NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

3/31/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES ­Can the vibrant music of musician Louis Jordan help a lovesick young man? The Northwestern Theatre will answer that question when it presents the musical Five Guys Named Moe April 6-9 and 12-16 at 7:30 p.m. in Theatre West. Tickets are $10. Admission is free for NSU students with I.D.

"The music in this play is the kind that is hand clapping and foot stomping and makes you want to get up and dance," said director and choreographer Pia Wyatt. "It's a celebration of Louis Jordan. Many people may not think they are familiar with his work, but it's used in commercials and in popular music. A lot of his music may be more closely associated with others who recorded it later."

According to Wyatt, the show is about the way popular music can reflect and shape our emotions. Jordan, a lyricist, composer, sax player, band leader and singer- performer of blues, jazz and boogie and was considered one of the forerunners of rock.

Wyatt was assistant choreographer a production of Five Guys Named Moe in Calgary in 1992.

"When I came here, this was one of the first shows that popped into my mind," she said. "It is a perfect showcase for our students."

The creator of Five Guys Named Moe, actor, singer, dancer and director Clarke Peters, grew up in Harlem at the intersection of 155th Street and Amsterdam Ave. Remembering his love for the comical lyrics and jazzy beat of Jordan's music that emerged from his family radio throughout his childhood, Peters created Five Guys Named Moe, as a homage to this musical giant.

Built around an irrepressibly energetic quintet of zoot-suited singers named Moe, who emerge from a radio to offer advice to love-sick young man named Nomax, the show is a high-spirited journey through Jordan's hits.

"The play has 26 songs in all," said Wyatt. "And is deals with relationships, which is something everyone can relate to.

"The five guys named Moe all come out of Nomax's mind and are ultimately facets of himself."

The cast includes Gregory Williams Jr. of Baton Rouge as Nomax and No Moe, James Palmer of Mansfield as Big Moe, Jeremy D. Williams of Baton Rouge as Little Moe, Bryan D. Williams of Baton Rouge as Four-Eyed Moe and Kyle Lemaire of Abbeville as Eat Moe. Lane Dunn is musical director and Shane Stelly of Abbeville is costume director while Bridget Kerley of Covington is lighting designer. Phil Kidd is set designer and Eric Marsh is sound designer.

For ticket information, call (318) 357-5814.

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