James Rudolph II News

Captivating, heartwarming, colorful, imaginative and down-right magical, Nashville Children’s Theatre’s world premiere production – it’s 19th in the past few years since executive artistic director Ernie Nolan’s arrival – of the theatre for young audiences version of Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo is just the latest theatrical hit from the venerable Nashville institution.

Join Kindling Arts for their second annual fundraiser, THE DISCO BALL this month. Learn more about the event and see how to become involved!

Thanks to Andrew Maraniss’ best-selling book Strong Inside – adapted for the stage by Tyrone L. Robinson – Wallace’s storied basketball career in the Southeastern Conference and the details of his upbringing in the segregated South are now brought vividly to life onstage in a history-making production from NCT, the third-oldest theater for younger audiences in the United States. Founded in 1931 by members of the Junior League of Nashville, there can be no denying that NCT, like its hometown itself and one of its favorite sons (Wallace), has been reflective of the growing diversity of its people and the evolution of its cultural and educational institutions.

Among attributes audience members have come to expect from a Nashville Children’s Theatre production – fired by significant amounts of imagination and enough creativity to empower the minds of every youngster who has ever been introduced to the transformative power of live theater by the artists of NCT – are unique approaches to live performance, replete with stunning visuals, the casting of actors who look like their young audiences, and refreshingly new and exciting concepts that breathe new life in ages-old tales.

Wendy Kesselman’s new adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank – which is based upon the acclaimed 1955 play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and is an update of her 1997 script which has been widely produced since – is given a superb world premiere production by Nashville Children’s Theatre, which adds luster to the original work and makes it more accessible to contemporary audiences in director Ernie Nolan’s new iteration onstage through October 2.

for two performances only, April 24-25. Among the collaborators are playwright River Timms, rock band Fable Cry, choreographer Lenin Fernandez, and actor James Rudolph II.

Welcoming audiences to an NCT production for the first time in 16 months – albeit outside and away from its traditional theater space in downtown Nashville and relocated to a working farm west of Nashville – Nolan and his team have crafted the best possible production to herald the company’s reemergence. Presented just in time to celebrate its 90th season, Charlotte’s Web exemplifies the best of NCT (which has a much-deserved and altogether stellar reputation the world over) with a sustained sense of creativity and unbridled imagination.

Outrageously camp and deliriously fun – what more can you expect from a pandemic-shattering original musical called Sloppy Bonnie? – but are we so blinded by the pure joy of the return to live theater (albeit in a parking lot, however spacious it may be) that we are forgiving of the stereotypes and cliches that abound in Krista Knight’s script and Barry Brinegar’s music.

No Puppet Co. has announced new performance dates for their streaming World Premiere of Sloppy Bonnie, a roadkill musical for the modern chick created by playwright Krista Knight and composer Barry Brinegar and directed by Leah Lowe.

Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville today announced the run for its upcoming performance, Sloppy Bonnie, presented in association with Vanderbilt University Theatre, has been extended through June 5, 2021 in response to overwhelming demand.

No Puppet Co. will present the streaming World Premiere of Sloppy Bonnie, a roadkill musical for the modern chick created by playwright Krista Knight and composer Barry Brinegar and directed by Leah Lowe.

Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville today announced it will host three captivating shows in-person in May and June 2021. Presentations include short film screenings by Defy Film Festival and Kindling Arts Festival from May 7-8; roadkill musical Sloppy Bonnie from May 20-29 and more.