Samuel Whited News

How important then is this play - now onstage at Nashville Children's Theatre in a stunning production helmed by NCT producing director Scot Copeland - designed for younger audiences? Frankly, its impact is immeasurable, but it most certainly presents the story of young diarist Anne Frank in such a way that younger audiences should never be able to forget the Holocaust, nor should they ever question the reality of those dark days in the human experience.

Rehearsals are under way for the Nashville Children's Theatre production of The Diary of Anne Frank, the award-winning drama by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, opening January 19. Tia Shearer stars in the title role, with other characters played by Evelyn Blythe, Rona Carter, Jamie Farmer-Oneida, Henry Haggard, Peter Vann, Samuel Whited, Holly Wooten and Bobby Wyckoff.

While the women in Nashville theatre might garner more critical attention, showier roles and sparklier costumes, the men, clearly, are no slouches themselves. Capable and committed, the men who assay roles on Nashville stages are a pretty impressive collection of actors who can take on the most traditional of roles one week, while tackling parts that require them to be more experimental and brave the next. In 2009, Nashville's best actors showed their range while strutting themselves in some of the best productions we've seen in years.

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.

Tennessee Rep's A Christmas Story may be as good as it gets this holiday season. Wrapped up in a spectacularly designed package by Gary Hoff and featuring the cleverly imaginative direction of Rene Dunshee Copeland, it's the one Christmas gift you owe yourself this year. And it's a surefire way to lift your spirits and make you forget all the bad news that inundates your everyday life.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will celebrate its 25th season of live, critically acclaimed theatre by welcoming a mix of familiar favorites and new faces.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will launch its 25th anniversary celebration with Nashville Scenes on Wednesday, July 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.(CDT) at The Acorn restaurant, 114 28th Avenue North.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will partner with The Acorn restaurant and Nashville Scene for a special event to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. The evening-titled 'Nashville Scenes'-- will feature staged readings of scenes from Tennessee Rep's 2009-2010 season and hot hors d'oeuvres and will be held Wednesday, July 29 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at The Acorn (114 28th Avenue North).

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will launch its 25th anniversary celebration with Nashville Scenes on Wednesday, July 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.(CDT) at The Acorn restaurant, 114 28th Avenue North.