Feb. 2--Add country talk-show hosts Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase to the list of celebrities who have made a go at a theater-style variety show on the Grand Strand.
The duo, known for their long-running, self-named talk show on The Nashville Network that came to an end last year, announced Tuesday the purchase of Crook and Chase Theater for $4 million. The new owners, Crook and her husband, Jim Owens, unveiled plans to turn 'Crook and Chase' into a daily morning show and to broadcast several live 'Crook and Chase' primetime specials from Myrtle Beach.
'We really, really wanted to come back here,' Crook told press conference attendees of the reason for the pair's return even though TNN didn't renew 'Crook and Chase' for another season. 'It's disappointing we're not broadcasting from Myrtle Beach, but our deal is we want to entertain people, and we wanted to come back here and do that.'
TNN, under the direction of CBS Cable, announced in August that four of its flagship country music shows, 'Prime Time Country,' 'This Week In Country Music,' 'Crook and Chase' and 'Crook and Chase Tonight' -- the last three created by Owens -- would not be renewed for the new television season.
Crook and Chase broadcast their final season from the Crook and Chase Theater at Fantasy Harbour, previously known as the Gatlin Brothers Theatre. The cancellation by TNN marked the end of the pair's 17 years as a part of the TNN network. Owens, who has since formed Grand Strand Theater Productions in his successful effort to acquire the theater, indicated his disappointment with the network during the press conference.
'TNN has totally abandoned country,' Owens said. 'They've gone to sports programming to target the young male audience.'
Despite TNN's withdrawal of support for a daily 'Crook and Chase' show, the duo will appear on the network again March 18, when the first of several scheduled primetime specials will air. According to Owens, the special will originate from the Fantasy Harbour theater that bears the duo's name.
'We'll focus on our inaugural season at Myrtle Beach and all the fun we had last summer,' Owens said. 'It will air at 9 p.m. Eastern on March 18, after the `Grand Ole Opry.''
After the press conference, Owens said negotiations are still ongoing to find an outlet for subsequent primetime 'Crook and Chase' specials. The first special, Owens said, is designed to coincide with the the new 'Crook and Chase' morning stage show, which debut at 10 a.m. March 20.
'Unless something is planned I'm not aware of, this will be the only morning [stage] show on the Grand Strand,' Owens said.
The show will include a live band, featuring country entertainers Tareva Henderson and Ronnie McDowell, as well as games, prizes and the hosts' signature talk-show style banter with audience members and guests.
After the press conference, Chase said transforming the show's format from a television program to a stage show will actually give the two more flexibility.
'I don't see a lot of difference,' he said. 'It'll be a little more relaxed. If we're doing a game and we're doing it for television, we've got to do it in six-and-a-half minutes. We're not under those restraints here. It's a TV show without the cameras in your face.'
In addition, Chase said, the two hope to continue the tradition began during their TNN show's 15-year run of showcasing guest stars and entertainers in the country music industry.
'You never know who might stop in,' he said, referring to the marquee country entertainers that play rival theaters along the Strand, including The Palace Theatre and The Alabama Theatre. 'We've built up a lot of connections in the industry and entertainment contacts over the years. You don't have to have TV cameras to stop by.'
And if Crook and Owens have their way, the Crook and Chase Theater may offer The Palace and Alabama theaters a little competition. Although no contracts have been signed as yet, the new owners plan for live entertainment on the Crook and Chase Theater stage, possibly as early as the fall.
'My husband is very creative, and he has all sorts of plans for musicals and theater productions, as well as plans for design and lighting and all sorts of things,' Crook said.
The production that filled seats at the theater last summer, 'Summer of '66,' returns to the Crook and Chase stage March 2. The show's success, Owens said, is one reason for his investment in the theater. Cast members of 'Summer of '66' were on hand for Tuesday's press conference.
'We hope this purchase ... will demonstrate to the Grand Strand area and to South Carolina that we are committed to expanding stage productions here,' Owens said.
Venues in Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla., have indicated an interest in taking a closer look at the 'Summer of '66' production, Owens said, and talks are in the works to put together a road show of the beach-style musical.
However, one of the stars of the show last year and one of the theater's former owners, Steve Gatlin -- a country legend in his own right -- won't be returning to this year's production. Gatlin is
promoting two musical variety shows, 'Big Band Swing' and 'Celebrate America,' which will debut March 3 at Fantasy Harbour's Forum Theatre.
Owens' and Crook's acquisition of the theater includes eight acres of Fantasy Harbour property surrounding the building, as well as an option on an additional two and a half acres, on which the couple hopes to build a cafeteria to provide show attendees a chance to buy breakfast before the show.
The Crook and Chase Theater has served as home for everything from Russian circuses to Broadway musicals since its opening in 1994.
The building was originally The Gatlin Brothers Theatre. Brothers Steve, Larry and Rudy Gatlin performed there from September 1994 until December 1998, when they decided to leave the theater to pursue separate projects.
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