Joe Jackson — The Community Musical

For the fourth consecutive year, the Ford Center will play host to Oxford’s community musical, a community-led production that takes place one weekend in June. Joe Jackson, who has been part of the show each year, is director and choreographer for this year’s show, “State Fair,” which takes place June 26 and 27. Tickets are available at olemiss.edu/fordcenter.

Q: What makes the community musical special and different from other performances at the Ford Center?

A: The community musical is special because it not only highlights the amazing talents of our Oxford community members, but it brings them all together in a unique experience to share, learn and grow our love of the arts. We have over 70 individuals contributing their time and passion both on stage and off helping to bring this production to our town this summer. I think that is a beautiful example of collaboration and community.

Q: You’ve been involved in the show each of the four years it’s been produced. What has been your favorite role?

A: Well, I can’t say any one has been better than the next. I’ve been so fortunate to have been trusted to step into different aspects of each show every summer, and they each have had their own unique highlights. Being able to perform in “Oklahoma” as Will Parker opposite my amazing wife, Amy Jackson, as Ado Annie was special, but so was watching my son, Owen Jackson, perform the bottle dance last year in “Fiddler on the Roof.” This year, I get to step into the role of director on a show that I am very close to, since I played both Wayne and Pat in professional productions years ago. So, each year and each production has been so special, and I am grateful to Julia Aubrey and the Ford Center for giving me these opportunities.

Q: What has been the most fun/interesting/surprising thing about participating in these productions?

A: The most fun thing has been the connections with the casts, such as reconnecting with past friends like Adam Griffith, who I was in undergrad with, but also making wonderful new friendships with people like Brad and Alice Anne Light and Brooke and Michael Worthy. It has also been great to perform alongside my current and former students from our program. Not only is it very cool, but I hope it is beneficial for them to see the work of a professional actor.

Q: How many hours of rehearsals does the cast (and crew) put in leading up to the show?

A: The cast started rehearsals Tuesday, May 26, and will rehearse six days a week until we perform on June 26 and 27. They will total around 100 hours, and the crew will join us closer to the technical rehearsals and will total roughly 50 hours by the end of the run. But the creative team has been meeting and working on the show since last November, and I personally have probably put in 100 hours leading up to rehearsals with all the prep work required.

Q: What can people expect from this year’s show, “State Fair”?

A: This year, our community should expect a fun-filled night of singing and dancing, as they follow the Frake family on a rollercoaster of emotions at the Iowa State Fair. Full of laughter and romance, the story takes some unexpected twists and turns, and our audiences will get a front-row seat to all the action!