Paul Gatrell News

When eight of Nashville's best-known theater visionaries are lauded for their inspiration, commitment and leadership during the 2010 First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, eleven of the region's brightest young actors also will be recognized for their own theatrical achievements and the promise of much more to come.

During the Symposium, the eight honorees will answer questions posed by Ellis during the first half of the evening's program. Following intermission, questions from the audience will be included as the eight honorees, each of whom has been chosen for his or her lifetime of achievement and continued dedication to creating rich, vibrant and compelling live theater in Nashville, share the wealth of their knowledge with the audience.

When eight of Nashville's best-known theater visionaries are lauded for their inspiration, commitment and leadership during the 2010 First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, eleven of the region's brightest young actors also will be recognized for their own theatrical achievements and the promise of much more to come.

During the Symposium, the eight honorees will answer questions posed by Ellis during the first half of the evening's program. Following intermission, questions from the audience will be included as the eight honorees, each of whom has been chosen for his or her lifetime of achievement and continued dedication to creating rich, vibrant and compelling live theater in Nashville, share the wealth of their knowledge with the audience.

First Night season in Nashville kicked into high gear on Monday night, August 16, as some of Nashville's best-loved actors released their 'inner Tyra' during the First Night Fashion Extravaganza at Macy's Green Hills. Some of the season's hottest Red Carpet Fashions were featured in the fashion show in advance of The First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, slated for Sunday, September 19, at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre.

First Night season in Nashville kicked into high gear on Monday night, August 16, as some of Nashville's best-loved actors showed off their 'inner Tyra' during the First Night Fashion Extravaganza at Macy's Green Hills. Some of the season's hottest Red Carpet Fashions were featured in the fashion show in advance of The First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, slated for Sunday, September 19, at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre.

All the hottest Red Carpet Fashions from Macy's Green Hills, modeled by some of your favorite Nashville actors, will be in the spotlight just in time for you to pick out your own Red Carpet Look for the return of Nashville's favorite theatrical event: THE FIRST NIGHT NASHVILLE THEATRE HONORS (Sunday, September 19 at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre).

All the hottest Red Carpet Fashions from Macy's Green Hills, modeled by some of your favorite Nashville actors, will be in the spotlight just in time for you to pick out your own Red Carpet Look for the return of Nashville's favorite theatrical event: THE FIRST NIGHT NASHVILLE THEATRE HONORS (Sunday, September 19 at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre).

Eight of the leading lights of Nashville theater were announced Monday night as the Class of 2010 Honorees for the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, to be presented Sunday, September 19. The Hard Rock Cafe Nashville's Reverb Room was the setting for the preview party and announcement of honorees.

Eight of the leading lights of Nashville theater were announced Monday night as the Class of 2010 Honorees for the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, to be presented Sunday, September 19. The Hard Rock Cafe Nashville's Reverb Room was the setting for the preview party and announcement of honorees.

Provocative and compelling, John Patrick Shanley's script for Doubt remains stagebound - albeit a Pulitzer Prize-winning, stagebound masterpiece - until a confident director and cast take on the challenge of mounting a production, in which to breathe life into the characters created so vividly by the playwright on the written page. For the next two weekends, Nashville audiences are given the opportunity to see Doubt in a remarkably acted and superbly staged production at David Lipscomb University's Shamblin Theatre.

One of this season's most beautifully acted productions, Vincent in Brixton is moving and emotional, funny and evocative. Thanks to Feehely's wealth of experience and his discerning eye, it is a lively affair, completely engaging the audience in the tale being told onstage. By turns immensely entertaining and thoroughly inspiring, Vincent in Brixton is also heart-wrenching in its candor and honesty and the multi-layered performances of Feehely's talented cast only gives the play deeper meaning and resonance.

If, indeed, 'it takes a village,' and if, as the poets say, 'no man is an island,' then perhaps no art form is more collaborative than live theatre. With a village of artists backstage and offstage assuring that each production is mounted, then coming to life during each performance, the collaborative effort is renewed. And what audiences see onstage is the collaboration of artists, the people who comprise the acting ensemble, the folks who bring the stagebound script to life, sending it soaring into our imaginations.

To suggest that playwright Sarah Ruhl is obsessed with death and dying might be too much of a stretch, but it's clear that she has a rather unique view of the subject. Her earlier works, The Clean House, Eurydice and Passion Play, a Cycle, all focus on death and dying and the accompanying rituals, and in Dead Man's Cell Phone, she returns to that fertile ground once again-with satisfying results.

Actors Bridge Ensemble presents DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE by Sarah Ruhl (a Nashville Premiere)

July continues to be a busy month for Nashville-area theatre companies as five new productions are slated to open by week's end, including the world premiere of a new musical, the Nashville premiere of a new comedy by Sarah Ruhl and a production of Fame, the Musical, from Middle Tennessee's oldest community theatre organization.

Actors Bridge Ensemble presents DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE by Sarah Ruhl (a Nashville Premiere)