She will be the guest star March 1-April 9 for the Miracle Theater’s Broadway-style production of Tim Rice?s and Andrew Lloyd Webber?s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Nashville is where she got her start in music attending Belmont University and later working as a background singer for stars such as Michael McDonald, Aaron Neville, CeCe Winans and gospel group Anointed before auditioning with three other friends for American Idol for Season 6.

Her father was a drummer, and she grew up listening to his record collection of R&B artists and music took root in her soul. Her debut album “Coming Back to You” was hailed by critics.

Doolittle is no stranger to the attractions in Pigeon Forge having visited before riding the go-carts and “having a blast.” This will be her first time performing at the Miracle Theater and a recent visit to check out the facility left her impressed. “It’s amazing; I love the attention to detail, everything is so beautiful,” she told theater management.

“I am so excited!” she says of the upcoming run at the Miracle Theater. “I love shows that are out of the box. I like to have fun on stage and tell a great story that’s funny and lively.” In Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat she’ll get an opportunity to interact with the audience as she takes on the role of the narrator. Although she’s not seen “Joseph” performed live, she’s watched the video and loved it. Her favorite part of the musical is watching the king playing Elvis. “It’s amazing and hilarious,” she adds.

Performing before an estimated 30 million viewers each night on “American Idol” was life changing. The experience took her from singing background vocals to taking center stage as a star in her own right. “Now I have my own background singers and doing things I thought I would never be able to do,” she says.

She calls American Idol host, Simon Cowell, her “teddy bear.” “He says what he thinks without using a filter. That makes you do the best you can do. I think he is wonderful.”

Since leaving American Idol as a third-place finisher, Doolittle has been traveling with her band both at home and abroad. In June 2007, the Brentwood, Tenn., resident visited Zambia with first lady Laura Bush and the Malaria No More organization to distribute life-saving bed nets and raise awareness. Doolittle also supports the Ronald McDonald House program.

Her run at the Miracle Theater will offer an opportunity to visit with fans during a meet and greet event after each performance. Doolittle will take part in a Q&A session, pose for pictures and sign autographs for those who purchase a VIP pass.

Getting up close and personal with her fans is one of her favorite things to do. “I love to answer any questions,” she says. “I enjoy sharing my life and what I have learned along the way.” ?Those hugs from fans are a nice bonus, too.?

“I am really excited to be a part of this,” Doolittle says of performing at the Miracle Theater. “I invite everyone to come out and make it an experience that they will remember for years to come.”

Jim Hedrick and David Fee, co-owners of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group which owns the Miracle Theater, says their company has invested millions in the production, even changing out the lighting rig for a more rock concert feel. Fee said even if audiences have seen a production of “Joseph” before, this one will top them all. “No expense has been spared,” Fee says.

Fee Hedrick Entertainment, one of the largest show production companies in the southeast, also owns and presents 5 other major shows in the Smoky Mountain area including The Miracle, The Comedy Barn Theater, Blackwoods Breakfast Variety Show, Magic Beyond Belief, and the Black Bear Jamboree Dinner and Show.

Adult tickets for Joseph and The Miracle are $39.95 each plus tax. When purchasing a Joseph ticket, there will be an opportunity to add The Miracle matinee for half price.

For each adult ticket a child 11 years old and younger is admitted free.

Cast members lead fifteen-minute backstage tours before both shows for $5. “Joseph” will be an 8 p.m. performance with “The Miracle” at 3 p.m. and both run through January 2011. For information, call 865-428-7469 or check out www.MiracleTheater.com.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – Ever wonder how angels fly on stage during “The Miracle” production’s battle scene? Want to know how the sets are changed out so quickly during each performance? And how many pounds of hay do the animals eat each day anyway? Mysteries of “The Miracle” production are unlocked in a new Backstage VIP Tour at The Miracle Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

“The Miracle” production is a faith-based, original, Broadway-style musical based on the life and miracles of Jesus Christ. Show-goers can now upgrade their Miracle tickets to a Producer’s Pass for the low cost of $5 each to experience firsthand the inner-workings of the only Broadway-caliber theater in Pigeon Forge. Tours begin about one-hour before each Miracle show time and enable patrons to observe the theater in full pre-show mode.

The behind-the-scenes tour highlights the theater’s house area, lighting and sound booths, scenery operations, props tables, dressing rooms, wardrobe room, hair and make-up areas, and a look at the million-dollar stables where the show animals are kept, along with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand on a real theater stage.

Cast members conduct the backstage tours. Jen Gilbert, originally from Greer, S.C., plays Mother Mary in the show. She says, “I love being able to interact with the audience before each show and share information about how the theater works.”

Gilbert will tell you things like…it takes two people to operate the two fly rigs located backstage that enable the angels to soar more than 30-feet in the air during each show. …It takes 10 projectors to create the storm scene on a curtain backdrop that falls from one of the theaters 48 line sets. … And the animals in the show makes as many costume changes as the cast members! These facts and many more are discovered during the 30-minute tour.

Gilbert adds, “I just love that the tour allows our guests to ask anything they want about the theater and show. It’s nice to add to their ‘Miracle’ experience.”

“The Miracle” is a $15 million production that features a cast of multi-talented actors, singers, and dancers, along with live animals. Open for its second season, The Miracle Theater became a ministry in 2007 with a mission to present faith-based family entertainment through live theatrical productions revealing the person of Jesus Christ as The Living Word of God.

