Jersey Boys veterans Jared Bradshaw and John Hickman join Nashville's own Carrie Tillis and Laura Matula to head the cast of Studio Tenn's production of Guys & Dolls, opening August 18-28 at the Franklin Theatare, kicking off the company's second season - their first in their new venue.
Middle Tennessee theatre company Studio Tenn kicks off its inaugural season at the legendary Franklin Theatre on August 18-28 with a production of the classic Broadway musical 'Guys and Dolls.'
Jersey Boys veterans Jared Bradshaw and John Hickman will join Nashville's own Carrie Tillis and Laura Matula to head the cast of Studio Tenn's production of Guys & Dolls, running August 18-28 at the Franklin Theatare, kicking off the company's second season - their first in their new venue.
The historic Franklin Theatre, which re-opens June 3 after extensive renovations, today announced that critically acclaimed Studio Tenn - the professional theater troupe headed by Matt Logan and Jake Speck - will be the resident live theatre company at the venue, presenting classic plays and musicals as part of the new mission to offer the highest quality live entertainment in Middle Tennessee.
Bonnie Keen is, without doubt, one of the most fearless actors to ever take the stage in Nashville. With a gorgeous voice and a talent that is worthy of praise, she will do whatever it takes to connect with her audience, lacing her performances with warmth, wit and wonder. The first time I saw Bonnie onstage was years ago, back in the day, when she played the Witch in Circle Players' production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods; she was mesmerizing. Savvy and smart, she knows what works and what doesn't work onstage and in that role, in which she goes from ugly and twisted to beautiful and elegant, she displayed a range that other actors envy. At the time she did Into the Woods, she was taking a break from her burgeoning recording career: She's an award-winning member of the contemporary Christian music trio First Call.
Matt Logan could easily have rested on his laurels and simply re-staged the second offering of showHOPE's Cinderella, the Enchanted Edition in exactly the same manner as he did in 2010 - it was a magical evening, at the very least, and it would certainly be easier, acceptable even to his most loyal fans, to have done so. Instead, as expected, Logan, one of the region's finest and most inventive stage directors, chose to re-imagine his vision for Cinderella, giving it a more sophisticated presentation and breathing new vigor into the project while tapping heretofore unknown reserves of creativity among his cast and crew - and even himself.
Broadway star Eden Espinosa joins the cast of Show Hope's second annual spring celebration production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Enchanted Edition, on Friday, April 15, at Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Espinosa, who gained critical acclaim for her performances in Wicked and Rent, will play the role of The Fairy Godmother in the second annual staging of the musical.
Broadway star Eden Espinosa joins the cast of Show Hope's second annual spring celebration production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Enchanted Edition, on Friday, April 15, at Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Espinosa, who gained critical acclaim for her performances in Wicked and Rent, will play the role of The Fairy Godmother in the second annual staging of the musical.
Nashville's Studio Tenn theatre company concludes its inaugural season with Tennessee Williams' classic play The Glass Menagerie, closing February 27 at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre. Williams' play is an award-winning portrayal of a disintegrating family during the depression and is the play that introduced him as one of the preeminent American Playwrights of the 20th century.
Make no mistake about it: Street Theatre Company's Chess in Concert is filled to overflowing with an embarrassment of riches. If for no other reason, you should see the concert (onstage through Sunday, February 27) for Laura Matula's bravura performance as Florence Vassy - the American chess champion's second who falls into a torrid affair with his Russian counterpart - which is as stunning as any star turn you will see by any woman in musical theater anywhere. (There. I've said it and I mean it with all my heart: Laura Matula has a spectacularly expressive voice and her dramatic performance in this role is richly shaded and nuanced. In short, she should be a very big star!)
In a production brought to life by a talented quartet of seasoned players, Studio Tenn's The Glass Menagerie is the perfect tribute to the Southern Gothic playwright, mere weeks before the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth in Columbus, Mississippi, on March 26, 1911. Bringing Williams' archetypal and semi-autobiographical play to the stage with style and wit, Studio Tenn rings down the curtain on its inaugural season, scoring yet another artistic hit in the process, following its hugely successful productions of Hello, Dolly! and A Christmas Carol.
