NASHVILLE THEATRE NEWSROOM - Page 162

Jeremy Benton has come a long way since he was dancing around in the backyard of his family's home in Springfield, Tennessee.

Think of it as a newfangled take on our venerated Southern hospitality-my mama raised me right, for goodness' sake-and what's more Southern than welcoming newcomers into our community? Whiskey and barbecue, of course, but until then this column will have to suffice, even if the ensemble's Patrick O'

What with contemporary musical theater's artistic bent toward the nostalgic in recent years, it should come as no surprise that Happy Days, the ABC sitcom that painted an affectionate portrait of life in Milwaukee in the late 1950s/early 1960s, was adapted by the show's creator Garry Marshall and co

In fact, Wilkinson's new and fresh version of The Odd Couple comes down to one thing: Casting.

Today's spotlight falls on one very special member of the cast, who just happens to be in every sense of the phrase "Nashville's own…" Meghan Glogower.

After two successful weekends of sold-out performances for The Theater Bug's The Paper Bag Princess, artistic director/founder Cori Anne Laemmel has announced that a third weekend of 'encore' performances are planned for Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15, at the company's new home in East Nashvill

Today's spotlight falls on Ronnie Nelson, who hails from Ammon, North Carolina, and plays Norm in the show.

Street Theatre Company presents the beloved story, The Secret Garden, this summer, featuring nearly 30 area youth, directed by Elaina McKnight Shaver and musical directed by Erica Haines.

Today's spotlight falls upon Matthew Hayes Hunter, aka Matt Hunter, who is currently onstage in Legally Blonde the Musical at Woodbury's Arts Center of Cannon County.

Directed by Kate Adams-with musical direction by Ginger Newman-The Larry Keeton Theatre will present Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim's musical retelling of classic fairy tales, July 12- 28 at the Donelson venue.

Today, our spotlight falls on Blair Goldberg, who's a member of The Nutty Professor's extraordinary ensemble.

But The Music Man? Come on, the classic Meredith Willson musical chestnut is as corny and all-American as you can possibly get (let's face it, Willson is the master of that particular genre of musical theater occupied by The Music Man and The Unsinkable Molly Brown-plus he wrote the Oscar-nominated

Elton John's pop music influences will be readily apparent for audiences when they sit down at the Keeton Theatre for a performance of his Tony-Award-winning Broadway musical Aida, directed by Ralph Gabriel for Circle Players.

Directed by Kate Adams-with musical direction by Ginger Newman-The Larry Keeton Theatre will present Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim's musical retelling of classic fairy tales, July 12- 28 at the Donelson venue.

For the second year in a row, Nashville Ballet will serve as Nashville's official location of National Dance Day on Saturday, July 28, by offering free sample classes and choreography provided by Fox hit realty show So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD).

Veteran label executive John Ettinger has announced the launch of The Talent Associates (TTA), a full-service management and creative company based in Nashville, Tenn.

The Act Too Players (ATP), Williamson County's premier training program for all youths interested in the performing arts are producing the beloved classic Les Miserables: School Edition with their Summer Intensive Program with the Boiler Room Theatre.

Ohmigod…ohmigod, you guys…Elle Woods-the sharp-as-a-tack, pink-clad heroine of movies and musical theater-is brought to life in Woodbury in an exuberant, if technically flawed, production of Legally Blonde, The Musical, onstage at The Arts Center of Cannon County through July 21.

Nine-time First Night Award-winner Martha Wilkinson directs Derek Whittaker, Debbie Kraski and a cast of Nashville's stage favorites in the Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre production of Fiddler on the Roof, opening Thursday, May 31, and running through July 8 at the theater in West Nashville.

Led by the maniacally perfect Billy Ditty as the appropriately named "Leading Player," the 14-member ensemble deliver a thoroughly focused performance, never straying from the job at hand to endanger the success of the production.

Lindsay Mapes takes on the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, The Musical, the next production at Woodbury's Arts Center of Cannon County.

Nashville Shakespeare Festival will perform Much Ado About Nothing, an enduring audience favorite among the playwright's comedies, from August 16 through September 16 at Centennial Park.

Ginger Rogers danced her way into the hearts of millions-and into the arms of Fred Astaire-in some of filmdom's best-loved musicals.

Derek Whittaker and Charlie Winton star as Oscar Madison and Felix Unger in Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre's production of The Odd Couple, the timeless Neil Simon comedy opening Thursday, July 12, and continuing through August 19.

SAVE THE DATE: The 2012 First Night Honorees, Most Promising Actors and the First Night Star Award winners will be revealed on Monday, July 23, at the First Night Preview Party.