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Jeffrey Ellis - Page 85

Jeffrey Ellis

Jeffrey Ellis is a Nashville-based writer, editor and critic, who's been covering the performing arts in Tennessee for more than 35 years. In 1989, Ellis and his partner launched Dare, Tennessee's Lesbian and Gay Newsweekly which later became known as Query. Ellis is the recipient of the Tennessee Theatre Association's Distinguished Service Award for his coverage of theater in the Volunteer State and was the founding editor/publisher of Stages, the Tennessee Onstage Monthly.  He is a past fellow of the National Critics Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center and is the founder/executive producer of The First Night Honors - the history of which can be traced to 1989 and the first presentation of The First Night Awards - which honor outstanding theater artisans from Tennessee in recognition of their lifetime achievements and also includes The First Night Star Awards and the Most Promising Actors recognition. Midwinter's First Night honors outstanding productions and performances throughout the state. An accomplished director, Ellis helmed productions of La Cage Aux Folles, The Last Night of Ballyhoo and An American Daughter, all in their Nashville premieres, as well as award-winning productions of Damn Yankees, Company, Gypsy and The Rocky Horror Show. Ellis was recognized by The Tennessean as best director of a musical for both Company and Rocky Horror. Since 2015, Ellis has been increasingly in demand as a director by a variety of Tennessee theater companies and he has helmed productions of Picnic (Circle Players), The Last Five Years (VWA Theatricals), The Miss Firecracker Contest, Cabaret, My Fair Lady, Daddy's Dyin'...Who's Got the Will?, South Pacific, Winter Wonderettes and The Wizard of Oz (The Larry Keeton Theatre), The Little Foxes (ACT 1), The Boys in the Band (Jeffey Ellis Presents), Singin' in the Rain (Arts Center of Cannon County) and The Secret Garden (Center for the Arts, Murfreesboro) and, in 2020, the 70th anniversary season production of La Cage Aux Folles for Circle Players. Later this year, he will be directing Beautiful: The Carole King Musical for Center for the Arts.




LEARN MORE ABOUT Jeffrey Ellis

First Show:

EVITA, starring Patti LuPone

Favorite Stories:



BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's Stella Purdy, MARISSA McGOWAN, Finds Time for THE NUTTY FIVE
BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's Stella Purdy, MARISSA McGOWAN, Finds Time for THE NUTTY FIVE
July 22, 2012

Today, our spotlight focuses in on the show's leading lady, the luminously beautiful Marissa McGowan, the actress who plays Stella Purdy, the love interest of the musical's repressed and shy Professor Julius Kelp and his suave and sophisticated doppelganger Buddy Love. During a media look-in at the company's rehearsals, McGowan knocked the socks off of all those cynical folk, delivering a beautiful rendition of a new Hamlisch-penned power ballad that we're likely to hear for years to come.

Theater Community Mourns Death of Actor/Director BRYAN SUNDAY-BOOTH
Theater Community Mourns Death of Actor/Director BRYAN SUNDAY-BOOTH
July 21, 2012

After a protracted four-year battle with an especially virulent form of cancer, Murfreesboro actor-director-producer-artist Bryan M. Sunday-Booth died in the early hours of Friday morning, July 20. As the news of his death made its way through the theater community in Middle Tennessee, several of his friends and associates shared their memories of Bryan, seeking to cope with their own stages of grief while coming to terms with the realities of the day.

BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's JASON SPARKS Settles In To Answer THE NUTTY FIVE
BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's JASON SPARKS Settles In To Answer THE NUTTY FIVE
July 21, 2012

In fact, in his answer to our very first query, Jason Sparks (who is a swing in the show's ensemble) actually made me laugh out loud as he painted a picture of a childhood fairly brimming over with adventure and happy memories-not to mention an experience that may have destined him to time spent on an analyst's couch. Actually, though, Jason seems enormously well-adjusted and, it should come as no surprise that everyone seems to love him

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Pippin's Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva and Lynda Cameron-Bayer Reveal All Their Secrets
THE FRIDAY FIVE: Pippin's Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva and Lynda Cameron-Bayer Reveal All Their Secrets
July 20, 2012

