Smokey Joe’s Café: The Music of Leiber and Stoller, the longest running musical revue in Broadway history, comes to Performance Riverside March 31st, presenting the memorable songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, “the Rodgers and Hammerstein of rock ‘n’ roll.” Directed by Paul David Bryant, Smokey Joe’s Café features some of the best songs of the ’50s and ’60s, including “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Spanish Harlem,” “On Broadway”, “Stand By Me” and “Fools Fall in Love.” 

This is director/choreographer Paul David Bryant’s second show with Performance Riverside this season.  He directed the 2005-2006 season opener, RAGTIME, which just received 40 nominations for the 2005 Inland Theatre League Awards.

Performance Riverside’s production reunites Bryant with Ragtime’s musical director Don LeMaster. LeMaster is a favorite of Performance Riverside audiences, having musically guided Ragtime, Quilters, last season’s Grease and The Fantasticks, The Rocky Horror Show and the 2004 Ovation Award winning show 1776.

Smokey Joe’s Café features performances by Paul David Bryant, Lawrence Cummings, Ditanyon Demps, Charna Felthouse, Christopher James Culberson, Destiny Lofton, Christia  Mantzke; Vonetta Mixson; and Geoffrey Voss.

Two of the distinctive, defining creators in mid-century pop music culture, Leiber and Stoller composed some of the most enduring rock ‘n’ roll hits in our times, and wrote songs for such music legends as Elvis Presley, The Coasters, George Benson, The Isley Brothers, Peggy Lee, The Drifters, and Aretha Franklin.

Smokey Joe’s Café: The Music of Leiber and Stoller, is playing at the Landis Performing Arts Center on the Riverside City College campus at 4800 Magnolia Avenue. Performances are on March 31st, April 1st, 6th, and 7th at 8pm, April 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th 2pm, and April 9th at 7pm. Tickets are $35, $30, $25, and $20, and can be purchased through the Landis Box Office, 951-222-8100. Discounted weekday performance tickets for school and senior groups are available by calling 951-222-8372.