When word spread quickly among Nashville's theater community that Nan Gurley had been cast as Mama Rose in Studio Tenn's 2015-16 season opening production of Gypsy, the response was universal: artistic director Matt Logan once again had proven his brilliance. Simply put, Nan Gurley - a member of Nashville theater's first family - was the perfect choice to play the overpowering and flawed mother of stripper/entertainer/author/raconteur Gypsy Rose Lee.
There are certain things audiences have come to expect in a new production from Studio Tenn, the Franklin-based, Nashville-nurtured professional theater company headed up by Matt Logan and Jake Speck: You know it will be beautifully designed, sumptuously mounted and impeccably cast.
We pride ourselves on our bounteous Southern hospitality here in Nashville, so who's gonna explain this: On Thursday, as thousands of country music fans gathered downtown for CMA Fest and thousands more fans of every musical genre you can think of were headed southward for the Bonnaroo Music Festival - just another summer in Tennessee, mind you - a truck spilled its load all over Interstate 65-S, adding to the hot, humid atmosphere with a whole mess of fish parts. Yep, you heard it right: smelly, disgusting fish parts baking on the hot asphalt under the blazing sun.
To know Megan Murphy Chambers is to love her: Make no mistake about it, she's as beloved among Nashville's theater community as anyone you could possibly imagine. Her stage appearances are noteworthy and memorable, to be certain, but it's her offstage personality that proves how much everyone loves her. She's thoughtful and kind, funny and charming, sweet and entertaining.
Despite being a veteran of five Studio Tenn productions already, Patrick Waller - who's clearly one of Nashville theater's favorite thespians - admits being a bit terrified by taking on a new role in the company's upcoming rendition of the iconic musical The Wizard of Oz, playing the Schermerhorn Symphony Center this weekend.
Finding it difficult to get into the holiday spirit? Studio Tenn has the perfect antidote to the grey, cloudy and wet days of early December in Nashville: It's A Wonderful Life-the company's production of the stage adaptation of the iconic holiday film. If it doesn't put you in the right frame of mind, then we suspect nothing will.
Nashville Repertory Theatre begins their 30th anniversary season with a bang. Sporting a new name (they were formerly known at Tennessee Repertory Theatre), Nashville Rep presents Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. With direction by Rene D. Copeland, a book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd tells the horrific story of love, murder, deception, and deceitfulness.
Tennessee Repertory opens its 30th season of live, professional theatre with Stephen Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Sweeney Todd runs October 4 -October 25 at TPAC's Johnson Theater (with preview performances tonight and tomorrow, October 2 - 3). Tennessee Rep's 2008 production of this multiple Tony Award-winning musical had a completely sold out run, and was a smash hit with critics and theatre-goers alike.
Tennessee Repertory opens its 30th season of live, professional theatre with Stephen Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Sweeney Todd runs October 4 -October 25 at TPAC's Johnson Theater (with preview performances October 2 - 3). Tennessee Rep's 2008 production of this multiple Tony Award-winning musical had a completely sold out run, and was a smash hit with critics and theatre-goers alike.
Tennessee Repertory Theatre has worked with Pulitzer Prize-winners, Tony Award-winners, and Oscar Award-winners (largely through its burgeoning Ingram New Works Project). And now Nashville's flagship professional theatre can add a Heisman Trophy-winner to that list: Eddie George. The former Tennessee Titan will headline the February production of The Whipping Man.
Tennessee Repertory Theatre will present its first-ever musical REPaloud staged reading with the Tony-winning Grey Gardens. The REPaloud for Grey Gardens will take place on January 17 - 18 at 7:00 pm at Nashville Children's Theatre (25 Middleton Street).
Barter Theatre wraps up its 2013 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights with a mini-production of 'Hanging Mary' at Barter Stage II. Written by Matthew Carlton, and set in Erwin, Tennessee, the play depicts an infamous event in a fascinating story. There are only eight performances scheduled between July 30 and August 10.
Barter Theatre wraps up its 2013 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights with a mini-production of 'Hanging Mary' at Barter Stage II. Written by Matthew Carlton, and set in Erwin, Tennessee, the play depicts an infamous event in a fascinating story. There are only eight performances scheduled between July 30 and August 10.
Denver Center Attractions (DCA) in association with lonesome road productions present THE DOYLE & DEBBIE SHOW playing The Garner Galleria Theatre. Local favorite, Lauren Shealy, steps into the role of Debbie now through July 14. Tickets are on sale now at denvercenter.org.
Denver Center Attractions in association with lonesome road productions present THE DOYLE & DEBBIE SHOW playing The Garner Galleria Theatre now through July 14.
Barter Theatre is accepting submissions of new plays for its 13th annual Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights (AFPP) taking place July 5th through August 12th, 2013. Founded in 2001, Barter's AFPP provides an outlet for new plays and playwrights with a distinctly Appalachian voice. Any original play that has not been previously published or professionally produced may be submitted for consideration by March 1, 2013.
BroadwayWorld brings you the Best of Charlotte in the year 2012. Check out the Top Theatre Stories from each month during in the year 2012. We look forward to another exciting year of theatre in 2013!
Legend has it-as stories like this are wont to go-that Matt Logan has always been something of a genius, a wunderkind if you will, since he first found his way home to the theater. An integral part of the theater scene in Nashville, a city where creativity abounds and the imagination flourishes, Logan has made a name for himself as artistic director of Studio Tenn, the theater company he heads with managing director Jake Speck. Together, the two men have created a theater company that is widely respected by actors and audiences alike, gaining acclaim from critical types who regularly heap praise upon its productions.
Tennessee Repertory Theatre will present Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, adapted by Jeffrey Hatched, based on the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde runs tonight, October 13 - November 3 at TPAC's Johnson Theater.
