Jake Delaney

1776 has declared its position at The Alhambra Theatre and Dining. The Tony nominated show tells the story of the drafting of the Declaration of Independence between May and July of 1776. Anyone who has taken a history class will recognize the iconic characters, such as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and many more. It is a joy to watch the story so many know appear in front of their eyes by the incredible cast.

Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? has opened at the Alhambra in Jacksonville. The show follows a group of eight students who grow up in catholic school. The audience will experience a show that has many elements they can relate to, such as elementary school crushes, being picked on, dating in high school, or prom catastrophes.

Sierra Repertory Theatre will delight it's audiences this summer with Disney's Beauty and the Beast, one of modern musical theatre's biggest hits. Based on the classic 1991 Disney animated film, this theatrical telling celebrates the Academy Award-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and is expanded with soaring new melodies that enchants audiences of all ages. With a book by Linda Woolverton, it's everything to love about the film and more in a stage spectacular. The independent Belle, trapped in her provincial town, finds her life turned upside down when she takes her father's place as a captive in an enchanted castle ruled by an angry Beast. With help from the creatures in the castle and her own kindheartedness, Belle finds the prince inside the Beast and works to break the curse on the mysterious castle and all of its inhabitants. A fantastically enjoyable adventure, this classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters and dazzling production numbers, including: "Be Our Guest" and the beloved title song.

Sierra Repertory Theatre will delight audiences of all ages this summer with Disney's Beauty and the Beast, one of modern musical theatre's biggest hits. Based on the classic 1991 Disney animated film, this theatrical telling celebrates the Academy Award-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and is expanded with soaring new melodies that enchants audiences of all ages. It's everything to love about the film and more in a stage spectacular. The independent Belle, trapped in her provincial town, finds her life turned upside down as she takes her father's place as a captive in an enchanted castle ruled by an angry Beast. With help from the creatures in the castle and her own kindheartedness, Belle finds the prince inside the Beast and works to break the magic that permeates the mysterious castle and all of its inhabitants. A fantastically enjoyable adventure, this classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters and dazzling production numbers, including: "Be Our Guest" and the beloved title song.

Bristol Riverside Theatre ends its mainstage season triumphantly with the farcical period-piece musical Triumph of Love, based on the play by Marivaux, with book by James Magruder, music by Jeffrey Stock, and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead on May 1-20. Directed by Keith Baker, music directed by Douglass Lutz, and choreographed by Stephen Casey, the ensemble cast features Jake Delaney, Joy Franz, Adam Hoyak, Alex Keiper, Rebecca Robbins, Danny Rutigliano, and Carl Wallnau.

In the 1940's When cartoonist Charles Addams created his single-panel gag cartoons, which depicted a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things macabre, even his crystal ball did not predict the future influence his characters would have. While he published more than 1300 cartoons for publications including The New Yorker, TV Guide and Harper's Bizarre, the evolution of those who became known as The Addams Family landed on TV, movies and on Broadway. The Addams Family musical will open October 4 at the iconic Alhambra Theatre and Dining in Jacksonville, Florida and run through November 12.

Sierra Repertory Theatre opens its 38th season with the feel-good musical comedy Sister Act. Based on the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film, the show features music by Tony- and eight-time Oscar winner, Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors).

Sierra Repertory Theatre opens its 38th season with the feel-good musical comedy Sister Act. Based on the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film, the show features music by Tony- and eight-time Oscar winner, Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors).

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show. Thus, we are happy to present a new feature: The Nashville Theater Calendar, a comprehensive - maybe even exhaustive (lord knows we're exhausted from putting it together, gathering all the info from all over the interwebs!) - listing of theatrical openings for the 2015/16 season. We'll update the calendar every Monday, clearing out the shows that have closed and adding additional information on the shows still to come. Something's missing? That's an easy fix: just send us a message here, on Facebook, or by email at jeffreyellis37215@att.com.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

The ultimate 'Singular Sensation,' A Chorus Line, will dance its way onto Playhouse Mainstage this summer, beginning tonight, July 24.

Theater in Tennessee has never been busier nor has it been more diverse than what you'll find onstage this weekend throughout the Volunteer State. From frothy and fun summer musicals that are sure to make you think - like All Shook Up at Chaffin's Barn and A Chorus Line at Cumberland County Playhouse - to new plays from Shawn Whitsell (his latest, Songs For Our Sons, premieres at Darkhorse Theatre on Friday night) and emerging playwright Che Pieper (his new script based on the book The Man With the Light in His Window debuts at The Theater Bug this weekend)…the magic of live theater is all around you…even in this heat and humidity! So pull your seersucker suits and sundresses out of the closet, get all gussied up and make your way to the relative cool of a darkened theater for some midsummer magic!

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

And Sondra Morton, Jayme Smith and co. (that would be Act Too) stages their company's latest work at the historic Franklin Theatre - The Sound of Music - starring Kimberly Rye as Maria, Cameron Bortz as Rolf and the inimitable Matt Baugher as Georg Von Trapp. Check it out!

The ultimate "Singular Sensation," A Chorus Line, will dance its way onto Playhouse Mainstage this summer, beginning July 24. This groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is for anyone who has ever put it all on the line, whether for a dream, for attention, for approval, or for love. The show follows 17 would-be dancers in their quest to make the cut for a new Broadway musical. It's what they've worked for - with every drop of sweat, every hour of training, every day of their lives - for the chance to do what they've always dreamed of. One by one, they come forward to share the stories of their lives, putting themselves on the line to get a job in the line. When they're done, so is the audition; and only eight will remain. Winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Score and Book, A Chorus Line is a brilliantly complex fusion of dance, song and compellingly authentic drama, filled with dazzling songs like "I Hope I Get It," "At the Ballet," "What I Did for Love" and "One."

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

There are four new shows opening in the Middle Tennessee area this weekend, along with several other shows continuing their runs - Nobody's Perfect at Chaffin's Barn, KB Productions' The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, Mary Poppins and Smoke on the Mountain at Cumberland County Playhouse, along with the final performance of Singin' in the Rain - so there's plenty of theater to keep you entertained through a hot July weekend. It's that time of year, so go have some fun!

Summer's theater lull has come to an end and Nashville/Tennessee audiences have a plethora of new openings to choose from iin the next fews days, leading to the season's busiest flush of new shows and productions. Whether it's a relatively new musical based on a fun film, the controversial revival of one of the late 20th century's most iconic musicals or the Nashville premiere of a new film starring some of the region's best known and most talented actors -- there's a lot of good stuff to be seen inside a theater...

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.