In the early 1970s, Rolling Stone Magazine called Michael Martin Murphey one of the best songwriters in America. Since that time, Murphey has left an indelible mark on the American Music Landscape crafting and recording such iconic hits as “Wildfire,” “Carolina In The Pines,” “Geronimo’s Cadillac,” “Cowboy Logic,” “Cherokee Fiddle,” “Boy From The Country,” and more. In the process, he has topped the Pop, Country, Bluegrass and Western Music charts, earaned six gold albums and multiple Grammy nominations. Through all the chart-jumping and genre-busting, Murphey has remained constant to an honest, sophisticated approach to his songwriting. In fact, it’s simply impossible to bigeon-hole Murphey to one specific genre. He is no more country than rock, no more bluegrass than classical. He is, rather, a true AMERICAN songwriter. At the core of his music is a stubborn determination to be the best songwriter he can be, a focus that has led to his songs being covered by such artists as Lyle Lovett, John Denver, Kenny Rogers, Hoyt Axton, Cher, Manfred Mann, The Monkees and more. “I spend a lot of time on the road listening to all kinds of music,” he says. “I grew up in Texas, the world’s number one muscial crossroads where anything goes musically. Texas has produced great artists from every genre. “You can wake up and say ‘today, I think I’ll write a symphony’ and you can find an audience for it there. The same can be said about any genre in music. Texans love music. They enjoy opera and they enjoy bluegrass. I am a product of that, and I am the number one fan of all types of music.” It is an approach that has worked well for Murphey. According to BMI, Murphey has five million-performance songs – “Wilfire” (3.9 million), “Cherokee Fiddle” (1.92 million), “Carolina In The Pines” (1.65 million), “Talking To The Wrong Man” (1.21 million), “Still Takin’ Chances” (1.2 million) – and a total of 11 award-winning BMI songs (6 in Country and 5 in Pop). Also, according to BMI, repeat back-to-back performances of his award winning songs alone, with each song averaging three minutes each, would amount to 64 years of continuous airplay.

Thumbelina, a literary fairy tale written by the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, weaves a captivating narrative of a tiny girl and her remarkable adventures. Reif Dance is excited to bring our version of this classic tale to life.

The story takes place in a world where magic and wonder coexist, where once upon a time a lonely woman yearning for a child is visited by a mysterious woman, a Fairy Queen in disguise. The Queen gives the woman a barley corn. When she plants the seed, a beautiful flower emerges and opens to reveal her wish come true, a little girl no bigger than her thumb.

Thumbelina soon meets and falls in love with the Prince of the Fairies, but before the two can begin their happily ever after she is stollen by marriage-minded frogs and catapulted into an adventure where she meets a host of greedy characters.

A wise Swallow and other little friends help her to believe that anything is possible if you follow your heart. With their help, Thumbelina escapes from the underground where she nearly marries a mole into the light of day where she is reunited with her Prince.

Order Your Flowers Here!

Little Shop of Horrors is a non-stop blast, sci-fi horror comedy, love story and doo-wop and rock musical that has become one of the most treasured pieces of American musical theatre. With music by Alan Menken and lyrics and book by Howard Ashman, Little Shop pays homage to doo-wop and Motown recordings. The story follows a luckless florist shop worker, Seymour, who raises a wisecracking carnivorous plant – Audrey II – that must feed on human blood. He delights in the fame and fortune that his ever-growing plant attracts, while trying to show his co-worker Audrey that she is the girl of his dreams. As Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent toward world domination, he learns the lesson: “Don’t feed the plants!” Join us for a wild ride through Skid Row this summer. Directed by Katie E. Smith.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.mtishows.com

Reif Repertory Theater is in its second year following last summer’s debut performance of 9 to 5 the musical. Reif Repertory Theater engages casts of seasoned performers to bring quality productions to the stage in a shorter, more intensive rehearsal process than traditional community theater. While Reif Theater Arts focuses on education and creating opportunities for everyone, Reif Repertory productions create a unique opportunity for proven local and guest artists to experience a more professional approach to theater. These productions also create opportunities for striving artists and the community at large to see great theaer on our own Reif stage!

The truth behind the legend of Jack and the Beanstalk is brought to light in this hilarious courtroom drama. The character of the great Jack Growell, of the infamous beanstalk, has come into question. Now his granddaughter is on trial and at risk of losing the family legacy. The ferocious prosecutor, Nicoletta Vale, is on the warpath to prove that the Growell family consists entirely of crooks. Can Jackie clear her family name and save her grandparents from the sleeping spell that has them trapped? Join us this summer to find out!