Today, we have two unique-and we daresay spectacular and wonderful-women who are paired together, thanks to director Paul J. Cook, in helping to bring Pippin to life at the Boiler Room Theatre: Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva and Lynda Cameron-Bayer. Jennifer is part of the powerhouse cast of the Stephen Schwartz musical (which has been acclaimed by every critic in town), while Lynda is the production's costume designer, dressing the ensemble in a gorgeous assortment of circus-inspired garb. Each woman, at any particular time, is sure to knock your socks off, so be prepared to lose 'em…

BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's Sarah Marie Jenkins Answers THE NUTTY FIVE
BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's Sarah Marie Jenkins Answers THE NUTTY FIVE
July 19, 2012

Today the spotlight falls on Sarah Marie Jenkins. And I've gotta tell you, there's just something about Sarah-she's charming and funny and disarmingly appealing, she's pretty and talented and, well, you're just gonna love her. Hell, I've only shared emails and Facebook messages and posts with her and I'm already crazy about her (but in a talented girl-crush sort of way, not like some creepy stalker kind of way)! Seriously, if you're not just absolutely taken with her after reading this interview, then read it again.

'Reverse Raffle' Offering $5,000 Grand Prize Benefits Arts Center of Cannon County
'Reverse Raffle' Offering $5,000 Grand Prize Benefits Arts Center of Cannon County
July 19, 2012

Save the date: On Saturday, August 4, the Arts Center of Cannon County will host a special evening of fun and games that includes a reverse raffle-with a grand prize of $5,000-and gourmet dinner. Tickets are $75 each and is your passport to an entertaining and fun-filled evening-and you don't even have to be there to win.

Photo Coverage: The Weekend Theater's THE FULL MONTY
Photo Coverage: The Weekend Theater's THE FULL MONTY
July 19, 2012

The Full Monty, with book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek, runs through Aug. 4, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, except for the Friday, July 27 performance, which will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $16 for students and seniors age 65 and older.

David McGinnis To Direct ACT 1's 2012-13 Season Opener THE SHADOW BOX
David McGinnis To Direct ACT 1's 2012-13 Season Opener THE SHADOW BOX
July 19, 2012

Opening ACT 1's 2012-13 season at The Darkhorse Theatre in Nashville this fall will be the company's revival of Michael Cristofer's The Shadow Box, the 1977 Tony Award winner for best play (which won for Cristofer the 1977 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, brought to the stage by director David McGinnis, who makes his ACT 1 directorial debut with this effort.

Bailey Hanks to Star in 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at Clarksville's Roxy Regional Theatre
Bailey Hanks to Star in 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at Clarksville's Roxy Regional Theatre
July 19, 2012

Broadway star Bailey Hanks will take on the role of Doralee Rhodes in The Roxy Regional Theatre's upcoming production of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 The Musical, which opens at the Clarksville venue on September 14.

BWW Interviews: 'Nashville's Own' Drummer Danny Young Takes on THE NUTTY FIVE
BWW Interviews: 'Nashville's Own' Drummer Danny Young Takes on THE NUTTY FIVE
July 19, 2012

Last week we launched The Nutty Five as our way of welcoming all these talented people into our midst-even the ones who have Nashville connections, like today's star of the show Danny Young, who is the drummer for The Nutty Professor band (who may be just as jazzed up about his new drum set for the show as he is working with Jerry Lewis).

BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's ALLISON LITTLE Comes Home To Tackle THE NUTTY FIVE
BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's ALLISON LITTLE Comes Home To Tackle THE NUTTY FIVE
July 18, 2012

We've been introducing the company's members to Nashville over the past several days and today it is Allison Little's turn to take on our five Nutty questions so that when you see her, you'll feel like you already know her. Or, if you actually do know her already, you can just puff out your chest and say, "I knew her when…"

First Night's Class of 2012 Honorees Will Be Revealed at Preview Party on 7/23
First Night's Class of 2012 Honorees Will Be Revealed at Preview Party on 7/23
July 17, 2012

Members of the 2012 First Night Honors' Class of Honorees will be revealed to the public Monday night, July 23, during the First Night Preview Party, which will be held at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, 8204 Highway 100 in Nashville.

