AVENUE Q To Kick Off Nashville Repertory Theatre's 2018-19 Season

Nashville Repertory Theatre will open its 2018-19 season - its 33rd - with a production of the Broadway hit musical Avenue Q, opening on September 8 at the Andrew Johnson Theatre at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

The season opens with Avenue Q, written by Jeff Whitty with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. In this irreverent tour through a Sesame Street-esque neighborhood, humans and puppets alike confront the everyday challenges of adult life: falling in love, finding your purpose, and fighting the urge to stay in your apartment forever. Avenue Q previews September 6-7 and runs September 8-22.

The season's second show is the regional premiere of Lucas Hnath's A Doll's House, Part 2, which picks up 15 years after the events of Henrik Ibsen's classic play. Hnath's critically acclaimed play considers what happened when Nora reopens the door to family life that she closed so long ago. A Doll's House, Part 2 previews October 11-12 and runs October 13-November 3.

Back for its tenth year, A Christmas Story, adapted by Philip Grecian and based on the motion picture by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark, returns for what has become one of Music City's most beloved holiday traditions. With a coveted BB gun on the line, along with a ballet tribute to an iconic Leg Lamp and a visit with Santa gone awry, the show delivers laughs and heart-warming charm. A Christmas Story previews November 23 and runs November 24-December 22.

Former Tennessee Titans running back and Broadway veteran Eddie George stars as The Rep kicks off the new year with Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks. In this Pulitzer Prize-winning play, two brothers must go head to head to define themselves and uncover what it takes to come out on top. Topdog/Underdog previews February 7-8 and runs February 9-23.

The Rep wraps up the 2018-19 season with Disney's Shakespeare in Love, adapted from the movie of the same title and written by Lee Hall, Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, with music by Paddy Cunneen. Penniless and indebted to two demanding producers, struggling young playwright William Shakespeare is tormented by writer's block until he meets the beautiful Viola de Lesseps, daughter of a wealthy merchant, whose fiery passion for poetry and drama leaves her secretly longing to be an actor. Shakespeare in Love previews March 21-22 and runs March 23-April 20.

All performances will be held at Andrew Johnson Theatre at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit www.nashvillerep.org.

ABOUT NASHVILLE REP Nashville Repertory Theatre is a vital professional regional theatre that seeks to inspire empathy, prod intellectual and emotional engagement, and expand the creative capacity of audiences and artists through the dynamic connection to live theatre. With more than 30 years of experience, the Rep strives to be an indispensable part of the creative community whose name is synonymous with excellence in every aspect.