Ryan Williams News

Director Elizabeth Hayes' staging of the play-which is based upon a work that proved to be Bixby's final story-is confident and creative, her expert handling of her ensemble heartfelt and thoughtful. In fact, it's Hayes' complete understanding of the play which elevates it far beyond what appears on the page. Her artful approach to the material allows it to transcend the obvious manipulation and sentimentality that pervades the script, adapted by Schenkman from Bixby's film script (his final one, he supposedly finished the script on his deathbed, after starting it in 1960) which he filmed on a shoestring budget in 2007.

The Carbonell Awards, the arts organization that 'recognizes and awards excellence in South Florida theatre,' today announced the nominations for the 2011 season.

Named as First Night's Outstanding Musical of 2011 was Lipscomb University Theatre's production of Hairspray, directed and choreographed by Justin Boccitto. ACT 1's production of American Buffalo, directed by Ryan Williams, claimed top honors as First Night's Oustanding Play of 2011, and the national touring company's Memphis, the Musical, which played Andrew Jackson Hall at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, was named as First Night's Outstanding Touring Production of 2011, besting productions of Spring Awakening, In The Heights, Wicked and Les Miserables.

With a capacity crowd of 200 people on hand at The Keeton Theatre, First Night founder and executive producer Jeffrey Ellis, who covers theater, opera and dance throughout Tennessee for BroadwayWorld.com, unveiled his choices via First Night's Top 11 of 2011, while the winners of the BroadwayWorld.com Nashville and Tennessee Theatre Awards were announced by co-hosts Britt Byrd, Jamie Free, Katherine Sandoval Taylor and Lar'Juanette Williams.

Playwright Nate Eppler, Mas Nashville's FIVE, the Boiler Room Theatre, Lipscomb University's Hairspray, ACT 1's American Buffalo and the national touring company of Memphis, the Musical were the top winners at Sunday night's Midwinter's First Night at Nashville's Keeton Theatre, which also featured the presentation of the BroadwayWorld.com Nashville and Tennessee theatre awards.

Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson will direct the work of an old friend when South Coast Repertory presents Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful Oct. 21 through Nov. 20 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson will direct the work of an old friend when South Coast Repertory presents Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful Oct. 21 through Nov. 20 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson will direct the work of an old friend when South Coast Repertory presents Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful Oct. 21 through Nov. 20 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Poetic and profane, David Mamet's 1975 play American Buffalo is brought to the stage of Nashville's Darkkhorse Theatre in a stunningly raw and beautifully realized production directed by Ryan Williams for ACT 1. As one of the city's most enduring community theatre groups, ACT 1 consistently has proven its worth and claimed its place among the most notable theater companies - whether professional or community-centered - and with American Buffalo the company kicks off its 2011-2012 season with awe-inspiring force, presenting a production that is clearly one of the best to be seen in Nashville during this calendar year.

Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson will direct the work of an old friend when South Coast Repertory presents Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful Oct. 21 through Nov. 20 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson will direct the work of an old friend when South Coast Repertory presents Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful Oct. 21 through Nov. 20 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Three men clash violently over business, friendship, honor and ego in Mamet's award-winning drama. The owner of a junk shop in 1970s Chicago wrestles with morality and his own pride as he plots and schemes to recoup his losses by stealing back a rare coin he unwittingly sold to a local collector. Mamet paints a raw and compelling portrait of working-class hoods who believe they have a right to take whatever they want - and who are slowly drowning in their own shortcomings and personal failures.

Terrace Plaza Playhouse will present LEND ME A TENOR August 12 - September 17, 2011 every Friday, Saturday and Monday evening at 7:30 PM.

Terrace Plaza Playhouse will present LEND ME A TENOR August 12 - September 17, 2011 every Friday, Saturday and Monday evening at 7:30 PM.

It will be the definitive jam session of the summer when Theatre Under The Stars' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre presents FREE performances of Disney's Camp Rock: The Musical at Miller Outdoor Theatre June 8 - 10, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.

The Off-Broadway musical THE SPHINX WINX, a musical comedy misinterpretation of the classic love triangle between Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, will play its final performance at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan on Sunday, June 19, it has been announced by the show's producers Tifft Productions.

It will be the definitive jam session of the summer when Theatre Under The Stars' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre presents FREE performances of Disney's Camp Rock: The Musical at Miller Outdoor Theatre June 8 - 10, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.

Nashville's Artist's Cooperative Theater 1 - ACT 1 - today announces its 22nd Season. The upcoming Season will offer audiences modern classics, a musical, a play about singing, and a rarely produced classic comedy.

To help salute all 'Mummy's,' the new Off-Broadway musical THE SPHINX WINX, a modern musical comedy misinterpretation of the classic love triangle between Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, will have a 'buy 1 ticket, get your 'Mummy' in for free promotion' on Mother's Day - Sunday, May 8th. Additionally, THE SPHINX WINX has teamed up with several local restaurants, including the West Bank Café (407 West 42nd Street), Kyotofu (705 Ninth Avenue), and Chez Josephine (414 W 42nd Street) to offer brunch specials to SPHINX ticket buyers on that special day. Please visit THE SPHINX WINX website - www.TheSphinxWinx.com - for further details. Previews begin May 3rd, prior to officially opening on May 18th at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

To help salute all 'Mummy's,' the new Off-Broadway musical THE SPHINX WINX, a modern musical comedy misinterpretation of the classic love triangle between Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, will have a 'buy 1 ticket, get your 'Mummy' in for free promotion' on Mother's Day - Sunday, May 8th. Additionally, THE SPHINX WINX has teamed up with several local restaurants, including the West Bank Café (407 West 42nd Street), Kyotofu (705 Ninth Avenue), and Chez Josephine (414 W 42nd Street) to offer brunch specials to SPHINX ticket buyers on that special day. Please visit THE SPHINX WINX website - www.TheSphinxWinx.com - for further details. Previews begin May 3rd, prior to officially opening on May 18th at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.