Rachel Beth Jackson

To know Rachel Beth Jackson is to love her: With a heart as big as all outdoors, she's kind, thoughtful and considerate - attributes that will continue to serve her well as she pursues her lifelong dream of becoming a professional actress. A 2013 First Night Most Promising Actor, she first came to our attention in performances in her hometown of Dickson with The Renaissance Players, the community theatre group that has helped young actors pursue their creative dreams for year

Inspired by BroadwayWorld.com's Friday Six, welcome to BroadwayWorld Nashville's latest installment of The Friday Five: five questions designed to help you learn more about the talented people you'll find onstage throughout the Volunteer state. Today, we introduce you to four actors who will have entertain you beginning tonight in Shrek the Musical, directed by First Night Star Award winner Kate Adams for Dickson's The Renaissance Players.

Bawdy, irreverent, perhaps even unhinged: What better way to describe Midwinter's First Night? Held Sunday night at Backstage at the Barn, the intimate cabaret theater at Nashville's iconic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, the slightly offbeat, decidedly more casual younger sibling of The First Night Honors focused on the fun, while honoring some of Middle Tennessee's best and brightest with First Night Awards.

It's back and it's this Sunday, January 11: Midwinter's First Night, aka The First Night Honors' misbehavin' younger sibling, will feature fun, frivolities, special performances, food and drinks, the presentation of The BWW Nashville Awards and, of course, the awarding of First Night's Best of 2014 honors. Sly, irreverent and slightly decadent, Midwinter's First Night will be held at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, Nashville's iconic theatrical venue since 1964.

Although it seems hard to believe, Thanksgiving is this Thursday and as we reflect on the people, places and things that have made us truly happy this year and makes us most thankful, in general, we're also considering what things theatrical for which we are especially grateful in 2014.

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' roundup. Today's photos come from the casts of BEAUTIFUL, THE BOOK OF MORMON, KINKY BOOTS, BIG FISH, Paper Mill's OLIVER!, the national tours of ELF, WHITE CHRISTMAS, EVITA, OC Gay Men's Chorus' SNOWY WHITE CHRISTMAS and more!

Something's afoot at various Nashville area and Tennessee theaters this summer with all sorts of fun and frivolity being served up for audiences. Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre offers its sparkling revival of Fiddler On The Roof, starring Derek Whittaker and Debbie Kraski, while at Dickson's Renaissance Center, the Renaissance Players presents its new production of Bye Bye Birdie, starring Carl Blunt, Michelle Valenti, Marilyn Fair and Brad Burns. Meanwhile, up in Clarksville-at The Roxy Regional Theatre-audiences are enjoying 101 Dalmatians Jr. The Musical, featuring favorite Ryan Bowie in the role of a lifetime: Cruella DeVille.

Hosted by Jennifer Richmond and Trey Palmer, First Night, the Nashville Theater Honors Gala was preceded by the Red Carpet Event just before the tribute concert on a rainy Sunday, September 4, at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre.