Eight First Night Honorees Talk Theatre at Symposium 9/13

The eight members of the 2010 Class of First Night Honorees will take center stage on Monday, September 13, at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre for the initial First Night Symposium, an opportunity for Nashville audiences to hear from theater visionaries as they discuss the past, present and future of live theater in Music City USA.

Part of the official First Night Nashville Theatre Honors season, The Symposium will begin at 7 p.m., with First Night founder and executive producer Jeffrey Ellis, who covers the Nashville theater scene for BroadwayWorld.com, moderating the discussion.

The 2010 First Night Honorees include:

-- Scot Copeland, producing artistic director for Nashville Children's Theatre, now celebrating his silver anniversary with the company, considered one of the nation's leading theater companies for young audiences;

-- Paul Gatrell, chairman of the department of theater and dance at Belmont University;

-- Kathleen O'Brien, president and CEO of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, where the national touring company of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical will be launching its national tour on September 21; 

-- A. Sean and Robert A. Connell, co-founders of ACT 1 and GroundWorks Theatre, and both past winners of First Night Awards during its previous incarnation in the 1990s;

-- Mac Pirkle, co-founder of Tennessee Repertory Theatre and Southern Stage Productions;

-- Barry Scott, actor/director/producer and one of America's busiest voice-over artists, and a faculty member in the department of theater at Tennessee State University; 

-- Shannon Wood, co-founder and owner of Nashville's Darkhorse Theater, and a well-known stage manager for Southern Stage and Tennessee Rep.

During the Symposium, the eight honorees will answer questions posed by Ellis during the first half of the evening's program. Following intermission, questions from the audience will be included as the eight honorees, each of whom has been chosen for his or her lifetime of achievement and continued dedication to creating rich, vibrant and compelling live theater in Nashville, share the wealth of their knowledge with the audience.

The eight will be honored on Sunday, September 19, during a gala evening at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre, with performance and spoken tributes by members of Nashville's growing theater community. The Sunday night gala will open with the Macy's Red Carpet Event, hosted by Trey Palmer and Jennifer Richmond, with fashion commentary from Cary Street and Richard Browder. 

A silent auction, featuring a wealth of collectibles and must-haves, will be held in the lower lobby of the Troutt Theatre prior to the start of the show. The First Night after-party will be held at the Hard Rock Cafe, 100 Broadway, in downtown Nashville. Tickets to the September 19 event are $25 and include all festivities on Sunday night.

For further information, email FirstNightNashville@clearwire.net or call The First Night Line at (615) 530-6178 for details.

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