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'Spotlight on Peter, Paul and Mary' at Camelot Erik Connolly, left, Brianna Gowland, Billy King and Bob Haworth, front, star in Camelot Theatre's "Spotlight on Peter, Paul and Mary," running through June 11. [Photo by Steve Sutfin] Tuesday May 23, 2017 at 9:12 AM May 23, 2017 at 9:12 AM Laurie Heuston Revels Camelot Theatre celebrates folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary with a theatrical biography of music that's as relevant today as it was in the early 1960s. Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers emerged from Greenwich Village's folk boom on the tails of such performers as Pete Seeger and his quartet The Weavers, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Drawing inspiration from those songwriters who had gone before, the trio released a self-titled, debut album of hit songs in 1962 on Warner Bros. Records. It included traditional songs "Early in the Morning" and "This Train," along with Hedy West's "500 Miles," Will Holt's "Lemon Tree," and Seeger's "If I Had a Hammer" and "Where Have all the Flowers Gone?" It was Peter, Paul and Mary's biggest selling studio album. It sat at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 10 for seven weeks, then stayed on the chart for another 10 months. It remained a top-seller for decades, selling millions of copies and earning double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. The success moved the trio to the forefront of social commentary folk music, and the trio went on to record nearly 20 albums with Warner Bros. "The music is timeless," say Presila Quinby, who directs this Camelot showcase.  "They kept their tunes simple so anyone could pick up a guitar and spread their music and their message." "Spotlight on Peter, Paul and Mary" will preview at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 25, or Red Nose Day in America, at Camelot Theatre, 101 Talent Ave., Talent. Preview tickets are $22. British charity Comic Relief was founded in 1985 in response to famine in Ethiopa. It became a global movement set on using comedy to raise money to help kids in need. Since 2015, Red Nose Day in America has raised millions in the global effort to help kids. Official red noses will be given to each ticket holder at Camelot's May 25 performance. A dollar for every red nose will be donated to Comic Relief. Camelot also will make a matching donation to Boys and Girls Club of the Rogue Valley. The show opens Friday, May 26, and runs through June 11. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $26 or $32 and can be purchased at camelotheatre.org or by calling 541-535-5250. The show will feature singers Erik Connolly, Brianna Gowland and Billy King. Bob Haworth of The Brothers Four and The Kingston Trio fame will narrate the show and play guitar, banjo and harmonica. Additional accompaniment will be played by guitarist Matt Stuart and acoustic bassist Peter Koerella. Along with Peter, Paul and Mary's songs, look for Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land," Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changin,'" Stokie's "I Dig Rock 'n' Roll" and Yarrow's "Puff the Magic Dragon," along with songs written by Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver and Tom Paxton. Haworth — who joined The Kingston Trio after guitarist Nick Reynolds retired in 1999 — appeared on television and at folk festivals and revivals with Peter, Paul and Mary. "We knew each other as colleagues and friends," Haworth says. "We did TV shows, folk tours and revivals together during the '80s. It's fun to learn more about their lives now." Haworth spent more than 40 years working as a folk and pop musician after graduating from Medford High School in 1965. He will return to Camelot Theatre in 2018 to perform in "Spotlight on The Kingston Trio." Andi Slavin is writer of "Spotlight on Peter, Paul and Mary." She also penned Camelot's spotlights on Elton John and Barry Manilow. Dal Carver is music director. Sound and video is by Brian O'Connor and lighting by Jenell Ragsdale.