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GREENSBORO — It doesn’t matter where David Wright takes his one-man show about the late comedian Dave Gardner, because Wright always seems to come back to Burlington with interesting stories to tell.

One such story came from a recent tour stop in Panama City, Fla., where Wright and crew were unloading equipment at the Martin Theatre in preparation for a performance of “Rejoice Dear Hearts: An Evening with Brother Dave Gardner.”

“But the crew didn’t want me to lift any heavy equipment,” Wright explained. “So instead of going back to the hotel to sit around, I decided to go for a little walk around town.”

On that particular stroll, Wright said he met two older ladies who were out walking their dog. The three struck up a conversation, and the subject turned to why Wright was in town.

“Once I told them I was there to do a show about Brother Dave Gardner, they began reciting Brother Dave’s quotes to me,” Wright chuckled. “We must have talked for 30 minutes. But to make a long story short, they were in the audience that night.”

In fact, Wright said he’s so pleased with the show’s popularity, he used a quote from Brother Dave to describe it: “I continue to marvel at it,” he said with a chuckle. “They don’t come to see me, they come to see Brother Dave.”

Wright just wrapped a second jaunt around the South, performing the one-man show in Gadsden, Ala., Bristol, Tenn., Panama City and Manteo. Wright’s in the second year of a five-year deal with the Jena Company of New York, taking the show to various cities across the South and East.

Wright, who doubles as the managing director of Burlington’s Paramount Theater, presented the show for the first time at the Paramount in August, 2004. He took the show on the road in the spring of 2006, debuting it in Gardner’s hometown of Jackson, Tenn.

But now, Triad theatergoers are in for a treat. Wright is about to begin a five-week run of “Rejoice Dear Hearts: An Evening with Brother Dave Gardner” at the Barn Dinner Theatre in Greensboro. The show opens May 5 and continues through June 10.

Matinees are planned for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays during the stretch and evening shows are set for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Buffet-style meals will be served before each show. The theater is closed on Mondays.

“It works out great, because on the days of evening shows, I can work at my day job all day long, and on the days of matinees, I can work half-days,” Wright said. “Everyone, from the Paramount to the city of Burlington, has just been so supportive in allowing me to do this and accommodating my schedule.”

For those who don’t remember, Brother Dave Gardner was a Southern comedian who rose to popularity in the 1950s and ’60s. Gardner paved the way for other comedians of the era. He died of a heart attack at age 57 in 1983 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Wright seemed excited about bringing his original one-man show to Greensboro, and he said Gardner used to be a big draw in the Gate City.
“Dave was wildly popular in this area,” Wright recalled. “He used to perform at the old Plantation Supper Club on High Point Road in Greensboro in the ’50s and ’60s. They had to add another show each night to keep up with the demand.”

Though Wright has performed this show two other times in Burlington, he said he’ll have to tweak it a little due to Barn Dinner’s unique theater-in-the-round setup. Past shows have been on a stage with an audience directly in front of him.

“The audience will be on all sides this time, so I’ve got to keep that in mind,” he said. “I’m going to do some cuts and rewrites to trim the fat and make it more compact.”

Wright said he hopes to make a dinner-theater gig part of the remaining years of his tour. He said he’s in the process of finalizing next spring’s schedule, and possible locations include Biloxi, Miss., Meridian, Miss., Mobile, Ala., Shreveport, La., and Memphis, Tenn.
But it really doesn’t matter where this show travels. Wright said he’s met people from multiple states at nearly all shows.

“The outpouring of support and affection for Dave is remarkable,” he said. “He died 24 years ago this December, and I still hear from people at these shows about how so many memories are being rekindled.”



	Brother Dave Gardner



	Home		*Rejoice Dear Hearts....Here's Brother Dave* GREENSBORO — It doesn’t matter where David Wright takes his one-man show about the late comedian Dave Gardner, because Wright always seems to come back to Burlington with interesting stories to tell. One such story came from a recent tour stop in Panama City, Fla., where Wright and crew were unloading equipment at the Martin Theatre in preparation for a performance of “Rejoice Dear Hearts: An Evening with Brother Dave Gardner.” “But the crew didn’t want me to lift any heavy equipment,” Wright explained. “So instead of going back to the hotel to sit around, I decided to go for a little walk around town.” On that particular stroll, Wright said he met two older ladies who were out walking their dog. The three struck up a conversation, and the subject turned to why Wright was in town. “Once I told them I was there to do a show about Brother Dave Gardner, they began reciting Brother Dave’s quotes to me,” Wright chuckled. “We must have talked for 30 minutes. But to make a long story short, they were in the audience that night.” In fact, Wright said he’s so pleased with the show’s popularity, he used a quote from Brother Dave to describe it: “I continue to marvel at it,” he said with a chuckle. “They don’t come to see me, they come to see Brother Dave.” Wright just wrapped a second jaunt around the South, performing the one-man show in Gadsden, Ala., Bristol, Tenn., Panama City and Manteo. Wright’s in the second year of a five-year deal with the Jena Company of New York, taking the show to various cities across the South and East. Wright, who doubles as the managing director of Burlington’s Paramount Theater, presented the show for the first time at the Paramount in August, 2004. He took the show on the road in the spring of 2006, debuting it in Gardner’s hometown of Jackson, Tenn. But now, Triad theatergoers are in for a treat. Wright is about to begin a five-week run of “Rejoice Dear Hearts: An Evening with Brother Dave Gardner” at the Barn Dinner Theatre in Greensboro. The show opens May 5 and continues through June 10. Matinees are planned for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays during the stretch and evening shows are set for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Buffet-style meals will be served before each show. The theater is closed on Mondays. “It works out great, because on the days of evening shows, I can work at my day job all day long, and on the days of matinees, I can work half-days,” Wright said. “Everyone, from the Paramount to the city of Burlington, has just been so supportive in allowing me to do this and accommodating my schedule.” For those who don’t remember, Brother Dave Gardner was a Southern comedian who rose to popularity in the 1950s and ’60s. Gardner paved the way for other comedians of the era. He died of a heart attack at age 57 in 1983 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Wright seemed excited about bringing his original one-man show to Greensboro, and he said Gardner used to be a big draw in the Gate City. “Dave was wildly popular in this area,” Wright recalled. “He used to perform at the old Plantation Supper Club on High Point Road in Greensboro in the ’50s and ’60s. They had to add another show each night to keep up with the demand.” Though Wright has performed this show two other times in Burlington, he said he’ll have to tweak it a little due to Barn Dinner’s unique theater-in-the-round setup. Past shows have been on a stage with an audience directly in front of him. “The audience will be on all sides this time, so I’ve got to keep that in mind,” he said. “I’m going to do some cuts and rewrites to trim the fat and make it more compact.” Wright said he hopes to make a dinner-theater gig part of the remaining years of his tour. He said he’s in the process of finalizing next spring’s schedule, and possible locations include Biloxi, Miss., Meridian, Miss., Mobile, Ala., Shreveport, La., and Memphis, Tenn. But it really doesn’t matter where this show travels. Wright said he’s met people from multiple states at nearly all shows. “The outpouring of support and affection for Dave is remarkable,” he said. “He died 24 years ago this December, and I still hear from people at these shows about how so many memories are being rekindled.”