“The Miracle” runs March-December at The Miracle Theater, located at 2046 on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., with shows at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 2:00 p.m. matinees on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Adult tickets are $29.95, plus tax. One child is free with each paying adult. Additional child tickets, for ages 11 and under, are $9.95, plus tax. For tickets, call 865-428-SHOW(7469). Groups of 20 people or more can receive a discounted rate by calling reservations at 1-866-492-6972. For more information or to see video clips of the show, visit www.miracletheater.com.

Mandrell said, “I am really proud of what is here. It is bigger than what I was expecting. It is a musical and it is truly magnificent. It is awesome.”

She went backstage at intermission and greeted all of the cast and crew members, many of whom were her former employees. Mandrell said to the cast, “How magnificent! I am really proud. It is way beyond what I had expected. I worked hard at this theater for eight years and wanted to see this theater do great things. Thank you for being so great. Your families have to be ecstatic when they come.”

2005 was Mandrell’s last season in Pigeon Forge, with New Year’s Eve as her final performance. Mandrell made this decision due to her desire to spend more time with her husband, who has been ill for quite some time.

Mandrell said, “Many of you know that my husband, John’s health has not been good for over four years. He has a very rare disease called RSD. Many of you know that we were blessed with a miracle when I took him to Germany for treatment. He came home pain free, hopefully for the rest of his life.” Louise said she has been blessed watching many miracles in “The Miracle” show in her former theater and her former employees continue to witness many miracles a day at The Miracle Theater, one of the largest faith-based venues in the United States.

The Miracle Theater features angelic aerial battles, the creation of the world, and Old Testament miracles leading to the miraculous birth of Christ. The story of Jesus’ life is told, focusing on the miraculous events surrounding his teachings, his death, resurrection and ascension. The show features live animals and the cast of more than 100 professionals.

The Miracle Theater is a production of The Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group. Other shows in the Fee/Hedrick family are: The Comedy Barn Theater, The Black Bear Jamboree Dinner and Show, The Blackwood Breakfast Variety Show, and The Triumphant Southern Gospel Show. The number to call for show information or reservations is: 865-428-SHOW.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured are left to right: Joshua Bond as Jesus Christ, Louise Mandrell and Kevin Faraci as Satan.

THE MIRACLE is an original, musical production based on the life and miracles of Jesus Christ. The creative minds of the Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment Group (owners of Comedy Barn Theater and Black Bear Jamboree Theater), worked collaboratively with the award winning team of playwright; Linda Nell Cooper and composer; David Legg to produce the most theatrically exciting, yet biblically accurate musical retelling of miraculous events from Creation to the Glorious Ascension.

More than a passion play, THE MIRACLE features 90% musical content, with a mix of soaring original scores, and arrangements of inspirational, familiar songs of faith. An emphasis is placed on the epic struggle between forces of good and evil, as an underlying theme of spiritual warfare provides an extra dramatic dimension. Exciting angelic aerial battles take place right above the audience. Live animals, including camels, donkeys, and other biblical-period creatures proceed right through the theater! Three-dimensional video effects using front and rear-screen projection and state-of-the-art special effects place THE MIRACLE, a multi-million dollar production, in the same entertainment category as any show available in Vegas or on Broadway today!

THE MIRACLE can be enjoyed Monday through Saturday at 8:00pm with matinees on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons at 2:00.

The Miracle Theater will also be the home of Triumphant Quartet’s Southern Gospel Morning Show, scheduled to open April 16 at 10:00AM.

NOW is the time to schedule interviews with cast members, the writing or creative team, animal trainers, the management, or ownership of THE MIRACLE! Custom Media tours of the property are available upon request.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 6, 2006
CONTACT: Shelley Layne, Public Relations Director
PHONE: 865-548-7794 (mobile)
865-429-7183 Ext. 3062 (office)
E-MAIL: Shelley@miracletheater.com

The signs outside the building have been changed (high res. photos available). Although Mandrell’s beautiful smile had become something of a landmark on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, The new Miracle Theater sign is a warm and welcoming sight that will capture the attention and imaginations of passersby. External signs of change are small indications of the major renovations taking place inside the brand new Miracle Theater.

Teams of engineers are being flown in from Vegas to rig the entire ceiling of the auditorium to become the staging ground for an angelic, aerial battle. Animal specialists are hard at work to create the fully enclosed stable area and walkway, which will accommodate camels, horses, sheep, donkeys, and other biblical-period animals. Costume designers are busy creating authentic clothing as well as special effects props, such as special swords and huge angel wings for the enormous cast of about 100 singers, dancers, actors, stunt specialists, and more!

Bob Eubanks, General Manager of The Miracle Theater accepted the keys to the building from Louise Mandrell Theater GM, Sande Weiss (high res. Photo available), as office exchanges and renovations are being made. To assist with the transition, The Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, owned by David Fee and Jim Hedrick, along with Mr. Eubanks, extended an opportunity to all employees of Louise Mandrell Theater, to join the Fee Hedrick team at one of its many entertainment branches in Sevier County.

Scheduled to open April of 2006, THE MIRACLE, is an original, musical, and dramatic production created by the award winning team of Dr. Linda Nell Cooper and David Legg joined by a collective body of creative and theological professionals. The epic theatrical show is focused primarily on the story of Christ and the many miracles surrounding his life. A strong emphasis is put on the spiritual warfare dynamic of Biblical history, bringing to life the cosmic clash between the ultimate forces of good and evil, making The Miracle completely original, and lending plenty of theatrical pizzazz to the scripturally accurate production.

The Miracle Theater is one of the largest faith-based venues in the United States, which will also feature the traditional, Southern Gospel sounds of the Triumphant Quartet Morning Show at 10:00am five days a week.