William Shakespeare's 446th birthday will be celebrated in grand and proper style in Nashville this month - Friday, April 23 - as Nashville Shakepeare Festival calls on would-be Romeos and Juliets to take part in 'The Biggest Balcony Scene Ever!' at 6 p.m. on the south steps of The Parthenon in Centennial Park.
Although both Russell and Hicks are clearly at the top of their game with their exquisite performances, - honed from years of experience in the theatre and underscored by their shared joie de vivre and their obvious understanding of the text - the rest of the ensemble are an uneven lot of veterans and neophytes and those in between. While there are moments of bliss to be found in the production, glimmers of the promise that is surely to be found, there remains a lack of passion and what results is a didactic presentation that fails to inspire.
Nashville Shakespeare Festival invites you to journey to a magical island for a story filled with laughter, enduring wisdom and beautiful poetry when they present The Tempest at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre - the company's third winter production there - January 14-31. Public performances of The Tempest, directed by Claire Syler, NSF education director, will be held Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m.
If, indeed, 'it takes a village,' and if, as the poets say, 'no man is an island,' then perhaps no art form is more collaborative than live theatre. With a village of artists backstage and offstage assuring that each production is mounted, then coming to life during each performance, the collaborative effort is renewed. And what audiences see onstage is the collaboration of artists, the people who comprise the acting ensemble, the folks who bring the stagebound script to life, sending it soaring into our imaginations.
While there were plenty of productions to be excited about during the 2009 Nashville theatre season, as with any year the most memorable theatrical moments were due to the many fine individual performances seen on local stages. Featuring a blend of both veterans and newcomers, the 2009 season proved once again that Music City has an impressive retinue of actors to call upon. Whether it's in an emotionally draining drama, a laugh-out-loud comedy or a joyously inspiring musical, there are actors here who can deliver the goods, time after time.
While she is one of hundreds of people who pursue their theatrical art in Nashville year after year, in many ways Denice Hicks might be considered 'the face' of Nashville theatre, so prevalent has been her influence and her presence among the city's best. As the artistic director of Nashville Shakespeare Festival, she leads one of the city's most vibrant professional companies, and she is widely considered one of the region's most capable individuals, lauded for her artistic vision, her impeccable timing and her seemingly boundless energy.
You can tell a great deal about the Nashville theatre community through the productions staged, you can read feature stories and reviews until the cows come home, but to really know what a life in the theatre is all about in Nashville, you have to get to know the people, the personalities who give Music City its dramatic flair. The first person profiled in this series is Brenda Sparks, an accomplished actress, respected director, competent producer and stage manager, wife and mother...Brenda wears a lot of different hats in her day-to-day life and she wears them well.
With Tennessee Repertory Theatre celebrating its 25th year as one of the nation's premier regional theatres, it's only appropriate that the season kicks off with a revival of Robert Harling's iconic Southern comedy Steel Magnolias, running October 3-24 at the Andrew Johnson Theatre at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
Bringing together the rich characters and wry humor of celebrated Texas playwright Horton Foote (The Trip to Bountiful, The Young Man from Atlanta), Dividing the Estate 'deftly combines the claustrophobia of the Southern families from Tennessee Williams, the physical and psychological dysfunctions of Eugene O'Neill's families, and the humor and pathos of small town Southern life portrayed by Flannery O'Connor,' according to a press release from Tennessee Rep.
Directed by Tennessee Rep's singularly accomplished producing artistic director Rene Dunshee Copeland, this fine production is so much more than a mere revival of the company's 1989 production, although it once again stars Mary Jane Harvill in the role of M'Lynn. This staging is perhaps most newsworthy because it pairs Harvill onstage for the first time with her daughter, Marin Miller, who plays the doomed Shelby in Steel Magnolias. As the launch of this silver anniversary season, perhaps no one could come up with a more apropos project: Harvill was one of the founding actors of the company in the mid-1980s, while Miller has left her own sizable imprint on the company in more recent years. Copeland is to be commended for her decision to cast the mother-and-daughter team and for her lovingly felt and richly etched production.
With Tennessee Repertory Theatre celebrating its 25th year as one of the nation's premier regional theatres, it's only appropriate that the season kicks off with a revival of Robert Harling's iconic Southern comedy Steel Magnolias, running October 3-24 at the Andrew Johnson Theatre at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
With Tennessee Repertory Theatre celebrating its 25th year as one of the nation's premier regional theatres, it's only appropriate that the season kicks off with a revival of Robert Harling's iconic Southern comedy Steel Magnolias, running October 3-24 at the Andrew Johnson Theatre at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
Since returning to the world of theatre via BroadwayWorld.com about a month ago, after an almost seven year absence, I've had the invaluable opportunity of reconnecting with a number of old acquaintances and renewing long-dormant friendships and relationships with people connected to the theatre scene in Nashville and throughout Tennesseee.
Tennessee Repertory Theatre will celebrate its 25th season of live, critically acclaimed theatre by welcoming a mix of familiar favorites and new faces.
Tennessee Repertory Theatre kicked off its 25th anniversary season celebration Wednesday night with Nashville Scenes, a look ahead to the company's upcoming season, held at The Acorn restaurant and co-sponsored by the Nashville Scene.
Tennessee Repertory Theatre will launch its 25th anniversary celebration with Nashville Scenes on Wednesday, July 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.(CDT) at The Acorn restaurant, 114 28th Avenue North.
Tennessee Repertory Theatre will partner with The Acorn restaurant and Nashville Scene for a special event to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. The evening-titled 'Nashville Scenes'-- will feature staged readings of scenes from Tennessee Rep's 2009-2010 season and hot hors d'oeuvres and will be held Wednesday, July 29 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at The Acorn (114 28th Avenue North).
Tennessee Repertory Theatre will launch its 25th anniversary celebration with Nashville Scenes on Wednesday, July 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.(CDT) at The Acorn restaurant, 114 28th Avenue North.
Inevitable Theatre Company proudly follows up its inaugural season with a dynamic selection of music and madness in 2008-09, including the area premieres of two cutting-edge plays and the world premiere concert reading of a new alt-rock musical.
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