“TOE ROASTER”
An Original, yet hilarious, Musical-Play
by Bryan Kennedy
Toe Roaster is an original play-musical involving three normal guys.
Modern-day cowboys of sorts, they fight to reconcile in their own
minds the struggle between their own priorities and modern day ills.
Laced with humor and music, Hamlet, Chuck and Big Daddy spend time
telling tall tales, reminiscing, and philosophizing. They deal with
everything from how to ultimately please a woman, why everyone seems
to be ‘up at Wal Marts’, cell phones, swimming with sea creatures,
and finally world peace.
Toe Roaster was written by Bryan Kennedy out of a desire to share his personal experiences sitting around a campfire. Bryan first performed around a faux campfire while opening up for Garth Brooks from 1996 – 1997, but Toe Roaster is much different!
Bryan Kennedy, as “Chuck” in the Toe Roaster, is a man with
personality plus. He rides a motorcycle, dates too many women at
once, and produces a laugh a minute. He’s always up for a good time,
and is always ready to tell a tall tale. The other members of the
Toe Roaster clan have a hard time taking him seriously, yet cannot
seem to get enough of him. He’s the clown of the bunch, and also the
one that will make you think…about how good you really have it in
life.
Wynn Varble, as “Hamlet,” is the show opener. He is a very ‘original
character’ having been the first to come of with various clichés.
He’s a man with simple pleasures, and a humorous outlook on life. He
keeps Chuck in check, and has been his best friend for life. They
have sat around hundreds of Toe Roasters over the years, and have
explored life to its fullest. Hamlet is married, and although he
loves his wife, he finds if difficult to deal with the interruption
she brings to the Toe Roaster in calling his cell phone.
Troy Jones plays “Big Daddy” in the Toe Roaster. Shortly into the
performance, you see the reason he is called Big Daddy is because
his real name, John Don John is confusing to people. Big Daddy is a
tractor mechanic that has happened up on to Hamlet and Chuck during
the Toe Roaster, and finds his place among the other two quickly.
Big Daddy is an introverted, yet funny, man who reveals unsuspecting
skeletons in his closet as the night wears on, which makes for
hilarious commentary.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE PLAYERS/WRITERS
Bryan Kennedy
Bryan Kennedy revels from a family of music industry
influencers. His father, Jerry Kennedy, was a pioneer in country
music, while running Mercury Records – Nashville for over 20 years.
While at Mercury, Jerry worked with artists such as Roger Miller,
Reba McIntyre, Johnny Rodriguez, the Statler Brothers, and Tom T.
Hall to name a few. In addition, he also was an accomplished
musician in his own right, and played on records for such artists as
Bob Dylan, Ringo Star, and Roy Orbison.
Bryan’s brother, Gordon, is an accomplished songwriter/performer,
with album cuts on some of today’s top-selling records, including
Eric Clapton’s “Change the World” which won a Grammy for “Song of
the Year” in 1996.
Shelby, the little brother of the Kennedy clan, has also made a mark
in Nashville working for ASCAP. He also served as a key A&R man for
Lyric Street records. Some of the artists he has directed
are Aaron Tippin, Rascal Flatts, SheDaisy, and Sonja Isaacs. Shelby currently works with BMI in Nashville, Tennessee.
Bryan Kennedy has written nine hits that appear on numerous Garth
Brooks records, including three #1 radio hits, "Good Ride Cowboy", “Beaches of Cheyenne,”
and “American Honky Tonk Bar Association.” In addition, Bryan opened
up for Garth Brooks performing many of the songs heard in Toe
Roaster, from 1996 – 1998.
Some of Bryan’s other cuts include;
Garth Brooks- “Cowboy Cadillac”
“The Old Stuff”
“Rodeo or Mexico”
“The Fever”
"Cowgirl's Saddle"
"Meet Me In Love"
Deryl Dodd – “Thirty-Thirty”
Rick Trevino- “I Want a Girl in a Pick-up Truck”
The Derailers - "I Love Me Some Elvis”
Wynn Varble
Wynn Varble, who plays "Hamlet" in the Cod Roaster, is a key
songwriter in Nashville. Several of his songs heard in Cod Roaster
are also heard on the records of other national recording artists
such as Brad Paisley and Garth Brooks. Wynn's biggest song writing
credit to date would have to be the song "Have You Forgotten," which
he wrote with Daryl Worley. This song was number one on the country
music charts for seven weeks.
Some of Wynn's other cuts include:
"I Feel Like I'm Forgotten' Somethin'" - Leanne Womack, I Hope You
Dance
“When the Wheels Are Coming Off" - Leanne Womack, I Hope You Dance
"Waiting On A Woman"
"Ain't Nothin' Like" (heard in Toe Roaster) - Brad Paisley
"Self Made Man" - Montgomery Gentry
"Big Money" - Garth Brooks, Scarecrow
Troy Jones
Troy, “Big Daddy,” has been a successful songwriter for over
10 years. He has written many songs as a staff writer for Polygram/Universal,
Mosaic Music, and currently writes for Carnival Music. Troy has
recently written a song for country music star Joe Nichols entitled
"The Shade Comes Free With The Tree". Most recently Troy has written Kenney Chesney's self acclaimed favorite song on "The Road and the Radio" CD entitled "Like Me". Troy is the only member of the
clan that currently doesn’t live in Nashville, Tennessee…Troy
resides in L.A….Lower Alabama, with his wife two daughters Brittany,
Lindsay, and son Adam.
