Hit show The Songs of Johnny & June features lots of Island talent
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June 16, 2023 – After playing packed houses on a tour of the Maritimes last year, The Songs of Johnny & June returns to Confederation Centre of the Arts this summer as part of The 2023 Charlottetown Festival.
This year’s Festival includes six productions across the Centre’s three venues – including MAGGIE, The Play That Goes Wrong, and I’m Every Woman.
Sponsored by Key Murray Law, The Songs of Johnny & June celebrates the lives and songs of Johnny Cash and June Carter – country music’s most iconic couple. From their first meeting to their final days, the show follows the legendary pair’s storied relationship through the renowned songs that you know and love, as well as stories you may have never heard.
The lively cabaret from Kitbag Theatre features lots of Island talent. It stars powerhouse duo Jacob Hemphill and Melissa MacKenzie, with direction from Rebecca Parent. Accompanied by a rockstar band (Josh Langille, Sam Langille, Logan Richard), the show is full of hit songs like “Jackson”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, and “Ring of Fire”.
“While I’ve always had a passion for Johnny Cash’s music, it was the steadfast love that he and June shared that inspired this piece,” says Hemphill, the show’s creator. “They were extraordinarily talented, yet deeply flawed artists who nurtured their relationship through wild success, devastating addiction, and constant public scrutiny. Theirs is a love story that we as artists continue to learn from and marvel at.”
Performances of The Songs of Johnny & June run at The Mack from July 6 – September 2. Tickets can be purchased through the Centre’s box office in-person, via phone at 1-800-565-0278, or online at confederationcentre.com.
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Cutline: Jacob Hemphill and Melissa MacKenzie, photo by Louise Vessey.
THE SONGS OF JOHNNY & JUNE
A Kitbag Theatre Production
Created by Jacob Hemphill
Music direction and arrangements by Melissa MacKenzie
CREATIVE TEAM
Director/Dramaturge: Rebecca Parent
Music Director: Melissa MacKenzie
Set Designer: Shawn Kerwin
Sound Designer: Shawna Picard
Lighting Designer: Renée Brode
Stage Manager: Anne Putnam
Apprentice Stage Manager: Sarah MacKenzie
COMPANY
Jacob Hemphill
Melissa MacKenzie
BAND
Josh Langille: Drums
Sam Langille: Bass
Logan Richard: Guitar