TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Presents “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical”
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley closes its 54th season with the World Premiere musical Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical. Based on the play and cult classic film of the same name by Ed Graczyk, this rockin’ country musical is centered on the 20th anniversary reunion of a small-town James Dean fan club. As a group of women catch up and reminisce about the thrilling period when the Rebel Without a Cause actor filmed the movie Giant nearby, a stranger arrives to settle old scores.
A favorite in TheatreWorks’ 2024 New Works Festival, Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical features music by Dan Gillespie Sells, who garnered critical acclaim with the Olivier Award-nominated musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie that was adapted into an Amazon Prime Video film. Ashley Robinson, who penned the hit West End stage adaptation of Brokeback Mountain featuring music by Sells, writes the book. Actor/activist Shakina (NBC’s “Connecting,” NBC’s “Quantum Leap,” Hulu’s “Difficult People”) writes lyrics and stars as Joanne in this new musical, helmed by TheatreWorks Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli.
Director Sardelli has assembled a remarkable cast of talented actors who have performed on Broadway and beyond for this World Premiere musical.
Shakina provides the musical’s lyrics and stars as Joanne, a sultry and confident woman who reunites with her fan club friends. Lauren Marcus plays Mona, an anxious woman clinging to the past. Reprising her role from TheatreWorks’ New Works Festival, Stephanie Gibson plays Sissy, a flirty woman who dreams of becoming a country singer.
Returning in her role from TheatreWorks’ New Works Festival, Ashley Cowl plays Edna Louise, a shy woman with seven kids while Judith Miller plays Loretta, an older woman who owns the 5 & Dime.
Not to be overlooked, Ellie Van Amerongen plays Joe, a high school friend and only boy in the James Dean fan club, as well as Jimmy Dean. Hayley Lovgren plays Stella May, a newly-minted millionaire who loves having fun.
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical features musical direction by Jacob Yates, scenic design by Nina Ball, costume design by Alina Bokovikova, lighting design by Kurt Landisman, and sound design by Cliff Caruthers. Taylor McQuesten is stage manager with Emily Anderson Wolf as assistant stage manager.
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical will perform June 18 – July 13, 2025 at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street. For tickets and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call 877-662-8978.
* * * * *
Photo caption: James Dean fan club members Sissy (Stephanie Gibson), Joanne (Shakina), and Mona (Lauren Marcus) reunite in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's World Premiere "Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical," performing June 18 - July 13. (Photo Credit: Tracy Martin)