Jeffrey Ellis - Page 102

Parton reportedly is at work on a musical adaptation of her own life's story, which will hopefully find its way to Broadway-and, subsequently, to the rest of America just as her 9 to 5: The Musical has. A musical comedy full of laughter and sidesplitting Southern sass, 9 To 5: The Musical follows three women as they scheme to take control of their company from a chauvinistic and sexist boss. 9 to 5: The Musical is about joining forces and taking care of business.

Dan McGeachy directs Nashville actress Pat Rulon as Maria Calls in Terrence McNally's Master Class, running February 10 and 11 at Nashville Opera's Noah Liff Opera Center, continuing a run that opened at Darkhorse Theatre in mid-January.

From the same writing team that created Frankly, My Dear-Duke Ernsburger and Virginia Cate-comes the latest comedy opening at Nashville's Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre: Elvis Has Left the Building. Running February 16-March 18, the comedy is directed by Martha Wilkinson, artistic director of the company that is celebrating its 45th season of bringing theater to Nashville audiences.

Janey Jones can't get out of bed. She's lost her job, her boyfriend has dumped her, and she's afraid of sliding into the same well of depression that swallowed her grandmother. From the opening moments, it's clear that The Disappearance of Janey Jones digs into some serious subjects. That's a big part of the reason she chose the play, says Tennessee Women's Theater Project founder and artistic director Maryanna Clarke.

There comes a moment late in the second act of South Pacific when Nellie Forbush (played by the luminous Katie Reid), after hearing the disembodied voice of Emile Debecque (the dashing Marcelo Guzzo) over a two-way radio relaying some heartbreaking news-and confirming to her that he has sacrificed all he holds dear in order to help Allied forces overcome Japanese forces-when she runs on the beach, beseeching Emile to "come back" so that she may admit her foolhardy response to him before he left on that heroic mission. She completes her heartrending plea for his safe return with a lovely reprise, however brief, of Rodgers and Hammerstein's stunning "Some Enchanted Evening."

With a score that features some of the most beloved songs from the Rodgers and Hammerstein catalogue and a book that some would argue was ahead of its time when the show debuted on Broadway in 1949, South Pacific represents a weighty undertaking for any theatrical troupe, whether on Broadway or on tour. And with the NETWorks tour headed to Nashville for an eight-performance run at Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall, much of that responsibility falls to Katie Reid, who plays Ensign Nellie Forbush, and Sarna Lapine, who's charged with recreating Bartlett Sher's Tony Award-winning direction for the national tour.

"Almost 91 years later, there are still people who have not heard about the Tulsa Riots and the devastation to the town of Greenwood," McCallum says. "In fact, this year is the first year that Tulsa public schools will include the riots as part of the curriculum; it still remains absent in many history books in the U.S. What happened in Greenwood should never be forgotten, and I hope this play in some small way, honors the citizens of 'Black Wall Street.'"

Tullahoma's Alpine Chateau Restaurant will present Tennessee's community theatre premiere of 2007's Tony Award-winning best musical Spring Awakening on February 25 at 9:30 p.m. and February 25 at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at The Historic Coker Building, 401 Wilson Avenue.

The musical review was created by David Grapes (the former artistic director of Tennessee Repertory Theatre), with musical arrangements and medleys by Andrew Philip Herron, and traces the careers of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney from early on, as the two made their way to Hollywood and became America's Sweethearts, through their sensational careers both in Hollywood and on Broadway.

Lovely and talented, with a slightly wicked streak that means she's just as much fun offstage as she is when she's onstage, actress/director/playwright Lydia Bushfield is a Nashville theater treasure, who's been part of the local scene so long that most people assume she was born and bred her. Fact is, she's not. Instead, she's one of the many talented people who've found themselves transported and transplated to Music City USA, pursuing their artistic bliss while entertaining audiences every time they set foot onstage.

