Tony Nappo News

Get the scoop on the upcoming holiday-caper film VANDITS starring Enrico Colantoni and Robb Wells. Find out all the details about this exciting new project.

Starring Blake Holliday as a familiar iconic actress in the middle of a jolly good meltdown, the festive holiday cabaret fundraiser will be held at The American Legion Post 82 in East Nashville and will feature a variety of special guests.

Nothing engages the theaterati in Nashville and the surrounding provinces as the production of an eagerly anticipated new play no one’s done before in these parts, but about which we’ve read glowing reviews. The very promise of something new to energize the cultural zeitgeist – particularly under the aegis of Nashville Story Garden (a creative collective whose work always generates major buzz); something new and unseen from across the pond which will provide a showcase for the remarkable talents of some of the region’s most respected actors – is virtually guaranteed to be a “must-see” for a theater-going public more accustomed to titles with which they are already quite often overly familiar.

The pandemic has not stopped Tennessee Playwrights Studio's 2020 Fellows from creating six interesting and thought-provoking new works, which have been developed throughout the year at monthly TPS workshops and will be performed by favorite local Nashville actors on January 27-29 and February 3-5, 2021.

A rich and complicated portrait of people with disabilities (and the stereotypes that accompany them), COAL MINE THEATRE is has announced its upcoming presentation of Martyna Majok's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama COST OF LIVING, directed by Ted Dykstra. Making its much-anticipated Toronto Premiere, the play features rich performances by established and emerging talents Christine Bruno, Jessica Grossi, Tony Nappo, and Sean Towgood. Presented at COAL MINE THEATRE, April 5 - May 3, 2020 (Opening night April 8, 2020).

Another howling success for kids, tweens and families was delivered by the premiere telecast of the Disney Channel Original Movie 'ZOMBIES 2' (Friday, Feb. 14, 8:00 p.m.), which according to Nielsen's Live+7 data is the #1 cable telecast of 2020 to-date (excluding sports/news programming) with nearly 5 million Total Viewers 2+. It was watched by 1.9 million Kids 6-11 viewers (12.56 rating), 1.4 million Girls 6-11 (18.43 rating), 1.6 million Tweens 9-14 (9.98 rating), 1.1 million Girls 9-14 and 4.9 million Total Viewers - higher ratings than its Feb. 2018 predecessor, 'ZOMBIES.' The sequel posted cable television's highest ratings among all Kid and Girl demographics since Disney Channel's premiere of 'Descendants 3' in Aug. 2019. Replays of the movie are strong performers on Disney Channel linear, Video On Demand and DisneyNOW and it ranks in the Top 5 TV Chart on Apple iTunes.

Lucius is an exuberant, charismatic serial killer who claims to have found God while incarcerated. His exact religious philosophy is unclear - he preaches justice but cannot account for his own atrocities.  Angel was arrested for shooting the leader of a dangerous religious cult. He doesn't think he's done anything wrong, but he lacks Lucius'  energy and confidence; whereas Lucius can convince himself - and others - that God loves all sinners, Angel is plagued by doubts, first in the competence of his attorney, and, eventually, in himself.

COAL MINE THEATRE, Toronto's Off-Off Broadview Theatre, has just announced its extraordinary Season Six. THE COAL MINE will stage four critically acclaimed, and Toronto premiere productions in 2019/2020, all presented in their singular and intimate eighty-seat theatre in the east end of Toronto. 

NASHVILLE STORY GARDEN an incubator of original theatre, film and new media projects will be presenting GROW UP: 5 One-Act World Premiere Plays THURSDAY, MAY 23rd at THE CORDELLE (45 Lindsley Ave, Downtown). The evening will also be accompanied with performances by musical duo FIRSTFALL (Sheena & Adrian Taylor).

In anticipation of the gala 30th anniversary celebration of The First Night Awards, Tennessee's best and brightest in live theater were revealed tonight as First Night's Top Ten of 2018 - reviewer and critic Jeffrey Ellis' annual recognition for theater in the Volunteer State - were announced during a Facebook Live presentation from Nashville.

The Hollywood Reporter says Joe Pantoliano will star in the Italian vineyard drama From the Vine Came the Grape. Sean Cisterna directs.

At first blush, it would be easy to say that there's not much action packed into Annie Baker's The Flick - now onstage in a noteworthy production from Nashville's Verge Theater Company at Belmont's Black Box Theater - but that is, in fact, a pretty simplistic take on a story that is as complex and as diverting as real life itself. And just like life, Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning script packs a whole lot of drama into its storyline, which is brought to life by a superb cast of actors under the direction of Jaclyn Jutting.

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! And a gracious good morning to Kate Adams Kramer, our very first Theaterati cover girl! Today we are pondering the theatrical question of 'Kevin Spacey...Tony Awards host...what the hell?' Perhaps you might opine about that bit of news and share your impressions with us: we promise not to tell a soul!

Spring is here! Why doesn't my heart go dancing? Well, Mr. Lorenz Hart, personally, we are too damn busy with creating the magic of live theater: We're directing a show (Daddy's Dyin'…Who's Got the Will? opens next week - April 20 - at The Larry Keeton Theatre in Donelson, thank you very much) and trying to make it out to see as much theater in Nashville as possible before old age takes its toll - it's tough out there for a theater critic!

Studio Tenn and Tennessee Performing Arts Center's joint venture to produce Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita in Nashville resulted in the production claiming the top prize as "Outstanding Musical of The Year" at Sunday's Midwinter's First Night event at The Larry Keeton Theatre. Nashville Repertory Theatre's production of Nate Eppler's original play Good Monsters took the title of "Outstanding Play of The Year" in the annual ceremony that dates back to its origins in 1989.

Studio Tenn and Tennessee Performing Arts Center present Evita, now running through September 18, starring Broadway diva Eden Espinosa in the title role, Anthony Crivello as Juan Peron and Ben Crawford as Che. In a new series called 'Broadway Breakfast,' Tony Award-winner Anthony Crivello and Broadway powerhouse Eden Espinosa talk about Studio Tenn's 'Evita' and the surprise role they both played.  Check it out below!

Studio Tenn and Tennessee Performing Arts Center present Evita, now running through September 18, starring Broadway diva Eden Espinosa in the title role, Anthony Crivello as Juan Peron and Ben Crawford as Che. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at highlights of the show below!

Studio Tenn and Tennessee Performing Arts Center will present Evita, opening tonight, September 9 through September 18, starring Broadway diva Eden Espinosa in the title role, Anthony Crivello as Juan Peron and Ben Crawford as Che. Check out a sneak peek at Eden Espinosa below!

It's another one of those perplexing and invigorating weekends in Nashville theater as some of the season's most anticipated shows open - and theater-goers find themselves sometimes making a "Sophie's Choice" decision in some cases when the options somehow seem overwhelming. And as confounding as that can be for audiences, it once again shows that the theater scene in these parts remains as vital and as artistically challenging as ever…

Studio Tenn and Tennessee Performinig Arts Center's will present Evita September 9-18, starring Broadway diva Eden Espinosa in the title role, Anthony Crivello as Juan Peron and Ben Crawford as Che.  Go behind the scenes with Eden Espinosa in the video below!