A
gem of a show brimming with intelligence, wit and beautiful melodies, the
chamber musical John & Jen opens in January in the intimate 35below theatre
at Asheville Community Theatre. John & Jen stars local musical
heavyweights Mark Jones and Kelli Mullinix in this two person tour-de-force.
The musical will open Friday, January 9 and run through Sunday, January 25,
2015 with performances Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sunday
afternoons at 2:30 pm. Tickets are
available online, over the phone, or in person at the Asheville Community
Theatre Box Office. All tickets are $20.00.
John
& Jen is a
truly original musical honoring brothers and sisters and parents and children,
set against the background of a changing America between 1950 and 1990. It
features book and music by Andrew Lippa, who also wrote the music and lyrics
for The Addams Family, with music and
lyrics by Tom Greenwald.
“John
& Jen has been a part of my life since I first heard the original
cast recording in 1995,” said star Mark Jones. “This show resonates with me,
because I have a very strong relationship with my family, and this show is a
beautiful story about the relationships between parents, children, brothers and
sisters and how those very relationships can change and affect you throughout
your life.”
Adds
Jones, “I had the pleasure of performing in the show in 2007, and I have always
wanted to do it again. So, I asked my best friend, and local actress, Kelli
Mullinix if she was interested, and the rest is history. This is a very
challenging show for both of us, because it encompasses 40 years in Jen's
life...and her relationship with her brother and her son. So, Kelli gets to
play Jen from age 6 to 46...and I get to play both her brother and son from
birth to age 18.”
Mark
Jones and Kelli Mullinix are both beloved veterans of the local theatre scene,
and each have lengthy theatrical resumes. At Asheville Community Theatre, Jones
most recently appeared as Lurch in The
Addams Family; Mullinix wowed audiences in the popular Honky Tonk Angels. Musical direction is by John Crawley.
For
more information about John & Jen or about Asheville
Community Theatre, please visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.