Jude Knight

Mrs. Mannerly, the charming and entertaining comedy inspired by hilarious memories of a childhood etiquette class, properly takes the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis, March 31 – April 16, 2023.

Jude Knight has been acknowledged with the 2021 American Association of Community Theatre Robert E. Gard Superior Volunteer Award as a representative of Theatre Memphis. The honor is bestowed to “volunteers over 65 who have faithfully served community theatre for over 25 years.”

Theatre Memphis announces the pre-sale of a unique Valentine's Day offering, Love Notes. Designed to be the complete package for a special Valentine gift, a treat-filled basket comes with a digital link to specially performed audio (songs and the spoken word) by local theatre artists to benefit Theatre Memphis.

Playhouse on the Square, in partnership with super sponsor Dr. Thomas Ratliff, is proud to present the musical adaptation of an American masterpiece.

Souvenir, A Fantasia Based on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, is about a wealthy eccentric, self-promoted performer who was incapable of producing two notes in tune consecutively. This comic turn on a real life eccentric makes its triumphant return to Theatre Memphis in the Next Stage, February 9-25, 2018.  Hilarious and poignant, her story of celebrity and terrible singing is told through her respected accompanist, Cosme McMoon, whose contempt gives way to reluctant admiration and affection. Returning to the two roles are Jude Knight and David Shipley, both of whom performed in the original Theatre Memphis production.

Theatre Memphis is presenting the Disney family classic musical, Beauty and the Beast, September 2 - 25, 2016, on the Lohrey Stage.

Theatre Memphis is presenting the Disney family classic musical, Beauty and the Beast, September 2 - 25, 2016, on the Lohrey Stage.

Interestingly, Playhouse on the Square has opted to produce Thornton Wilder's THE MATCHMAKER rather than HELLO, DOLLY, the legendary musical that it spawned - and therein lies both the blessing and the curse: There are so many lines here that served as song cues that the specter of Jerry Herman's 'ear-candied' score keeps hovering over the play. To add to the dilemma, the ever-arranging 'matchmaker' herself is none other than that talented musical performer Ann Sharp (surprisingly making her theatre debut at Playhouse): Because she doesn't have the opportunity to use that particular talent, and because those darned Herman songs keep popping up in the mind, THE MATCHMAKER might prove frustrating for those familiar with its melodic offspring. That's too bad, as Herman's score is rather like some pushy first grader who breaks in line; without it, the audience is left with . . . a fine romantic comedy, filled with mistaken identities and matches and mismatches - and more than just a touch of Wilder's warm , incisive writing.

Playhouse on the Square is proud to present the classic American comedy, TheMatchmaker. The Matchmaker follows the exploits of Dolly Levi, a widow who arranges marriages for New Yorkers at the turn of the 20th century. Hired by a local merchant to find a wife, Dolly sets her sights on the eligible bachelor herself! Slapstick, mistaken identity, and secret rendezvous ensue in this uproarious comedy from the Pulitzer-prize winning playwright, Thornton Wilder. 

Playhouse on the Square is proud to present the classic American comedy, The Matchmaker. The Matchmaker follows the exploits of Dolly Levi, a widow who arranges marriages for New Yorkers at the turn of the 20th century. Hired by a local merchant to find a wife, Dolly sets her sights on the eligible bachelor herself! Slapstick, mistaken identity, and secret rendezvous ensue in this uproarious comedy from the Pulitzer-prize winning playwright, Thornton Wilder. 

