Taylor Tracey News

Carol Irvin, who has been a mainstay at Crossville's Cumberland County Playhouse for more than 20 years, is the latest recipient of The First Night Robe,presented on Saturday, November 17, prior to curtain of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Earlier in the same week, Bralyn Stokes received the robe at Rhubarb Theater's Birds in Church, and Michael Holder and Josh Waldrep claimed it at Street Theatre Company's Miss Saigon in Concert.

Clay Steakley, who plays the role of F. Scott Fitzgerald in the Actors Bridge Ensemble's world premiere production of Bill Feehely's Outside Paradise, is the latest recipient of The First Night Robe. Jeffrey Ellis, founder and executive producer of The First Night Honors, presented the robe to Steakley on Saturday, November 10, prior to curtain of Outside Paradise at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre.

Kelsey Porter, who plays the role of Nettie in Circle Players' production of The Color Purple, is the latest recipient of The First Night Robe. Jeffrey Ellis, founder and executive producer of The First Night Honors, presented the robe to Porter on Thursday, October 25, prior to the opening night performance of The Color Purple, a joint production of Circle Players and Tennessee State University, at TSU's Performing Arts Center.

On September 2, 2012-during the presentation of The First Night Honors-a new Nashville and Tennessee theater tradition was unveiled with the presentation of the First Night Robe. Fashioned after and inspired by the legendary Broadway Gypsy Robe, the First Night counterpart is presented to someone who is making their first appearance on a Nashville-area stage.

Legally Blonde, the Musical is as tuneful and entertaining as any musical could ever hope to be, and while the story seems lighthearted and fun, there's a definite message to be found in Heather Hach's book and the music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Neil Benjamin. Under Adams' laser-sharp direction-that is filled with a lot of heart and her unerring attention to detail-The Keeton Theatre's cast offers up a production of the show that's as good as it gets.

At BroadwayWorld we pride ourselves in showcasing theater content from all corners of the globe. Our regional contributors do an amazing job each day of bringing you the latest theater news in their cities and countries and to acknowledge this, we have launched a new weekly column called 'Around BWW: Regional Highlights of the Week'. Check out the roundup of all regional news for the week of September 3!

Theater people from throughout Tennessee gathered at Belmont University's Bill and Carole Troutt Theatre on Sunday night for the 2013 First Night Honors to pay tribute to a group of eight remarkable people who have made indelible marks on the theater scene throughout their storied careers. Hosted by Holly Shepherd and Joel Diggs, the gala evening honored the eight leading lights of Tennessee theater as they were recognized as members of the First Night Class of 2013 Honorees.

Dressed to the nines-despite forecasts of thunderstorms and a tornado watch that hung over the region-theater people from throughout Tennessee gathered at Belmont University's Bill and Carole Troutt Theatre on Sunday night for the 2013 First Night Honors. Hosted by Holly Shepherd and Joel Diggs, the gala evening honored eight leading lights of Tennessee theater as they were recognized as members of the First Night Class of 2013 Honorees.

Taylor Tracey makes her Nashville stage debut as Elle Woods in The Keeton Theatre's production of Legally Blonde, the Musical, running September 13-29 at the theatre, located at 108 Donelson Pike.

Taylor Tracey was a top five finalist in LA's Next Great Stage Star 2010, and one of its youngest. This gal has a truly dazzling voice. She can belt out a big number like 'The Name of the Game' from Mama Mia and deliver ever so gently as with Jason Robert Brown's beautiful 'What It Means To Be a Friend' from 13. On Sunday September 26, Tracey brought the house down @ Sterling's and proved why she made the top five of this year's contest.

The Young Performers Institute of Covina announces its summer youth musical, Jason Robert Brown's 13 which opens for a 10 performance run July 25 at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts at Citrus and Badillo in Covina. The show is directed by Jill Gerber, YPI founder and educational director.

The Young Performers Institute of Covina announces its summer youth musical, Jason Robert Brown's 13 which opens for a 10 performance run July 25 at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts at Citrus and Badillo in Covina. The show is directed by Jill Gerber, YPI founder and educational director.

Upon the conclusion of the January 3rd Finale of six, unprecedented sold-out days of competition among 18 contestants at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA, the spectacular, collective performances of Janet Krupin earned her the coveted title of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2010.

