Jeffrey Ellis - Page 80

The world-renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers - who are among the trailblazing artists who have helped Nashville to assume the moniker of "Music City USA" - will perform at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Sunday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. in a concert celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Ryman, which over the course of its history has become known as "the mother church of country music."

As has been the school's theatrical legacy, Rent will feature a cast of talented and ambitious up-and-coming young actors, including Zach Taylor, the senior who will be closing out his high school theatrical career as Roger in the Jonathan Larson musical that is now celebrating its 25th anniversary with an international tour. The Yale University-bound Taylor found time in his harried schedule - what with classes and rehearsals, that's a miracle in and of itself - to take on our High School Drama questions and to offer some background about his love of the stage and what motivates him as he preps a new character for the audience.

ACT 1 presents Tony Kushner's seminal theatrical achievement Angels in America, Parts 1 and 2, at the Darkhorse Theatre March 11-25. Presented in partnership with Carlton Cornett LCSW and DeWayne Fulton, the production gives Nashville area audiences a rare opportunity to see both parts of Kushner's award-winning work at the same time. Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.

Today, cast members Hunter Martin and Robyn Smith talk about their own journeys to a life in the theater, revealing details about themselves and their process and offering some suggestions for why you need to come see the show, which runs through February 26 in the Shamblin Theatre on the Lipscomb campus.

Lerner and Loewe's classic Broadway musical My Fair Lady - based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion - opens tomorrow night at The Larry Keeton Theatre in Donelson, featuring Erica Patterson (and her understudy Ashley Wolfe, who takes on the iconic role for three performances) as Eliza Doolittle, surrounded by a bevy of Nashville's finest leading men, including Cavender Lane, Elliott Winston Robinson, Chris Cavin, Austin Jeffrey Smith and George Hardimon IV.

The 2017 season continues at Nashville's historic and iconic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre with Ron Osborne's Seeing Stars in Dixie, an affectionate comedy set in a small Southern town in 1956, where the film Raintree County - starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, no less - is being shot!

Carolyn German directs Nashville actress Keri Pagetta in a workshop production of Edward Morris' The Passion of Ethel Rosenberg, to be performed Saturday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the 'Celebrate' venue at Atmalogy Cafe and Event Space, 2320 West End Avenue. Tickets are $10 at the door, but reservations are strongly suggested by calling (615) 874-8715.

Opening tonight at Murfreesboro's Center for the Arts is 9 to 5: The Musical, the Broadway musical by Dolly Parton and Patricia Resnick, based upon the hit movie in which Parton played Doralee, a buxom, down-home kind of gal. Directed by Matthew Hayes Hunter, with choreography by Kate Adams-Kramer and musical direction by Emily Dennis, the show features a stunning trio of leading ladies - played by Katie Hahn, Mary Ellen Smith and Memory Strong-Smith - and an ensemble filled with local favorites, including two Matt Smiths...

In Ara Vito's Southern Gothic-inspired treatment of Sophocles' Antigone, the bond between two sisters is challenged by the tragedies of national and familial conflict. Against the backdrop of a decaying home in middle-of-nowhere country, the air is imbued with history and spirits walk the earth. Tragedy is yesterday and tomorrow and now - uncovered by love, betrayal, death, and hope. Summer Shack directs.

Nashville mayor Megan Barry will join Actors Bridge Ensemble (ABE) for its V-Day Nashville 2017 benefit performance of Eve Ensler's award-winning The Vagina Monologues on Friday, February 17, at City Winery, 609 Lafayette Street.

Erica Patterson takes on the iconic role of Eliza Doolittle in the upcoming production of Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady, running February 16-March 4 at The Larry Keeton Theatre in Donelson. Cavender Lane will play the supercilious Henry Higgins, with Chris Cavin as Colonel Pickering and Elliott Winston Robinson as Alfred P. Doolittle in the revival, directed by veteran Nashville director (and current senior contributing editor to BroadwayWorld.com/Nashville) Jeffrey Ellis.

Murfreesboro's Center for the Arts presents Dolly Parton's hit Broadway musical - 9 to 5, The Musical - running February 10-26, during which they will recognize local women who have made a difference in the workforce with the presentation of "9 to 5 Change It!" Awards.

Despite W.C. Fields' warning about working with children and animals, you can now add another role to David Perlman's already impressive resume: adoring dad to a lovable pooch named Winnie Travid, the equally adorable, winsome and mischievous Chihuahua/terrier mix with whom he co-starred in A Dog Story off-Broadway, and who now is the star of his latest music video tribute, set to Fifth Harmony's 'I'm In Love With a Monster.'

Singer and vocal coach Katherine Sandoval Taylor of Murfreesboro presents her voice students in the KST Studio of Voice Winter Showcase this coming Saturday, February 4, at 7 p.m. at Washington Theatre at Patterson Park.

Lindsey Mapes has been named education director at Woodbury's Arts Center of Cannon County, assuming the position previously held by Scarlett Turney, who recently retired from the position after some 34 years of involvement at ACCC.

Nashville mayor Megan Barry and Metro Nashville Arts Commission executive director Jen Cole will be among the featured speakers at "One Night of Empathy," an event using theater as a catalyst for discussions about empathy, presented by The Humanity Project on Tuesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. at the Z. Alexander Looby Theater in Nashville.

Alicia Haymer directs the Nashville premiere of Detroit '67 by Dominique Morisseau, as Actors Bridge Ensemble's 21st Season continues February 24-March 4, at the Darkhorse Theater.

Clearly, Brian Strumwasser is an artist, having garnered inspiration and expressed his creativity through a variety of media throughout his life. Beginning with painting and fine arts, the circuitous journey of life has eventually led him to his current career as a noted make-up designer for the national touring company of the Broadway hit, Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.

Nashville's historic and iconic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre - now led by Norma Luther, the gracious and charming new owner - launches its second half century on the venerated chow and bow circuit with a sparkling new revival of Neil Simon's equally historic and iconic The Odd Couple, now onstage through February 12. Directed by longtime artistic director and the doyenne of Music City theater, Martha Wilkinson, this iteration of Simon's hilarious play about two mismatched friends who attempt to navigate the waters of post-divorce life together is performed by a stellar cast of local actors who breathe new life into their characters and somehow manage to give audiences a fresh perspective on the enduring comedy.

And, lord! What a cast Larson has assembled for his unique take on the musical - which again was catapulted into the cultural zeitgeist thanks to the critically acclaimed televised version from NBC last year of the show that features the music and lyrics of Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown - and what a collective of creative types he's once again pulled together to bring his vision to the TSU stage.