One Night with Janis Joplin

Since I’m working at the Zachery Scott Theatre, I’ve decided this blog will not only cover movies, but my entertainment experiences as well. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing One Night with Janis Joplin which runs from July 10, through August 18, 2013. It’s a play within a concert if there is such a thing. Most of us have been to at least one concert and there’s always that moment when the artist tries to connect with the audience. They give us a little personal history as to what was going on in their lives before they sing a particular song. There are a few moments like that in One Night with Janis as we discover the influences in her life that brought her to the world.

I had only heard of Janis Joplin, but never saw her in concert or even on television. I was six years old when she burst upon the scene.
A few weeks ago I watched Bette Midler in The Rose for the first time. Perhaps that was a mistake, but the actress who plays Janis, Kacee Clanton, gives a great performance based on what I saw Bette Midler do. The raspy voice, the mannerisms and the language.

Since this is a concert experience, the audience is encouraged at certain points to participate by clapping and feeling the spirit as Janice relays her inspiration for the blues from some of the greats such as Bessie Smith, Odetta, The Chantels, Etta James, Nina Simone and the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. All brought to life by the Blues Singer played by Tiffany Mann.   In my opinion, Miss Mann steals the first half of the show with an original rendition of Summertime from the opera Porgy and Bess and her rousing get up on your feet, feel good performance as Aretha Franklin.
The set design is minimal in this performance as we are in a concert setting, but the background and scrim add a hallucinatory vibe. I was waiting for the drugs to be passed around.

As I mentioned earlier, not knowing much about Janis, I found out that before her music career took off, she was an artist. We get to see some art in the background as she talks about her experience working in a coffee house.

When Tiffy Mann came onto the stage as Bessie Smith, it made me think of a show Diana Ross did, called an Evening with Diana Ross. Diana Ross embodied her inspirations as they all sat down in a theater and critiqued her performance. She was Josephine Baker, Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters. I believe the makeup was done by Rick Baker. The scene was great. I wish I could get my hands on a copy of the show. I think I still have a cassette of the songs.

Anyway, back to One Night with Janis Joplin. The second act of the show  Kacee Clanton really shines. Its funny how never having known who Janis Joplin was I had heard some of her songs. I had no idea she made Me and Bobby McGee and there was another song she sang that I had only heard Dolly Parton sing, Mercedez Benz.

When I see performances like this it makes me think of the people I was influenced by. Dabbling in all forms of art, there have been many.

No concert is complete without a band and the backup singers played by Felicia Dinwiddie, Tricky Jones 7 and Cari Hutson who is Kacee Clanton's understudy.

If you liked Janis Joplin you will certainly enjoy this show. It will take you back to a moment in time. If you are just curious and love the theater, this is a performance not to be missed. It’s original and you will definitely be clapping and stomping your feel. You might even be tempted to sing along.

One Night with Janis Joplin was created, written and directed by Randy Johnson. The show may be loud to some, but it is a concert experience after all. There's strobe lighting for that 70's era feel. The show runs two hours and 15 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.

I really am glad I stumbled onto a gig at Zach. I definitely plan to see the show again.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.