Matthew Carlton's HANGING MARY Claims Top Honors at Barter Theatre's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights
Matthew Carlton's HANGING MARY Claims Top Honors at Barter Theatre's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights
July 17, 2012

Nashville actor/playwright/director Matthew Carlton's Hanging Mary has earned top honors during the 2012 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights (AFPP) held July 6-July 13 at The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia.

MUSIC CITY CONFIDENTIAL #5: Onstage, Offstage, Backstage and Beyond in the Volunteer State
MUSIC CITY CONFIDENTIAL #5: Onstage, Offstage, Backstage and Beyond in the Volunteer State
July 17, 2012

Welcome to the fifth installment of Music City Confidential, my column to collect the flotsam and jetsam, informationally speaking, of theatre in Tennessee. Sorry for the long delay since the last installment, but I've been theatering my butt off all over the Volunteer State in search of intriguing gossip and riveting news stories just for you, my gentle readers.

BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's ALEX DAVID Takes Time To Answer THE NUTTY FIVE
BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's ALEX DAVID Takes Time To Answer THE NUTTY FIVE
July 17, 2012

Today, our altogether welcoming (my mama raised me right) spotlight falls on Alex David, who's part of the ensemble and is the double for Julius Kelp/Buddy Love (played by star Michael Andrew), and who is obviously having the time of his life in Nashville. And keep this in mind: Alex may need your help when he's sent flying by a mechanical bull!

BWW Reviews: The Keeton Theatre's Enchanting INTO THE WOODS Packs An Emotional Wallop
BWW Reviews: The Keeton Theatre's Enchanting INTO THE WOODS Packs An Emotional Wallop
July 16, 2012

In fact, director Kate Adams and musical director Ginger Newman have crafted Nashville's own lovely and, I daresay, star-studded version of the musical which simply proves once again that Into the Woods is one of the most enchanting, most entertaining and most moving examples of contemporary musical theater at its best

BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's CARLY BLAKE SEBOUHIAN Takes On THE NUTTY FIVE
BWW Interviews: The Nutty Professor's CARLY BLAKE SEBOUHIAN Takes On THE NUTTY FIVE
July 16, 2012

Obviously, my mama raised me right-and what better way is there to welcome these newcomers to our midst than with the public airing of some of their most embarrassing moments and the admission of their long-held dreams. Among those enormously gifted artistic types is ensemble member Carly Blake Sebouhian (who fairly drips stage presence in her performance-we got a sneak preview of a few numbers last Wednesday), whose ever-growing resume offers an account of her impressive theatrical experience. Her charm and lovely spirit are sure to set her apart to gain the attention of Nashville audiences who will see her onstage in The Nutty Professor.

AVENUE Q: SCHOOL EDITION To Be Presented By Nashville Children's Theatre's Emerging Artists
AVENUE Q: SCHOOL EDITION To Be Presented By Nashville Children's Theatre's Emerging Artists
July 15, 2012

Nashville Children'sTheatre will unveil its second student summer musical production on July 27 and 28 with Avenue Q: School Edition, based on the original Broadway hit and Tony Award-winning musical by Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty.

Bringing Ginger and Fred to Cumberland County Playhouse, JEREMY BENTON Dances Through Life
Bringing Ginger and Fred to Cumberland County Playhouse, JEREMY BENTON Dances Through Life
July 15, 2012

Jeremy Benton has come a long way since he was dancing around in the backyard of his family's home in Springfield, Tennessee. In fact, way back when-before he even had his first dance class with Cherri Coleman at the Springfield School of Classical Dance-for all he knew he might have even created or invented what he later learned was referred to as "tap."

BWW Interviews: Dance Captain PATRICK O'NEILL Turns His Focus To THE NUTTY FIVE
BWW Interviews: Dance Captain PATRICK O'NEILL Turns His Focus To THE NUTTY FIVE
July 15, 2012

Think of it as a newfangled take on our venerated Southern hospitality-my mama raised me right, for goodness' sake-and what's more Southern than welcoming newcomers into our community? Whiskey and barbecue, of course, but until then this column will have to suffice, even if the ensemble's Patrick O'Neill has suffered through some 20 years of barbecue deficiency. Until we can rectify that situation, this is just gonna have to do…



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