CRITICS' CHOICE: This Weekend's Best Bets

Looking for a way to beat the heat this weekend? What's better than sinking into a seat in a darkened auditorium and letting the talented actors onstage whisk you way to a whole different world from the world in which you toil Monday through Friday? Theater companies throughout the midstate are ready to dazzle you with their latest productions and here are some of this weekend's best bets...

Been missing some ten minute plays in your life? Want to see some, starring or written by some of your favorites? "Oh, friends. We are here to serve you. You're not gonna want to miss this!" June 21 and 22 at 7 p.m., the Darkhorse. Be there! Ten Minute Playhouse, Nashville, at Darkhorse Theater: Playtime, running through June 22.

Twelve brand new plays by Middle Tennessee playwrights will be presented as staged readings as the newly minted Ten Minute Playground goes live in Nashville Sunday and Monday for a one-of-a-kind two-night event at The Darkhorse Theater.

The plays are paired with some of Nashville's finest actors and directors, all volunteering their time to present these exciting new scripts. With only an hour of rehearsal, these plays take on a life of their own in front of a live audience.

"I am so seriously thrilled to see Nashville creating and supporting all kinds of new works. I think writing a play is like building your own house. It's exciting, but incredibly stressful and at some point you're going to be in the fetal position and fighting with your spouse," says Rachel Agee, one of the curators of the event. "But in the end you're really proud of it. This feels like two evenings of a barn raising, with the theater community and supporters coming together to help the playwrights raise the walls."

Playwrights with new work to be featured include Keri & Joe Pagetta, Laura Crockarell, Tom Angland, Kenley Smith, Erica Elam, Garret Schneider, Rachel Agee, Carson McCain, Amanda Hendricks, Michelle Benson, Jenny Noel and Nate Eppler.

Performances of The Ten Minute Playground are Sunday and Monday, June 21 and 22, at Darkhorse Theater, located at 4610 Charlotte Avenue. All shows start at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 cash at the door.

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python, and you have the Roxy Regional Theatre's hilarious new offering, The 39 Steps, opening tonight at 8pm. Packed with nonstop laughs, this two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is adapted by Patrick Barlow from the 1915 novel by John Buchan and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock. The London production, which has been running for nine years, only yesterday announced it will shutter on September 5.

Eli Jolley (whom Roxy audiences may remember as Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby) stars as Richard Hannay, a man whose boring life is turned upside down when he meets a mysterious woman with a thick accent. Shortly after taking her home, however, the woman is murdered. Soon, an enigmatic spy organization is hot on Hannay's trail in a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale!

In this fast-paced whodunit, a ridiculously talented cast of four - rounded out by Alicia Jayne Kelly (whose credits include Marty in the Broadway National Tour of Grease and Velma in the Broadway production of Chicago for Royal Caribbean cruise lines, as well as Nellie in South Pacific and Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Roxy Regional Theatre), Josh Bernaski (Robbie in The Wedding Singer and The Wolf in Into the Woods at the Roxy Regional Theatre) and Daryl W. Phillipy - takes on over 150 zany characters in a riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft, including an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance!

The 39 Steps runs June 19 through July 3, playing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, with a 2:00pmmatinee on Saturday, June 27. Tickets are $20 (adults) and $15 (ages 13 and under) and may be purchased online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org or by phone at (931) 645-7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and one hour prior to curtain).

Tonight is the theatre's traditional pay-what-you-can preview; all tickets not pre-sold at the regular ticket price will go on sale at 7:30 p.m. for whatever price patrons wish to pay. Active-duty military, APSU students and CitySaver coupon holders can receive two tickets for the price of one to Wednesday and Thursday performances.

"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek..." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue.

Throw in a short tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude, and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand...and his name is Shrek.

Opening tonight at The Renaissance Center in Dickson - now known as Freed Hardeman University's Dickson campus - Shrek the Musical is directed by Kate Adams and features a cast of local favorites (including Mary Hutchens as Fiona, Jarrod Clark as Lord Farquaad and Troy Sands as Shrek himself) who bring the show to life with plenty of brass and sass. Shrek the Musical runs through June 28 in Dickson.

Need ticket information? Go to www.renplayers.com.

Looking for the perfect summer musical? Towne Centre Theatre tonight opens its production of Footloose, running through July 11.

Footloose is the perfect summer musical, a story of American spirit. A carefree kid is transplanted to a conservative rural town where Rock 'n' Roll and dancing are forbidden. He takes on the authorities, makes all the right moves and wins the girl. A high energy, high intensity musical that dances onto the stage from the very first song and keeps on rocking until the end.

The cast is led by William Warren Carver as Ren McCormack and Lindsay Carter as Ariel Moore. Also featured is John Ray as Reverend Shaw Moore, Katharine Boettcher as Vi Moore, Lyn Sheppard Middlebrook and Kari Smith (6/19 & 20) as Ethel McCormack, Ed Warr as Principal Clark, Seth McGraw as Willard, Meredith Mullen as Rusty, J. Baugh as Uncle Wes, Alyssa Miller as Wendy Jo and Alex Pineiro as Chuck Cranston. Rounding out the cast are Amanda Leigh Baugh, Clint Burmit, Max Craig, Jaden Holtschlag, Hillary Mead, Lorelei McDaniel, Laura Mee, Gunal Nepoleon, Parker Pennington, Annie Rice, Jasmine Rose, Quinton Tolbert, Madeline Yeary and Jimmy.

