Jason Ross News

Actors Bridge Ensemble's acclaimed production of Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves and Cumberland County Playhouse's rendition of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street were named as the top shows of the year during Midwinter's First Night, the annual tribute to theater in Tennessee, held at Nashville's The Larry Keeton Theatre last Sunday night, January 13. Photographer Rae Lynn Whetzel-Stickney captured many of the night's biggest moments with her camera, which are shared on BroadwayWorld Nashville today.

Actors Bridge Ensemble's critically acclaimed production of Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves and Cumberland County Playhouse's stunning mounting of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street were named as the top shows of the year during Midwinter's First Night, the annual tribute to theater in Tennessee, held at Nashville's The Larry Keeton Theatre Sunday night, January 13.

Performances from productions of director Brian Jones' Avenue Q, for Nashville's Circle Players - Middle Tennessee's oldest community theater organization - and Center for the Arts' Newsies, directed by 2019 Theaterati of the Year nominee Mark David Williams, are among highlights of next Sunday's Midwinter's First Night - Celebrating 30 Years in Nashville.

It's almost impossible to put into words just how amazing the year of 2018 has been for A State Of Trance and Trance music as a whole. After drawing over 70 million listeners to the live broadcast of the previous year mix, Armin van Buuren built on the momentum by hosting several phenomenal ASOT events in places such as Utrecht in the Netherlands, Melbourne in Australia, Gliwice in Poland and more, and spoiling his listeners with loads of new, exciting Trance & Progressive tunes every single week. And now, it's time to capture all of those moments in an album so carefully crafted it took 60 hours to complete: 'A State Of Trance Year Mix 2018 (Mixed by Armin van Buuren)'.

In anticipation of the gala 30th anniversary celebration of The First Night Awards, Tennessee's best and brightest in live theater were revealed tonight as First Night's Top Ten of 2018 - reviewer and critic Jeffrey Ellis' annual recognition for theater in the Volunteer State - were announced during a Facebook Live presentation from Nashville.

What better way to leave behind the turmoil of the modern world than by indulging in a bright, shiny new musical burnished with the warm glow of nostalgia and featuring a score by the inimitable Irving Berlin? We can't imagine anything more fun - or more timely, for that matter - than a couple of hours or more spent in the audience of Cumberland County Playhouse to experience the company's latest musical treat: Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn.

Fog comes billowing out over the footlights, bringing with it a pervasive sense of foreboding that sets the tone for the next three hours of what is - without any fear of exaggeration - the most satisfying theatrical experience of 2018. Eye-poppingly gorgeous, with a design aesthetic that's perfectly wedded to the source material provided by composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and book writer Hugh Wheeler, and featuring some of the most electrifying performances we've ever witnessed at Cumberland County Playhouse (where they know a thing or 100 about staging musicals), Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is spectacular.

Looking into the future, you'll find a number of new productions on tap for your entertainment pleasure, thanks to the efforts of theater companies all over Middle Tennessee. Here's our calendar for October 15, 2018, to help you plot your course through the end of the year...

Theater audiences in Middle Tennessee are treated to a delicious murder mystery from the doyenne of British whodunits as Arts Center of Cannon County unveils its latest production - Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None - in a sumptuous new mounting from director Cyndie Verbeten. Opening tonight and continuing through October 13, the story focuses on a group of people brought together on a remote island where there is danger and intrigue afoot.

He's The President, can you believe it?! The White House today announced that the team from The President Show is back with an all-new special on Comedy Central. Set in the year 2030, the special looks back at the last days of the Trump Administration through the eyes of its key members. Creator, Executive Producer, Star and Commander in Chief himself, Anthony Atamanuik, returns as President Donald Trump and the following guest stars are also back to reprise their roles as cabinet members: Peter Grosz as Trump's sidekick, Vice President Mike Pence, Kathy Griffin as Kellyanne Conway, Mario Cantone as Anthony Scaramucci, Adam Pally as Donald Trump Jr. and John Gemberling as Steve Bannon. Stephanie March will make her debut as Trump's favorite daughter, Ivanka Trump. A President Show Documentary: The Fall Of Donald Trump will debut on Monday, October 22 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Managing to find time amid a typically busy week in Crossville, actors Weslie Webster and Lauren Marshall - who play Mrs. Lovett and the neighborhood beggar woman, respectively - graciously agreed to submit to The Tuesday 5(+1) and to answer our questions with enough candor and intrigue to ensure audiences come see their show!

Managing to find time amid a hectic tech week, actor Brett Mutter - who plays Beadle Bamford - graciously agreed to submit to The Friday 5(+1) and to answer our questions, hopefully, intriguing potential audience members with some background about his theatrical career and to explain why he thinks you should reserve your tickets now for Sweeney Todd.

Arguably one of the most notable names in all of electronic music at the moment is the undeniable talent that is ILLENIUM. After releasing his chart-topping sophomore project 'Awake' in the latter half of 2017 and embarking on a nationwide album tour that followed, the Denver-native has returned with an incredibly diverse remix package for 'Awake'.

New York's electronic music festival-ELECTRIC ZOO: THE BIG 10-has announced its day-by-day lineup for its 10th birthday at Randall's Island Park in New York City August 31, September 1 & 2. Single day tickets will become available this Thursday, May 31 by registering at http://presale.electriczoo.com.

The most epic edition of New York's electronic music festival - ELECTRIC ZOO: THE BIG 10 ­- has added even more hard-hitting acts to its already star-studded lineup. For its tenth turn at Randall's Island Park in New York City August 31, September 1 & 2, event organizers MADE EVENT have today (April 30) announced its second phase talent-line up. Joining the festival's previously announced headliners KASKADE, MARSHMELLO, MARTIN GARRIX and VIRTUAL SELF in the celebrations will be EZoo alumnus ALESSO (who appeared in 2011, 2013 & 2015) and TIESTO (2011, 2012, 2013 & 2016).

MADE EVENT, producers of the Electric Zoo Festival, has released the phase one line-up of ELECTRIC ZOO: THE BIG 10. For its tenth turn at Randall's Island Park in New York City-- taking place over Labor Day Weekend August 31, September 1 & 2--festival-goers can expect an even bigger star-studded lineup helmed by such juggernauts as Kaskade, who appeared at the first festival in 2009, Billboard Dance 100 #4 artist Marshmello, DJ Mag Top 100 DJ's #1 artist Martin Garrix, and Porter Robinson's new live project Virtual Self, the latter three making their EZoo debut this year.

No alternative facts here! Kathy Griffin is set to appear as the President's most-trusted counselor, Kellyanne Conway, on the upcoming all-new hour-long special from The President Show team, Make America Great-A-Thon: A President Show Special, debuting on Tuesday, April 3 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

MADE EVENT, producers of the Electric Zoo Festival, has released the phase one line-up of ELECTRIC ZOO: THE BIG 10. For its tenth turn at Randall's Island Park in New York City--taking place over Labor Day Weekend August 31, September 1 & 2--festival-goers can expect an even bigger star-studded lineup helmed by such juggernauts as Kaskade who appeared at the first festival in 2009, Billboard Dance 100 #4 artist Marshmello, DJ Mag Top 100 DJ's #1 artist Martin Garrix, and Porter Robinson's new live project Virtual Self, the latter three making their EZoo debut this year.

The president has been extremely busy lately hastening the downfall of our republic, but the host of The President Show will still make time to return to Comedy Central for big, hour-long specials. Following the hugest, most successful and best reviewed Christmas special of all time, it was announced today the team from The President Show is back with an all-new hour-long special. Make America Great-A-Thon: A President Show Special will debut on Tuesday, April 3 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.