Jeffrey Ellis - Page 127

In a production brought to life by a talented quartet of seasoned players, Studio Tenn's The Glass Menagerie is the perfect tribute to the Southern Gothic playwright, mere weeks before the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth in Columbus, Mississippi, on March 26, 1911. Bringing Williams' archetypal and semi-autobiographical play to the stage with style and wit, Studio Tenn rings down the curtain on its inaugural season, scoring yet another artistic hit in the process, following its hugely successful productions of Hello, Dolly! and A Christmas Carol.

Holly Allen and Jeremy Childs lead the cast of Tennessee Women's Theater Project's production of Michael Jacobs' Impressionism, opening Friday, February 25 and running for 13 performances at Nashville's Z. Alexander Looby Theater. TWTP's production marks the regional premiere of Impressionism.

Jonathan Larson's Rent is coming to downtown Nashville March 18-May 14 and producers are looking for the best singers in Music City USA to fill the show's colorful roles. Auditions are one-night only - Friday, February 18 - from 8 p.m.-midnight at the Printer's Alley venue, located in the former Boots Randolph Theatre (with parking available in the adjacent parking garage).

Nashville favorite Tyson Laemmel stars as Robbie, 'a cheesy, but lovable New Jersey rocker' in Circle Players' upcoming production of The Wedding Singer, the upbeat romantic musical comedy that debuted on Broadway in 2006 and is based on the 1998 Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore movie. Starring opposite Laemmel is Laura Thomas Sonn as 'a hopelessly romantic waitress.'

That Melodie Madden Adams, the actress and singer in question, gave a wonderful performance is unquestionable - and not unexpected - and her ease in becoming Margaret is a very good example of actress and character being perfectly in-sync: 'I have an insane love for anything vintage,' she explains, making the role perfect for her. In fact, when she's not onstage (she'll start rehearsals very soon for her role as Lenny in Beth Henley's Crimes of the Heart at Boiler Room Theatre), she's busily attending to the affairs of her online company, www.pinkcupcakevintage.com. And she thinks 'one of the most underestimated talents in this town is Billy Ditty.'

At first blush, Beth Bailey - the anti-heroine of 'Til Beth Do Us Part, the new comedy from the crackerjack writing triumvirate otherwise known as Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten - is a Southern-bred, country-fried rube with questionable fashion taste and amazing organizational skills. Delve a little bit deeper and you'll find that she's a manipulative, conniving bitch of a 100% cotton barracuda. And played by Kim Thornton Nygren, she's one heck of looker with a flair for over-the-top pratfalls and expert timing.

Nashville's Studio Tenn theatre company concludes its inaugural season with Tennessee Williams' classic play The Glass Menagerie, running February 17-27 at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre. Williams' play is an award-winning portrayal of a disintegrating family during the depression and is the play that introduced him as one of the preeminent American playwrights of the 20th century.

Nan Gurley stars as Amanda Wingfield in Studio Tenn's upcoming production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, presented at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre Feburary 17-27. The Glass Menagerie will conclude Studio Tenn's inaugural season, which has also included critically acclaimed productions of Hello, Dolly! and A Christmas Carol. Williams' enduring classic is an award-winning portrayal of a disintegrating family during the depression of the 1930's and introduced him as one of the preeminent American playwrights of the 20th century.

Nashville's Blackbird Theater Company presents its latest video trailer for the upcoming production of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, directed by Ted Swindley, and opening Friday, February 25, at David Lipscomb University's Shamblin Theatre.

Brought gloriously and vividly to life with effortless ease by director Jamey Green and his team of artistic collaborators, Annie Get Your Gun is the perfect chill-chasing harbinger of the new season, ushering in Spring with style, grace and good humor. At curtain, you'll find yourself shaking your head, wondering where the time went - so completely enthralled are you throughout the onstage proceedings. Kudos to Green (who pulls double-duty as music director - and conducts the superb onstage musical ensemble that includes some of Nashville theater's most accomplished players) and choreographer Pam Atha for their efforts, not the least of which is the perfect pairing of Corrie Miller and Matt Baugher as the musical's convincingly romantic leads.

