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 It's a nice touch.Ms. Crist has done a fine job with this show. Even before it opens, you know that a lot of love has gone into this production. Spirituals, Big Band numbers, blues - all can be heard by artists ranging from Billie Holiday to Bing Crosby. The set, designed by Jack Yates, is lovingly evocative of the time and characters - oval mirror, kitchen table, old refrigerator and sink in the kitchen; rattan chairs, grape arbor, stump in the garden. I also greatly enjoyed the performers: Lanky Lauren Ledger has worked hard on her Mississippi accent and hits those up and down emotional moments with the skill of a seasoned performer; Judi Bray's "Berenice" (a part she also undertook some seventeen years ago) is loving and warm, yet a woman whose life has been full; and Holden Guibao is an amazing little "John Henry" (I was astonished at the performance Ms. Crist has elicited from him). The entire supporting cast is expert, with a special nod to Delvyn Brown's pomaded, pained, angry "Honey." Through October 5.

The Member of the Wedding Not Married to Traditional Interpretation in the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis

Memphis, TN – The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers will ceremoniously take over the Next Stage at Theatre September 19 – October 5, 2014, as the first production in the 100-seat black box space for the current season. An American classic, this story is funny as it is touching and heart-warming, Frankie, a 12-year-old tomboy, is coming of age in a small Southern town in the 1940s.  She is a troubled adolescent who dreams of escape from her seemingly hopeless environment and is befriended by her loving confidante housekeeper and younger cousin. A plot that has timeless relevance, it is a mid-century look at attitudes on racial and sexual identity that has lessons that can be applied to society today.   Director Irene Crist has assembled a cast that has come together to perform what is conceivably a period piece with modern day messages. She says, “It has been both interesting and horrifying to be working on The Member of the Wedding during this turbulent time in our nation's civil rights history. Our play takes place when civil rights were but a whisper in the community and I want the cast and audiences to understand what strength it took  - takes - to be grounded in one’s belief.”  Leading the cast is Judi Gray as Berenice Sadie Brown and Lauren Ledger as the freedom– and love- seeking child, Frankie Adams. Holden Guibao who recently appeared as Winthrop in TM’s The Music Man plays the young cousin, John Henry West. Other cast members are Paul Webb, Joseph Prestigiacomo, Taylor Wood, Chris Wilson, Delvyn Brown, Thomas King, Leigh Ann Evans, Baylee Thielemier, Hannah Newsom and Thymia Rogers.   Crist reveals, “The play has the power to shock an audience in the way it suddenly depicts wounds in friendships that will likely never heal. The old ways versus the new ways and the thinly veiled, if veiled at all, racism of the late 40s and early 50s are themes that McCullers visits in this epically beautiful tale of one's search for belonging.” Theatre Memphis Executive Producer Debbie Litch says the importance of mounting such a strong story is about the message as well as the opportunity. “As a community theatre, Theatre Memphis constantly looks for scripts that will ignite a conversation or bring to light a broader face of our community. The issues addressed in The Member of the Wedding can be related to events currently facing our city and nation and we feel a thoughtful presentation of this show to be absolutely timely and appropriate.” ### 

 TITLE: The Member of the Wedding 

 WRITTEN  BY: Carson McCullers 

 DIRECTOR: Irene Crist 

 VENUE AND ADDRESS: Theatre Memphis in the Next Stage, 630 Perkins Ext, Memphis, TN, 38117 

RUN DATES: September 19 – October 5, 2014 

TIMES OF SHOWS: Thursdays @ 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm with matinees @ 2pm on Sundays

 TICKETS: $25 adults, $15 students with valid ID BOX OFFICE: 901.682.8323 WEB: www.theatrememphis.org 

 SPONSORED BY: Gene and Sandra Cochran 

 MEDIA SPONSORs:  WKNO 91.1FM and  The Best Times

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Based on the novel by Charles Dickens

Directed by Jason Spitzer                                                                                                           Musical Direction by Jeffery B. Brewer                                                                                 Choreographed by Kathy Caradine

This show requires two casts: A cast for regular evening and weekend performances (full version) and a cast for weekday school matinee performances (truncated version). Auditionees have the opportunity to select the cast for which they would like to be considered. Auditionees may choose to be considered for both casts.While most actors on the Theatre Memphis stage are volunteers, actors who perform in the weekday school cast of A Christmas Carol do get a small stipend.Regular performances (full version) are on the Lohrey Stage December 5 – December 23, 2014Weekday school matinee performances (truncated version) are on the Lohrey Stage December 3 – December 19, 2014 (2 performances per day at 9:00 and 10:45 AM.)

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CONTACT:                                              Randall Hartzog                                                                 

Theatre Memphis, 

Director of Marketing and Communications                                                                 

rhartzog@theatrememphis.org              

01.682.8601   

The Music Man Marches onto Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis   

