Nashville's Historic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre Sold to New Owner

Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre - the nation's longest running and continually operating dinner theater - has been sold just as the company is nearing the completion of its 50th season of shows in Nashville.

Norma Luther, a businesswoman with "long roots to Nashville," who is described as a theater aficionado, is in the process of finalizing the purchase of the venerable theatrical operation from longtime owners Janie and John Chaffin. According to reports on social media, Luther will take over ownership of "The Barn," as the venue has been known during its half-century in Music City, on January 1.

While details of the sale are still unknown, it has been announced that Martha Wilkinson, the long-time artistic director at Chaffin's Barn, will continue in that position under new ownership. Wilkinson, a nine-time First Night Award winner and a 2014 First Night Honoree, will direct Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, the comedy that will kick off the theater's 2017 season in January.

Speaking two weeks ago, when rumors first began to circulate about the sale of Chaffin's Barn, Wilkinson said, "I feel great about it! I think it's fantastic someone wants to keep the legacy going! It's a Nashville landmark and deserves to be maintained."

Wilkinson said care is being taken with the transition to new ownership to ensure that loyal Barn patrons are not caught unawares by the changes expected, with particular attention paid to easing the process for them.

Founded by A. W. and Edna Lou "Puny" Chaffin, Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre - now owned by Janie and John Chaffin, the second generation of the theatrical family, who were recently recognized among the city's most successful entrepreneurs - The Barn has offered every one of its audiences exciting, top-quality, professional theatre and a mouth-watering buffet that groans with Southern delicacies. In fact, when you talk to people about their memories of The Barn, they're just as likely to mention peanut butter pie or corn pudding as they are to recall such Barn luminaries as Mike Edwards, Martha Wilkinson, Brian Russell or any number of actors who got their start on the magical floating stage (in fact, Tony Award winner Cherry Jones had her first professional gig at The Barn).

Since 1967, Chaffin's Barn has provided employment to some of the best actors to be found on stages anywhere, launching careers for actors who have gained critical and audience acclaim all over the country. And during that time, Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre has been hailed as one of the Top 25 tourist attractions in Nashville, "Best Buffet" and "Best Place to See a Play" in The Tennessean's annual Toast of Music City contest and in Nashville Scene's "Best of" as one of the top three "Best Places to See a Play." In addition, Chaffin's Barn was the recipient of The First Night Lifetime Achievement Award and its shows, directors, choreographers and actors have taken home multiple First Night honors over the years.

Chaffin's Barn played host to The First Night Honors in 2015 and previously had hosted several iterations of Midwinter's First Nights and The First Night Preview Party.

In a statement making its way on social media last Thursday, the change in ownership was acknowledged, although no official announcement was made:

"A lot of people are asking what's happening at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. "The Barn" (as it is affectionately called) was opened in 1967 and we are presently wrapping up our 50th fabulous season of shows 'in the round.'

"After providing Nashville and the mid-south with five decades of amazing entertainment, owners John and Janie Chaffin have announced they are selling the theater to businesswoman Norma Luther. Besides having a great love for the theater, Ms. Luther has long roots to Nashville and desires to continue the Chaffin's Barn legacy.

"While some of the I's still need to be dotted and a few T's need to be crossed, Luther has stated that she intends for Chaffin's Barn to be around for at least another 50 years and is aggressively planning many improvements to America's oldest operating dinner theater.

"Our 51st season opens in a few short weeks - on January 12, 2017 - with Neil Simon's classic comedy The Odd Couple. Martha Wilkinson (the South's first lady of musical comedy), who has been working with Chaffin's Barn for nearly 30 years as an actor, director, and artistic director, will remain at the barn as the Artistic Director. In fact, she has assembled an amazing cast for the opening show of the 2017 season and will be directing it, too!

"So, friends, if you are asked what's happening at Chaffin's Barn, simply reply that all is well and the next 50 years will be bigger and better than ever. Then invite the person you're speaking with to come see a show."

Updates about the sale are forthcoming, along with an official announcement of the change-over, and Luther will be sharing some of her plans in an interview with BroadwayWorld Nashville in the coming days.

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