Upon the conclusion of the January 3rd Finale of six, unprecedented sold-out days of competition among 18 contestants at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA, the spectacular, collective performances of Janet Krupin earned her the coveted title of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2010.

Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's is presenting its annual LA's Next Great Stage STAR! What a terrific event! Not unlike TV's American Idol, talented artists compete before judges and a live audience. At Sterling's they go head to head for 6 Sundays: the first was November 29 with the finale to take place on January 3, 2010 at 12pm. At that time 13/18 contestants will be eliminated and the 5 remaining contestants will go on to compete once more. From these 5 the winner will be announced. The winner will receive $1000 in cash as well as a paid headlining engagement at Sterling's, and a variety of auditions for local musical theatres such as the outstanding Musical Theatre West and Cabrillo Music Theatre. The 4 runners up will also get headlining engagements at Sterling's and various private auditions as well.

Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in Los Angeles, presents LA's Next Great Stage Star 2010 beginning Sunday, November 29, 2009 for a series of six competitive performances, culminating in a spectacular Finale Sunday, January 3, 2010. The November 29th, sold out opening, set advance record sales for this annual 'Master Showcase/Competition', now in its fourth year. Remaining dates are also heading into record sell-outs.

In its Los Angeles Regional Premiere, the Tony Award winning musical The Light In The Piazza will offer special discounted tickets for the Thursday, February 12th and Friday, February 13th performances at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts. All remaining seats for these performances of this critically acclaimed production are $15. In a statement, Phil Miller, Artistic Producing Director of CCPA said 'we are very pleased to be able to offer these discounted to seats to theatre fans throughout Los Angeles during these challenging economic times. Ensuring that all fans of Piazza will be able to see this acclaimed Los Angeles Regional Premiere.'

In its Los Angeles Regional Premiere, the Tony Award winning musical The Light In The Piazza will offer special discounted tickets for the Thursday, February 12th and Friday, February 13th performances at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts. All remaining seats for these performances of this critically acclaimed production are $15. In a statement, Phil Miller, Artistic Producing Director of CCPA said 'we are very pleased to be able to offer these discounted to seats to theatre fans throughout Los Angeles during these challenging economic times. Ensuring that all fans of Piazza will be able to see this acclaimed Los Angeles Regional Premiere.'

In its Los Angeles Regional Premiere, the Tony Award winning musical The Light In The Piazza will open at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts on January 23, 2009. The Covina Center for the Performing Arts is proud to present a brand new production of this Tony award winning musical. The Light In The Piazza takes place in Italy in the summer of 1953. Margaret Johnson, the wife of an American businessman, is touring the Tuscan countryside with her daughter, Clara. While sightseeing, Clara - a beautiful, surprisingly childish young woman - loses her hat in a sudden gust of wind. As if guided by an unseen hand, the hat lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome Florentine, who returns it to Clara. This brief episode, charged with coincidence and fate, sparks an immediate and intense romance between Clara and Fabrizio. Margaret, extremely protective of her daughter, attempts to keep Clara and Fabrizio apart. As the story unfolds, a secret is revealed. In addition to the cultural differences between the young lovers, Clara is not all that she appears to be. Unable to suppress the truth about her daughter, Margaret is forced to reconsider not only Clara's future, but her own. Directed by Brady Schwind. The Light In The Piazza will feature Brooke Tansley as Clara Johnson (Broadway: Belle in Beauty In The Beast, Penny Pingleton in Hairspray); Christopher Callen as Margaret Johnson (Broadway: Fiona in Brigadoon, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof with Zero Mostel, Lend Me A Tenor and 1776); and Craig D'Amico (Broadway: Tommy Keeler in Annie Get Your Gun with Reba McEntire, Vladek in Fiddler On The Roof with Harvey Fierstein) as Fabrizio Naccarelli in their CCPA debuts. Joining this trio of Broadway performers will be David Fairchild (Signor Naccarelli); Lois Bourgon (Signora Naccarelli); Eric Snodgrass (Giuseppe Naccarelli); Abigail Kinnahan (Franca Naccarelli); and Michael Tatlock (Roy Johnson). Mark Gamez, Matt Ervien, Karin Frasier, Marisa Copeland, Taylor Tracey and Madelyn Jones comprise The Light In The Piazza ensemble.