2011 First Night Honorees to be Revealed at Preview Party Tonight, 7/11

First Night's Class of 2011 Honorees will be revealed tonight (Monday, July 11) as First Night, The Nashville Theatre Honors kicks off the 2011 First Night Season with The Preview Party, to be held at The Listening Room Café in Cummins Station at 6 p.m.

The six members of the Class of 2011 are "a remarkable group of people, whose achievements in theater have been felt far and wide," according to Jeffrey Ellis, founder and executive producer of First Night, The Nashville Theatre Honors. "Last year, we set the bar high with our inaugural group of eight First Night honorees and I think this year's group lives up to that same high level of achievement."

First Night Honorees generally are selected for their lifetime achievements in theater and honorees run the gamut in theater professions: actors, directors, producers and designers. "Clearly, they are leaders in the community and are chosen for the impact they have made on theater in Nashville and in Tennessee," Ellis explains.

Designed as a combination of "The Kennedy Center Honors meets the Tony Awards," First Night Nashville features 10 days of events that are designed to focus public attention on the art of live theater in Music City USA, spotlighting the work of theater artisans throughout the Volunteer State. In addition to the Honors Gala, set for Sunday, September 4 (Labor Day Weekend), other First Night events include staged readings of William Inge's Picnic and Clare Boothe Luce's The Women - both featuring all-star casts of Tennessee's finest actors - The Women in Theatre Luncheon, The Honorees' Symposium and The Red Carpet Event.

"Events are still in the works and we may actually add other public events to the calendar as the days progress," Ellis says. Already in 2011, First Night events have included Midwinter's First Night in January which featured the presentation of the Nashville.BroadwayWorld.com Awards; First Night: The Tony Concert held June 6 at Boiler Room Theatre; and First Night: The Tony Party, held June 12 at The Keeton Theatre, which gave Nashville theater fans the chance to celebrate The Tony Awards.

During The Women in Theatre Luncheon (set for Tuesday, August 30, at The Listening Room Café) eight women who are forces to be reckoned with in the Nashville and regional theater community will be presented the inaugural First Night Star Award in recognition of their many achievements.

In addition to the six First Night Honorees, the future of Nashville theater will be featured with the presentation of the Most Promising Actors of 2011, a group of 18 younger theater artisans who will star in a production number at the September 4 Honors Gala and who will be recognized throughout upcoming First Night events.

For further details, visit the website at www.FirstNightNashville.com or call (615) 530-6178 .

 

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