Larry Keeton News

Laura Thomas Sonn and Tyson Laemmel are two of the most talented, engaging, charming and capable musical theater stars to be found in Nashville and they bring such joy and life to their characters in The Wedding Singer that it's easy to overlook the problems with the show. Now onstage in a buoyant production from Circle Players, directed with style by Paul J. Cook, The Wedding Singer is only one of the latest examples in the current trend of movies made into stage musicals - and that's one trend I am so ready to be over.

In honor of Valentine's Day (and in a blatant rip-off of BroadwayWorld.com's similar query to the denizens of the Great White Way), we posed that very question to some of our favorite theater community-dwellers in yet another not-so-scientific survey. So, if you're thinking about putting together a playlist of favorite love songs - or if you're searching for the perfect tunes to play in the background while you set the scene for a romantic evening with your own Valentine, here are some suggestions...

As a dancer and choreographer, Cary Street's a pretty recognizable face in Nashville theater circles, having worked with Circle Players, Boiler Room Theatre, Towne Centre Theatre, Mansker Players, The Larry Keeton Theatre and so many more Tennessee theater companies. And that makes her an ideal choice to kick off This Dancer's Life, our newest series of interviews about the people who pursue their dreams of art and performance in Nashville.

Nashville theater favorite Cori Laemmel, via The Theater Bug, has big plans for area youngsters during Spring Break 2011: Gleek Week, a Glee-inspired performing arts camp culminating in special performances. The camp, which will be held at Donelson's Larry Keeton Theatre, is set for March 14-18, with the show on Saturday, March 19.

Lend me a Tenor features the Keeton Theatre debuts of several actors, including Gari Lynne a former New York actress and comedienne in the role of Diana, with Patrick Goedicke as the ill-fated tenor Tito Mirelli, and Miriam Truax as Maggie. Other cast members include Larry Rhodes as Mr. Saunders, Drewann Borsos as Maria Mirelli, Eileen Lowery as Julia, Neil Bergman as Max and Saburi Johnson as the bell hop.

Nashville's Circle Players opens the 2011 half of its current season with a Clay Hillwig-directed revival of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, the classic story of a working-class black family struggling to make it in Chicago after World War II. The play closes January 23 at the Larry Keeton Theatre in Donelson.

Lend me a Tenor features the Keeton Theatre debuts of several actors, including Gari Lynne a former New York actress and comedienne in the role of Diana, with Patrick Goedicke as the ill-fated tenor Tito Mirelli, and Miriam Truax as Maggie. Other cast members include Larry Rhodes as Mr. Saunders, Drewann Borsos as Maria Mirelli, Eileen Lowery as Julia, Neil Bergman as Max and Saburi Johnson as the bell hop.

Nashville's Circle Players opens the 2011 half of its current season with a Clay Hillwig-directed revival of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, the classic story of a working-class black familystruggling to make it in Chicago after World War II. The play opens January 7 at the Larry Keeton Theatre in Donelson, running through January 23.

Nashville's Circle Players opens the 2011 half of its current season with a Clay Hillwig-directed revival of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, the classic story of a working-class black familystruggling to make it in Chicago after World War II. The play opens January 7 at the Larry Keeton Theatre in Donelson, running through January 23.

Donelson's Larry Keeton Theatre will present the turn-of-the-century classic Meet Me in St. Louis, November 5-21, directed and choreographed by Kate Adams-Johnson, with music direction by Ginger Newman. The show, based on the beloved 1944 MGM movie, contains many of the popular songs from its film counterpart including 'The Trolley Song', 'The Boy Next Door', 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' and 'Meet Me In St. Louis.'

Truth be told, 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' is one of my all-time favorite holiday songs - sweetly sentimental, blending holiday hope with a certain melancholic sensibility that is perfect for the season. Thankfully, Casey Gilbert's rendition of the song (long associated with the unparalleled Judy Garland) in The Keeton Theatre's production of Meet Me in St. Louis is beautifully sung and Kate Adams-Johnson directs that particular scene with a seasoned hand and an imaginative, visual aesthetic.

Donelson's Larry Keeton Theatre will present the turn-of-the-century classic Meet Me in St. Louis, November 5-21, directed and choreographed by Kate Adams-Johnson, with music direction by Ginger Newman. The show, based on the beloved 1944 MGM movie, contains many of the popular songs from its film counterpart including 'The Trolley Song', 'The Boy Next Door', 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' and 'Meet Me In St. Louis.'

Donelson's Larry Keeton Theatre will present the turn-of-the-century classic Meet Me in St. Louis, November 5-21, directed and choreographed by Kate Adams-Johnson, with music direction by Ginger Newman. The show, based on the beloved 1944 MGM movie, contains many of the popular songs from its film counterpart including 'The Trolley Song', 'The Boy Next Door', 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' and 'Meet Me In St. Louis.'

Members of the Nashville theatre and dance community - including many performing companies and individual artists - will take part in ARTS for Nashville-Flood Relief Fundraiser, to be held Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at the Larry Keeton Theatre in Donelson. They will join forces to raise money for those people affected by the recent catastrophic flooding in Middle Tennessee. Proceeds from Saturday night's event will go to the Nashville Salvation Army's Local Flood Relief Direct Services. In addition, the Keeton Theatre will be collecting food items for Second Harvest Food Bank. Tickets for the show are $20 and are available online at www.ticketsnashville.com.

Members of the Nashville theatre and dance community - including many performing companies and individual artists - will take part in ARTS for Nashville-Flood Relief Fundraiser, to be held Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at the Larry Keeton Theatre in Donelson. They will join forces to raise money for those people affected by the recent catastrophic flooding in Middle Tennessee. Proceeds from Saturday night's event will go to the Nashville Salvation Army's Local Flood Relief Direct Services. In addition, the Keeton Theatre will be collecting food items for Second Harvest Food Bank. Tickets for the show are $20 and are available online at www.ticketsnashville.com.