The Witch enchants in the Roxy Regional Theatre’s production of Hansel and Gretel

The Roxy Regional Theatre is currently running their version of the enchanting Engelbert Humperdinck opera Hansel and Gretel. Lost siblings come across a sumptuous candy house, occupied by an old woman who has her own reasons for fattening up little children. The show playing December 4 through 19.

The musical play was adapted and is directed by John McDonald. It stars Drew Torkelson as Hansel; Alicia Kelly as Gretel; Brendan Cataldo as the Father; Reischa Feuerbacher as the Mother; and Dr. Thomas King as Rosina Dainty-mouth, the Witch; area children fill the role of the children taken by the Witch to make her gingerbread.

I attended the show on Friday evening, and the house was packed. Continue reading for my review of that performance. [Read more]

Immerse yourself into “A Streetcar Named Desire” at the Roxy Regional Theatre

Set in the romantic past of New Orleans Blanche DuBois’s neurotic and genteel pretensions are no match for the brutish realities of her brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski.

The Roxy Regional Theatre is currently staging the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

To fully understand the intricacies of this masterpiece play, in this writers opinion you just have to come from the south. Otherwise it is all too easy to miss the subtle interplay of these delicious personalities as they intertwine in a tapestry that is as old as, well the south.

You have Blanche DuBois the socialite (Alicia Kelly); the submissive wife Stella (Chase Kamata); Stanley the abuser (Justin Barnum); the dotting son Harold (Brenden Cataldo); among others. The acting was tight, performers seamlessly melding into their roles as if they had been born to them.

[Read more]

RENT Rocks the Stage of the Roxy Regional Theatre

The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT will rock the stage of the Roxy Regional Theatre, Clarksville’s Center for Arts and Education, beginning Friday, July 10, at 8pm.

Jonathan Larson’s rock musical is the joyous, breathtaking and inspiring story of a group of New York City East Village artists struggling to find their voices and find love in today’s tough times, broaching controversial themes like homelessness, AIDS and drug addiction with compassion.

Based on Puccini’s La Boheme, RENT stars Justin Barnum as Roger, Chase Kamata as Mimi, Matthew Burns as Mark, De’Lon Grant as Tom Collins, Taylor Hilt Mitchell as Angel, Alicia Kelly as Maureen, Kami Smith as Joanne and Brendan Cataldo as Benny.  Amanda Bailey, Chad Parsons, Humberto Figueroa, Skye Mangrum, John Moser, Anesha Ross and Hannah Carmona round out the cast.

Although the national tour has played Nashville, the Roxy Regional Theatre is proud to be one of only two regional theatres in Tennessee granted the rights to this award-winning musical.

RENT runs July 10 thru August 21, playing Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with a 2pm matinee on Saturday, July 18.  Tickets are $20 and may be purchased online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org or by phone at (931)645-7699 during regular box office hours (9am-2pm, weekdays).  This production is strongly recommended for mature audiences.

Tennessee Arts Commission issues grants to local organizations

Clarksville Arts & Heritage Development Council, City of Clarksville Parks & Recreation and Roxy Productions, Inc. awarded matching grants.

NASHVILLE – Senator Tim Barnes has released the list of grant award recipients from the Tennessee Arts Commission for Fiscal Year 2010 (July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010) in the 22nd district, which includes Cheatham, Houston and Montgomery Counties.

• The Clarksville Arts and Heritage Development Council received  $7,400.
• City of Clarksville Department of Parks and Recreation received $4,600.
• Roxy Productions, Inc. received $25,000
• The Houston County Arts Council received $6,650

“The arts are important; they improve education when integrated into curriculum, contribute to our economy, and make our communities exciting,” stated Sen. Barnes. “The organizations that will benefit from these grants this year will be able to continue to provide Montgomery County with invaluable services that enhance our daily lives.” [Read more]

Downtown Art Walk on Thursday July 2nd

You’re invited to join the merchants of Historic Downtown Clarksville for The monthly Art Walk, on July 2nd from 5 – 8 p.m. Paige King from Hodgepodge sent us this information about July’s artistic extravaganza.

