and Into the Woods.
Jill Vanderoef, who returns to MMT after performing last December as Yonah in Children of Eden. She is a graduate of Elon University with a BFA in Music Theatre. Jill hails from Florida where she has most recently been seen in They're Playing Our Song, Shout! A Mod Musical, A Year with Frog and Toad, and several shows at Busch Gardens Tampa.
Whitney Hayes, who is playing Motormouth Maybelle in MMT’s current production of Hairspray. The Pittsburgh native recently finished performing in a tour of Menopause The Musical as the power woman. Other credits include Elf The Musical, Swing!, Shout, Chicago, Cinderella, and Suessical The Musical.
Mill Mountain Music is the first season of an audience-building, alternative production for Mill Mountain Theatre. The initial concert, Piano Man on March 28, was a sell-out. Mill Mountain Music concerts feature the causal ambience of a small-venue concert with beverage sales; it is a new and promising venture.
The concert also allows MMT to show off its totally new sound system, a $100,000 installation completed this winter with major gifts and grants from three major foundations - Norfolk Southern Foundation, the Roanoke Women’s Foundation and Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust.
In addition, Opry Divas will be the first evening when pre-sold parking passes will be available for Mill Mountain Theatre patrons. The new passes are sold in conjunction with ParkRoanoke at the Center in the Square box office and online at www.millmountain.org. They ensure patrons of parking spaces in either the Center in the Square Garage or the Market Garage, the closest city parking facilities to the theatre. Details are available at the box office and website.
Tickets for Opry Divas are on sale at the Center in the Square box office and available by calling 540-342-5740 and online at www.millmountain.org.
Mill Mountain Music concerts are underwritten by Bank of Floyd; Downtown Roanoke, Inc., and Jefferson Surgical Clinic. Additional support for MMT’s programs are provided by Actors’ Equity Assn., Center in the Square, National Endowment for the Arts and Virginia Commission for the Arts.
