Renee Robinson News

When one hears the name, William Shakespeare, one often thinks of tragic lovers, murderous revenge, or tormented royals. If you have not yet become a converted worshipper of The Great Bard, you may even dread the idea of sitting through what you may expect to be hours worth of old, confusing language which is beyond hope of translation, and opt to take a nap instead. Well, whatever expectations you may have from the timeless theatrical master's material, you may leave them at the steps of the Center for the Arts as you enter the fantastical and delightfully entertaining world of A Midsummer Night's Dream. While this story is similar to the classic Romeo and Juliet tale through its introduction of the two star crossed lovers which the show follows, the magical forest on the outskirts of Athens (or, as the Center's production depicts, a world inspired by 1920's New York) is anything but reminiscent of fair Verona or its tragic occurrences when civil blood made civil hands unclean.

Looking into the future, you'll find a number of new productions on tap for your entertainment pleasure, thanks to the efforts of theater companies all over Middle Tennessee. Here's our calendar for October 15, 2018, to help you plot your course through the end of the year...

Looking into the future, you'll find a number of new productions on tap for your entertainment pleasure, thanks to the efforts of theater companies all over Middle Tennessee. Here's our calendar for October 1, 2018, to help you plot your course through the end of the year...

Ten strangers are assembled to Indian Island as the guests of the mysterious U.N Owen (or 'unknown') in Agatha Christie's legendary classic, And Then There Were None. However, as the initial dinner party is interrupted by the prerecorded voice of the group's absent host accusing each individual of murder, things take a dangerous turn. One unidentified guest among the ten (and then there were nine, and then there were eight, and then... well you know how it goes) begins to off his or her cohabitants one by one through the dark nursery rhyme which becomes a maddening and suspenseful sort of prophesy of impending doom to the terrorized group. Now playing at The Arts Center of Cannon County through October 13th, the Cyndie Verbeten directed production and her team of deeply skilled artists have assembled a production that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, constantly questioning each potential mastermind, and leaves theatre-goers begging to know who is responsible for the shocking deaths at hand.

Director Renee Robinson brings the Frank Wildhorn musical Jekyll & Hyde - based on Robert Louis Stevenson's iconic novella - to life at Murfreesboro's Center for the Arts, opening Friday, October 5 and continuing through October 21.

Looking into the future, you'll find a number of new productions on tap for your entertainment pleasure, thanks to the efforts of theater companies all over Middle Tennessee. Here's our calendar for October 1, 2018, to help you plot your course through the end of the year...

Looking into the future, you'll find a number of new productions on tap for your entertainment pleasure, thanks to the efforts of theater companies all over Middle Tennessee. Here's our calendar to help you plot your course...

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, will return to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for a five-day, seven-performance engagement at the David H. Koch Theater from June 13-17.

As the Ailey organization heads into its 60th year, Ailey Extension will offer a variety of indoor and outdoor dance classes free to the public this summer. In collaboration with the NYC Parks, Ailey Extension brings dance to public parks in Brooklyn and the Bronx from June 5-July 14, offering eight technique and choreography workshops, including events dedicated to Alvin Ailey's acclaimed masterpiece Revelations. To celebrate NYC Dance Week, a citywide festival from June 14-23, Ailey Extension welcomes new students* to try over 30 free classes at The Ailey Studios in Manhattan, New York City's largest building dedicated to dance.  

Opera Orlando presents the East Coast premiere of the Pacific Opera Project's stunning production of Mozart's legendary comic opera at 7:30 p.m. on May 31 and June 2 in the Plaza Live.

Artistic Director Robert Battle has announced exciting highlights to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Lincoln Center season at the David H. Koch Theater June 13 - 17. In addition to three diverse programs - Celebrate Women, Ailey, Then & Now, and Musical Icons - the engagement also includes The Ailey Spirit Gala benefit; three new Company dancers; and a series of activities for all as Ailey enters its sixth decade.

Opera Orlando presents the East Coast premiere of the Pacific Opera Project's stunning production of Mozart's legendary comic opera at 7:30 p.m. on May 31 and June 2 in the Plaza Live.

Sometimes playwrights have a good idea for a script, but can't leave well enough alone. Such is the case with Laura Schelhardt and her world premiere commissioned play Digging Up Dessa, now playing in the Family Theater at Kennedy Center as part of the Women's Voices Theatre Festival.

Famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater marks its annual Kennedy Center engagement, February 6 11, with seven magnetic performances on the Opera House stage. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the company's performances include two D.C. debuts, three new productions, and a total of 10 works by a range of diverse choreographers. Alvin Ailey's American masterpiece Revelations will be performed as the finale for all seven programs.

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! It's May 17, 2017, and summer - or a reasonable facsimile thereof - has arrived in Nashville, with temperatures already climbing toward the 90s! When prompts the musical question: What's on your agenda for the summer of 2017? Anything we should know about and, more importantly, write about?

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! The calendar (not that I have an actual calendar hanging on a wall or anything like that, mind you) tells us that today is May 9, 2017, which prompts us to ask the musical question: Why aren't you all better at marketing your shows?

Murfreesboro's Center for the Arts presents Little Shop of Horrors on its mainstage, April 28 through May 21. Renee Robinson directs a cast that includes Matthew Hayes Hunter as Seymour Krelbourn, Lindsay Pfeiffer as Audrey and Howard Snyder as Mr. Mushnik, owner of the eponymous "little shop."

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! We wish you a wonderful start to your work week while posing the musical question: Are you as water-logged as we are? The rains in Tennessee over the weekend are, according to the Weather Channel, on their way out of the area and sunshine is just around the corner…just in time, we say! There's a lot of theater coming up this week and we've got shows to see and people to watch! Greetings to today's cover model Jordan Tudor Haggard who may or may not be enjoying a butterscotch sundae to kick off her day while she catches up on today's news of a theatrical bent.

On Friday, December 9, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater debuted Hope Boykin's r-Evolution, Dream., inspired by the sermons and speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. Nicholas Ashe, Jasmine Guy, Khalil Kain, Bevy Smith, Phylicia Rashad, Billy Porter and Joe Morton were in attendance for the world premiere, which will be performed during the five-week holiday season.

Have you decided on your Halloween costume yet? You better get to work since it's only four days until the big night is upon us and you won't want to caught with your pants down, so to speak. May we respectfully suggest a trip to your local, neighborhood theater? Not only will you be entertained, transformed and transported - we're willing to be on this happening - but you'll also probably get some great costume ideas in the process! And there is the added bonus that the theater company might be in the business of renting out costumes which would make your efforts even easier than you first thought…