JONESBOROUGH REPERTORY THEATRE

Performances Friday & Saturday, December 5 & 6 at 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m. Friday, December 12 at 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. Saturday, December 13 at 5 p.m. & 8 p.m. Sunday, December 14 at 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.

Jonesborough Repertory Theatre welcomed back to the stage its USO cast and crew for another fabulous 1940’s USO Christmas Show.

For JRT, USO shows began in the summer of 2005. "We were striving to bring back the great entertainment of the 1940’s…the true purpose of the music and the reason it was so uplifting for a generation just over the Depression and finding itself in the middle of another world war," says Kathleen Buttolph, JRT’s artistic director. JRT’s productions of the USO are portrayed as live radio broadcasts. People of the 40s clung to their radios. The radio, much like our TV’s today, was the center of a home. Radios were the only means of communication to a world in war. Buttolph observes, "In a world of 24 hour cable news, it’s hard for us to imagine having only one news source."

"Early in 1941, entertainment industry professionals helped the USO begin ‘Camp Shows’ with the entertainers waiving pay and working conditions to bring live entertainment to the troops at bases within the United States. With America's entry into World War II, ‘USO Camp Shows’ expanded to bring live entertainment to Americans fighting overseas." (WWII Timeline)

JRT hosted eleven performances over two weekends. The WJRT radio station took you back to 40’s music, comedy and dance with classic 40s Christmas hits like White Christmas; Santa Baby; The Christmas Song; I’ll be Home for Christmas; Snowfall; and many more.

The USO team was directed by Jennifer Schmidt and choreographed by Kristin Smith.

The cast included USO members from past USO performances - Josh Baldwin, Bob Browning, MeLissa Crockett, Janette Gaines, Kim Jones, Phil McPeak, Jennifer Schmidt, Dennis Smith, Kristin Smith, Katelyn Smith, Don Squibb, and Sharon Squibb. JRT welcomed USO newcomers Michele Chapman, David Crockett, Josh O’Bryan, Nancy Peak, Lexi Turner, Pam Williams and Tammy Williams.

USO band members were Rob & Stacia Brown, Howard Bloom, Barb Knisley, Jonathan Reed, Lucas Schmidt, and Matt Williams.

Click here for the November 4 Johnson City Press article by Doug Janz entitled "USO show brings 1940s to life."

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"The fast pace, broad diversity, and informality of the overseas shows, with acts ranging in tone from brash to sentimental, gave U.S. fighting forces a supportive reminder of home, an essence of American life and values." (Library of Congress)

A big thank you to our sponsors The Johnson City Power Board and Blackburn, Childers & Steagall, PLC. This year’s Christmas production could not have been done without your support for our show and our troops.