Cumberland County Playhouse's 2015 Season to Feature THE WIZARD OF OZ, MARY POPPINS & More

Cumberland County Playhouse's 2015 Golden Anniversary Season features stories of Tennessee, the South, and families, in new comedies and musicals by nationally recognized Tennessee playwrights and songwriters. The Playhouse continues to feature strong local talent, in both new works and great family favorites like The Wizard of Oz and the professional regional premiere of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins. Unlike movies and touring shows, attending a performance at the Playhouse keeps millions of entertainment dollars in the Tennessee economy, creating performance and production jobs and career opportunities!

Tennessee playwrights Lori Fischer, Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler have all written work that's being seen nationwide, which in turn brings dollars back to the Volunteer State. CCP's Golden Anniversary Season opens January 17 with Fischer's musical, Barbara's Blue Kitchen. A graduate of Belmont University, Fischer grew up in Nashville where her father has written songs for the likes of Reba McIntyre. Her plays are licensed by Samuel French, Inc., the oldest and largest theatrical publisher in the world.

Osborne and Eppler have productions of their comedies running across the country, licensed through their own Tennessee company, again keeping those entertainment dollars here at home. Southern Fried Funeral is relatively new, but has had multiple productions nationwide following its initial success at The Barter Theater's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights. Both playwrights live in Nashville, working with Nashville Rep and Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theater. Only CCP is producing Southern Fried in the Middle/East TN region this season.

The Playhouse's 2015 Season:

Barbara's Blue Kitchen (Jan. 17 - March 21, rated PG, Sponsored by Life Care Center of Crossville): In a country diner just outside Nashville, proprietor Barbara Jean serves her customers and shares their hilarious, heartwarming stories. Starring renowned Tennessee actors Patty Payne, Daniel Black and Jason Ross (all 20-year stars of the long-running bluegrass/gospel musical Smoke on the Mountain), who all play multiple roles!

The Wizard of Oz (Jan. 31-Feb 21, rated G, sponsored by Gernt Insurance/Grange Insurance) will brighten the Playhouse Mainstage as director Weslie Webster (Best Christmas Pageant, The Foreigner) leads the remarkable Playhouse kids, teens, volunteers (and professional orchestra) through a dazzling dreamscape designed by Hollywood TV designer Leonard Harman ("Angel," "Stalker"). Harman's breathtaking sets combine with exciting new special effects to take us "Over the Rainbow"!

Southern Fried Funeral (Feb. 27 - April 17, rated PG, sponsored by The Beef & Barrel, The Blind Zebra and Red's Ale House.): Who knew Southern Fried could be so good for you? A big-hearted comedy about family, Southern style - in the spirit of Dearly Departed and The Foreigner!

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash returns by popular demand, once again featuring Kellye Cash, The Man in Black's niece! A foot-stompin', crowd-pleasin' salute to a uniquely American legend that climaxes in a moving, exhilarating concert! (March 27 - June 9, rated PG.)

CCP's Triple Threat Performance Education Department will present its annual youth production on May 1 and 2... 50/50: A celebration of 50 years of Community Collaboration. The students and teachers of the program will celebrate the past fifty years - and look forward to the next fifty - in song and dance!

The Playhouse gets ready for April showers with Singin' In the Rain, the all-singing, all-dancing, showbiz extravaganza! Based on one of the most beloved movies in history, Singin' In The Rain has been described as "one of the best musicals of all time"! (April 24 - July 12, rated G, co-sponsored by Beltone Hearing Aid Center and Dr. Vianney Villaruz, MD Cardiology CMM-CMG.)

The ever-popular Smoke on the Mountain returns for its 22nd season! In 1938 North Carolina, young, enthusiastic Pastor Oglethorpe has asked the Sanders Family to the church's first-ever "Saturday Night Sing." A true audience favorite! (May 22 - Oct. 10, rated G.)

Summer finds everyone's favorite practically perfect nanny flying to the Mainstage in Mary Poppins, a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical adventure! We all can learn a lesson from the nanny who advises, "Anything can happen if you let it." (June 12 - Aug. 16, rated G, sponsored by Plateau Pediatrics.)

CCP's summer continues with the mega-hit A Chorus Line. Winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical...and the Pulitzer Prize, this singular sensation is one of the longest-running Broadway musicals ever! (July 24 - Aug. 28, rated PG-13, co-sponsored by Fairfield Glade Conference Center, Cumberland County Bank and Cameron Sexton.)

What better way to welcome folks to the Golf Capital of Tennessee than with a golf comedy? The Fox on the Fairway is a madcap adventure about love, life, and man's eternal love affair with... golf. With its mistaken identities, slamming doors, and romantic shenanigans, Fox recalls 2013's smash hit, Suite Surrender! (Aug. 6 - Oct. 16, rated PG-13.)

CCP's most requested title, The Foreigner, returns for its 50th Anniversary Season! Once again starring Jason Ross, Carol Irvin and Daniel Black, this wickedly clever farce is outrageously funny! (Sept. 4 - Nov. 5, rated G, co-sponsored by Stanley Bise, MD and Dr. Anthony Wilson.)

From the writers of Seussical and Ragtime comes Once On This Island, a beautiful, award-winning Caribbean musical adventure for the whole family! (Sept. 25 - Nov. 6, rated PG.)

In October, the Playhouse opens the first of three holiday treats! In-Laws, Outlaws, and Other People (Who Should Be Shot) is a wacky new Christmas comedy that's filled with surprises, laughs and Christmas spirit! (Oct. 22 - Dec. 12, rated G, sponsored by Uplands Village.)

The Playhouse is still negotiating the rights for a title that is To Be Announced. This beloved Christmas classic will play on the Mainstage from Nov. 13 to Dec. 19 and is rated G.

A Sanders Family Christmas - The heartwarming sequel to Connie Ray and Alan Bailey's wildly successful bluegrass gospel musical Smoke on the Mountain! Join Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe and the Sanders Family for hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites. (Nov. 20 - Dec. 22, rated G, sponsored by Stonehaus Winery.)

To learn more about these shows, or order a season brochure or season tickets, along with tickets for all shows and concerts, call (931) 484-5000, or visit www.ccplayhouse.com.

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!