On Saturday, April 14th, at 7:30 p.m., the Monroe Arts Center (MAC) presents the theater performance, 6 Guitars.  Starring actor and musician Chase Padgett, 6 Guitars is a pitch perfect blend of a play, music, comedy, and characters in a single one-man show.  From an 87-year-old blues man to a 20-year-old rock-star wannabe, from an intellectual jazz aficionado to an earthy country-and-western picker, well-trained Spanish classicist, and sincere folk singer/activist, Padgett delivers a delivers a virtuosic performance as he transforms himself into each of the six different guitar-playing characters. 

On stage with only a chair, a drink, a single electric guitar, and amplifier, Padgett creates a captivating story that intertwines the distinctive personalities and preferred genres of these six fictional guitarists, all characterized with keen observation, humor, and heart.  As Padgett morphs himself into each character, he does so with split-second transitions, fluidly changing his speech patterns and accents, distinguishing his vocals and musical stylings, and affecting different facial expressions, hand gestures, and physical demeanors.  As the varied guitarists address the audience directly, they deliver hilarious and personal anecdotes about “what we play and why we play,” with each character performing samples of the music and songs they love. 

Co-written by Chase Padgett and Jay Hopkins, 6 Guitars doesn’t just showcase Padgett’s brilliant musicianship and singing, it also highlights his acting, comedic, and ad-libbing skills, along with his profound love and understanding of the essence of six musical styles in which the guitar has traditionally been a centerpiece. 

“The real X-factor of the piece, so to speak, is the audience members that I’m interacting with on a show-to-show basis,” comments Padgett.  He continues, “The music and the genre really just becomes the medium to celebrate the individual who is experiencing the show at that time.  And I do think that audience interaction is a huge part of it, because it’s one of those few times where live performance will always hold sway and advantage over any pre-recorded medium.” 

Padgett graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and has been a full-time actor and musician ever since.  He provided various roles at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and the SAK Comedy Theatre in Orlando, Florida, as an actor, improviser, and musician.  When not touring he resides in Portland, Oregon, where he can be seen working in various roles with the Curious Comedy Theatre. 

Reserved seat tickets are $25, $20 for adults, and $10 for students 18 and under.  Tickets may be purchased at the box office located at 1315 11th Street, by calling (608) 325-5700, or online at monroeartscenter.com.