Photos: MADDIE: A New Musical in Rehearsal
by Stephi Wild - Apr 29, 2025
After captivating audiences in London’s West End, MADDIE: A New Musical will make its Off-Broadway debut beginning next month. Check out all new rehearsal photos here!
BWW Review: Cumberland County Playhouse's YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is a Monster Hit With Hancock at the Helm
by Jeffrey Ellis - Sep 22, 2019
Who'd have ever thought a seven-foot-tall, dark, handsome and green chap a?' crafted from the bits and pieces of various fellows gone home to meet their maker, as it were a?' could prove to be so likable, charming and, we daresay, sexy? But leave it to Mel Brooks (and Gene Wilder, his co-writer on the 1974 film) to create such a protagonist and to surround him with memorable characters in a story set to music that's a wonderful homage to the very best of classic Broadway and silver screen musicals!
BWW Review: Lazzaro and Donegan Lead Dazzling JOSEPH... Revival at Cumberland County Playhouse
by Jeffrey Ellis - Aug 2, 2019
Powerhouse vocals from its two leading players (Anthony Lazzaro and Cassie Donegan), along with focused direction, spirited choreography, effusive music coming from the pit and an eye-popping visual design aesthetic combine to make Cumberland County Playhouse's most recent iteration of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat another in a long line of onstage hits sure to attract audiences eager to escape the sultry heat of a Tennessee summer.
BWW Review: Fascinating MATILDA Brings Her Magic to Cumberland County Playhouse Through August 18
by Jeffrey Ellis - Jul 2, 2019
Now, through August 18, audiences at Crossville's Cumberland County Playhouse have the opportunity to fall in love with Matilda and her ragtag and inspiring band of schoolmates as they take on an adventure that is certain to delight and to engage. Directed by Jess Griffin and featuring a cast of fresh and energetic performers who bring Matilda The Musical to glorious life onstage, CCP has another resounding hit to its credit, which might be quite unlike anything that's come before it and heralds even more technical and design innovation that sets the company apart from all others in the region.
CRITIC'S CHOICE: Add Some Culture & Creativity to Your Life At The Theater This Weekend
by Jeffrey Ellis - May 16, 2019
It's that time of the week, theater lovers! With the weekend set to kick off at any moment - personally, we like to consider Thursday morning at 12:01 a.m. the official start of the weekend (that's directed primarily to the Dowager Countess of Grantham who quite clearly didn't understand what actually constitutes a 'weekend') - so we are back with a few suggestions of our own to help make your job easier. There are some new shows opening, others which are continuing their runs and still more which will be winding up their slate of performances this weekend!
CRITIC'S CHOICE: The Shows and Theater Events To Liven Up Your Weekend Plans
by Jeffrey Ellis - May 9, 2019
It's another busy weekend in Nashville - but when is Music City not packed with events, festivals, affairs? - and we're back with our Critic's Choice recommendations to have you cut through the theatrical flotsam and jetsam and find a cultural opening that's a good fit for your harried lifestyle. Nashville Opera opens its staging of Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock at Noah Liff Opera Center, Way Off Broadway Productions unveils its version of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Music Valley Event Center, Street Theatre Company invites you to the see their staging of Lynn Nottage's Sweat at their new venue on Elm Hill Pike and Nashville Rep continues its celebration of 10 years of The Ingram New Works Festival at Nashville Children's Theatre.
BWW Review: Christine Rowan is a Revelation in Cumberland County Playhouse's BRIGHT STAR
by Jeffrey Ellis - Apr 28, 2019
'Based on a true incident' seems a phrase best reserved for a hardboiled television detective series, circa 1954 - perhaps followed by a title card reading, 'A Quinn Martin Production' (if you're of a certain vintage, you'll get my meaning) - but in the case of Bright Star, the Tony Award-nominated musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell now onstage at Cumberland County Playhouse through June 6, it's definitely fitting.
FRIDAY 5 (+1): Cumberland County Playhouse's FOREVER PLAID Debuts Tonight in Crossville
by Jeffrey Ellis - Mar 29, 2019
CCP artistic director Britt Hancock directs the cast of four, which includes Justin Burr, Paul Gary, Ross Griffin and Chris Hallowes, who found time this week during the hustle and bustle of tech week to respond to our queries and to tell us why they think you should come see their show in the latest installment of our Friday 5 (+1)…
Blackfriars to Launch Summer Education Program with THE WEDDING SINGER
by Tyler Peterson - Jun 28, 2016
?The Wedding Singer marks the premier of Blackfriars Theatre's Summer Intensive-BTSI (BITSY). Geared towards rising high school juniors through newly graduated college seniors, BTSI allows students to experience a complete rehearsal through performance process in a professionally run community theatre, with the goal of training the next generation of artists.