The Music City is also famous for its awesome stage productions, especially at TPAC and at local theaters. Here’s a look at some you might want to check out his month.
CLUE, the ultimate whodunit comes to Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) Sept. 10-15, 2024 to open the 2024-25 HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health Broadway at TPAC Season. Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the cult 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, CLUE is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist. Next up is Moulin Rouge! The Musical, October 8-20, 2024.
Don’t Miss the Nashville Repertory Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Season Opener, the Broadway smash musical – Waitress! Featuring original music and lyrics by six-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles and a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson, Waitress is the story of Jenna, a server and expert pie maker, who is stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon her dream of opening her own pie shop…until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness.
Supported by her quirky crew of fellow waitresses and loyal customers, Jenna summons the secret ingredient she’s been missing all along — courage. Nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and cherished by audiences and critics alike, Waitress offers a special recipe for finding happiness in unexpected places in TPAC’s Polk Theater September 13-22, 2024. The second production of the season is a reimagined take on a timeless classic, Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, in TPAC’s Johnson Theater October 25-November 3, 2024.
The 36th annual Summer Shakespeare is back — Thursdays through Sundays until Sept. 22 at The Yard at oneC1TY. This year’s production is sure to bring the crowd. Director Cammy Harris’ interpretation of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “As You Like It” will follow “a group of musicians, poets, and other colorful characters as they compose the world they want to live in and create a brand new sound along the way.”
The 19th Annual Shades of Black Theatre Festival
SistaStyle Productions and Destiny Theatre Experience are pleased to announce the 19th Annual Shades of Black Theatre Festival, which will run at the Darkhorse Theater, September 7th-28th and wrapping up at the Barbershop Theater September 29th. In addition to full-length shows, the festival will also feature an opening mixer, workshops, a spoken word show, a 24-hour play showcase, and other special events.
The purpose of the Shades of Black Theatre Festival is to provide an outlet to uplift the voices of Black artists, while at the same time, being inclusive to artists of other races, ethnicities, and identities.
“September is always a special time because through Shades of Black, we’re able to provide some many back-to-back theatrical and cultural experiences for our fellow artists and community members,” says organizer Shawn Whitsell. “I can’t believe this is our 19th year.”
Monday, September 9, 6:30 pm Shades of Black Mixer : Food, friends, fellowship; FREE.
Saturday, September 7, 7:30 pm “Walk This Way,” Written & Directed by Binky; $20
“Walk This Way” highlights the journey of women from creation to now. It is a reminder of the struggles and triumphant realities of being more than what is stereotypically defined as a female. The short play will take you on a ride with comedy, blended with a host of emotions. Special opening performance by shackled feet Dance! and singer Carmen Ridley
Friday, Saturday 20, 7:30 pm “The Underground,” Written by Binky, Directed by John Wiggins, Music by Reavis Mitchell; $20. What would you do to secure your right to artistic freedom? Jessie and Percy Mitchell are the owners of an underground spoken word venue. They fight to build a resistance against, Transit, a government agency designed to control artistic expression.
Friday, September 27, 7:30 pm “Summer Breeze” By Mary McCallum. “Summer Breeze” is a drama set in the 1960s at an exclusive all-Black resort. Rose, a widowed mother, faces a make-or-break summer for her heavily mortgaged resort. As financial pressures mount, her eldest daughter, Alice, finds herself torn between pursuing her own dreams and supporting her mother’s struggle to keep the family business afloat. Complicating matters is Alice’s younger, spoiled sister, whose carefree attitude clashes with the family’s dire circumstances. The resort’s pivotal opening weekend brings a whirlwind of emotions as Rose’s former best friend arrives with her husband – who happens to be Rose’s ex-boyfriend – their son, and a mysterious stranger. Amidst this charged atmosphere, this compelling play explores themes of friendship, love, sibling rivalry, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Saturday, September 28, 7:30 pm The Poesy Lounge Live, Hosted by Shawn Whitsell; Spoken Word & Music; $20
*Sunday, September 29, 5 pm; 24-Hour Short Play Showcase, In conjunction with Verge Theater Company, $5 note: This event will be held at the Barbershop Theater, 4003 Indiana Ave, Nashville, TN 37209.
Find more event information at: www.darkhorsetheater.com and the Shades of Black Theatre Festival Facebook page: Shades of Black Theatre Festival. More events are being added after press time. Check the website for updates.
