Michael Adcock News

We're back! After an extended absence due to The Last Five Years (we directed it to boffo notices from our critical colleagues), The 2015 First Night Honors (which played to SRO crowds at Chaffin's Barn in September) and a sense of overwhelming malaise and ennui (we are ever so dramatic at times), BWW Nashville's Critic's Choice is back on the interwebs, offering you our insights and advice on the shows that are coming up and what you should try to find time to see - or to avoid at all costs, depending on our perspective.

Circle Players present the Tony Award-winning hit musical AMERICAN IDIOT, based on Green Day's GRAMMY Award-winning multi-platinum album, featuring music by Green Day, lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The show runs tonight, August 20, through August 30, 2015 at the Tennessee State University Strange Performing Arts Center's Cox-Lewis Theater, located on Alameda Street on TSU campus). Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast!

Circle Players present the Tony Award-winning hit musical AMERICAN IDIOT, based on Green Day's GRAMMY Award-winning multi-platinum album, featuring music by Green Day, lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The show runs August 20-30, 2015 at the Tennessee State University Strange Performing Arts Center's Cox-Lewis Theater, located on Alameda Street on TSU campus). Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast!

The weekend is upon us and that means that tonight is opening night for a couple of new shows (with performances continuing through the weekend) and closing performances of several others, including Newsies (at TPAC), Circle Players' The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and the farewell production of GroundWorks Theatre's Starlite Waltz. Meanwhile, John Chaffin's Cliffhanger continues at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre and Cumberland County Playhouse continues its 50th anniversary season with a whole slate of terrific shows.

Disney's Newsies will claim Nashville as their own hometown with a weeklong run at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center beginning Tuesday, Osborne and Eppler's Southern Fried Nuptials takes the stage in Woodbury, and local favorite Geoff Davin unveils his latest theatrical creation - Adamenses Huckster…and there's plenty of theater continuing this week to keep you occupied all week long!

It's the official kick-off to summer, what with the Memorial Day Weekend upon us already - seriously, where did the time go? - and while we're certain your calendar is filled with cookouts, fireworks (we don't save all the sparklers for July 4th do we?) and swimming (if it warms up enough here in frosty Tennessee, where it's in the 50s as I type). But being the theatrical fanatic that we (using either the editorial "we" or the royal "we"…just take your pick) are, we would like to humbly suggest you make your way to the theater in the next few days to get some artistic inspiration.

It's been a busy spring in Tennessee and as we head into summer, you can rest assured that things are only going to get busier - and more interesting. Our advice? Hydrate yourself (drink plenty of water before heading out), dress comfortably (but tasteful) and head out for a night at the theater. You'll be inspired, entertained and possibly even transported to some far-away world of wonder and imagination. 

The weekend is upon us, which means you have just a few hours to figure out a game plan so you don't miss out on all the fun that's happening all around you. We've got the goods on theatrical events this weekend, to save wear and tear on your brain, and we can offer some sound advice: Just do as we say and everything will be fine. Resistance is futile.

The Center for the Arts presents the musical Bonnie and Clyde May 15 - 31, 2015. Frank Wildhorn's electrifying story of love, adventure and the crimes that captured the attention of the country is fearless in its betrayal of the reckless young lovers.

There always seems to be so much to do in Nashville, from a creative and theatrical standpoint, we're often asked for recommendations of what's not to be missed on our calendar. Well, have no fear, gentle readers, we're at your service, at the ready to tell you of the shows you really should see this week and in the coming weeks…

The Center for the Arts presents the musical Bonnie and Clyde May 15 - 31, 2015. Frank Wildhorn's electrifying story of love, adventure and the crimes that captured the attention of the country is fearless in its betrayal of the reckless young lovers.

In a town where everyone from your next-door neighbor to your favorite barista - from your dental hygienist to your manicurist, your seatmate on the bus, your friendly neighborhood bartender and maybe even the guy who does your taxes - is a songwriter, you'll find that there's never a shortage of opinions on the topic of favorite songs. Ask a cross-section of Nashville theater-types what their favorite love song is from the annals of musical theater and you're going to get a barrage of answers.

Today, in our latest installment of Nashville Theater 101, we introduce two more members of our wildly divergent, almost prototypically dysfunctional theater family: directors Bethany Langford and Tim Larson, both of whom have been represented by productions onstage of recent vintage.

Although it seems hard to believe, Thanksgiving is this Thursday and as we reflect on the people, places and things that have made us truly happy this year and makes us most thankful, in general, we're also considering what things theatrical for which we are especially grateful in 2014.

Playhouse Nashville has quickly established itself in the local theatre landscape on the strength of productions described by reviewers as "wickedly funny" (SEXTAPE & OTHER STORIES), "stunning" (DEVIL SEDAN), and "devastatingly honest" (ULTRASOUND). That well-earned reputation for eliciting memorable performances from talented actors working on original material continues with the newly announced ensemble for SCARECROWS WILL NEVER SEE THE SUNSET.

The Center for the Arts will present the musical comedy 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' weekends today, March 7-23, with Today and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

The Center for the Arts will present the musical comedy 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' weekends March 7-23, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

The Boiler Room Theatre, Williamson County's original and longest-running professional theatre company, will stage acclaimed American musical, Floyd Collins. The production will run from tonight, April 19th through May 4th at the theatre's iconic namesake venue in the historic Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd., Building Six, in Franklin, Tennessee.

The Boiler Room Theatre, Williamson County's original and longest-running professional theatre company, will stage acclaimed American musical, Floyd Collins. The production will run from April 19th through May 4th at the theatre's iconic namesake venue in the historic Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd., Building Six, in Franklin, Tennessee.