Circle Players Marks Centennial of Titanic Sinking With Production at TPAC

Just days before the world commemorates the centennial of the sinking of the HMS Titanic, Circle Players, Nashville's oldest community theatre company, will present a revival of Titanic the Musical, at the James K. Polk Theatre at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center on April 5-8.

Titanic the Musical, winner of five Tony Awards in 1997 including Best Musical, presents a historic retelling of what happened on the ship. Circle Players' production, directed by Tim Larson, debuted in 2009 and was Tennessee's first production of the show, combines dedication to historical accuracy and rich local ties.

The 2012 iteration of the musical will feature more than 60 local actors, including surprise celebrity walk-on roles during each performance. The orchestra will include Tennessee State University music students along with local professional musicians.

"Circle Players' 2009 production of Titanic, the Musical was a 'renaissance production' for the organization; personally, it was also a renaissance for me," said Larson. "It proved that one can do anything if they put their mind and heart into it. Working with much of the cast and crew from the original production this centenary tribute will truly be a 'ship of dreams.' I am ecstatic to be able to tell this story again to a larger audience with a much larger production. I think patrons will be in awe of what they will experience on the 100th Anniversary of one of the largest disasters of the 20th Century."

Tickets went on sale to the public on January 2, and range from $20-40, depending upon seat location. For tickets, visit www.tpac.org, call (615) 782-4040, or visit the TPAC Box Office downtown at 505 Deaderick .

Circle Players will host an opening night gala dinner at The Hermitage Hotel on Thursday, April 5, and details will be announced as they are confirmed.

Circle Players' remaining productions for 2012 include Company (running through January 22); Brighton Beach Memoirs (March 2-18); and Hairspray (May 4-20), all presented at The Keeton Theater on Donelson Pike. For more information, visit www.circleplayers.net.

Pictured: David Arnold, Tim Bush and Macon Kimbrough