Memphis, TN – The Music Man, an All-American musical classic, opens June 6, 2014 and runs through June 29, 2014 on the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis. Professor Harold Hill, descends on River City, Iowa, to con the town into organizing a young people’s band and, along the way, selling them “76 Trombones.”  But he didn’t count on meeting Marian the Librarian, hearing “Till There Was You” and finding the love of a good woman and a gaggle of youngsters to tender his fast-talking, sham artist heart.   Director Amy Hanford returns to Theatre Memphis at the helm of the production and will be supported by Music Director Gary Beard and Choreographer Christi Hall. Also in the production is her husband Rob Hanford as the lead, Professor Hill. This is not the first production director Hanford has utilized her spouse’s skills, but it may be the most trying. “With so much going on with a production this big, I usually can always rely on Rob to bring his natural talents to the table and trust his agility,” she says. “This one is different in that we had to be patient while Rob healed from a broken leg before he could “dance on the scenery.”   The cast includes some well known Memphis actors in prime roles including Emily Chateau as Marian, Steve Swift as the Mayor and a custom-cast barbershop quartet that includes the eclectic group of Doug Hardin, Joe Lackie, Kevin Kenny and Charles Hodges. “Besides being talented performers, I wanted authenticity in every element and the cast and special touches we have been able to add to this show makes it something very special,” Hanford relates. “We’ve incorporated several things that will make this production a standout”   Theatre Memphis Executive Director Debbie Litch sings the praises of this The Music Man production, too, “Ending our 2013-14 season with Amy mounting an upbeat, family-friendly musical really reflects how versatile we are at TM and how we strive to have artistic excellence with every show we do.” Hanford concurs, “I can always count on Theatre Memphis to give me the support I need and help me share my vision..” ###  

 TITLE: The Music Man 

 BOOK, MUSIC AND LYRICS  BY: Meredith Willson 

 BASED ON A STORY BY: Meredith  Willson and Franklin Lacey 

 DIRECTOR: Amy Hanford 

 VENUE AND ADDRESS: Theatre Memphis on the Lohrey Stage, 630 Perkins Ext, Memphis, TN, 38117 RUN DATES: June 6 - 29, 2014 TIMES OF SHOWS: Wednesday June 25 and Thursdays @ 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm with matinees @ 2pm on Sundays TICKETS: $30 adults, $15 students with valid ID, $10 children 11 and under BOX OFFICE: 901.682.8323 WEB: www.theatrememphis.org SPONSORED BY: Deborah Dunklin Tipton and Kitty Cannon & Jim Waller and John & Anne Robilio, Hope House and Georgia Pacifi8   Production photos available 4/22/14.   Theatre Memphis is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization located at 630 Perkins Extended (corner of Perkins Extended and Southern) and is a community theatre whose mission is to provide outstanding theatrical experiences to enrich the lives of our audiences and participants.   Theatre Memphis receives season sponsorship and funding from:    

CONTACT:    Randall Hartzog,Theatre Memphis, Director of Marketing and Communications                                          

 rhartzog@theatrememphis.org             901.682.8601   

Harvey Hops to Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis     initial_pr_harvey.docx

Memphis, TN – Harvey, a time-honored classic comedy, opens April 25, 2014 and runs through May 11, 2014 on the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis. The lead character, Elwood P. Dowd, is inseparable from his best friend and confidant, Harvey, an over six-foot magical white rabbit. Only Elwood can see Harvey so is it any wonder Elwood’s family decides a peaceful sanatorium might be suitable for him – and Harvey?  As it turns out, a sanatorium is the perfect place for a comedy of errors that proves Elwood and Harvey may be the sanest characters around.    Director John Rone has assembled a cast that includes many Theatre Memphis veterans and TM newcomer, Zach Pless in the lead role of Elwood. Pless, a recent graduate of Rhodes College, has performed in various roles during his time at Rhodes College in the McCoy Theatre and is now taking on Memphis community stage roles to the delight of Rone. “I think Zach is a remarkably gifted young actor, “ Rone says. “ Since I work at Rhodes, I try to attend all the productions at the McCoy Theatre on campus. I noticed Zach in a small role in McCoy’s production of The Elephant Man when he was a first year student. I have enjoyed watching his progress through larger and more important roles during his college years.”  Evidence of his growth is that Pless was awarded the top honors for Actor in a Leading Role, College Division (for his role as the Baker in Into the Woods) at the 2013 Ostranders (Memphis Theatre Awards). The remainder of the cast includes: Ann G. Sharp, Robbie Phillips, John Reynolds, Jo Lynne Palmer, Parker Dinwiddie, Jason Spitzer, Brian Everson, Lena Wallace, Jillian Barron and Chris Tracy.   Theatre Memphis Executive Director Debbie Litch muses, “I think it is so great to be able to present such a quirky, funny classic show. Harvey is so accessible to all ages and we love our family friendly shows. So many times our patrons just want to be entertained and not challenged … well, I challenge anyone to not like Harvey.” Rone agrees, “There are some serious themes woven throughout the play and I thought at first I would want to bring those to the forefront. But during rehearsal I realized that all I really wanted to do was to make the show as funny as possible and try my best to realize the vision of the playwright, Mary Chase.” ###   

TITLE: Harvey 

WRITTEN  BY: Mary Chase 

DIRECTOR: John Rone 

VENUE AND ADDRESS: Theatre Memphis on the Lohrey Stage, 630 Perkins Ext, Memphis, TN, 38117 

RUN DATES: April 25 – May11, 2014 

TIMES OF SHOWS: Thursdays @ 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm with matinees @ 2pm on Sundays 

TICKETS: $25 adults, $15 students with valid ID, $10 children 11 and under 

BOX OFFICE: 901.682.8323 WEB: www.theatrememphis.org 

SPONSORED BY: Dorothy O. Kirsch and Pageboy Salon & Spa   

Production photos available 4/22/14.   

Theatre Memphis is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization located at 630 Perkins Extended (corner of Perkins Extended and Southern) and is a community theatre whose mission is to provide outstanding theatrical experiences to enrich the lives of our audiences and participants.   

The Memphis Business Quarterly issue for April/May/June 2014 features an in-depth and insightful article about the founding and growth of Theatre Memphis. Celebrating long-time cultural organizations, the magazine will be featuring other groups with a 50 year plus history in future issues. Check out the great press for TM by clicking here.