Anna Lee Dillon

We all know that the music of Leiber and Stoller, legendary songwriters from the 1950’s,

make “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” the great musical hit it is, but the orchestra at New Stage Theatre combine their own extensive musical instincts to ignite local audiences.
Whereas, the talented cast of Smokey’s is a combination of local and national talent, musical director Cynthia Stuart did not have to look far to find some of the best musicians in America. Right in her own backyard (the Jackson metroplex,) she found
Sherman Lee and Andrew Dillon, Mike Hampton, and Bud Berthold to accompany her amazing piano magic to complete the sensational sound that makes Smokey’s sizzle.
Two members of the six-man combo are members of the Dillonaires, a family band based in Jackson. Sherman Lee plays the guitar and harmonica in the show. He has worked as a consultant to the filming of “Brother, Where Art Thou,” and has represented Mississippi in several blues competitions.
His 25 year-old son, Andrew is a violin major at Jackson State University. In Smokey’s, he plays bass guitar and interacts playfully with the cast of singer/dancers. Hear a taste of the music from the father and son, and Andrew’s sister, Anna, by going to http://www.dillonaires.com
Mike Hampton is best known as Mr. Hampton around Terry High School where he has directed the high school band program for 18 years. He plays and soulful and sassy sax and delights audiences with his short solo in the 2nd Act of the show. See a sample of his work with teenage musicians by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHFqidjQU8o
Bud Berthold is also an educator. An applied instructor at Hinds Community College, he teaches at Mississippi College, Jackson State University and in his home studio. He has held the Principal Timpanist chair in the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra since 1982. His rhythm on the drums, adds with Mrs. Stuart on the piano to complete the fantastic music on which this show is built.
There’s only a few nights left to hear the great music and see the wonderful cast. Get your tickets at www.newstagetheatre.com - examiner.com

Anna Lee Dillon, 25, knows that perseverance is key to making a change. When her father, Sherman Lee Dillon, founded Jackson's Earth Day festival 15 years ago, it was a decidedly intimate affair.

#"In the early years, it was just my dad and some friends. He would play five hours straight," the Jackson State graduate says, shaking her head in amazement. "Now we have bands calling us, wanting to be part of it. This year there will be at least twice the exhibitors we've had any other year."

#Dillon took the lead role in organizing this year's festival, which comes April 22 to Jamie Fowler Boyll Park. Although she has two jobs and plays guitar with the Dillionaires, the rest of the family—she has six siblings age 15 to 34—are even busier. The busiest of all may be her father, who baby sits eight of his 10 grandchildren each day and has been working out arrangements for a new album of original music at night. Anna, who has been singing with the band since she attended Forest Hill High School when she was 15, says she is eager to spend time in the studio this May.

#First comes Earth Day, however, which Dillon sees as a chance to have fun and send a message at the same time. "It's always been an outlet for the frustration we feel as a family living in such a red state. It helps to get like-minded people together to see that you're not alone, that your numbers are growing," she says. "When Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day in 1970, he wanted it to be political. He wanted people to realize that you have to fight to protect the Earth."

#She takes inspiration in fighting for change from her father, who ran for governor as a Green in 2003. She says helping him crash a gubernatorial debate at Delta State was one of the highlights of her adult life.

#"We did all the paperwork," she says, "and they still excluded us from the debate. But we weren't going to let them ignore us."

#They got passes to the event from a friend, and just after the major-party candidates made their introductions, Sherman hopped up on stage to announce his candidacy and ask for a chance to debate. They dragged him from the stage. A few minutes later, as Haley Barbour spoke on education, Anna sprung up from her seat in the middle of a long row, demanding that the candidates address "real issues" and let her father debate. "(Barbour) tried to talk over me," she says, "but I'm loud—that's one benefit of growing up in a large family."

#She met her father at the edge of school property, amazed that they hadn't been arrested and thrilled that they had forced the powers that be to take notice, if only for a minute.

#"It was a shining moment," she says. - Jackson Free Press