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Colonnade Players bring the Sanderses back for an encore

In his new cowboy hat, the Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe, played by Bobby Daniels, sings a farewell before leaving for Texas in "Smoke on the Mountain - Homecoming." Cast members behind him, are, from left, Jason Worthington, Greg Guinn, Rachel Lightfoot, Gwynne Jones, Phil Ledbetter and Chelsea Isbill.
In his new cowboy hat, the Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe, played by Bobby Daniels, sings a farewell before leaving for Texas in "Smoke on the Mountain - Homecoming." Cast members behind him, are, from left, Jason Worthington, Greg Guinn, Rachel Lightfoot, Gwynne Jones, Phil Ledbetter and Chelsea Isbill. In his new cowboy hat, the Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe, played by Bobby Daniels, sings a farewell before leaving for Texas in "Smoke on the Mountain - Homecoming." Cast members behind him, are, from left, Jason Worthington, Greg Guinn, Rachel Lightfoot, Gwynne Jones, Phil Ledbetter and Chelsea Isbill.

By Staff Report 2 min read

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The CastBurl Sanders: Greg GuinnVera Sanders: Rachel LightfootStanley Sanders: Phil LedbetterDennis Sanders: Jason WorthingtonDenise Sanders: Gwynne JonesJune Sanders Oglethorpe: Chelsea IsbillRev. Mervin Oglethorpe: Bobby Daniels

The Sanders Family is back for one last gospel singing when the Colonnade Players present “Smoke On The Mountain – Homecoming” in The Colonnade Theater, 264 Catoosa Circle in Ringgold, Ga.

Six performances are scheduled over two weekends: 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, June 16-17 and 23-24; a matinee at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 17; and another at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25. The June 17 performance will be interpreted for the hearing-impaired.

In this sequel to “Smoke on the Mountain,” it’s October 1945, and the gospel-singing Sanders Family is back together again. The war is over and America’s years of prosperity are just beginning.

But there’s another rite of passage taking place at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, where the Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe is giving his last service.

He’s been called to preach in Texas. He has already bought a 10-gallon hat and is preparing to ride into the sunset with his wife, June, who is eight months pregnant. Young Dennis Sanders will take over as Mount Pleasant’s new pastor.

But before June and Mervin leave, the Sanders Family is going to send them off in style with hilarious and touching stories and 25 toe-tapping bluegrass gospel favorites.

What makes the Sanders Family comedies so unusual is that in addition to acting skill, all the actors must have musical talent. For example, in this production all the Sanderses sing, as well as the Rev. Oglethorpe.

“Phil Ledbetter is playing harmonica, Rachel Lightfoot plays the squeezebox, and we have an accompanying band who are the Sanders Family cousins,” says Bobby Daniels, who is playing the Rev. Oglethorpe.

Tickets are $17, $15 and $13.

For more information: 706-935-9000.