Studio Tenn Named Resident Theater Company at Historic Franklin Theatre

The historic Franklin Theatre, which re-opens June 3 after extensive renovations, today announced that critically acclaimed Studio Tenn - the professional theater troupe headed by Matt Logan and Jake Speck - will be the resident live theatre company at the venue, presenting classic plays and musicals as part of the new mission to offer the highest quality live entertainment in Middle Tennessee.

Studio Tenn's just announced 2011-2012 season includes:

• August 18-28 - Guys and Dolls Featuring a score by Frank Loesser, the classic musical tellsthe story of a group of small-time gamblers and the ladies in their lives.
• December 8-18 - A Christmas Carol Theretelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel takes a miser on a journey of self- redemption, andcoincides with Franklin's annual Dickens of a Christmas festival.
• February 23-March 4 - The Miracle Worker William Gibson's three-act play tells the inspirational story of Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach the blind and deaf Helen Keller how to communicate.

The historic Franklin Theatre, built in 1937, re-opens to the public on Friday, June 3, after undergoing a multi-million-dollar restoration. As part of the restoration, the theater installed a world-class sound and lighting system to accommodate live entertainment, including concerts and plays.

"The Franklin Theatre is one of the last surviving movie houses in the South," says Mary Pearce, executive director of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County, which owns the theater and led its restoration. "Now, we're proud to offer movies, music and more - including world-class live theatre."

"Studio Tenn has earned a great reputation in a very short period of time. We're proud to call them partners," Pearce says.

Founded in 2009 by nationally known director and artist Matt Logan, Emmy Award-winning producer Philip Hall, and Broadway and film actress Marguerite Lowell Hall, Studio Tenn's  mission is simple: "Use a rich combination of talent from Nashville and Broadway to bring classic works of drama and musical theatre to life in Middle Tennessee, and provide innovative educational programs designed to entertain, educate and inspire rising artists."

"Studio Tenn's goal is to bring New York-caliber theatre to Middle Tennessee in a way that is 'uniquely Tennessean,'" says Jake Speck, who played one of the lead roles in the Broadway production of Jersey Boys, and now serves as Studio Tenn's managing director. "The history and vision of the Franklin Theatre brings an exciting new dimension to our work."

Speck adds: "We are delighted to partner with an organization that shares our passion for high-quality and exceptional entertainment."

Tickets for the 2011-12 season are now available online, at 20% off the regular ticket price through July 1. To purchase tickets, check out www.franklintheatre.com. Or for more information, go to www.studiotenn.com.

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