Bob O'Connell News

Nashville theater has always been progressive. There have always been people and companies focused on the cutting edge, delivering productions that challenge and compel their audiences to think and to consider where they are now and where they will go in the future, and there is no question that such forward-thinking creative types will continue to wield influence in the theater community for as long as theater is to be created here, there and everywhere.

THE MUSIC MAN is currently playing at Theatre By The Sea, in Wakefield, RI, through July 15. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Join in the parade as Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN marches onto the stage at Bill Hanney's Theatre By The Sea (TBTS). Performances begin Wednesday, June 21 and plays thru Saturday, July 15, 2017.

Inspired by BroadwayWorld.com's Friday Six, welcome to BroadwayWorld Nashville's latest installment of The Friday Five: five questions designed to help you learn more about the talented people you'll find onstage throughout the Volunteer state. Today, we focus our virtual spotlight on Brooke Gronemeyer and Morgan Robertson, the stars of Starlite Waltz, the latest - and, unfortunately, last - production from GroundWorks Theatre, headed by artistic director Myra Stephens and managing director Jonathan Stephens, who took over the company from founders Sean and Bob O'Connell (2011 First Night Honorees).

Dressed to the nines-despite forecasts of thunderstorms and a tornado watch that hung over the region-theater people from throughout Tennessee gathered at Belmont University's Bill and Carole Troutt Theatre on Sunday night for the 2013 First Night Honors. Hosted by Holly Shepherd and Joel Diggs, the gala evening honored eight leading lights of Tennessee theater as they were recognized as members of the First Night Class of 2013 Honorees.

Eight individuals, whose names attest to the depth and breadth of live theatrical performance in Nashville, have been named as members of the 2012 Class of First Night Honorees and will be feted with a special tribute concert on Sunday, September 2, at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit producing entity at the historic Theatre By The Sea, is thrilled to announce a partial cast list for their second annual fundraising event Beyond the Sea, sponsored by First Trade Union Bank, Marasco & Nesselbush and Liberty Rentals, to be held today.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit producing entity at the historic Theatre By The Sea, is thrilled to announce a partial cast list for their second annual fundraising event Beyond the Sea, sponsored by First Trade Union Bank, Marasco & Nesselbush and Liberty Rentals, to be held on Saturday, October 1, 2011.

After much too long an absence, 2010 First Night Honoree A. Sean O'Connell finds herself in the director's chair again, this time helming the latest production from Nashville's GroundWorks Theatre - the regional premiere of Joel Drake Johnson's The Fall to Earth.

After much too long an absence, 2010 First Night Honoree A. Sean O'Connell finds herself in the director's chair again, this time helming the latest production from Nashville's GroundWorks Theatre - the regional premiere of Joel Drake Johnson's The Fall to Earth.

After much too long an absence, 2010 First Night Honoree A. Sean O'Connell finds herself in the director's chair again, this time helming the latest production from Nashville's GroundWorks Theatre - the regional premiere of Joel Drake Johnson's The Fall to Earth.

After much too long an absence, 2010 First Night Honoree A. Sean O'Connell finds herself in the director's chair again, this time helming the latest production from Nashville's GroundWorks Theatre - the regional premiere of Joel Drake Johnson's The Fall to Earth.

A cast of more than 125 performers took to the stage of the Troutt Theatre at Belmont University to fete the eight members of the 2010 Class of First Night Honorees in a production that featured the best of the best of Nashville theater and included a surprise appearance by Joseph Mahowald, winner of a 1989 First Night Award, now playing the role of Franklin Hart Jr. in the national tour of 9 to 5: The Musical, which opened in Nashville at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, September 21.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit producing entity at the historic Theatre By The Sea, is thrilled to announce that Broadway's Michael McGrath, currently appearing in Memphis on Broadway (2010 Tony Award for Best Musical), will be joining fellow Theatre By The Sea alumni for OSTC's first fundraising event Beyond the Sea, sponsored by First Trade Union Bank, Amtrak, Liberty Rentals and Porter Airlines, to be held on Saturday, September 25, 2010.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit producing entity at the historic Theatre By The Sea, is thrilled to announce a partial cast list for their first fundraising event Beyond the Sea, sponsored by First Trade Union Bank, Amtrak and Liberty Rentals, to be held on Saturday, September 25, 2010.

Nashville theater's past, present and future was the topic of discussion on Monday night, September 13, as seven of the eight 2010 First Night Honorees gathered for the First Night Symposium. Held at Belmont University's Black Box Theatre, the event attracted an audience of about 75 and was moderated by First Night founder/executive producer Jeffrey Ellis.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit producing entity at the historic Theatre By The Sea, is thrilled to announce that Broadway's Michael McGrath, currently appearing in Memphis on Broadway (2010 Tony Award for Best Musical), will be joining fellow Theatre By The Sea alumni for OSTC's first fundraising event Beyond the Sea, sponsored by First Trade Union Bank, Amtrak, Liberty Rentals and Porter Airlines, to be held on Saturday, September 25, 2010.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit producing entity at the historic Theatre By The Sea, is thrilled to announce a partial cast list for their first fundraising event Beyond the Sea, sponsored by First Trade Union Bank, Amtrak and Liberty Rentals, to be held on Saturday, September 25, 2010.

All the hottest Red Carpet Fashions from Macy's Green Hills, modeled by some of your favorite Nashville actors, will be in the spotlight just in time for you to pick out your own Red Carpet Look for the return of Nashville's favorite theatrical event: THE FIRST NIGHT NASHVILLE THEATRE HONORS (Sunday, September 19 at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre).

All the hottest Red Carpet Fashions from Macy's Green Hills, modeled by some of your favorite Nashville actors, will be in the spotlight just in time for you to pick out your own Red Carpet Look for the return of Nashville's favorite theatrical event: THE FIRST NIGHT NASHVILLE THEATRE HONORS (Sunday, September 19 at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre).