Jesse Dayton tapped to play the legendary Kinky Friedman in upcoming play…
STAG RECORDS
Posted On February 2, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AUSTIN’S OWN HONKY TONKER JESSE DAYTON TAPPED TO PLAY KINKY FRIEDMAN IN UPCOMING BECOMING KINKY:THE WORLD ACCORDING TO KINKY FRIEDMAN
FEBRUARY 1, 2011 -Jesse Dayton is truly fulfilling his role of jack of all trades with his latest accomplishment, being tapped to play the lead role of Kinky Friedman in Becoming Kinky: The World According to Kinky Friedman. Written by New York author Ted Swindley, whose credits include the long-running musical Always … Patsy Cline, the script is described by Dayton as “Hilarious, I died laughing reading it,” he says.
Swindley attended the auditions for the role, which were held in Houston. “They did the auditions here because they wanted a Texas accent and someone who could sing the songs,” Dayton says. “So I did some of the monologue and also sang ‘They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore.’” Jesse was offered the role immediately. The shows will start in Houston to work out the kinks (pun intended), “then we’ll see what happens with taking it to New York.”
Dayton, whose latest album One For the Dancehalls is climbing up the Americana and Roots Music charts since its release last month has been steadily garnering critical acclaim. Nick Cristiano from the Philadelphia Inquirer states, “Jesse Dayton is the most dynamic country-rocker to come out of Texas since Joe Ely.” While Kelly Dearmore from The Squaker says, “Dayton’s drawl lays itself on top of pedal steel and fiddle in a way that send your toe well beyond simple tapping and into the realm of full-on boot stomping.” National airplay on Sirius/XM’s “Outlaw Country” and “Willie’s Place,” KEXP/Seattle, KPFT/Houston , KRFC/Ft. Collins and KVET/Austin are all adding to the national awareness of this Texas gem. Jesse has also appeared on We Are Austin Live and Good Day Austin with scheduled appearances on KXAN’s News at Noon and Great Day Houston in the coming weeks. A coveted Daytrotter session will be recorded next week.
Dayton was bit by the acting bug after appearing as undead rockabilly singer Captain Clegg in Rob Zombie’s Halloween II in 2009 and released the quasi-self-titled album Captain Clegg & the Night Creatures to go along with the film. He also toured the country with Rob Zombie as Clegg. Dayton recently starred in an independent Austin movie, The Sinner, which is currently creating a buzz while being shopped in Los Angeles.
Becoming Kinky: The World According to Kinky Friedman will debut March 28 – 31, with 5 shows including a matinee at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck in Houston, TX. A portion of every ticket sold will be donated to Friedman’s Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch charity.
Houston socialite Carolyn Farb, who was a supporter of Friedman’s gubernatorial campaign, is one of the producers of the play along with Ted Swindley of Ted Swindley Productions, Michelle Clark and MJ Wilson Emig of LanfourProductions.
(Thanks to Wm. Michael Smith for the quotes from his Houston Press Blog)