Reserve your seats by going online at www.townecentretheatre.com.

What does crazy look like? Dream7 Productions considers that query as it presents 2 South, a play written and directed by Michael L. Walker, which tells the story two days in the life of a state mental hospital.

Have you ever visited a Mental Health Hospital or been the patient in one? Well, we welcome you to 2 South where you will meet Granny, Mr. Phipps, RN Linda Bonn, and Dr. Cozell, along with a host of other wacky staff and patients. Written and directed by Michael L. Walker, you will experience the day in the life on the unit of a mental health ward in a state hospital. 2 South is sure to show Walker at his comedic best. 2 South cast includes the regular members of Dream 7: Dell Shaw, Chi Winters, Jonathan Allen, LeAndra Richardson and Tayla Charite with guest performances by Jerry Henderson, Phil Brady, Alex Georgeadis and Myra Stephens.

The show runs June 19-27 at Darkhorse Theater; tickets are $10 and are available in advance by call (615) 474-0161. Group rates are available. For further details, go to www.Dream7productions.org.

Southern hospitality is served up with a groaning board of traditional culinary delights at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theater, where last week a new comedy opened as Martha Wilkinson directs Nobody's Perfect, which runs through July 19. Her cast features Bonita Allen, John Mauldin, Lane Wright and Elizabeth Walsh.

Here's a sampling from our review: "With a deft hand, Wilkinson stages the rather gentle comedy that focuses on evolving gender roles, replete with a feminist press trying to find new material for its readers, a shy statistician trying to score it big as a writer, a bumbling grandfather who's only slightly pervy, a rebellious teenager who really loves her dad no matter her vocal protests, a successful businesswoman who longs for a romantic attachment and the requisite man in drag playing a middle-aged Southern belle.

"You pair all that with the Barn's groaning board of Southern/country victuals, a genuinely warm greeting from Annie in the box office as you arrive, a broad smile from Cecilia Lighthall as she commands the front desk and hands you off to an actor doing double-duty as host, and a hug from co-owner Janie Chaffin that ensures you're at home, and you won't find an entertainment option more appealing anywhere. Top it off with peanut butter pie or crème brulee (served up by the gracious and attentive Adam Burnett) and you're justthisclose to heaven in West Nashville.

"Nobody's Perfect is not perfect, but then really what is? However, under Wilkinson's guiding influence and the altogether understated, yet wonderfully on-target, performances of her quartet of actors, it nonetheless delivers a pleasant summer's night diversion."

For reservations, call (615) 646-9977; for more information about all of this season's shows at the Barn, go to www.dinnertheatre.com.

Mary Poppins flies over the rooftops of London via a sumptuous new production at Cumberland County Playhouse through August 16! This high-flying family musical features delightful songs from the classic Disney film including the Academy Award-winning "Chim Chim Cheree," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Step in Time" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and has been the winner of 44 major theatre awards from around the globe.

Mary Poppins has captivated audiences for generations with its enchanting story, unforgettable songs and dazzling dance numbers. Mary Poppins is the story of a mysterious nanny who magically appears at the Banks household in Edwardian London to care for Jane and Michael Banks. Adventure abounds as she whisks them away to meet dancing chimney sweeps, shopkeepers and an array of colorful characters. Nicole Bégué Hackmann will return to the Playhouse stage as Mary Poppins and Jake Delaney will play Bert.

Nicole Bégué Hackmann has appeared in dozens of Playhouse productions since 2003, including My Fair Lady, Ragtime, LES MISERABLES, The King and I, A Little Night Music, Camelot and many more.Jake Delaney made his Playhouse debut in April as Don Lockwood in Singin' in the Rain.

Playhouse favorites Jason Ross and Lauren Marshall play Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Each of the Banks children will feature two different young actors alternating in the roles. Jane Banks will be played by Sophie Burnett and Sara Swafford, while Simon Berman and Eli Choate will share the role of Michael Banks. Rounding out the cast are Kathryn Berman, Daniel Black, Cory Clark, Kevin Corkum, Jensen Crain, John Dobbratz, Molly Dobbs, DeAnna Etchison, Katherine Walker Hill, Carol Irvin, Lina Lee, Lindsey Mapes, Jennie Nasser, Patty Payne, Kate Louise Prender, Evan Price, Angela Robbins, Michael Ruff, Chaz Sanders, Chance Wall and Weslie Webster.

Director Britt Hancock (Singin' in the Rain, Damn Yankees) said of the show, "Mary Poppins is all about magic... and no theater I know does theatrical magic better than the Cumberland County Playhouse. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to help bring this wonderful story to life." Resident choreographer Leila Nelson will bring the high stepping (and sometimes high flying) dance numbers to life.

