News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Jeffrey Ellis - Page 116

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: On the LINE with Jessica Higgins of Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
BWW Interviews: On the LINE with Jessica Higgins of Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
June 18, 2011

In the cast, there's a blend familiar faces from local theater productions and a whole slew of newcomers. During the run-up to the show's opening night, we introduced you to members of Kate's cast - and now that the show is up and running, we're happy to introduce you to another cast member...Jessica Higgins...

BWW Interviews: On the LINE with Sandra Kennelly of Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
BWW Interviews: On the LINE with Sandra Kennelly of Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
June 16, 2011

In the cast, there's a blend familiar faces from local theater productions and a whole slew of newcomers. During the run-up to the show's opening night, we introduced you to members of Kate's cast - and now that the show is up and running, we're happy to introduce you to another cast member...Sandra Kennelly...

STAGE TUBE: Roxy Regional Theatre Previews ALMOST HEAVEN
STAGE TUBE: Roxy Regional Theatre Previews ALMOST HEAVEN
June 15, 2011

During the June 7th, 2011 Comedy on the Cumberland show, the Roxy Regional Theatre gave a sneak peek of their upcoming show Almost Heaven: The Songs of John Denver. Weaving together the songs of John Denver with interviews, fan letters and passages from his autobiography, Almost Heaven was originally conceived by Harold Thau with orchestrations, vocal arrangements and music supervision by Jeff Waxman. Directed by Tom Thayer, the musical revue features Keith Panzarella, Erica Haines Cantrell, Bryan Benware, Kendall Anne Thompson and Ryan Bowie, with David Lovell on guitar, Tom Thayer on piano and Thad Wallus on bass.

STAGE TUBE: Nicole & Nate Hackmann in Oklahoma! at Cumberland County Playhouse
STAGE TUBE: Nicole & Nate Hackmann in Oklahoma! at Cumberland County Playhouse
June 15, 2011

Nicole Begue Hackmann and her husband, Nathaniel Hackmann, are paired as Laurey and Curly in Cumberland County Playhouse's production of Oklahoma! opening Friday, June 17, in Crossville. In this teaser from the show, the Hackmanns sing 'Surrey With the Fringe On Top' from the timeless score.

FIVE more questions for Nashville's FIVE divas
FIVE more questions for Nashville's FIVE divas
June 15, 2011

Nashville's show-stopping quintet of captivating, sexy, sultry, uber-talented women of FIVE - known among the intelligentsia as Melodie Madden Adams, Megan Murphy Chambers, Cori Laemmel, Laura Matula and Erin Parker - reclaim the stage Monday, June 27, with Five: An Encore Performance, building on the momentum that started in March with their debut performance at Street Theatre Company.

STAGE TUBE: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Cumberland County Playhouse
STAGE TUBE: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Cumberland County Playhouse
June 14, 2011

While Little Shop of Horrors' Audrey II continues to rampage and rip up the Adventure Theatre at Crossville's Cumberland County Playhouse (the show runs through August 6), with Greg Pendzick, Lindy Pendzick, Jason Ross, Daniel W. Black and an all-star cast lending their estimable talents to the tale of murder, mirth and mayhem in the flower shop that figures prominently in the Alan Menken/Howard Ashman musical. Here's a glimpse at the production's 'Feed Me.'

STAGE TUBE: FIVE: An Encore Performance Trailer
STAGE TUBE: FIVE: An Encore Performance Trailer
June 14, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen, MAS Nashville is proud to show you our brand new trailer for FIVE: An Encore Performance, designed and filmed by the amazing ANTHONY MATULA.

BWW Interviews: Caylan Cheadle, This Dancer's Life
BWW Interviews: Caylan Cheadle, This Dancer's Life
June 14, 2011

Among Nashville Ballet dancers, Caylan Cheadle ranks among the company's more unique members, claiming a pedigree that many would emulate if only they could: she was born and raised in Nashville! In fact, prior to college at Southern Methodist University, she studied at The School of Nashville Ballet, and after stint with The Georgia Ballet, she's now an apprentice at Nashville Ballet.

BWW Interviews: On the LINE with Melissa Silengo of Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
BWW Interviews: On the LINE with Melissa Silengo of Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
June 14, 2011

In the cast, there's a blend familiar faces from local theater productions and a whole slew of newcomers. During the run-up to the show's opening night, we introduced you to members of Kate's cast - and now that the show is up and running, we're happy to introduce you to another cast member...Melissa Silengo...

Jeffrey Williams 'Grows Up' and Heads to NYC Following Cabaret Show, 6/13
June 13, 2011

Since his arrival in Nashville, talented Jeffrey Williams has made quite the name for himself on local stages, winning over directors, producers, other actors, audience members and critics alike with his charm, dedication and remarkable talent. Seriously, he's got the goods and Nashville theater has claimed its fair share (most recently, he's been seen in Street Theatre Company's acclaimed staging of Chess in Concert, in which he sang the role of the spoiled American chess champion, and in Tennessee Repertory Theatre's hit revival of Pump Boys and Dinettes, in which he tap-danced, played an accordion and sang his heart out, surrounded by a cast of Tennessee Rep veterans), it would seem, and now young Mr. Williams is heading northeastward to check things out in New York City.