George Cukor's 1940 film version of Philip Barry's THE PHILADELPHIA STORY was Katharine Hepburn's return to glory after the actress had been labeled 'box office poison' after the failure of several films. 021The savvy Hepburn was able to bend MGM to her will when it wanted to film Barry's play, and the end result rewarded everyone involved: Hepburn, her old RKO co-star Cary Grant, and the up and coming James Stewart. Not only were Oscar nominations and wins in store, but at the center of it all was Hepburn in all her patrician, high cheek-boned elegance. She may have given greater performances as the tragic, dope-addicted 'Mary Tyrone' in the film version of Eugene O'Neill's LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT or as the caustic, sparring 'Eleanor of Aquitaine' in James Goldman's THE LION IN WINTER, but for those who want to see Hepburn at the height of her unusual beauty and comedic gifts, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY is a must. Having seen the film numerous times, I was wary of Theatre Memphis' staging of Barry's work. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, once seen, leaves such an impression that it's rather like tackling a remake of THE WIZARD OF OZ or GONE WITH THE WIND or THE GODFATHER. Director Jason Spitzer has taken the dare, and he and his cast have mostly succeeded in the satiny, stylized production currently playing at Theatre Memphis.

The Philadelphia Story opens tonight, April 24 and runs through May 10, 2015, on the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis.

The Philadelphia Story opens April 24 and runs through May 10, 2015, on the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis. A classic American comedy, this sophisticated fun and zany satire takes a witty look behind the scenes of a posh socialite wedding. Tracy Lord is all set to walk down the aisle for a second time when suddenly confronted by an ex-husband and a charming reporter covering the wedding for a national magazine. Tracy will walk down the aisle ... but with whom?

The Boy from Oz opens March 6 and runs through March 29, 2015, on the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis. Touted as one of the national premieres on its return to the United States, this 'life of' musical tells the story of Peter Allen's rise from an intro act for Judy Garland, to his marriage to her daughter, Liza Minnelli, through his triumph as an Oscar-winning song writer and Radio City Music Hall concert star and his untimely death. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the show!

There was a time when it seemed as if any talent contender in a beauty pageant would lay into 'Don't Cry Out Loud' (later, Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' seemed to supplant it). It crept out of every radio station ad nauseum. Its almost iconic 'ear candy' status rendered it cringe-inducing, as far as I was concerned. Moreover, its composer and interpreter, Australian Peter Allen, was not the kind of performer I enjoyed - I prefer my talent without the 'over the top' exclamation point; he belonged, to my way of thinking, to the Liberace/Barry Manilow/Liza Minelli kind of performer. (Admittedly, I have a number of friends who take issue with this and who, rope in hand, would gladly pursue me if lynching were acceptable.) Their 'showmanship' and 'over the top' self-promotion proved exhausting. However, the intervening years have reconciled me to Allen's music, and THE BOY FROM OZ. with a book by Martin Sherman and Nick Enright and a parade of Allen songs, has, in Theatre Memphis' latest offering, even somewhat endeared me to him.

The Boy from Oz runs through March 29, 2015, on the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis. Touted as one of the national premieres on its return to the United States, this 'life of' musical tells the story of Peter Allen's rise from an intro act forJudy Garland, to his marriage to her daughter, Liza Minnelli, through his triumph as an Oscar-winning song writer and Radio City Music Hall concert star and his untimely death. Featuring the original songs made popular in night clubs and on tours, memorable hits as 'Don't Cry Out Loud,' 'Love Don't Need a Reason,' 'Everything Old is New Again' and 'I Go to Rio' are included In this all out extravaganza.

The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), by Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart, makes a return engagement today, January 10 - 19, 2014 at Theatre Memphis on the Next Stage. The November production sold out and this encore presentation will feature the same cast .

The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), by Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart, makes a return engagement January 10 - 19, 2014 at Theatre Memphis on the Next Stage. The November production sold out and this encore presentation will feature the same cast .

The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), by Eric Rockwell and Joanna Bogart, makes a comeback to the Theatre Memphis Next Stage tonight, November 8 - 23, 2013, with a return engagement already planned for January 10 - 19, 2014. The original sold out production at TM in 2007 was directed by Bennett Wood and he returns as well to reprise that role. Gary Beard is coming back as Musical Director, too. Pam Hurley is choreographing.