Tennessee Rep Professional Intern Showcase To Feature GRACELAND

Tennessee Rep's Professional Interns to Present Second Annual Showcase: Graceland by Ellen Byron to Be Featured

Schedule:
Tennessee Repertory Theatre Intern Showcase: Graceland by Ellen Byron
May 19 and 21, Tennessee Rep Rehearsal Hall (NPT's Studio A, 161 Rains Avenue)
Thursday, May 19 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 21 at 2:30 pm
Saturday, May 21 at 7:00 pm
Tickets: $5 suggested donation. Reserve seats by calling 244-4878 or by e-mail at represervations@gmail.com. Appropriate Audience: high school and above.

Nashville, TN-Tennessee Repertory Theatre's professional interns will present their second annual intern showcase, a production fully staged by the six professional interns on staff. This year's show, Graceland by Ellen Byron will take place on May 19 and 21 at 7:00 pm and May 21 at 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm at Tennessee Rep's Rehearsal Hall (NPT Studio A, 161 Rains Avenue).
5 AM. June 7, 1982. The air is electric as the big moment draws near. Graceland stands as a monument to "The King" as it finally opens to the public. In three short days, the doors will swing wide and his biggest fans' dreams will come true.

Two figures are camped outside, waiting. Bev, a forty-something Elvis maniac has come all the way from Delaware to show her devotion. Rootie, a young lady in her early twenties has hitch-hiked hundreds of miles from Louisiana for the big day. Three short days to determine who will be the first inside. But who will prove to be the biggest Elvis fan of them all?
This playful comedy is sure to put a smile on your face. But as the characters' stories are revealed, the plot deepens as we find out why they care so much.
Director Jillian Frame says: "Graceland shows not only the battle between Bev and Rootie for the title of 'Elvis' biggest fan,' but also the deeper discoveries they make about each other and why they cling to Elvis and his legacy. As a historical pop culture icon, not only of Tennessee, but American music and entertainment, Elvis Presley's life connects these two women for a few short hours - allowing us to view the vulnerability and determination they experience and how they continue to grow despite their personal struggles. Audiences will enjoy the depth and humor found in Graceland (whether they are as avid fans of Elvis as Bev and Rootie are or not) and will leave having experienced the journey from simply following an idol to discovering the desperate desires of the heart."

To prepare for the production, the interns took a road-trip to Memphis to get a first-hand look at Graceland.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre's Professional Internship Program is designed to offer hands-on experience to post-graduate and early career theatre artists as a bridge into their professional careers. Interns are offered the opportunity to gain practical knowledge in their chosen area while working with experienced professionals in theatre production and arts administration throughout an entire season. Tennessee Rep staff members mentor each intern towards his or her career goals, while allowing them to observe and participate in the general day-to-day workings of a professional regional theatre. The Showcase is an opportunity provided by Tennessee Rep as a culmination of the season's learning experience, and is a project chosen by and produced by the Professional Intern class.

Since 1985, Tennessee Repertory Theatre has been a critically acclaimed regional theatre, creating the highest quality professional productions and by serving as a prime cultural, educational, and economic resource within the Nashville and Middle Tennessee communities. Tennessee Rep produces work that is designed, built, and rehearsed in Nashville by highly skilled actors, designers, directors, and technicians. A non-profit organization, Tennessee Rep is committed to consistently delivering thought-provoking theatre each year. For more information on the Tennessee Repertory Theatre, please visit www.tennesseerep.org.

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