New Show: Songs That Helped Win the War

Jeff and I have been entertaining around the midwest for several years now. Many times we portray Lucille Ball and Dezi Arnaz in our "Tribute to I Love Lucy" show, which we have performed in several states at festivals, parks, retirement homes and civic events.

We also have two bands that we travel with at times. Rosie and the Rockabillies is an old-time rock 'n roll band that covers songs from the 1950s through 1970s. Our Tin Pan Alley Cats band is geared toward swing and jazz music, reminiscent of the 1920s and 1930s.

Our latest production, "The Songs That Helped Win The War", now covers music from the early 1940s, along with actual radio news reports from World War II. The show is a bit of a history lesson, interweaving musical numbers, chronologically, from the beginning of the war in 1940 to the end in 1945. We portray some of that time period's most popular singers, such as: Judy Garland, The Andrew Sisters, Bing Crosby, Vera Lynn, Vaugn Monroe and Kitty Kalen, just to name a few.

The music, history and radio news clips from that part of our past makes for a great trip back in time, remembering the sacrifices made and the victories that are eventually celebrated.

We are so excited to have two public show dates coming up! We will be bringing "The Songs That Helped Win The War" to The Indiana Military Museum event in Vincennes over Labor Day weekend with multiple shows on Saturday the 4th as well as to Christie’s on the Square in Salem, In. Friday October 8th.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6b50e3_61164da789074914bc6708517a22dec7/480p/mp4/file.mp4

Lucille Ball’s 110th Birthday!

Today we celebrate the Queen of Comedy, Lucille Ball, on her birthday.

I cannot even begin to put into words how much this lady has meant to me over the years. I was first introduced to I Love Lucy when I was 5 or 6 while staying at my neighbors house, Ms Loving, when my parents were at work. I began dressing like Lucy soon afterwards. I still remember dressing like her for a “hero’s day” at school. Only one other friend of mine even knew who I was supposed to be. The teacher knew, of course. I remember my friends asking “Who is Lucy”? I would try to explain, but they really had no idea as they had never seen her on TV.

I have read every book on Lucille Ball and I have a nearly complete video collection of her work. I simply admire the heck out of this woman!! And…I truly LOVE Lucy.

This is one of my favorite episodes of ILL.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY!! You are loved and missed by millions.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#ilovelucy #lucilleball #williamholden #redhead #lucy #classiccomedy #queenofcomedy

Grey Gardens: The Musical

Wow…here we are…we open Grey Gardens The Musical NEXT WEEK!

Soo many thoughts and feelings about this show, the Edie’s, and this whole experience. I for one, thought my theatre days were over. Jeff and I both agreed our lifestyles and priorities kind of changed after doing theatre for so many year. And honestly with the tea room, the two bands, and wanting to camp whenever possible, we just had different mindsets that didn’t involve the theatre world. Two shows we had always wanted to do were Elemeno Pea and Million Dollar Quartet both of which we were lucky enough to perform and produce in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

I just kind of assumed I was theatre retired after those productions so we could devote time and energy to other projects. However, there was still one show on my bucket list, one that I never dreamed I’d ever get to audition for simply because I never thought anyone would ever produce the show locally. Enter The Chicken Coop Theatre Company with their audition notice for Grey Gardens: The Musical. Dream show and a chance to audition for my dream role.

I’m a huge Grey Gardens nerd having discovered the Beales by picking up a copy of “My Life at Grey Gardens” by Lois Wright back in high school and from there devouring every book, article, documentary, footage, etc. I could find about these incredible women.

We were two weeks from opening April 2020 when the whole world changed. Our show cancelled, we waited, took almost a year and a half off from our last rehearsal, hoped to get rescheduled in the mean time, have dates proposed only to be postponed again, performance space changed, and even add new cast members…

But here we are! After all of the challenges and obstacles, we are almost there! This is such a beautiful show and one of the most difficult and challenging roles I’ve ever had the pleasure to tackle. The cast and crew have been working extremely hard to bring this show to life. We open next Thursday for 4 performances and we would love your support as we finally bring this gorgeous musical to the stage. Come and laugh, enjoy, and maybe even cry a little at the true story of the Beale women and their Grey Gardens.

Show dates are as follows!

Thursday August 12th at 8pm

Friday August 13th at 8pm

Saturday August 14th at 8pm

Sunday August 15th at 2pm

All at the beautiful Ursuline Arts Center 3114 Lexington Road in Lousiville, KY.

For tickets:

👉🏻 https://www.thechickencooptheatre.com