'Smoke on the Mountain' Returns to Marietta Square

The bluegrass revival Smoke on the Mountain, starring members of the original Theatre in the Square cast, will be presented by the Atlanta Lyric Theatre from July 26 through Aug. 5 at the .

Smoke on the Mountain, the original runaway hit that spawned two sequels—Sanders Family Christmas and Mount Pleasant Homecoming—returns this summer. 

If you’ve seen the other two, here’s an opportunity to see the first or to revisit the quirky family in their original gospel concert at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. Smoke on the Mountain features a rural, gospel-singing Baptist family in 1930's North Carolina—loving father Burl, Bible-quoting mother Vera, twin brother Dennis and his star-struck twin sister Denise, the black sheep Uncle Stanley, the non-singing June and Reverend Mervin Oglethorpe, head of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. 

The score includes popular hymns: "I'll Fly Away," "Power in the Blood," "Bringing in the Sheaves" and "I Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now." 

The first in the ever-popular series featuring the singing Sanders Family, Smoke on the Mountain premiered at Marietta’s now-shuttered Theatre in the Square in 1991. 

This perennial revival favorite features bluegrass songs from the gospel hit parade, sprinkled with the hapless pranks of this lovable and talented family.

Reprising their roles in Smoke on the Mountain are Alan Kilpatrick as Reverend Mervin Oglethorpe, Karen Howell as Vera, Jennifer Akin as June, John Peterson as Burl and Scott DePoy as Uncle Stanley. 

Smoke on the Mountain is directed by Alan Kilpatrick and Karen Howell, and features music direction by Michael Monroe.

The previously scheduled Legally Blonde: The Musical will relocate to the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at the Cobb Civic Center and perform Aug. 10 through 26.

Schedule:

July 27, 28, 29: Friday, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

July 31 and Aug. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 2 p.m. and Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

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