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Take a trip on ‘Route 66’
Route 66
Jerry Lee, Miguel Ragel Wilson, Griffin Barr and Stephen Markarian star in Sierra Rep’s production of “Route 66.”

The Sierra Repertory is inviting audiences to take a trip through the Americana of the 1950s and ‘60s with their production of “Route 66.”

Roger Bean's “Route 66” is a jukebox comedy about a gang of rowdy Chicago service station attendants who take an imaginary road-trip from Chicago to L.A. singing tunes by Willie Nelson, Woody Guthrie, Roger Miller and The Beach Boys, just to name a few. They sing, they dance, and they act up in this fast-paced, dynamic show for the entire family. Songs include “Dead Man's Curve,” “King of the Road,” “Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” “Beep Beep,” “Six Days on the Road,” “Little GTO,” “Fun, Fun, Fun” and many more.

Sierra Rep’s production of “Route 66” is directed and choreographed by Adam Estes, who appeared as Miss Texas in last year’s “Pageant,” with music direction by John Jay Espino, who has provided music direction for many SRT productions such as “The Andrews Sisters: Christmas of Swing” and “The Taffetas.”

The cast of “Route 66” features Griffin Barr (“Pageant,” “My Fair Lady”), Jerry Lee (“Intimate Apparel,” “Man of La Mancha”), with Stephen Markarian and Miguel Ragel Wilson both making their Sierra Rep debuts.

“This show is truly a tour de force for four actors. It's a high energy, all singing, all dancing, comedic joy ride,” said Estes. “The audience can expect to be singing and toe-tapping along with hit song after hit song, as well as delighted by a few songs they might be less familiar with, but equally entertained. I was a part of the original production of “Route 66” at Milwaukee Rep in 2010 which was directed by the author, Roger Bean. It will always be one of the highlights of my career.”

Bean is the creator of the long-running off-Broadway smash hit “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” that has played in hundreds of theaters around the world. Bean also created two popular sequels for the song leaders from Springfield High: “The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns” and the holiday celebration “Winter Wonderettes.” Additional jukebox hits from Bean include “Summer of Love,” “The Andrews Brothers,” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” and the doo-wop hit “Life Could Be a Dream,” recipient of the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award, the L.A. Weekly Theatre Award and the Backstage Garland Award for Outstanding Musical.

Sierra Rep’s “Route 66” production team also includes the design talents of SRT’s first mother-and-son design team Diana Newington (costume designer) and Jay Newington (scenic designer), Josh Hemmo (lighting designer), and Lucas Michael Chandler (properties designer). Maggie Braun is the production stage manager.

“Route 66” opened in March and runs through April 21, at The Historic Fallon House Theatre in Columbia State Park – 11175 Washington St., in Columbia. The theater’s talk back performance will be on April 12.

For tickets, call the box office at (209) 532-3120, or purchase them online at www.SierraRep.org​, or visit the East Sonora Theatre Box Office from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, located at 13891 Mono Way in Sonora. The Fallon House Theatre Box Office is open two hours before each performance. Performance times are at 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays and 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Ticket prices range from $32 to $47. Discounts for seniors, veterans (w/ID), children, and students 18 and over with student ID are available for all performances. Special discounts for groups of 20 or more are also available. Route 66 is Rated G.