Jeffrey Ellis - Page 110

Melodie Madden Adams takes to the stage as her fictional alter ego in The Linda Lane Show: Pageants, Prayers & Pianos, presented by MAS Nashville on Monday, September 19 at The Basement. In her new one-woman cabaret show, Madden Adams takes her audience back to the 1960s to embody the fictional Linda Lane - described as 'a journey of song and storytelling' - a simple girl with a simple dream.

In short, Chicago is the best production ever presented by The Keeton Theatre. In fact, it's one of the finest versions of the tuneful musical we've ever seen on any stage, from any production company - and trust me, we've seen a bunch of 'em, ranging from Broadway and national touring companies to mountings from academic theaters, professional regional theaters and community playhouses.

You don't necessarily have to be a fan of Johnny Cash or his music to enjoy Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash now onstage at Dickson's Renaissance Center in a professional production from The Gaslight Theatre. But you can be certain that when you leave the theater you will be a Johnny Cash fan of the highest order, humming the songs you've just heard performed by a remarkable group of artists.

There's nobody who loves a tautly written thriller more than I - you know, the type of mystery where there's much conniving going on, one's baser desires are satiated, intelligence triumphs over the dull and commonplace. Unfortunately, despite having the requisite components, Writer's Block (the new play now onstage at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre) just doesn't measure up; it is neither thrilling nor is it tautly written.

Three men clash violently over business, friendship, honor and ego in Mamet's award-winning drama. The owner of a junk shop in 1970s Chicago wrestles with morality and his own pride as he plots and schemes to recoup his losses by stealing back a rare coin he unwittingly sold to a local collector. Mamet paints a raw and compelling portrait of working-class hoods who believe they have a right to take whatever they want - and who are slowly drowning in their own shortcomings and personal failures.

Could Robyn Berg lay claim to the title of the hardest working woman in show business? She could certainly stake a claim given her burgeoning Nashville theater resume. Since her arrival in town - just two years ago - she's directed Lipscomb University's critically acclaimed production of Death of a Salesman while also teaching at the university, starred in productions from Rhubarb Theater Company, played Hannah Jelks in ACT 1's production of Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana, starred in Actors Bridge Ensemble's production of John Patrick Shanley's Sailor's Song, and has proven herself a vital - and much sought-after - member of the local theatrical scene.

Ring of Fire - The Music of Johnny Cash opens September 15 at the Gaslight Dinner Theatre at Dickson's Renaissance Center, running through October 13. The 'jukebox musical', which opened on Broadway in March 2006, is not a biography of Cash, but instead it's described as 'a unique mosaic that follows the life and times of Johnny Cash through his most famous songs.'

Street Theatre Company scores yet another great big hit with its inspired production of Altar Boyz - the musical tale of four devout young Catholics and one very talented Jew, on a divine path toward pop music superstardom. Impressively sung and acted, STC's Altar Boyz is great fun from start to finish, as the earnest young men attest to their faith while delivering a fast-moving concert that sends up every boy band group ever to be created by some Machiavellian agent on the make.

Bonnie Keen, apparently, can do anything. Heretofore known for having one of the most memorable voices in the music business, she's also left her mark in theatrical circles as one of the most fearless comedic actresses to ever take the stage. But who knew she could also twirl the baton - and do the splits? Bonnie Keen is one amazing human being, for certain, and she puts all her many talents on display in 800 Miles Off Broadway, the latest stage spectacle to feature The Glory Bugles, the gospel-singing pride of fictional Box Springs, Tennessee, featuring the tremendously talented Nan Gurley, Wayne Gurley and Stevan Pippin (with scene-stealing Ted Wilson joining in on the fun at the piano).

Ring of Fire - The Music of Johnny Cash opens September 15 at the Gaslight Dinner Theatre at Dickson's Renaissance Center, running through October 13. The 'jukebox musical', which opened on Broadway in March 2006, is not a biography of Cash, but instead it's described as 'a unique mosaic that follows the life and times of Johnny Cash through his most famous songs.'

John Hoomes, Nashville Opera's artistic director, will helm the 2011-12 season opening production of Verdi's La Traviata, featuring the Nashville Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Christopher Larkin. Sung in Italian, the production will feature projected English translations.

Shawn Whitsell, arguably the busiest man in Nashville theater - well, theater anywhere, we would wager - will unveil his latest play, In The Preacher's Shadow on Thursday night, September 15, in its debut production from Destiny Theatre Experience.

Almost one hundred and fifty years later, who knew that the final actions and decisions of General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War, paired with the relationship between the North and the South in the 1800s, could mirror, parallel and relate to the feelings of a modern day couple facing their own decision? Catherine Bush, the prolific playwright, did.

Amanda Whites is a vital member of Dance Theatre of Tennessee's company and, like all the other company dancers, she's hard at work on the season-opening tribute to ballet mistress Elaine Thomas on the occasion of her 75th birthday. Yet, somehow, she found time to consider our questions and to give some thoughtful answers to our regular queries in our continued attempt to get inside the minds of all the talented dancers in the Nashville area.

When the last performers had sung the final song and the late honoree had been feted, the crowds at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre for the presentation of First Night, the Nashville Theatre Honors' 2011 Gala Concert, headed downtown to Cummins Station for the After-Party at The Listening Room Cafe.

Street Theatre Company's ALTAR BOYZ - aka Michael Holder, Taylor Casey, Bakari King, Humberto Figueroa and Alan Smith - made a special video appearance at First Night 2011, opening the show with their introduction of host David Compton.

Chicago is presented by The Keeton Theatre, Sept 15 - Oct 1, 2011. For more information call 615-883-8375 or visit www.thelarrykeetontheatre.org. Tickets are $25.00 for dinner and show, $20.00 show only. Patron's special: $10.00 show only tickets on Thursday.

John Chaffin's original comic mystery, Writer's Block, is onstage at Nashville's historic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre through October 15, in a production directed by the playwright himself.

Nashville Children's Theatre (NCT) presents the stage adaptation of Louis Sachar's Holes, opening on Tuesday, September 20 and running through October 16. Based on the popular novel by Louis Sachar, who also wrote the script, Holes tells the tale of young Stanley Yelnats who is sentenced (despite his innocence) to the wasteland of Camp Green Lake. He and his fellow juvenile detainees are forced to dig holes in the hot desert sun day after day after day by the Warden. What is she looking for? And how is the mystery connected to Stanley's 'no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather' and a long-dead outlaw named Kissing Kate Barlow?

A stellar group of theater artists from throughout Tennessee and the rest of the American South will join members of Cumberland County Playhouse's resident company for Dreamgirls, the Tony Award-winning stage musical that inspired the Academy Award-winning movie starring starring Beyonce, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson.