New in Nashville: Five Shows Opening This Weekend

July proves to be a busy month for Nashville-area theatre companies with five new productions slated to open by week's end, including the world premiere of a new musical, the Nashville premiere of a new comedy by Sarah Ruhl, and a production of Fame, the Musical, from Middle Tennessee's oldest community theatre organization.

Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre opens Ray Cooney and John Chapman's There Goes the Bride on Thursday, July 23, continuing through August 29. Nashville's first professional theatre company, Chaffin's Barn has been producing shows since 1967; Tony Award-winning actress Cherry Jones and television actress Park Overall are among the Barn's best-known alumni.

From the playwright who wrote Run for Your Wife, There Goes the Bride centers on advertising executive Timothy Westerby who hits his head the morning of his daughter's big society wedding, awaking to find himself in The company of a 1920s flapper straight out of his current campaign. Chaos and hilarity ensue-could mistaken identities be far behind?

Curtain each evening is at 8 p.m. (CDT), with the buffet opening at 6 p.m. Visit the Barn's website at www.dinnertheatre.com for further details and ticket information.

Nashville artists Rick Seay and Kevin Fogarty will present the world premiere of their brand new musical, Call Me Home, at Montgombery Bell Academy's Paschall Theatre, July 24-August 1.

Call Me Home is described as "a new musical about a house and the people who live in it from the time it was built in 1831 to the present day. It explores the relationship of a house to those who live there and those aspects which turn a house of wood, bricks, stone and mortar into an actual home."

Eight actors portray 27 different characters, while a ninth actor "plays the essence of the house itself and represents the very human feelings that many attribute to the place they call home."

"In each scene, interwoven with music and song, a couple must define for themselves what will make their relationship work in this very special house," explained Rick Seay, the author of the show's book and its director. "It's a journey that everyone takes when they make a commitment to another person, and the house itself becomes the glue in these relationships."

Music and lyrics for Call Me Home are by Kevin Fogarty, who works for BMI Inc. and performs as a drummer and vocalist with many Nashville-based bands. He is a founding member of the men's a capella group Schola Pacis. He and Seay also are the co-creators of a musical about the youth of King Arthur.

Cast members include Chase Altenbern, Misty Ayers-Miranda, Meghan Backes, Riley Bryant, Jennifer Coke, Gregg Colson, Caroline Davis, Keri Pisapia and Christian Sawyer.

More information about the new musical can be found at www.callmehomethemusical.com

The Paschall Theatre is located on the Montgomery Bell Academy campus, 4001 Harding Road. Performances are July 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m., July 26 at 2:30 p.m., and July 31 and August 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door; reservations are not required. Opening night audiences are invited to attend a reception afterward for a meet-and-greet with the composer, author, cast and crew.

Belmont University's Black Box Theater is the setting for the latest offering from Actor's Bridge Ensemble, playwright Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone, directed by Bill Feheely and starring Brooke Bryant, C.J. Tucker, Alice Raver, Judy Jackson, Kurt Schlacter and Paul Gatrell.

When a young woman finds a cell phone belonging to a dead man, then answers it, her life is changed: "Jean is sleepwalking through her life until she answers a dead man's cell phone. It turns out to be a wake-up call that sends her on a date with the dead man's brother, a drinking binge with his wife, and a mysterious rendezvous with his mistress. In this wildly imaginative new comedy, Jean is on an adventure to learn that life is for the living," according to the Actor's Bridge website.

The play runs July 24-26 and July 30-August 2 at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m.. For details, visit The company's website at www.actorsbridge.org.

Opening its 60^th season, Circle Players brings a new production of Fame, the Musical to the stage of the Z. Alexander Looby Theatre for a July 24-August 9 run. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with 2 p.m. Matinees on Sundays.

Conceived and developed by David De Silva with a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy, Fame the Musical is directed by Tim Larson. Larson said he hopes to remain true to the author's intent by bringing "an energizing, entertaining and bittersweet story to the stage."

 Kate Adams-Johnson handles the choregraphy, with musical direction by Rolin Mains. Cast member include Devon Anderson, David Arnold, Tyler Ashley, Kathryn Clubb, Mary Corby, McKenna Driver, Cat Eberwine, LaTonya Gardner, Chelsea Hough, BranDon Johnson, Faith Helm, Hannah McGinley, Earl Landress, Julia Nettles, Michalina Norris, Trey Palmer, Caleb Reynolds, Darin Richardson, Erin Spencer, Mary-Molly Storey, Joseph Turner, Elizabeth Walsh and Rachel Ward. Dancers from Music City Salsa will be making a special appearance in the production.

"Dancing in Fame the Musical is a thrilling, exhilarating, tremendous experience," said Chris Martin, director Music City Salsa. "Inviting us to share our knowledge and expertise demonstrates artistic appreciation for authenticity and the extraordinary diversity of our great city. We extend our open arms to the Fame team and hope to share memories that will live forever."

To learn more about Music City Salsa, visit their website at www.musiccitysalsa.com 

Now in its fifth season, the Nashville Dinner Theatre at Donelson's Senior Center for the Arts will raise the curtain on Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Friday night, continuing through Sunday, August 16. The Senior Center for the Arts is located at 108 Donelson Pike. Tickets are available by calling the box office at (615) 883-8375.

Directed by Laura Lindsey, with musical direction by Mitch Fuller, Beauty and the Beast stars Melissa Bailey and Joe Robinson. The music of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken punctuates the timeless tale of love and redemption in the production, which continues the Senior Center's program of large-cast summer musicals under the new artistic direction of Jane Schnelle. A three-course dinner is served before each night's performance. Tickets are $25 per person.

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