Krissy Johnson News

Inspired by the original work choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky and performed to the glorious music composed by Igor Stravinsky for the original Ballets Russes production, Nashville Ballet's rendition of Rite of Spring further underscores the company's artistic range and the depth of artistic director Paul Vasterling's bench, which is exemplified by Kayla Rowser and Jon Upleger in his thrilling, stirring Firebird that opens the evening's twin-bill of ballets.

If there is an onstage moment more breathtaking, more purely theatrical, than the one during Nashville's Nutcracker when the green upstage curtain falls at the end of the exquisitely danced "Waltz of the Flowers," I simply cannot recall it nor would I want to-for it is during that brief respite from an evening filled with stunning artistry and the revelatory staging of this time-honored holiday classic that you find yourself thoroughly done in, overwhelmed by the riches of the production that once again proves Nashville Ballet the city's leading arts entity.

The Centre Theater, the professional theater company at the Montgomery County Cultural Center, will hold their Fall Festival on Friday, October 28, 2011 from 5:30 - 9:00 PM at Savior Hall, 410 Airy Street, Norristown, PA. The event will have live music, singers, a sneak peak at an upcoming world premiere play, food, drinks and more. Awards will be given out to Stan Huskey from the Times Herald and State Representative Mike Vereb for their support of the Montgomery County Cultural Center.

Now in her third season with Nashville Ballet, Krissy Johnson is a definite audience favorite. The Louisa, Kentucky, native has studied at Performing Arts Inc. in Ashland, Kentucky, and holds a bachelor of arts degree from Point Park University, and before becoming a company members was a trainee and apprentice at Nashville Ballet. With the company's winter series - Director's Choice - just behind her (Krissy was one of the six dancers featured in the company's North American premiere of Twyla Tharp's The Story Teller), there's a very good chance she's spending some richly deserved time off this week.

With the North American premiere of Twyla Tharp's The Story Teller generating most of the buzz prior to opening night, Nashville Ballet's Director's Choice winter series provided a much-needed jolt of electricity to the city's midwinter arts calendar. But it was the exquisite pairing of Molly Sansone and Jon Upleger in Salvatore Aiello's completely sensual and mildly erotic Satto that truly turned up the heat in the company's annual salute to contemporary dance.

WEEK FOUR Independent Voices Festival- Jan 27 and 28 Apologies Are For The Living

WEEK FOUR Independent Voices Festival- Jan 27 and 28 Apologies Are For The Living

The Centre Theater's Independent Voices Festival enters it penultimate week with three shows and one special event. Again the festival spotlights African American theatre with plays by two emerging Philadelphia playwrights. Robert Millers 'Portrait in Black and White' will premiere at the Festival and Tiffany Joyner's 'Apologies are for the Living' will encore after a critically successful run at the Philadelphia Urban Theatre festival in September.

The diversity of performances at Montgomery County's largest performing arts festival is accentuated this week as four more companies take the Centre Theater stage.

The diversity of performances at Montgomery County's largest performing arts festival is accentuated this week as four more companies take the Centre Theater stage.

The Centre Theater brings a series of events by more than eleven regional performance groups to its fourth floor theater with the Independent Voices Festival beginning January 6 and running through February 6.

The Centre Theater brings a series of events by more than eleven regional performance groups to its fourth floor theater with the Independent Voices Festival beginning January 6 and running through February 6.

Boxing champ Jack Dempsey is in a pickle; he wants a fight, but crooked promoters, conniving reporters, and shady dames keep him from the fight he wants. He ends up fighting for his championship and pride in a tiny cowtown in Montana in the world premier of the new hard punching comedy by D.W. Gregory, 'Molumby's Million.' The Centre Theater brings this true story to life with all the force of a knockout blow.

Boxing champ Jack Dempsey is in a pickle; he wants a fight, but crooked promoters, conniving reporters, and shady dames keep him from the fight he wants. He ends up fighting for his championship and pride in a tiny cowtown in Montana in the world premier of the new hard punching comedy by D.W. Gregory, 'Molumby's Million.' The Centre Theater brings this true story to life with all the force of a knockout blow.

The resulting production that comes from Vasterling's unerringly skillful choreography and his clearly developed vision for the piece - exquisitely expressed through Baird's costume and scenic design, Scott Leathers' stunningly evocative lighting design and the beautiful music of Felix Mendelssohn performed by members of the Nashville Symphony under the baton of Nashville Ballet music director Paul Gambill - is a rousing and fitting conclusion to the company's 24th season, clearly paving the way to a stellar silver anniversary season that will open next fall with a full production of Swan Lake.

The Centre Theater brings the independent voice of Krissy Johnson back to the stage for an evening of beautiful music.

The Centre Theater brings a series of performances to its fourth floor theater. Each production, a critical success, has been invited to take the Centre Theater stage in Norristown for the first Independent Voices Festival.

The Centre Theater brings a series of performances to its fourth floor theater. Each production, a critical success, has been invited to take the Centre Theater stage in Norristown for the first Independent Voices Festival.

With the strains of 'Auld Lang Syne' mere moments away, minds are apt to be caught up in reflection, remembering the year now ending as a new one awaits just over the horizon. Certainly that's what I've been doing lately, looking back over the past year in Nashville theatre as I pencil in dates in my new 2010 (Here's a question to ponder: Is it 'two thousand ten' or 'twenty ten'...think about it and get back to me) calendar for the shows set to open in the months ahead.

Nashville Ballet ushers in the holiday season in glorious style with its revival of artistic director Paul Vasterling's visionary re-interpretation of The Nutcracker, onstage at TPAC's Andrew Jackson Hall through December 20. More accurately referred to as Nashville's Nutcracker, Vasterling's epic work is a joyous, colorful Christmas card to the people of Music City who have embraced it with their customary warmth and rewarded it with their own glowing accolades.