Nashville's Studio Tenn theatre company concludes its inaugural season with Tennessee Williams' classic play The Glass Menagerie, running February 17-27 at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre. Williams' play is an award-winning portrayal of a disintegrating family during the depression and is the play that introduced him as one of the preeminent American playwrights of the 20th century.
Nan Gurley stars as Amanda Wingfield in Studio Tenn's upcoming production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, presented at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre Feburary 17-27. The Glass Menagerie will conclude Studio Tenn's inaugural season, which has also included critically acclaimed productions of Hello, Dolly! and A Christmas Carol. Williams' enduring classic is an award-winning portrayal of a disintegrating family during the depression of the 1930's and introduced him as one of the preeminent American playwrights of the 20th century.
Nashville's Studio Tenn theatre company concludes its inaugural season with Tennessee Williams' classic play The Glass Menagerie, running February 17-27 at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre. Williams' play is an award-winning portrayal of a disintegrating family during the depression and is the play that introduced him as one of the preeminent American playwrights of the 20th century.
Matt Logan is a force of nature. Whether he's helming a burgeoning professional theater company as its artistic director, directing and designing a new production, creating yet another work of theatrical visual art for which he's become justifiably, well, famous - you name it, he does it and he does it well. And he does it in Nashville, which is not exactly the first place you'd think of finding someone of his talent and stature. But Nashville is his home and that's where his heart is, obviously.
Sweeping views of the City served as a backdrop last Monday evening when Ginger and Moshi Alafi hosted an exclusive event for high level supporters to the SF Playhouse and Bill English, Artistic Director announced plans for their eighth season of award winning theatre. The SF Playhouse has set an enviable standard for theatre production and in the process has attracted the Bay Area's best talent to its stage; this season will continue that trend.
Nan Gurley stars as Amanda Wingfield in Studio Tenn's upcoming production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, presented at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre Feburary 17-27. The Glass Menagerie will conclude Studio Tenn's inaugural season, which has also included critically acclaimed productions of Hello, Dolly! and A Christmas Carol. Williams' enduring classic is an award-winning portrayal of a disintegrating family during the depression of the 1930's and introduced him as one of the preeminent American playwrights of the 20th century.
Think about it: What if you were watching The King and I and when Anna and the King of Siam started to sing 'Shall We Dance' and they just stood there, it just wouldn't have much of an impact, would it? Or if all those budding chorus members in A Chorus Line just stood around and talked about dancing but never did even the most basic shuffle-ball-change...sounds pretty bleak, doesn't it? That's where choreographers come into the picture; they collaborate with the director, the music director and the cast members to create movement that elevates every musical comedy. Without them, the action remains stagebound and static. A choreographer allows your heart to soar along with the performers onstage, making musical comedy all the more compelling and transformative. These talented men and women created remarkable and memorable work in 2010 as First Night's Top Choreographers...
If theater audiences in Nashville and Middle Tennessee owe a huge debt of gratitude to the directors who helm the year's finest productions, you can only imagine how the actors lucky enough to work with those insightful, creative men and women must be! The Top Ten Directors of 2010 have resumes anyone would be proud to claim as their own and when you consider that they - year after year - excel at what they do, then you cannot help but be impressed by the breadth and depth of their abilities. Frankly, it boggles the mind. These are Nashville's best directors of 2010...
Not all of the Top Ten Lists announced at Winter's First Night on Sunday, January 9, were serious, high-toned salutes to all that is special and spectacular about live theater in Nashville. Sure, most of them were heartfelt and memorable, but some were (how shall I put this?) off-kilter, tongue-in-cheek and just plain fun. And not all the lists were limited to only ten entries; in fact, some had many more than that. But, for your reading pleasure, we present them to you without any real explanation. You'll have to figure that all out for yourself!
