8-Track grooves to music of ’70s in Gaslight Dinner Theatre

Release Date: 9/1/2004. Expired: 10/2/2004

The music of the 1970s comes alive when the Gaslight Dinner Theatre presents the rousing musical revue 8-Track: The Sounds of the 70’s Sept. 10-Oct 2 at The Renaissance Center.

Created by Rick Seeber, 8-Track is a flashback to the time of leisure suits, lava lamps and mirror balls that the Minneapolis Star Tribune called “an infectious, joyous celebration.”

Shows are Fridays and Saturdays Sept. 10-Oct. 2 with a buffet meal served beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $27 per person. Senior Lunch Matinees are Fridays with the buffet opening at 12 p.m. and the show starting at 1 p.m. Tickets are $17 for patrons 55 and over. Tickets for all shows went on sale Aug. 10 and reservations are required.

“8-Track kicks off the 2004-05 season, our fifth for the Gaslight Dinner Theatre,” said Pacer Harp, managing director of the theatre and director for the show. “The emphasis this season is on music and what better way to start things than with a look back at one of the most diverse decades in popular music history.”

8-Track: The Sounds of the 70’s is a show that critics have called “a fast-paced musical romp through one of the most impassioned decades of the 20th century.” Four rock-solid vocalists present a range of music that reminds us there was much more to the 1970s than disco.

The cast includes two returning performers from the Gaslight Dinner Theatre’s highly acclaimed production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Ryan Hunt of Evansville, Ind., and Tawny Frey of Dickson are back for the second production in a row and are joined by Nashville’s Kris McCarthy and Scott Douglas. The show also promises a few guest performances.

With the Vietnam War raging at the early part of the decade, protest songs such as Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin’ On echoed the pop culture’s political dissatisfaction with the status quo. As the country looked for something to ease its pain, pop stars grabbed the spotlight with lighter fare and eventually disco took over as KC and the Sunshine Band gave us Get Down Tonight.

The show ranges from Desperado to Afternoon Delight, from Barry Manilow to Barry White and includes a variety of songs and medleys that essentially turns the production into a 90-minute K-Tel commercial for the decade’s music.

8-Track: The Sounds of the 70’s has been drawing raves in Detroit, Denver, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Oakland and Los Angeles and makes its regional debut with the Gaslight Dinner Theatre’s production. Every song is “presented with such creativity and all-around showmanship, you simply can’t imagine anyone not having a good time,” said The Detroit Monitor.

Seeber conceived and directed 8-Track at the Milwaukee Rep in 2001 and the musical revue took off from there. Seeber also is known for his production of Beehive, The 60’s Musical, which has enjoyed two national tours in 70 cities.

For more information on 8-Track: The Sounds of the 70’s or the Gaslight Dinner Theatre, call (615)740-5600. To purchase tickets for a show, call (615)740-5570. Reservations must be made by noon the day of each show.

The Renaissance Center is an arts and technology education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

Visit the Theatre page for more about community and professional theatre.

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