If you go
› What: “Ghost the Musical.”› When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 13; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14; 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15.› Where: Roland Hayes Theatre, UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St.› Admission: $29 adults, $22 students and senior adults.› Website: cdoorent.com.
L’Shante Faunteroy plays the phony psychic Oda Mae Brown in the Closed Door Entertainment production of “Ghost the Musical.”Fans of musical theater have the chance to be the first to see a Chattanooga premiere this weekend.
Closed Door Entertainment is presenting “Ghost the Musical” in four performances Friday-Sunday, May 13-15, at the UTC Fine Arts Center. It’s the first time the musical has been presented here.
“Ghost the Musical” is based on the 1990 Academy Award-nominated movie that starred the late Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore as Sam Wheat and Molly Jensen. Closed Door favorites Johnny Krause (Shrek) and Lauren Johnson (Maria in “The Sound of Music”) will fill those roles.
The two supporting leads are making their debuts with Closed Door. Jonathan Wilson will play Carl Bruner, the man who betrays Sam and Molly, and L’Shante Faunteroy is cast in the role of phony psychic Oda Mae Brown, who runs fake seances to con money from people grieving for deceased love ones.
“Ghost” tells Sam and Molly’s story of lasting love. Sam is murdered during a mugging that takes place as he and Molly walk back to their apartment one night. His spirit is trapped between this world and the hereafter, unable to leave Molly since he knows she is in danger. He coerces Oda Mae to communicate with Molly for him in hopes of saving her.
The movie was adapted for the stage by Joel Rubin in 2011; music and lyrics are by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard. Closed Door’s production will feature a 13-piece band backing the actors.
“All the music is new with the exception of ‘Unchained Melody.’ If you don’t have that, you don’t have ‘Ghost,’ ” says director JC Smith. The Righteous Brothers’ classic hit is the background of Sam and Molly’s iconic pottery scene.
Smith has several tricks up his sleeve to surprise the audience in this paranormal production.
“We are using a lot of customized special effects out of London,” he says. “The way we are doing our special effects will give Sam a ghostly appearance, whether he’s walking through walls or the glow that surrounds him.”
The director knows it is inevitable audiences will compare the stage production to the movie, even though “we’re doing our best to put our own special spin on our productions. Movies are a wonderful thing, but nothing compares to live theater.”
“Ghost the Musical” is rated PG-13 due to language and content.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.