The unforgettable Singing Sanders Family is back this summer to let their fans know what happened next in their sequel, Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming. Featuring more bluegrass Gospel singing and heartwarming stories and hilarious antics in a way only the Sanders Family can present them, Homecoming is now on stage at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre through Aug. 16.

The story continues in 1945 – seven years after the Sanders Family first came to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church for a Saturday Night Sing. The impending changes are as big as the new 10-gallon hat Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe is sporting after being called to preach in Texas. It's his last service before he leaves with his wife June, who is eight months pregnant. A nervous Dennis Sanders is to take over as the pastor at Mount Pleasant and his twin sister Denise has brought her rambunctious young twins to the service – what could go wrong? Times have changed and so have the circumstances for the Sanders Family, but some things – like the great Gospel music and touching tales – are back, and better than ever.

Beef & Boards' production welcomes the return of original cast members John Vessels as the Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe, Sarah Hund as June Sanders, Bob Payne as Burl Sanders and Pam Pendleton as Vera Sanders. Brian Gunter returns as Stanley Sanders, while newcomers Christina Rahn and Will Boyajian play the twins, Denise and Dennis Sanders, respectively.

The audience plays the role of the congregation, so come join the fold and the fun!

Directed by Jeff Stockberger, Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming is on stage for 46 performances through Aug. 16 in the intimate space of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Tickets range from $40 to $65 and include Chef Odell Ward's dinner buffet, prepared in-house for each performance, and select beverages. Parking is always free.

For reservations, call the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays. Discounts are available to groups of 20 or more; contact the Group Sales Department for more details.

For more information, including complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, Indiana's only year-round professional dinner theatre, has been serving up exceptional entertainment since 1973.

Fact Sheet

WHAT: Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming
Written by Connie Ray, conceived by Alan Bailey.
Musical arrangements by Mike Craver.


WHEN: July 9 – Aug. 16, 2015

Weekday/Saturday Evenings
Doors open at 6 p.m.; Buffet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Show at 8 p.m.
July: 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31
August: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Weekday Matinees
Doors open at 11 a.m.; Buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Show at 1 p.m.
July: 9, 15, 22, 29
August: 5, 6, 12, 13

Sunday Evenings
Doors open at 5 p.m.; Buffet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Show at 7 p.m.
July: 12, 19, 26
August: 2, 9

Saturday/Sunday Matinees
Doors open at noon; Buffet from 12:15 to 1 p.m.; Show at 1:30 p.m.
July: 12, 19, 26
August: 2, 9, 16

WHO: Director: Jeff Stockberger Musical Director: Kristy Templet
Costume Design: Jill Kelly
Set Design: Michael Layton
Lighting Design: Ryan Koharchik
Starring: John Vessels as Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe, Sarah Hund as June Sanders, Bob Payne as Burl Sanders, Pam Pendleton as Vera Sanders, Brian Gunter as Stanley Sanders, Christina Rahn as Denise Sanders, Will Boyajian as Dennis Sanders.

WHERE: Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
9301 N. Michigan Rd., Indianapolis, 46268

TICKETS: Available by calling the Box Office at 317.872.9664 between 10 a.m. & 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays. Tickets range from $40 to $65 and include Chef Odell Ward's dinner buffet, fruit & salad bar, and select beverages. Group rates available.

WEB SITE: For more information or show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

Everything You'll Need: The Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe (John Vessels), center, sings "Everything You'll Need" with the Singing Sanders Family (from left) Burl Sanders (Bob Payne), June Sanders (Sarah Hund), Dennis Sanders (Will Boyajian), Vera Sanders (Pam Pendleton), Dennis Sanders (Brian Gunter) and Denise Sanders Culpepper (Christina Rose Rahn) in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming. This sequel in the popular bluegrass gospel series is on stage through Aug. 16. Tickets include Chef Odell Ward's dinner buffet.

June upset with Mervin: June Sanders, now Mrs. Oglethorpe and eight months pregnant, berates her husband the Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe (John Vessels) in her unique sign language for having gone to the Blue Nose Tavern the night before in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming. This sequel in the popular bluegrass gospel series is on stage through Aug. 16. Tickets include Chef Odell Ward's dinner buffet.

Sporting a new cowboy hat and boots for the occasion, the Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe (John Vessels) prepares to travel to Texas where he's been called to preach in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming. This sequel in the popular bluegrass gospel series is on stage through Aug. 16. Tickets include Chef Odell Ward's dinner buffet.

Sporting his new boots and cowboy hat, the Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe (John Vessels), center, sings "Roundup in the Sky" with the Singing Sanders Family (from left), Denise Sanders Culpepper (Christina Rose Rahn), Burl Sanders (Bob Payne), Dennis Sanders (Brian Gunter), Dennis Sanders (Will Boyajian) and June Sanders Oglethorpe (Sarah Hund) in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming. This sequel in the popular bluegrass gospel series is on stage through Aug. 16. Tickets include Chef Odell Ward's dinner buffet.