Cumberland County Playhouse Celebrates 54th Season With Blockbuster Productions

Cumberland County Playhouse launches its 54th season in Crossville with a slate of productions that range from exciting new Broadway shows, noteworthy premieres and revivals of audience favorites.

"We are so thrilled to invite our guests to be a part of the Playhouse as we continue to create theater that touches hearts, opens minds, and changes lives,' says Bryce McDonald, producing director. "Nelson Mandela said, 'When you let your own light shine, you unconsciously give others permission to do the same.' The Playhouse is committed to being a beacon of inspiration to children, teens, adults and seniors and we promise to cultivate and nurture the light that allows everyone who walks through our doors to dream big, sparkle more, and shine bright!"

The 2018 season includes:

Welcome Back to Ivy Gap: Welcome back to Ivy Gap's First Baptist church where you'll find some of the most good-hearted, sharp-tongued, casserole-cookin' ladies in East Tennessee. In the sequel to 2008's smash hit First Baptist of Ivy Gap and 2009's Showtime at Ivy Gap, Edith, the deceased pastor's wife returns to the church to find trouble. A new pastor has arrived, membership is down and a snooty new member of the church has the women at each other's throats. Welcome Back to Ivy Gap runs January 13-March 13 in the Adventure Theater.

Annie: The spunky, red-headed heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved musicals. Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written, including "Tomorrow" and "It's a Hard Knock Life." Performed by the multi-talented youth, teen, and adult volunteer corps, Annie is a feel-good family musical for all ages, and runs February 3-March 2.

The Mousetrap: Mystery abounds as a group of strangers stranded during a snowstorm discover that a murderer is in their midst. Whodunit? Could it be the newly married couple who run the manor where the guests are lodged, a spinster with a curious background, an architect who seems better equipped to be a chef, a retired Army major, a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift, or a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone? In true classic form, legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie leaves you guessing until the very end with a thrilling, unpredictable outcome! The Mousetrap has mesmerized audiences for over sixty years and runs March 9 through April 20, on the Mainstage.

The Marvelous Wonderettes: This smash off-Broadway hit takes you back to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where you'll meet The Marvelous Wonderettes: four girls with voices as big as their bouffants and personalities as kooky as their crinoline skirts! From prom night to their ten-year reunion, we learn about their lives and loves as they sing hits like "Lollipop," "Mr. Sandman," "Son of a Preacher Man," "It's My Party," "Dream Lover" and many other chart-topping tunes of the era. The Marvelous Wonderettes will keep you smiling in this must-take musical trip down memory lane! It runs March 30 through May 26, in the Adventure Theater.

Stand By Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story: Tammy Wynette - the woman behind the legend and the incredible songs that made her the first lady of country music - leaps off the stage and into your heart. Witness her journey from the cotton fields of Mississippi to international superstardom in this spectacular fully staged production. Starring Tennessee's Miss America Kellye Cash (Ring of Fire, Mamma Mia) as Tammy Wynette, Stand by Your Man recounts Tammy's triumphs and tragedies and explores the people she stood by, including George Jones, her beloved daughters, her strong-willed mother and two of her dearest friends: writer/producer Billy Sherrill and film star Burt Reynolds. Among the 26 hit songs are "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," "'Til I Can Make It on My Own" and "Golden Ring." The Mainstage show runs April 27 through June 8.

Animation Nation: We all watched cartoons when we were kids (and some of us still do!). Dance, the performing arts, and animation are all about expressive motion. Those cartoons we watched as kids brought us positive messages and life lessons that combine perfectly with our Triple Threat Education Program. Cartoons make us feel at home, and they bring us fun and joyful memories. Come watch as our high-spirited students and teachers join together to express their creativity through their favorite cartoon characters and animated stories! May 11 and 12, Mainstage.

