Laura Crockarell News

Directed by Kate Adams-with musical direction by Ginger Newman-The Larry Keeton Theatre will present Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim's musical retelling of classic fairy tales, July 12- 28 at the Donelson venue. Nashville photographer (and drummer!) Rick Malkin captured the show's all-star cast in some great promotional shots.

Directed by Kate Adams-with musical direction by Ginger Newman-The Larry Keeton Theatre will present Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim's musical retelling of classic fairy tales, July 12- 28 at the Donelson venue. Appearing in the Keeton Theatre production are an all-star group of actors and actresses including Mallory Gleason as The Witch, Janette Bruce as The Baker's Wife, Anthony Just as The Baker, Laura Crockarell as Cinderella and Jonathan Perry as Jack.

What better way to kick off Sunday-and to celebrate Father's Day!-than with the latest installment of Music City Confidential! Here's where you'll find all the news that's fit to print (or not-depending on your perspective) from Nashville's ever-growing, ever-fascinating live theater industry. Amid the florid prose and flowery praise, you'll find all the stories that don't quite fit anywhere else, some of 'em kind of gossipy, some of 'em stone-cold serious, some of 'em just lists of names you need to know. You'll also find photos from our new "Intermission@" series, details about the latest cast parties and various and sundry minutiae-the veritable flotsam and jetsam-from backstage, onstage, offstage and beyond…

Set in 1976, Ralph Pape's Say Goodnight, Gracie deftly blends wistful nostalgia with tinges of regret that always tend to surface when you're faced with a high school reunion. And smoking pot; smoking pot makes anything seem more complex and redolent with hidden meaning and deeper regret than when you're thinking about them straight. I say this from personal experience. I did not, however, inhale.

Just when you thought it was safe to go to the theater once again, we welcome you to the debut installment of Music City Confidential, all the news that's fit to print (or not-depending on your perspective) from Nashville's ever-growing, ever-fascinating (okay, so we obviously don't have enough to occupy ourselves) live theater industry (we're trying that out-does it work? Let us know, theaterati!) Here amid the florid prose and flowery praise, you'll find all the stories that don't quite fit elsewhere, some of 'em kind of gossipy, some of 'em stone-cold serious, some of 'em just lists of names you need to know. You'll also find photos from our new "Intermission@" series, details about the latest cast parties and various and sundry minutiae-the veritable flotsam and jetsam-from backstage, onstage, offstage and beyond…

Under the sure-handed direction of Morton, who has brought together an impressive cast of adult actors with two different casts of youngsters, the whole of Oliver! is remarkable, a thoroughly delightful evening of theater that allows those older thespians to show off their talents while showcasing the budding talents of her younger charges, who display stage presence and focus throughout the tune-filled musical. In fact, it is Morton's skilled and practiced eye in regards to casting that really sets this Oliver! apart from any of the others we've seen. Frankly, the woman knows what she's doing.

Oliver! - the Lionel Bart musical about London street urchin Oliver Twist and the scores of ruffians and ragamuffins who make up something of a family for the orphaned boy - opens at Franklin's Boiler Room Theatre on Friday night, running through December 23, offering regional audiences the opportunity to fall in love with the 1960 musical once more.

Boiler Room Theatre's newest production arrives just in time for the holidays. Oliver! tells the classic Charles Dickens tale where nothing is as thrilling on the stage as a well-crafted tale, and Oliver! is just such a show. This show engages with its pathos and drama, while delighting everyone with the musical numbers 'Food, Glorious Food,' 'I'd Do Anything,' 'Where is Love?,' 'Consider Yourself,' 'As Long As He Needs Me,' and 'Who Will Buy.' Dickens' characters are brought to life-perhaps larger than life-with all their facets glowing in this production.

Chicago is presented by The Keeton Theatre, Sept 15 - Oct 1, 2011. For more information call 615-883-8375 or visit www.thelarrykeetontheatre.org. Tickets are $25.00 for dinner and show, $20.00 show only. Patron's special: $10.00 show only tickets on Thursday.

Tonya Pewitt and Stacie Riggs star as Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly as The Keeton Theatre will present Chicago, the first show of its 2011-2012 season, running September 15 - October 1 at the theatre in Donelson. Directed by Keeton artistic director Kate Adams-Johnson, with musical direction by Ginger Newman, Chicago is the Tony Award winning musical about Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who kills her lover as a career move, Billy Flynn, her sharp, razzle-dazzle lawyer, who turns her into an instant celebrity, and Velma Kelly, a dancing jailbird with an ear for headlines and an eye for talent!