The Award-winning Woody Sez: The Words, Music And Spirit Of Woody Guthrie
By Komedia 2nd Jul 2009

Cossette Productions and Paul Lucas Productions announces a special performance of the Argus Angel Award-winning hit Woody Sez ? The Words, Music & Spirit of Woody Guthrie, the brainchild of David Lutken, Broadway veteran, storyteller and guitar theatre legend, at Komedia Brighton on Tuesday 14 July.

Woody Sez celebrates the spirit of American folk legend Woody Guthrie, ?America?s greatest ballad maker?, whose music continues to inspire today?s finest storytelling songwriters including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, the Indigo Girls and Billy Bragg. Charismatic Broadway and recording artist David Lutken, who plays the title role, is joined by three multi-talented folk musicians collected from the four corners of America who bring Guthrie?s music to life with twin fiddles, guitars, bass, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, dobro and beautiful folk harmonies.

Part music, part words, Woody Sez weaves together Guthrie?s songs with excerpts from articles he wrote for the leftist newspaper The People?s World to create a portrait of a true American hero, a man who would ?always be there whenever working folks fight for their rights?. As author John Steinbeck wrote ?There is nothing sweet about Woody, and there is nothing sweet about the songs he sings. But there is something more important for those willing to listen?. Woody ?wrote and sang the songs of common folks, songs that lifted the spirits of people beaten down by the corporations and the banks?.

David Lutken returns to the U.K. following the American Premiere of Woody Sez at Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City. Prior to that he served as Musical Supervisor and leader of the gospel quartet for the 2007 Broadway revival of Inherit the Wind, starring Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy. In 2006, he was notably featured in the Broadway production of Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical and has also appeared on Broadway in The Civil War and as another American legend, Will Rogers, in The Will Rogers Follies.

Woody Sez has also temporarily robbed Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma of their new Artistic Director Nick Corley, himself a veteran Broadway actor. The Woody Sez cast is rounded out by Darcie Deaville (fiddling/ songwriting folk singer extraordinaire from Austin, Texas), Andy Teirstein (a highly-regarded composer/playwright/performer), and Helen Russell (singer/bass player and heartbeat of the band), to provide a highly enjoyable hour, suitable for all ages.

?From the first beat to the final coda, the relevance then and now of Guthrie?s works drives the quartet to one of the stand out musical performances of the year. Recommended without hesitation.?
The Edinburgh Fringe Show

WOODY SEZ visits Komedia Brighton on Tuesday 14 July at 8pm. Tickets are ?12/?10 conc. available on-line at www.komedia.co.uk/brighton or from the Box Office on 0845 293 8480.

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