by Cory Woodroof | Nov 3, 2011 | News Slider
To this day, Nashville citizens are continuing to rebuild since the catastrophic flood of May 2010. Locals will always remember the time our city picked up the pieces from the devastation of a thousand-year flood that wreaked havoc on families and businesses across Middle Tennessee. The Opry Mills mall, a once prominent shopping center, sadly fell victim to the flood, taking with it many popular stores and restaurants unique to Opry Mills, including a theater that held Nashville’s only IMAX screen. After a year and a half of waiting, the theater is making a comeback. The Opry Mills 20 and IMAX will finally re-open its doors to the public on Nov. 18. Via press release, Dick Westerling, Regal Entertainment Group senior vice president of marketing and advertising, shared the news with the public. “Regal Entertainment Group is eager to open our Opry Mills Stadium 20 & IMAX,” Westerlng said. “Prior to the flood, this location with its IMAX presentation attracted moviegoers from across Middle Tennessee. We believe our returning patrons will be impressed with this all-new facility.” Westerling believes the theater–and its customers–will profit from the theater’s re-opening, which will be just in time for Thanksgiving. “Opening during the busy holiday movie season is the perfect time to offer this state-of-the-art theatre to our loyal patrons in Nashville,” he said. The theater will host a series of charity events on Nov. 14, 15 and 16 that will lead up to the grand re-opening. Those in attendance can purchase such offerings as $2 movies, popcorn and sodas. Groups such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Nashville Film Festival and...
by despotmj | Jun 17, 2011 | News Slider
Playing this past weekend at Belmont’s black-box theatre was John Patrick Shanley’s “Sailor’s Song”, a story which presents themes of love, regret and loss that can transcend even the most novice of theatre goers. “Sailor’s Song” was by the Actors Bridge Ensemble, a local theatre group which includes well-known Nashvillian Brent Maddox, as well as Lipscomb’s theatre professor Robyn Berg. Providing additional talent is Actors Equity Association member Bill Feehely, as well as Jessika Malone and Carrie Gerow. The production was a dark comedy which features a character named Rich (Maddox) visiting a small, coastal town to comfort his grieving Uncle John (Feehely), as his wife is about to pass away. While in town, Rich becomes involved in a love tangle with two sisters named Lucy (Berg) and Joan (Malone). As with any love triangle, there is a vast emotional difference between the two women involved. Lucy is a sensitive, caring woman, ready to help Rich find happiness, while her sister is a medium who finds her arm possessed by an unsettled soul which causes her to constantly write the ghost’s thoughts from beyond. Throughout the performance Rich is forced to examine the path of his life as he watches his Uncle John coping, yet seemingly unaffected by the passing of his wife. John is a foul-mouthed seasoned fisherman who seems disconnected from emotion due to his many years spent at seas, choosing rather to live in a life of what could have been. This provides a very palpable and heated relationship between John and Rich, as Rich is living in a life of what could be, rather than...
by Danielle Boyd | Nov 10, 2010 | News Slider
When Ragtime — with its predominantly black cast — opens Thursday it will be something of a landmark occurrence for Lipscomb, according to those involved. “I think it’s going to be an amazing work and a gigantic step forward for Lipscomb, especially for the theater department,” said Mike Fernandez, director of the play and chairman of the theater department. “It’s a powerful play, and that’s why I love it.” The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. for each performance of the play that begins this Thursday, Nov. 14, and runs through Nov. 17 in Collins Alumni Auditorium. The tickets are $5 for Lipscomb students, $10 for faculty, $15 for the public. Tickets are available at the Lipscomb box office or via Ticketmaster. Ragtime — based on the prize-winning historical novel by E.L. Doctorow –is a Tony award-winning play and perhaps the best-known contemorary musical featuring a mostly African-American cast. “This is going to be the best production Lipscomb has ever had,” said Lauren Waller. “The play is fun, lively and a real tear jerker. It is one that everyone will enjoy.” Ragtime mixes fact and fiction and takes place in the years 1900-1917 in, and around, New York City. “What I love about the play is how Doctorow weaves the story of three sets of different people together to tell us a story,” Fernandez said. “In one way [it is] very hopeful, and portrays the essence of what it is to be an American. On the other [hand], it reaches the pit of despair as we see the dreams of some of these people dashed because of racial inequality.” “Ragtime...
by Clair Flynn | Sep 25, 2010 | Opinion
At half after seven on Friday September 24, the Lipscomb Department of Theater began their production of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie under the direction of Beki Baker. Within the first two scenes, three of the four characters appear: Amanda, the overbearing southern mother, and her two children, passionate Tom and timid Laura. From here the story unfolds as Amanda schemes to marry off Laura, all the while trying to inspire Tom to aid her in finding a respectable suitor. In the end, Amanda’s plan fails, and leaves Laura even more withdrawn than before. In the two hour play, not once did I yawn, or shift in my chair out of boredom—the production seized my attention within the first few minutes and simply did not let go until all four characters had left the stage. The cast portrayed their respective characters quite well. Sawyer Wallace went from rhythmic narration to bold and passionate bellowing as the tumultuous Tom while Holly Barker constantly chimed in as Amanda, the nagging mother with a fast paced southern accent. Carter Martin spoke clearly and yet somehow timidly as Laura, and Mitch Miller maintained the idealistic awestruck tone of a dreamer. This production’s splendor did not stop at the good acting, but rather continued to show through the visually interesting and character-reflecting costumes. The sparse background acted as a nice back drop to the splendid acting, and the production would have felt over the top with any more detail added to the slightly bleary setting. I followed the plot very easily, despite my unfamiliarity with the subject matter, and I doubt I would have found...
