Five Guys Named Moe, a joyful, jazzy tribute to Louis Jordan, the 1940s rhythm and blues singer, songwriter and bandleader, runs January 25 to February 10, 2019, at Skylight Music Theatre. It features more than 25 songs, including favorites such as Saturday Night Fish Fry and Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie. The show is directed by local artist and Bronzeville Arts Ensemble co-founder Malkia Stampley, who recently directed Black Nativity, a Black Arts MKE production.
“Louis Jordan’s music is funny, theatrical, and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster between laughter and heartbreak,” said Stampley. In many ways Five Guys Named Moe is a music history course in the most fun way possible. Jordan’s Saturday Night Fish Fry was considered to be one of the first rock and roll records. Hits like Let the Good Times Roll and Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby have had an impact on music for generations.”
Five Guys Named Moe is about our hero, Nomax; he’s broke, his lovely Lorraine left him, and he is listening to the radio. Out of the radio, five guys named Moe appear. The Moes help Nomax turn his life around with their megawatt singing and dancing energy. Skylight’s production features Gavin Lawrence, James Carrington, Shawn Holmes, Sean Jackson, Kevin James Sievert, and Jeff Award winner Lorenzo Rush, Jr.
“Five Guys is about the guys and I love that” added Stampley, “but I also love that there is a strong team of women rocking the show behind the scene.” In addition to stage director Stampley, the team includes Chicago’s Christie Chiles Twillie (music director) who leads the band on stage, Lanette Costas (choreographer), Tara A. Houston (scenic designer), Samanta C. Jones (costume designer), Latrice Lovett (lighting designer) and more.
Performances of Five Guys Named Moe are Friday, January 25 through Sunday, February 10, 2019 in the beautiful Skylight Music Theatre, 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. Tickets are $30 – $75 (plus tax and fees) and can be purchased in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office, 158 N. Broadway, by calling (414) 291-7800, or visiting www.skylightmusictheatre.org. Box Office hours are Monday – Saturday, noon – 6 p.m. The Box Office window is open two hours prior to each performance.
Special Offers for Milwaukee Times Readers!
See any performance of Five Guys Named Moe for 15% off ‘A’ and ‘B’ level adult tickets with code JAZZ15. Or, get a special Buy One, Get One Free ‘A’ and ‘B’ level adult tickets for performances on Thursday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m. or Saturday, February 2 at 2 p.m. with code MKETIMES. Limited seats available for this offer and restrictions apply. Contact Box Office at (414) 291- 7800 for more information.