Dance Theatre of Tennessee presents a mid-winter series of Nashville premieres - and invites audiences to the 'hottest post-Valentine ticket in town,' according to company artistic director Christopher Mohnani - in Aspects of Love, 'a celebration of dance, music and love. Led by Mohnani, DTT presents an evening of premieres promising 'an evening of wonderful dancing and choreography together with memorable and familiar music that will have you wanting for more.'

In honor of Valentine's Day (and in a blatant rip-off of BroadwayWorld.com's similar query to the denizens of the Great White Way), we posed that very question to some of our favorite theater community-dwellers in yet another not-so-scientific survey. So, if you're thinking about putting together a playlist of favorite love songs - or if you're searching for the perfect tunes to play in the background while you set the scene for a romantic evening with your own Valentine, here are some suggestions...

Now in her third season with Nashville Ballet, Krissy Johnson is a definite audience favorite. The Louisa, Kentucky, native has studied at Performing Arts Inc. in Ashland, Kentucky, and holds a bachelor of arts degree from Point Park University, and before becoming a company members was a trainee and apprentice at Nashville Ballet. With the company's winter series - Director's Choice - just behind her (Krissy was one of the six dancers featured in the company's North American premiere of Twyla Tharp's The Story Teller), there's a very good chance she's spending some richly deserved time off this week.

With the North American premiere of Twyla Tharp's The Story Teller generating most of the buzz prior to opening night, Nashville Ballet's Director's Choice winter series provided a much-needed jolt of electricity to the city's midwinter arts calendar. But it was the exquisite pairing of Molly Sansone and Jon Upleger in Salvatore Aiello's completely sensual and mildly erotic Satto that truly turned up the heat in the company's annual salute to contemporary dance.

The American premiere of Twyla Tharp's The Story Teller, along with two of Nashville's favorite contemporary dance pieces, are part of Nashville Ballet's Director's Choice winter repertoire program, to be performed at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's James K. Polk Theatre Febraury 11-13.

Love is in bloom at Street Theatre Company in February with a special two week engagement of the hit musical, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!, closing February13 at the theater, 1933 Elm Hill Pike.

Where you could possibly find five more charming and engaging performers than the cast assembled by director/choreographer Ryan Bowie for his winning revival of Ain't Misbehavin' - now onstage through March 5 at Clarksville's Roxy Regional Theatre - is beyond me! These five dazzling entertainers deliver a musical jolt of electricity that completely enlivens the dark, frigid days of winter, taking audiences on a musical and historical journey through the Harlem Renaissance via the life and career of Mrs. Waller's bouncing 250-pound baby boy, Thomas - better known as 'Fats.'

Jonathan Larson's Rent is coming to downtown Nashville March 18-May 14 and producers are looking for the best singers in Music City USA to fill the show's colorful roles. Auditions are one-night only - Friday, February 18 - from 8 p.m.-midnight at the Printer's Alley venue, located in the former Boots Randolph Theatre (with parking available in the adjacent parking garage).

Dedicated to her craft, she is an endearing blend of serious actress and sweet young woman. During her time on the Nashville stage, she's played a wide range of roles for a variety of companies, including Circle Players' production of Noises Off, Towne Centre Theatre's Moon Over Buffalo and Steel Magnolias, and Blackbird Theatre Company's Twilight of the Gods. And in each of those roles, she's epitomized 'versatility' with an exceptional performance every time she steps onto the stage.

The Nashville Dinner Theatre in Printers Alley presents Neil Simon's classic American comedy, THE ODD COUPLE, starring Richard Moll of TV's Night Court, Patrick Kramer, Jaime Dudney (daughter of Barbara Mandrell and star of As the World Turns), Sandra Denise Baxter, Dennis Moser, Vance Nichols, Alex Lee and Jonathan Hayes. Directed by Joyce DeWitt and Kaine Riggan, the show runs thru March 5. Call 615-889-4000 for tickets or visit nashvilledinnertheatre.com.