Smoke on the Mountain: 25th Anniversary and Final Season! Don't miss your last chance to witness and rejoice with the beloved Sanders family and Pastor Oglethorpe before the show goes into the Playhouse vault. on the Mountain tells the story of the enthusiastic minister of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church who has enlisted the singin' and guitar pickin' Sanders Family for the church's first- ever Saturday night Gospel Sing. Between performing over two dozen bluegrass songs, each family member "witnesses" and tries to appear perfect in the eyes of a congregation who wants to be inspired by their songs. By the evening's end, the Sanders Family has endeared themselves to us by revealing their often-hilarious weaknesses and allowing us to share in their triumphs. June 1 through August 10, Adventure Theater.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Based on the Victor Hugo novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame features music from the Disney film's Oscar-nominated score, as well as new songs by composers Alan Menken (Beauty & the Beast, The Little Mermaid) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked). In 15th-century Paris, Quasimodo, the misshapen bell-ringer is held captive by his devious caretaker, archdeacon Frollo. He escapes on the day of the Feast of Fools and meets the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn't the only one captivated by her, though - the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to eliminate the gypsies and it's up to Quasimodo to save them all. The Hunchback of Notre Dame tells an epic story of love, acceptance, and what it means to be a hero. June 15 through August 19, Mainstage.

Legally Blonde The Musical: A fabulously fun, award-winning musical based on the adored movie, Legally Blonde follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Elle appears to have it all, but her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend dumps her so he can get serious about his life and attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle uses her charm to get into Harvard Law. At school, she struggles with peers, her professor, and her ex, Warner Huntington. With the help of friends Paulette and Emmett, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world. The show runs July 20 through September 7, Mainstage.

Boeing Boeing: It's the 1960s, and swinging bachelor Bernard couldn't be happier: he's dating three gorgeous stewardesses without them knowing about each other. But Bernard's perfect life gets bumpy when his friend Robert comes to stay and a new and speedier Boeing jet throws off all of his careful planning. When all three women are in town simultaneously, timid Robert and Bernard's droll housekeeper keep forgetting which lies to tell whom, and catastrophe looms. Boeing Boeing was a smash hit in New York and London, as well as a 1965 movie starring Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis. August 17 through October 4, Adventure Theater.

Sweeney Todd: This classic Tony award winning musical (also a film starring Johnny Depp) is a tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat that has simultaneously delighted, shocked, and awed audiences for decades. In this infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him. Todd soon opens his new barber practice above Mrs. Lovett's failing pie shop - and their luck sharply shifts when Todd's thirst for revenge inspires a new ingredient for her meat pies that has the people of London lining up! Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd and be blown away by the lavish sets, costumes, and top-notch talent that bring this exhilarating story to life. September 14 through October 26, Mainstage.

The Old Man and the Old Moon: A one-of-a-kind theatrical experience, The Old Man and The Old Moon will enchant audiences of all ages with spellbinding storytelling, ingenious puppetry, and a rousing Celtic-inspired folk score! This beguiling tale begins with the Old Man of the title, whose job is to periodically fill the leaky moon with light. When his wife sails off in search of a mysterious song, he abandons his duties, throwing the world into chaos, as he searches for his lost love, his fading memory and, ultimately, himself. October 12 through November 10, Adventure Theater.

Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn: A joyous musical featuring thrilling dance numbers, laugh-out-loud comedy, and a parade of Irving Berlin hits, including "Blue Skies," "Easter Parade," "Steppin' Out With My Baby," "Heat Wave," "White Christmas," "Cheek to Cheek" and many more! Jim has left showbiz behind to settle down on his Connecticut farm? but life just isn't the same without a bit of song and dance. Jim's luck takes a spectacular turn when he meets Linda, a spirited schoolteacher with talent to spare. Together they turn the farmhouse into a fabulous inn with dazzling performances to celebrate each holiday, from Thanksgiving to the Fourth of July. But when Jim's best friend Ted tries to lure Linda away to Hollywood, will Jim be able to salvage his latest chance at love? Don't miss this high energy, tap dancing extravaganza! November 2 through December 22, Mainstage.

A Sanders Family Christmas: 20th Anniversary and final season! Rejoice with the Sanders family one last time in this heartwarming sequel to Connie Ray and Alan Bailey's wildly successful bluegrass gospel musical Smoke on the Mountain! It's December 24, 1941, and America is going to war. So is Dennis Sanders of the Sanders Family Singers. Join Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe and the spirit-filled Sanders Family as they send Dennis off with hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites. November 16 through December 23, Adventure Theater.

Tickets are available by calling (931) 484-5000 or online at www.ccplayhouse.com.