Playing through Saturday night at Franklin's Pull-Tight Theatre is The Dixie Swim Club, by the wonderfully Southern and hilarious trio of Jones/Hope/Wooten. Running through June 20, go to www.pull-tight.com for reservations.

In the show, five Southern ladies celebrate August and their share friendships to leave the trappings and demands of their lives behind and convene at a beach cottage in the Outer Banks of North Carolina to recharge their strong bond.

The Dixie Swim Club looks in on four of those weekends over a 33-year history, catching up with spunky Sheree, overachieving Dinah, pampered Lexie, self-deprecating Vernadette and sweet Jeri as they help keep each other afloat in the sometimes deep end of life's pool. Playwrights Jones, Hope and Wooten fill The Dixie Swim Club with some of their most complex characters in this funny and poignant cap to our season. Lynn Yates and Beth Woodruff lead the cast.

Street Theatre Company continues its 10th anniversary season - every show this season is pay-what-you-can at the company's new/old home at Bailey STEM Middle School - with the Nashville premiere of Dogfight, the off-Broadway hit by the contemporary musical theater team of Pasek and Paul, which concludes its run this weekend.

From my review of the show: "With a musical score that shows the heavy influence of Sondheim-infused theater on contemporary composers, Dogfight seems almost timeless, and certainly the story could be set during any time of war and have much the same impact. But here in America, while we still struggle to define the role of the Vietnam conflict and its aftermath on our nation's psyche and our shared sense of patriotic fervor and confusion about what that undeclared war really meant to each of us, the story is more potent and potentially more devastating. The answers don't come easy...they didn't 40 or 50 years ago...and still today we seem uncertain and somewhat reluctant to seek them out.

"While Eddie, his friends Boland and Berstein and the rest of their band of brothers, engage in a night of debauchery, full of bravado and the brashness of young men about to embark upon a grand adventure, the political ramifications of the conflict in Southeast Asia are just beginning to simmer. It's that four year stretch between Eddie's visits to San Francisco during which public opinion boils over and everyone's preconceived notions of American exceptionalism were first called into question.

"Those socially combustible elements provide the backdrop for what transpires during that initial trip to the city by the bay. As has been Marine tradition for years, Eddie and his friends stage a dogfight, a gathering of the testosterone-fueled young men who have each put $50 in a pot to award to the winner of a misogynistic contest to find the ugliest girl in town. It's on his search for a winning candidate that Eddie meets Rose in a shabby diner and sets out to woo her and convince her to be his date.

Dogfight stars Belmont graduate Jens Jacobson as Eddie Birdlace and recent Nashville transplant Audrey Johnson as Rose, and there's a fresh-faced ensemble of estimable Nashville actors who bring the moving and provocative story to life under Cathy Street's direction.

Dogfight runs through Sunday, June 21, at Street Theatre Company's new location in East Nashville, Bailey STEM Middle School. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets are available by visiting www.streettheatrecompany.org or by calling (615) 554-7414 and prices are pay-what-you-can.

Meanwhile, in Donelson - at The Larry Keeton Theatre - the classic Broadway musical Guys and Dolls wraps up its run tomorrow night at the Senior Center for the Arts, 108 Donelson Pike. Jenny Norris-Light, Tyler Osborne, Hallie Long and Brian Best star in the show, directed and music directed by Ginger Newman, with choreography by Cary Street.

Here's my take on the production: "Is there anything more magical or more transformative than live theater? Honestly, I can't think of anything which can take you from the depths of despair to the fanciful heights of imagination so quickly - and there certainly is no art form in which things can change so capriciously or quicker, either for good or bad.

"Take The Larry Keeton Theatre's production of Guys and Dolls, for example, directed by Ginger Newman and choreographed by Cary Street. Featuring one of musical theater's most beloved scripts and scores, it's a surefire winner any time it's revived onstage (well, save for that one Broadway revival with Lorelai Gilmore aka Lauren Graham as Miss Adelaide that was pretty much laid waste to by critics) and it takes a hefty amount of flotsam to halt the show. Case in point: Earlier this week, a scant 24-plus hours before opening night at the theater in Donelson, a leading player had to drop out of the production due to family matters beyond his control and a search was on for a last-minute replacement for the role of Sky Masterson.

"Luckily, for Newman and Street - and the remaining three members of the show's quartet of stars, Jenny Norris-Light, Hallie Long and Brian Best - Tyler Osborne was just a phone call away and, in just over 24 hours, the show opened on-time and in-place for what is sure to be a successful run that audiences are, frankly, going to love. Now, that's live theater for you, with all the magic and creativity of which you could dream. On a whim, it seems, circumstances can change, a new window opening when a door closes."

Performances at The Larry Keeton Theatre are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 7:00 p.m. Each performance is preceded by a three-course meal; dinner seating begins at 5:45 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Tickets range from $15 to $28; for specific ticket information, call (615) 883-8375 or at www.thelarrykeetontheatre.org or www.ticketsnashville.com.