Jeffrey Ellis - Page 143

An all-star cast takes to the stage in the latest work from the playwriting team of J. Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler: Cinderella 8.0: Truly, Truly, Truly Outrageous, opening June 22 at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. The musical comedy is presented on the mainstage at Chaffin's Barn Tuesday through Saturday mornings, with the house opening at 10 a.m., with the show at 11 a.m. through August 7.

The company's mission, according to its co-founders, is 'To create entertaining, enlightening stage productions that reawaken audiences to the thrill of theater. Our shows will be intellectually challenging and imaginatively rendered, focusing on inventive original works, rarely produced plays by renowned playwrights, and one-of-a-kind special events-all of which celebrate the vitality and immediacy of the live theater experience.'

Lakewood Village Theatre's Texas-sized summer comedy, Southern Hospitality, opens at the theatre in Old Hickory on Friday, August 6, continuing through August 21.

Eight of the leading lights of Nashville theater were announced Monday night as the Class of 2010 Honorees for the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, to be presented Sunday, September 19. The Hard Rock Cafe Nashville's Reverb Room was the setting for the preview party and announcement of honorees.

Eight of the leading lights of Nashville theater were announced Monday night as the Class of 2010 Honorees for the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, to be presented Sunday, September 19. The Hard Rock Cafe Nashville's Reverb Room was the setting for the preview party and announcement of honorees.

The company's mission, according to its co-founders, is 'To create entertaining, enlightening stage productions that reawaken audiences to the thrill of theater. Our shows will be intellectually challenging and imaginatively rendered, focusing on inventive original works, rarely produced plays by renowned playwrights, and one-of-a-kind special events-all of which celebrate the vitality and immediacy of the live theater experience.'

Tennessee Women's Theater Project has announced its 2010-2011 season, presenting two plays new to Middle Tennessee audiences, and the return of the company's annual Women's Work showcase of performing and visual arts at Nashville's Z. Alexander Looby Theater. A fourth production, last year's successful Warriors Don't Cry, will be touring Nashville area schools.

Exit The Body runs July 30- August 21, Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees on August 8 and 15 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $16 for students.

Circle Players opens its 2010-2011 season at The Keeton Theatre with Frank Galati's adaptation of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, running August 13-29.

Lakewood Village Theatre's Texas-sized summer comedy, Southern Hospitality, opens at the theatre in Old Hickory on Friday, August 6, continuing through August 21.

Eight of the best-known names in Nashville theater will be announced next Monday, August 2, as the Class of 2010 for The First Night Nashville Theatre Honors. The newly remodeled Hard Rock Cafe, at 100 Broadway in downtown Nashville, will play host to the preview party from 6 to 8 p.m., when the names of the honorees will be revealed publicly for the first time.

Craig Lucas' Reckless, directed by Jessika Malone, is next up in Actors Bridge Ensemble's 2010 season, opening Friday, July 23 at Belmont University's Black Box Theater. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m., except for Sunday matinees which are at 4:30 p.m.

Reckless - Craig Lucas' skewed vision of suburban life in contemporary America - is brought to life in an engaging and entertaining new production from Actors Bridge Ensemble. Directed with finesse by Jessika Malone and performed by a cast of talented actors who are supremely confident in interpreting Lucas' off-kilter comedy, it's a well-crafted show that fairly crackles with humor.

Nashville playwright and director Trish Crist has brought her latest project to the stage of Darkhorse Theatre, a heartfelt consideration of the journey taken by Americans since 1969 - the summer in which the modern lesbian and gay civil rights movement was finally galvanized at the Stonewall Inn in New York's Greenwich Village.

Eight of the best-known names in Nashville theater will be announced next Monday, August 2, as the Class of 2010 for The First Night Nashville Theatre Honors. The newly remodeled Hard Rock Cafe, at 100 Broadway in downtown Nashville, will play host to the preview party from 6 to 8 p.m., when the names of the honorees will be revealed publicly for the first time.

Craig Lucas' Reckless, directed by Jessika Malone, is next up in Actors Bridge Ensemble's 2010 season, opening Friday, July 23 at Belmont University's Black Box Theater. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m., except for Sunday matinees which are at 4:30 p.m.

Rhubarb Theater Company presents 41, Trish Crist's comedy/drama opens at the Darkhorse Theater, Friday, July 23, continuing through August 7. According to the playwright, who does double duty as director, 41 is inspired by this summer's 41st anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots.

Martha Wilkinson directs a cast of Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre favorites in the upcoming Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming, the latest installment of the Sanders Family trilogy, conceived by Alan Bailey and written by Connie Ray. With Tim Fudge (who directed the last installment - Sanders Family Christmas - during the holiday season) as music director, the show runs July 22-August 28.

Some 20-plus years after its Broadway debut - and about 15 or more years since I last saw the musical's first production at The Roxy - Into the Woods retains its powerful storytelling technique, made all the more memorable by Sondheim's beautiful score, and presents a plethora of characters from childhood storybooks in a way that remains contemporary and compelling. With Tom Thayer's strong direction and artistic vision, this production soars, taking audiences along for an imaginative and creative journey.