A&E: Gospel, Garland and more
“Smoke on the Mountain” belongs-along with “Nunsense,” “Forever Plaid,” and a handful of others-to an interesting phenomenon in contemporary theater: Musicals that don’t have Broadway pedigrees or familiar composers, yet celebrate long, popular runs with group sales and word-of-mouth buoying their box office. Theater artists despise these shows because of their perceived pandering and artlessness. Theater managing directors love them because they bring in the cash. As with many of these populist shows, “Smoke” (currently running at Beef & Boards…