“Friends In Low Places” Extends Its Run

Today, country music is one of the most-listened-to genres in the United States. In fact, there are more American radio stations specializing in country music today than any other style. There is no question: the music is American-made and it is popular.

So it should come as no surprise that Friends in Low Places, FST’s latest original country music revue, is a hit with FST audiences. With songs like “Could I Have This Dance,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” and “Good Hearted Woman,” Friends in Low Places is filled with “music for everyone” (Total Theater).

The show is so popular, that now, 12 weeks into the run, we are pleased to announce the Cabaret will extend to play through April 17 due to audience demand – that’s a total of 21 weeks, 159 performances, and over 4,000 songs sung by the end of this run.

“We are thrilled to see Friends in Low Places go on to reach even more people through this extension,” says Lead Show Developer Rebecca Hopkins. “When you write and produce an original Cabaret, it is, of course, always your hope that the show will go on to be a runaway hit. But after opening night, it’s really out of your hands. At that point, it’s all up to the artists and the audience.”

“To me, one of the main reasons this music remains popular and has lasting power is its authenticity to specific times and places,” said popular FST Cabaret artist Joe Casey, who leads on such songs as “Two Old Cats Like Us,” “Lookin’ for Love,” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” in Friends in Low Places. “Whether the themes are love or heartbreak, infidelity or addiction, or simply just having good times with good friends, this music tells stories we all can relate to. It’s very human. And with the right beat, that’s a recipe for popularity.”

And while it’s up to the artists to bring the talent, the energy, and entertainment, ultimately, it’s the audience who decides: Will the show be a success? And when it comes to Friends in Low Places, the audience has spoken.

“Friends in Low Places was outstanding,” said attendee Patricia S. “Their voices, their choice of music, and their energy was just so entertaining. They had the audience singing along and clapping. It was a wonderful, uplifting event.”

“We were convinced that we were hearing a performance being beamed from Nashville itself!” said Suzan G. “This show proved that people do not have to be country music fans to be totally engaged by such a sparkling presentation.”

And it’s popular with music-lovers of all ages.

“We brought our 11-year old granddaughter with us and told her if she wanted to leave after the first act we would,” said Kathleen C. “There was no way she was going to leave. She loved all of it. Again, yet another evening at FST seeing a talented bunch put on a good show.”

Armed with guitars, a mandolin, and a keyboard, five multi-talented artists are celebrating country musicians who transformed their genre and rocketed to the top of the charts in Friends and Low Places.

Standing on the shoulders of the great country artists who came before them—Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, and so many others—contemporary country artists like Garth Brooks, The Chicks, and George Strait spiked their honkytonk with Rock & Roll flair and moved their genre forward. Now, this rockin’ new sound will take over FST’s Goldstein Cabaret through April 17.

“These artists are telling our story. The American story,” said Hopkins. “Country music is derived from a melting pot of cultures. Their lyrics are still rooted in everyday people—the challenges and successes we all face. That is why the music continues to grow and evolve. It hits home.”