BWW Reviews: THE BAD SEED from Street Theatre Company
BWW Reviews: THE BAD SEED from Street Theatre Company
June 12, 2011

Who among us doesn't love a suspenseful yet wickedly entertaining melodrama about an eight-year-old sociopath who lets nothing stand in the way of her lifelong quest to get exactly what she wants? Whether it's a penmanship medal, a crystal ball, a garnet from a necklace - or even to prevent a trip to the electric chair - young Rhoda Penmark, who is the very picture of sweetness and light and old-fashioned manners and deportment, has for more than 50 years mesmerized audiences, delighting them with her larcenous, murderous ways. Let's face it: Who among us hasn't had flashes of going all Rhoda Penmark on the people who are obstacles in our own lives?

STAGE TUBE: Renaissance Players present HELLO, DOLLY!
STAGE TUBE: Renaissance Players present HELLO, DOLLY!
June 10, 2011

The Renaissance Players proudly present HELLO, DOLLY!, June 10 - June 26, 2011 @ The Renaissance Center in Dickson, TN. This classic Broadway musical features 35 local actors, under the Direction of Bryan J. Wlas, Musical Direction by Nathan W. Brown. Visit rcenter.org for more information.

BWW Reviews: DRIVING MISS DAISY from Mel O'Drama Theater
BWW Reviews: DRIVING MISS DAISY from Mel O'Drama Theater
June 10, 2011

Alfred Uhry is a wonderful writer who perfectly captures the tone and cadence of the Southern accent, infusing his works for the theater with a pervasive appreciation and respect for his native region. Among contemporary Southern playwrights, he is in the upper echelons, creating compelling stories about interesting people in a way that audiences the world over can find accessible.

BWW Reviews: A CHORUS LINE at The Keeton Theatre
BWW Reviews: A CHORUS LINE at The Keeton Theatre
June 10, 2011

There comes a moment, very early on in Kate Adams-Johnson's A Chorus Line (which opened last night at The Keeton Theatre) in which, one by one, each of the actors is caught in the spotlight, with some portentous musical underscoring that heightens the emotional impact of the moment. But what's really telling about that sequence of illumination is how evocatively it telegraphs the stories of each of the actors in the cast. You can tell, almost imperceptibly, what it is that separates the pretenders from the contenders...

Noel Directs Upcoming EVERYBODY LOVES OPAL at Chaffin's Barn; Opens 6/16
Noel Directs Upcoming EVERYBODY LOVES OPAL at Chaffin's Barn; Opens 6/16
June 9, 2011

First Night Award winner Jenny Noel directs Everybody Loves Opal, the latest comedy onstage at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. A comedy by John Patrick, Everybody Loves Opal runs June 16-July 23, and features a cast of some of Nashville's favorite actors.

BWW Interviews: On the Line with Mallory Gleason from Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
BWW Interviews: On the Line with Mallory Gleason from Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
June 9, 2011

In the cast, there's a blend familiar faces from local theater productions and a whole slew of newcomers. During the run-up to the show's June 9 opening night, we've introduced you to members of Kate's cast - and next up is Mallory Gleason, who plays Cassie...

BWW Interviews: Down on Crossville's Skid Row - All the scoop on LITTLE SHOP's Urchins
BWW Interviews: Down on Crossville's Skid Row - All the scoop on LITTLE SHOP's Urchins
June 8, 2011

Now that CCP's trio of actress playing the urchins - Leila Nelson, Joann Coleman and Ali Gritz - have been given the chance to put their own unique spins on their roles, we dragged them away from rehearsals (or was it a performance?) to give us their take on the whole Little Shop experience in Crossville.

OKLAHOMA! Opens 6/17 for Summer Run at Cumberland County Playhouse
OKLAHOMA! Opens 6/17 for Summer Run at Cumberland County Playhouse
June 8, 2011

Nathaniel Hackmann and Britt Hancock, both skilled veterans of national theater tours, join some exceedingly talented Tennesseans - Nicole Bégué Hackmann, Jason Ross, Daniel Black and Leila Nelson - in Cumberland County Playhouse's summer musical Oklahoma!, running June 17-September 3 at the venerable Crossville venue.

BWW Reviews: IDINA MENZEL in concert with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra
BWW Reviews: IDINA MENZEL in concert with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra
June 8, 2011

Truth be told, the exit signs in Laura Turner Hall at Nashville's world-class Schermerhorn Symphony Center are always illuminated in green, but if Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel wants to think the color of the exit signs were a down-home homage to her Wickedly famous role on Broadway, then so be it. In fact, it's sort of amazing the building is still standing after the thunderous ovations given her Tuesday night by a savvy Music City audience so captivated by her extraordinary performance that we may, henceforth, claim her as one of our own.

BWW Interviews: On the Line with Caleb Reynolds from Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
BWW Interviews: On the Line with Caleb Reynolds from Keeton's A CHORUS LINE
June 8, 2011

In the cast, there's a blend familiar faces from local theater productions and a whole slew of newcomers. During the run-up to the show's June 9 opening night, we've introduced you to members of Kate's cast - and next up is handsome, charming, talented and Caleb Reynolds who, clearly, knows his way around an interview.



  …       116       …    




Videos