Street Theatre Company Moves to East Nashville School for 10th Anniversary Season

Street Theatre Company, one of Nashville's preeminent professional theaters, has left their Elm Hill Pike home of the last four years to partner with Bailey STEM Magnet Middle Prep School in East Nashville. The company is now in residence at Bailey, and will be performing its 10th Anniversary Season (which consists of four mainstage productions and two children's productions) in the school's intimate auditorium.

The company has been upgrading the auditorium into a performance venue worthy of its typically bold, innovative productions. STC's 2015 Season begins with the Broadway smash hit Memphis, a musical known for its epic dance numbers, and with a cast of 25 and a two-story set built by Caleb Burke, the company promises that its premier show on its new stage will not disappoint STC's well-earned fans.

Being in residence at a school is not without its drawbacks, however. The company has become known for its Opening Night receptions featuring wine donated by Woodland Wine Merchant, its Pride Night wine receptions sponsored by Tribe Nashville, and especially BYOB policy, but being in a school will makes for some changes. STC will continue its Opening Night and Pride Night receptions, just without the wine.

"We're hoping our patrons visit some of the fantastic local East Nashville establishments to wet their whistles and talk about the compelling show they just saw!" laughs Jess Miller, STC's Board President. "Partnering with Bailey has helped us accomplish some of our long term goals: our goal to be in East Nashville, our goal to offer accessible theater to everyone (every seat is pay-what-you-can this season), and our goal to enrich the lives of children with the joy and complexity of the performing arts! That is what counts the most!"

Truly, the new location of the bustling, hip East Nashville neighborhood is a dream come true for Street Theatre Company's Founder and Artistic Director, Cathy Street. She has long held a passion for bringing arts education to young people. In addition to being part of the company's mission statement ("to provide arts education to children of all ages, and to foster a new generation of theater arts participants and supporters"), STC boasts a wide variety of offerings for area youth, including workshops and classes, two annual youth productions, and sexual abuse prevention and anti-bullying programs in underprivileged schools via its ClassAct Dramatics program. Now, in a true realization of that passion, Cathy Street has brought a first-time performing arts program to Bailey Middle.

"It's hard to capture in words my gratitude and the scope of her impact," confesses Bailey principal Christian Sawyer. "The partnership between Street Theatre and Bailey STEM Magnet Middle Prep is nothing short of transformational. Time and time again, our scholars come up to me and share how excited they are to learn from Cathy, who tirelessly commit[s] herself to the children in our school and building the vision we share for a strong arts program. Just the other day, our fifth grade scholars eagerly invited me to listen to their script reading of an upcoming performance Cathy is directing. I was profoundly moved by the level of focus and skill they demonstrated in their reading, a moment that reflected a whole new world of creative expression and dramatic skills development Cathy has opened up in our scholars' education...As principal, I thank my lucky stars each day I walk past her classroom and see the magic of her teaching coming alive with our scholars!"

In turn, Cathy Street has been amazed by what she has seen in Dr. Sawyer's work at Bailey. "He is a truly incredible leader at the school," she quotes. "He is passionate about education and the arts, and realizes the overwhelming value arts provide to young people. The partnership with Bailey exists because of his innovative vision and pioneer spirit, and Street Theatre is grateful for the partnership."

Another first for the school, Bailey will offer two student shows this spring, produced and directed by Cathy Street and two other performing artists. In addition, Street is offering free preview performance tickets to Memphis for Bailey student families.

"Cathy is too humble to admit it, but I see the transformational impact her selfless devotion is having in young people's lives," says Principal Sawyer. "They [are] discover[ing] newfound confidence and dreams for their futures through their rich experience in her performing arts class."

Now in its 10th year, Street Theatre Company's 2015 Season begins March 13 with the Tony Award-winning Memphis. All tickets, including season subscriptions, are pay-what-you-can, and can be purchased by visiting streettheatrecompany.org or by calling (615) 554-7414.