Visions Metaphysical Boutique will host Deborah Raleigh-Chandler, oils–impressionistic, still life; Afton Chandler, acrylics–modern, impressionistic; Amanda Harrison, acrylics–modern, impressionistic (some new pieces); Linda Cain, handcrafted sterling silver & gemstone jewelry (some new pieces).

The Roxy Regional Theatre–Clarksville’s Center for Arts and Education, will host the work of Beverly Parker Riggins in the Peg Harvill Gallery. The subject matter includes architecture from historic downtown Clarksville. They are large digital prints from manipulated polaroid transfer images. For the performing arts, enjoy Disney’s Mulan, Jr. playing at 6pm and tickets for the hit musical RENT will be on sale in the lobby. [Read more]

CATS Opens to a Sold-Out Weekend!

As part of its 26th season of presenting quality live theatre, the Roxy Regional Theatre in Clarksville, Tennessee, opened the hit musical CATS on Friday, April 10, to a sold-out house. Tickets are still available for CATS performances through May 2, playing Tuesdays thru Thursdays at 7pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with a 2pm matinee on Saturday, April 18.

Based on the universally popular poetry of T.S. Eliot, CATS tells the story, in song and dance, of the annual gathering of Jellicle cats, at which time one special cat is selected to ascend to the Heaviside layer. Featuring a cast of seventeen and the fresh and energetic choreography of Braham Logan Crane, CATS is certain to delight and inspire audiences of all ages.

[Read more]

At the Roxy: World premiere of “All Quiet on the Western Front”

The Roxy Regional Theatre is presenting the world premiere of All Quiet on the Western Front, a recent recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant.

In the press release accompanying the grant announcement, NEA Chairman Dana Gioia said, “We often hear from our grantees that the NEA’s grant support has a catalytic effect, helping the organization to exponentially garner additional funding for its project. These grants are an investment in our nation’s culture, and I’m proud to say that the return on that investment benefits Americans from coast to coast.’”

Adapted for the stage by John McDonald from the novel by Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front tells the story of a young soldier who faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I.  First published in German in 1929, it sold 2.5 million copies in twenty-five languages in its first eighteen months in print.  In 1930 the book was turned into an Oscar-winning movie of the same name. Now in these uncertain times of war, All Quiet on the Western Front will speak to a new generation from the stage.

Michael Ellison (pictured at right)  stars as Paul Baumer, while Jeremy Maxwell (Tjaden), Chad Parsons (Muller), Michael Green (Kat) and Ryan Ploeckelman (Kropp) round out the group of friends who together experience the life-altering effects of the war.  Also appearing are Jay Doolittle, Leslie Greene, Kimberly DiPersia, Brady Adair and Patrick McLaughlin.

All Quiet on the Western Front opens on Friday, March 20, at 8pm for a pay-what-you-can preview.  It runs through March 28, playing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 28.  Tickets are $15 ($10 for children 13 and under) and can be purchased online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org or by calling (931) 645-7699 during regular box office hours (9 a.m.-2 p,m. weekdays).

Roxy stages Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”

William Shakespeare”s MacBeth steps onto the Roxy Regional Theatre stage tonight for a three week run, with performances slated for  March 6,7,11,12,13 at 8 p.m. and March 14 at 2 p.m.

This theatre classic depicts the  anatomy of the relationship between ambition and corruption. Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most bloody and fear-filled tragedies. Often regarded as archetypal, the play tells of the dangers of the lust for power and the betrayal of friends. Based loosely on the historical account of King Macbeth of Scotland many superstitions are centered on the  belief the play is  “cursed,” referring to it instead as “The Scottish play”. [Read more]

What would the Apostles do?

WWJD is sometimes singled out as a standard for measuring moral beliefs and moral decisions. Perhaps we can receive spiritual motivation, too, by asking “What would the Apostles of the New Testament do?”

One Friday morning during my solitary time in fellowship with God, I read a passage of Scripture that spoke to me from Acts 4: 32-37. Verse 34 summarizes the result of corporate and united action taken by the disciples: “There was not a needy person among them.” The context sheds light on the meaning of the verse. The disciples shared their time, skills and talents as in response to God’s call. They sold their houses and land and shared everything. [Read more]

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