Emily Graham

Starting June 13, Cumberland County Playhouse will present what just might be its most spectacular production yet, Shrek The Musical! Featuring 19 all-new songs, big laughs and amazing special effects, Shrek The Musical is part romance, part fairy tale and all fun! Based on the Oscar winning DreamWorks film, Shrek brings the hilarious story of everyone's favorite ogre to life on stage as our unlikely hero Shrek and his loyal friend Donkey set off on a quest to rescue the fiery Princess Fiona. Add a villain with a SHORT temper, a cookie with attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits in an irresistible mix of adventure, laughter and romance and you've got a must-see musical comedy for all ages!

With several Tennessee theaters prepping new productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic The Sound of Music over the upcoming months, one would be well-advised to make the trip to Crossville to see director Weslie Webster's (and music director Ron Murphy's) take on the Von Trapp family musical. Webster, one of Cumberland County Playhouse's most accomplished leading ladies, takes the helm of The Sound of Music with clear-headed confidence and commitment, giving the time-honored musical the added gravitas-the dramatic heft-of historical context, which all too often is glossed over and regretfully forgotten in lesser revivals.

Lindy Pendzick and husband Greg Pendzick take on the roles of Grace and her wisecracking spouse, with leading kids' roles played by Crossville's Mary Kemp, Ellie Burnett, Cory Clark, Phillip Hall, and Molly McKinney of Pikeville, plus Crossville's Katey Dailey, Chelsea Boelter, Aiden Morrison, Alli Crain, Perrianna Evans and Emery Smith, along with Andy Swafford of Bledsoe County, and Jacob Copeland of Jamestown.

Lindy Pendzick and husband Greg Pendzick take on the roles of Grace and her wisecracking spouse, with leading kids' roles played by Crossville's Mary Kemp, Ellie Burnett, Cory Clark, Phillip Hall, and Molly McKinney of Pikeville, plus Crossville's Katey Dailey, Chelsea Boelter, Aiden Morrison, Alli Crain, Perrianna Evans and Emery Smith, along with Andy Swafford of Bledsoe County, and Jacob Copeland of Jamestown.

Sincerity and sizzle are missing from Stoneham Theatre revival of William Inge's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama

Picnic, by William Inge, will open Thursday, April 2 at Stoneham Theatre. The classic American drama, set in a small Kansas town in the early 1950s, tells the story of Madge and Alan, a sweet young couple and Hal, the ex-football star and drifter who awakens Madge's true desires and shakes up the community. Most of the story takes place around a Labor Day picnic. Picnic was first produced on Broadway in 1953 with actor Paul Newman has Hal Carter. Inge received the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work.

Picnic, by William Inge, will open Thursday, April 2 at Stoneham Theatre. The classic American drama, set in a small Kansas town in the early 1950s, tells the story of Madge and Alan, a sweet young couple and Hal, the ex-football star and drifter who awakens Madge's true desires and shakes up the community. Most of the story takes place around a Labor Day picnic. Picnic was first produced on Broadway in 1953 with actor Paul Newman has Hal Carter. Inge received the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work.