Jeffrey Ellis - Page 29

Studio Tenn returns to the roots of its Franklin, Tennessee, hometown with the reprise of The Battle of Franklin: A Tale of a House Divided," back by popular demand for a September 7-22 run at the Jamison Theatre in the Factory at Franklin.

Today, we introduce you to PSM Benji Kern, who has worked with numerous theater companies around Nashville, one of Tennessee's finest, who is currently shepherding Studio Tenn's 2017 production of The Battle of Franklin, an original musical first mounted during 2016 by the company:

Part of the Plan - a new musical featuring 20 iconic songs from the catalogue of acclaimed singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg - celebrates its world premiere and its possible trek toward Broadway with a 19-performance run at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center. The production opens Thursday, September 8 and continues through September 24 at TPAC's James K. Polk Theatre, with a gala red carpet event heralding the show's official opening night on Sunday, September 10.

Feeling the urge to let your imagination run wild, your spirit to soar or to just leave the world in which you live and go on an adventure? Sounds like a trip to the theater is in order! Luckily, companies all over the Volunteer State have been hard at work, creating new productions to transform and to transport, shows that will entertain you this summer. That's where THE NASHVILLE THEATER CALENDAR comes in handy: Peruse our listings every week to find out what shows you should see!

In the coming days, leading up to opening night on Thursday, September 7, members of the cast take on our Mamma Mia 5 questions, to offer up some reasons for you to make sure you're in their audience through October 21. First up, today's edition features Jenna Pryor, Curtis Reed and Heather Hershow.

In the coming days, leading up to opening night on Thursday, September 7, members of the cast take on our Mamma Mia 5 questions, to offer up some reasons for you to make sure you're in their audience through October 21. First up, today's edition features Taylor Novak, Gracie McGraw and Anna Carroll.

Nashville Children's Theatre, the nation's oldest professional theatre for young audiences today announces full casting and creative teams for the 2017-2018 season, opening the theater's 87th season - its first with programming designed by new executive artistic director Ernie Nolan.

Ann Cook Calhoun, an internationally renowned Shakespeare scholar and a powerful force for making the Bard's plays accessible to everyone, died August 13 in Nashville after a short illness. She was 82. Calhoun was a professor of English, emerita, at Vanderbilt University who held leadership roles in Shakespeare organizations around the world.

In the coming days, leading up to opening night on Thursday, September 7, members of the cast take on our Mamma Mia 5 questions, to offer up some reasons for you to make sure you're in their audience through October 21. First up, today's edition features David Arnold, Greg Frey and Sarah Zanotti.

Currently starring as diva Lily Garland in the Proof Doubt Closer Theater production of On The Twentieth Century at Los Angeles' Pan-Andreas Theatre (5119 Melrose Avenue) through Sunday, Bernardi says her decision to mount her own rendition of the Cy Coleman-Betty Comden-Adolph Green musical should come as no surprise to people who know her - to be certain, those folks probably expected no less from her.

Sometimes even the loveliest and most appealing of musical theater scores can be forgotten, virtually erased from your memory. Unless, of course, you have your digital music system programmed to play a cavalcade of memorable showtunes, but even then, you're likely hear songs from the same ten shows on a continuous loop.

Among the show's stars are Teal Davis and Elliott Robinson, who portray the show's protagonists Huck and Jim and take audiences on a journey down the Mississippi River in the rollicking, rambunctious show. Somehow, the two actors found time in their hectic, tech week schedules and sat down to take on our questions in order to offer some insight into why they do what they do, as well as suggesting why you just can't miss Big River during its three-weekend run at 108 Donelson Pike.

Looking for a challenging role or to embark upon a new onstage adventure? Here is the latest audition information to come across the BroadwayWorld Nashville newsdesk. Want your audition information to be included? Send your information to jeffrey@bwayworld.com.

Feeling the urge to let your imagination run wild, your spirit to soar or to just leave the world in which you live and go on an adventure? Sounds like a trip to the theater is in order! Luckily, companies all over the Volunteer State have been hard at work, creating new productions to transform and to transport, shows that will entertain you this summer. That's where THE NASHVILLE THEATER CALENDAR comes in handy: Peruse our listings every week to find out what shows you should see!

Director Chris McLaurin makes a particularly auspicious debut at the helm of his rollicking - and beautifully sung and winningly staged - production of Gilbert and Sullivan's classic The Pirates of Penzance, now playing at Murfreesboro's Center for the Arts through August 27. Charming and engaging, McLaurin's Pirates hews closely to the comic opera's original production (the only one of Gilbert and Sullivan's works to actually have its initial staging on Broadway - in 1879), testament to the libretto's timelessness and its refreshingly contemporary humor.

Katharine Boettcher's glorious soprano is finally given the showcase it so richly deserves in the beautifully sung production of Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon's The Secret Garden, the oftentimes stirring and altogether bewitching story of a young orphaned girl forced to live with her mysterious uncle in his 'house upon the hill' overlooking the moors in Yorkshire in the early years of the 20th Century.

Strong and energetic - some even show-stopping - performances from a youthful, fresh-faced cast, choreography that will have you dancing in the aisles and sprightly direction that moves the plot along at an astonishing pace…if you aren't already a fan of Bring It On the Musical, then Circle Players' production will make you one in short order.

Chris McLaurin and one of his cast members, Mara Bloomfield Smotherman (who will be seen later this season in The Larry Keeton Theatre's production of South Pacific) take on our list of six questions for this latest version of Friday 5 (+1), offering insight into what makes them tick, what brought them to the theater in the first place and to suggest why you won't want to miss their show.

Now, Lewis and his team - which includes choreographers Ashley Danielle and Tosha Pendergrast - give the show their own unique spin, opening tonight at Nashville's Z. Alexander Looby Theatre, featuring a fresh-faced young cast bringing the show to life. Two of those cast members - Emily Urbanski and Miracle Ham - responded to our queries, telling us how they found their way to theatrical careers and suggesting why you should be certain to see their show in this edition of Friday 5 (+1)...

Maya Riley and Holly Hill take on roles in the lushly-scored musical, performing for hometown audiences who have wondered what they have been up to in college, showing off their talents in director Tim Larson's cast, offering a glimpse into their creative processes and their personal and professional growth in the theater.