Tom and Dick Smothers as storytellers?

by Rhonda Dedyne

You bet.

Their music and sharp, often satirical humor may be the mechanism that delivers the tale, but weaving stories about families, cultural trends and life in general is what the Smothers Brothers are really all about.

It’s no wonder that coordinators of this year’s fundraiser for the Michigan Story Festival wanted to engage the story-telling brothers for a special show – and are eagerly awaiting the March 1 performance date.

"The Smothers Brothers are classic storytellers," says Darcy Orlik, events coordinator at Central Michigan University’s College of Communication and Fine Arts. "Whether it’s through their music, humor or trademark brotherly interactions they can bring a story to life.

"Incorporating different art forms to tell a story, like the Smothers do, made them the perfect choice for this year’s fundraising event. Their performance style reflects the mission of the story festival – telling stories through thought, image, sound and action."

Area residents will have an opportunity to see that storytelling up close and personal when the Smothers Brothers take the stage at Plachta Auditorium in CMU’s Warriner Hall for the 7 p.m. performance.

They’ll also have a chance to see a comedy duo that made history in the late 1960s – although being fired by a major television network may not be high on the list of most entertainers.

From its debut in February 1967, the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour regularly featured some of the best and brightest musicians and comics of the era. The Emmy award-winning show was known for its sharp-edged comedy that frequently tackled sensitive political and religious topics.

That edgy tone prompted the cancellation of the show in February, 1969 and brought to light the subject of network censorship.

"The most memorable censorship event was when CBS cut out Pete Seeger’s singing of ‘Waist Deep in the Big Muddy’ because a reference in the song to ‘the big fool’ could easily have been construed to be about President Lyndon Johnson," said Mark Poindexter, a faculty member in CMU’s broadcast and cinematic arts department. "Several people remember the censoring of the show by CBS – and the hosts’ continuing comments about it."

Fortunately, the abrupt dismissal from network television did not dim the spirit – or storytelling – of the brothers. They have continued to tour and record and perform at select engagements here and abroad.

"The Smothers Brothers have come highly recommended from venues of varying sizes and have received rave reviews from audiences of all ages," Orlik says. "After entertaining our nation for over four decades, and launching the careers of such major stars as Steve Martin and Rob Reiner, it’s no wonder the Smothers Brothers have been termed an ‘American Classic.’"

Premier seating tickets, which include admission to both the performance and a reception with the Smothers Brothers, cost $100 each. Show-only tickets cost $75, $50, $40, $20 and $10. Tickets purchased in blocks of 20 or more will be discounted by 10 percent.

The event benefits the Michigan Story Festival that is sponsored annually by CMU, the community of Mt. Pleasant and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Named one of the Michigan Humanities Council’s top 30 humanities projects of the past 30 years, the festival enables storytellers to share their tales and life experiences with people of all ages and backgrounds. This year’s festival is Oct. 20-21 in Mt. Pleasant.

"This is a major fundraiser for the story festival," Orlik says. "Since there is no admission charge to the festival, our planning committee is constantly searching for ways to generate funds. New revenue sources are needed so we can continue to bring nationally prominent storytellers, musicians and artists to the mid-Michigan area."

Several area restaurants are also lending their support to the fund-raising effort by offering special "Dinner/Smothers Brothers" promotions. All ticket holders for the Smothers Brothers show can receive a 10 percent discount on meals at The Embers and the Tease Grille, The Brass Café and Saloon, and Mountain Town Station. The discount is good for the day of the show.

Tickets can be purchased at the Central Box Office on the lower level of the Bovee University Center, or by calling (989) 774-3000 or (888) CMU-0111 (toll free).