STAGE TUBE: First Night Nashville Red Carpet Event

Tennessee's glittering theaterati gathered in Nashville for the 2011 edition of First Night, the Nashville Theatre Honors, paying tribute to six of the leading lights of the theater community -- PAM ATHA, DAN BREWER, GARY C. HOFF, DANNY PROCTOR, LAYNE SASSER and HELEN OLAKETI SHUTE-PETTAWAY -- on Sunday, September 4, the culmination of a nine-day long celebration of live theater in the Volunteer State. Hosted by two-time First Night Award winner David Compton, the Honors Gala featured staged musical and dramatic tributes to the six honorees, starring some of the best-known names in Tennessee theater. 

Held at the Troutt Theatre at Belmont University, First Night 2011 featured staged readings of Willliam Inge's Picnic (directed by First Night founder/executive producer Jeffrey Ellis) and Clare Boothe Luce's The Women (directed by Boiler Room Theatre's Corbin Green) and also include the Honorees' Symposium and The Women in Theatre Luncheon.

The Red Carpet Event, re-named The Orange Carpet Event for 2011 in recognition of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Tennessee Chapter, was hosted by Jennifer Richmond and Trey Palmer and featured Cary Street, Lisa Garner Harrison and Jessica Carter. Held just prior to the start of the Honors Gala, the Red Carpet team greeted First Night honorees and guests as they arrived for the event at the Troutt Theatre.