Starring a quartet of fine Nashville actors-Shelean Newman, Jeff Boyet and Shannon Hoppe welcome David Alford back to Tennessee Rep's stage to complete their not-so-genial foursome-Reza's darkly comic script comes to life with seemingly effortless ease, thanks to Copeland's direction, the aforementioned cadre of actors and the playwright's razor sharp dialogue.

With a score filled with so many Cole Porter tunes that you're fairly drunk with delight after hearing them, the expert direction and choreography of musical theatre aficionado Kate Adams-Johnson, and a cast of extraordinarily gifted performers breathing vigorous life into the time-honored text, the new production of Kiss Me, Kate at The Keeton Theatre should be atop your list of must-see theatrical events in this very busy month of February. Sam and Bella Spewack's witty, sparkling script is brought to life with flourish, proving this period piece-which was named winner of the very first Tony Award for best musical-to be, in fact, a timeless classic, a musical theatre masterpiece that deserves to be seen over and over again.

Due to overwhelming audience response, Christ Church Cathedral's Sacred Space for the City art series has added another performance of Regina Taylor's critically acclaimed gospel musical Crowns on Friday February 17 at 7:30 p.m., officials announced on Friday morning.

Beautifully conceived by an ambitious, driven director and artfully brought to life by a stellar cast of actors, Pacific Overtures-the musical by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman-seems, at first, an unlikely choice for the sophomore season of Nashville's Blackbird Theater. Yet when you consider the company's prior offerings (which include Twilight of the Gods, an original play by Wes Driver and Greg Greene, the company's co-founders; Tom Stoppard's intellectually compelling Arcadia; and G.K. Chesterton's rarely produced Magic), it fits perfectly into the Blackbird canon. And, like those earlier productions, Pacific Overtures is another artistic triumph, the realization of a long-held dream by director Greene to bring his favorite work for musical theater to the stage.

Marvin Hamlisch has been forced to cancel his appearance in the Nashville Symphony's Bank of America Pops Series this weekend due to illness. Taking his place will be trumpeter Doc Severinsen, who will perform Thursday February 2, at 7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, February 3-4, at 8 p.m. The legendary Tonight Show maestro so thoroughly enjoyed performing with the Nashville Symphony in 2009 that he quickly cleared his schedule to appear at Schermerhorn Symphony Center this weekend.

The event will feature Broadway star Alli Mauzey (Wicked, Hairspray) reprising her role as Cinderella, and new to the cast this year is Melinda Doolittle ('American Idol') as one of the stepsisters. More Broadway stars and the Nashville Symphony will join in to make this special evening a memorable celebration of the important work that Show Hope is doing.

Emily Landham and ten-year-old Madeleine Hall star as Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller in Studio Tenn's upcoming production of William Gibson's The Miracle Worker. Studio Tenn, resident professional theatre company of the Franklin Theatre today announced complete casting for the production that debuts February 23 and runs through March 4.

The hilarious, roller-skating, musical adventure about following your dreams rolls along to the original hit score composed by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, including "Magic," "All Over the World," "Suddenly," "I'm Alive," "Evil Woman," "Have You Never Been Mellow" and "Xanadu," to name a few, and is based on the cult-classic movie that starred Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta and Gene Kelly.

The Sound Of Music returns to Crossville on February 10, as the Cumberland County Playhouse revives the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical directed by Weslie Webster, with musical direction by Ron Murphy, and starring Lindy Pendzick (named to First Nights Top 11 of 2011 for her performance in Little Shop Of Horrors) starring in the role of Maria.

The play provided the impetus for the venerable Columbo television series, starring the late Peter Falk. The cast includes Eric Link (2011 Lakie Award Winner for Best Lead Actor), Buffi Holland, Pamm Howard (named BroadwayWorld.com's 'Best Featured Actress in a Play' for her performance in A Few Good Men), Rod Streng, April Hardcastle-Miles and Patrick Goedicke as 'Lt Columbo.'