COUNTRY QUEENS Opens At Centre Stage 8/6

Centre Stage presents Country Queens, a concert tribute to the legendary ladies who made country music history: Loretta Lynne, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Reba McEntire and Barbara Mandrell.  These extraordinary women have created the cornerstone of the classic country style through the decades and generations.  The evening highlights their breakout songs, signature songs, and number one hits.

Featuring eight of Greenville’s most talented musical artists, Debra Capps, Cheryl Connelly, Tamy Heard, Summer Keller, Katie Martin, Diane Mitchell, Cindy Mixon and Meredith Reed, Country Queens captures the essence of the great Love ‘Em, Leave ‘Em, Can’t Do Without ‘Em hits.

Country Queens: Nashville’s Leading Ladies will be directed by Benjamin P. Robinson, whose previous directorial credits at Centre Stage include Beehive, Sophie Tucker:  Last of the Red Hot Mamas (which he also wrote), The Fantasticks, and most recently, The Dining Room.

Joining Benjamin P. Robinson is musical director Joe Wehunt, to whom the credit goes for the spectacular arrangements of the pieces.  Joe is a composer/sound designer at Skyline Post (a film postproduction facility) and freelance writer, arranger and guitarist. He has worked with Bob Hope, George Burns and The Fifth Dimension, and has served as music director for many shows at Centre Stage, including for last summer's hit, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story as well as this season's Clear Lake: the Rock 'n Roll Reunion.

Country Queens will run August 6-29 with 8 p.m. performances Aug. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29 and 3 p.m. performances August 9, 16 and 23. Ticket prices are $25 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors. All seats reserved. The box office can be reached at 864.233.6733 from 2-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 2 hours before performances. The theater is located at 501 River Street inside the Smith-Barney building just one block off Main Street in downtown Greenville. For more information, visit the web site at CentreStage.org.