Gary Hoff News

Eight individuals, whose names attest to the depth and breadth of live theatrical performance in Nashville, have been named as members of the 2012 Class of First Night Honorees and will be feted with a special tribute concert on Sunday, September 2, at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre.

Members of the 2012 First Night Honors' Class of Honorees will be revealed to the public tonight, July 23, during the First Night Preview Party, which will be held at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, 8204 Highway 100 in Nashville.

Members of the 2012 First Night Honors' Class of Honorees will be revealed to the public Monday night, July 23, during the First Night Preview Party, which will be held at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, 8204 Highway 100 in Nashville.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the crown jewel of Ravinia's classical programming, kicks off its annual summer residency at the festival with a concert of American favorites at 5 p.m. on July 4.

Accordo, established in 2009, is a Minnesota-based chamber group. Its third season, which opened with a program of Romantic String Sextets and closes with tonight's May 14 offering, is presented by The Schubert Club, Northrop Concerts and Lectures, and Kate Nordstrum Projects at the National Historic Landmark Christ Church Lutheran.

Martha Wilkinson is a force of nature-onstage, offstage, no matter where she goes, the woman is a force of nature and, throughout her career, she's taken on some of musical theater's most coveted roles proving along the way that she can do virtually anything. Now, in Tennessee Repertory Theatre's staging of Little Shop of Horrors, Wilkinson adds yet another stellar performance to her resume, playing the campy musical's offbeat heroine with the ease, grace and unerring comic timing that is her stock in trade. In short, Wilkinson's performance as Audrey, the flower shop girl with a penchant for ending up with the wrong guy, is one of the best we've seen of the role and its one that yet again establishes her as Music City's queen of musical theater.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre presents the America cult classic musical Little Shop of Horrors, music and lyrics by Alan Menken and book by Howard Ashman. Little Shop of Horrors runs tonight, April 28 - May 19 at TPAC's Johnson Theater.

Accordo, established in 2009, is a Minnesota-based chamber group. Its third season, which opened with a program of Romantic String Sextets on February 6 and closes with the May 14 offering, is presented by The Schubert Club, Northrop Concerts and Lectures, and Kate Nordstrum Projects at the National Historic Landmark Christ Church Lutheran.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will present the America cult classic musical Little Shop of Horrors, music and lyrics by Alan Menken and book by Howard Ashman. Little Shop of Horrors runs April 28 - May 19 at TPAC's Johnson Theater (with preview performances April 26 - 27).

Ravinia Festival President and CEO Welz Kauffman announced the festival's 2012 season, which offers more than 100 separate events exemplifying most musical genres, including the 77th residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The summer boasts a variety of music's legends from Philip Glass to James Taylor, along with 43 debuts, including Glee and Wicked star Idina Menzel, reggae master Jimmy Cliff, classic rocker Santana, Grammy-and-Oscar sensation Esperanza Spalding, and Musical America's "conductor of the year" Jaap van Zweden. Ravinia Music Director James Conlon celebrates the 35th anniversary of his own festival debut as his contract is extended through 2014.

Starring a quartet of fine Nashville actors-Shelean Newman, Jeff Boyet and Shannon Hoppe welcome David Alford back to Tennessee Rep's stage to complete their not-so-genial foursome-Reza's darkly comic script comes to life with seemingly effortless ease, thanks to Copeland's direction, the aforementioned cadre of actors and the playwright's razor sharp dialogue.

Led by guest conductor Rossen Milanov, the Columbus Symphony celebrates the grand orchestral visions and intimate cultural voices of Kodály, Poulenc, and Prokofiev in works which take their Hungarian, French, and Russian folk traditions as musical inspiration.

The Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside has announced its initial line-up of shows for the Winter/Spring of 2012!

Directed by David Alford, who certainly knows his way around the breakroom (what with his own experiences playing Crumpet the elf, Sedaris' velvet smock/candy can tights-wearing doppelganger), The Santaland Diaries is the perfect seasonal antidote for the countless, treacly-sweet productions of A Christmas Carol that will dominate the Nashville theatrical landscape over the coming weeks.

A true American classic. A Tony Award-winning comedy. A soulful contemporary drama. And one of the most-loved American musicals of all time.

Six of the leading lights of the theater world in Tennessee will be recognized as members of the 2011 Class of First Night Honorees August 27-September 4 as First Night, the Nashville Theatre Honors hosts a series of theatrical events to celebrate their achievements and accomplishments.

First Night: The Honors Gala is set for Sunday, September 4, at the Troutt Theatre at Belmont University, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with the Red Carpet Event, hosted by Jennifer Richmond and Trey Palmer, with fashion commentary by Cary Street, Joshua Waldrep and Lisa Garner Harrison. Impresario Johnny Delarocco (aka John Pyka) will produce a special Red Carpet performance by his company just for First Night.