Jake Penrod performs Hank Williams…..Remembered

Playing and singing for a good two hours, Penrod brought steady applause for the familiar songs...

Jake Penrod performing live in Jefferson, September 1, 2012.

JEFFERSON — A full-house and then some filled the Jefferson Playhouse Saturday night when the Opera House Theatre Players presented Hank Williams....Remembered starring Jake Penrod in his one-man show. The production was moved at the last minute from the tourist-transportation building to the Playhouse because of scheduling conflicts expected for Hurricane Isaac evacuees.

Introducing the show was OHTP director Marcia Thomas who welcomed the audience to the opening production of the community theater groups 24ths season of shows. She invited the audience to attend the next production of the season, a comedy, that will likely be held at the Playhouse in early November. She also offered thanks to the First National Bank who sponsored the recent Press Preview Party and Karl Fredrickson who is sponsoring breakfast for the group on Sunday morning at the Excelsior House before they leave town.

Thomas introduced the groups 100-year-old president, Dorothy Craver, to the audience and President Craver gave a brief rendition of the famous Hank Williams tune "Lovesick Blues" to the surprised and delighted audience who rewarded her with clapping and laughter.

Playing and singing for a good two hours, Penrod brought steady applause for the familiar songs written and recorded by the late, great country star who died at an early age. Reaping a standing ovation for some of the most loved tunes like "Cold, Cold Heart", Penrod held the audience in his hand while he talked as the character of Williams and recounted his life experiences from beginning to end. Williams was known to have come through Jefferson and stopped during his early appearances at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport.

Between the two acts, audiences members who signed the back of their tickets were given the opportunity to have their names drawn for several door prizes. The winning names drawn were Mary Lou Barkett, John Hurley, Pam McCasland, Jack Nelson, Larry Brookshire, Doris Brown, and Steven Arnold Davis. The mostly out-of-town crowd was invited to have their pictures taken with Penrod and purchase his Hank Williams....Remembered CD or his original music by Jake Penrod CD, both of which are available from Amazon among other places.

The show closed with Penrod talking to the audience in his own person and introducing the members of his band who formerly played with some of the biggest names of country music including Le Ann Rimes, Hank Thompson, Ray Price and Bob Wills. He also called for songs from the audience which were most popular including "I Saw The Light".