Johnny Peppers News

Before she returns to Broadway in a much-anticipated revival next year, Annie - America's best-known comic strip orphan turned musical comedy heroine - makes a stop in Franklin as the beloved musical that's 'all about her' hits the stage at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, March 4-13.

Johnny Peppers and Jenny Norris-Light lead the cast of Bethlehem Players' Annie, opening Friday, March 4, at Franklin's Bethlehem United Methodist Church, running through March 13. Directed by Dietz Osborne, each performance of the classic musical comedy will give audience members the chance to adopt a special dog from Happy Tales Humane.

Before she returns to Broadway in a much-anticipated revival next year, Annie - America's best-known comic strip orphan turned musical comedy heroine - makes a stop in Franklin as the beloved musical that's 'all about her' hits the stage at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, March 4-13.

Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre offers up two home-grown productions for the holiday season, with Martha Wilkinson's It's A Wonderful Wife, running November 18 through December 31 on the mainstage of the venerable dinner theater, and John Chaffin's The Late, Late Show in residence on the Backstage at the Barn stage November 23-December 31.

Barbara Rucker, who enjoyed a successful career as an actress in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles before making her way to Tennessee, leads the cast in Towne Centre Theatre's holiday season production of the latest Southern-bred comedy from Jones/Hope/Wooten, The Hallelujah Girls, which opens at the Brentwood theater Friday night, November 19, continuing through December 11.

Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre offers up two home-grown productions for the holiday season, with Martha Wilkinson's It's A Wonderful Wife, running November 18 through December 31 on the mainstage of the venerable dinner theater, and John Chaffin's The Late, Late Show in residence on the Backstage at the Barn stage November 23-December 31.

Barbara Rucker, who enjoyed a successful career as an actress in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles before making her way to Tennessee, leads the cast in Towne Centre Theatre's holiday season production of the latest Southern-bred comedy from Jones/Hope/Wooten, The Hallelujah Girls, which opens at the Brentwood theater Friday night, November 19, continuing through December 11.

Thursday's the night for A Knight to Remember, a gala fundraiser hosted by the Brentwood Arts Society, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Towne Centre Theatre and concluding with an exclusive performance of the company's staging of Once Upon a Mattress.

Thursday's the night for A Knight to Remember, a gala fundraiser hosted by the Brentwood Arts Society, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Towne Centre Theatre and concluding with an exclusive performance of the company's staging of Once Upon a Mattress.

A cast of more than 125 performers took to the stage of the Troutt Theatre at Belmont University to fete the eight members of the 2010 Class of First Night Honorees in a production that featured the best of the best of Nashville theater and included a surprise appearance by Joseph Mahowald, winner of a 1989 First Night Award, now playing the role of Franklin Hart Jr. in the national tour of 9 to 5: The Musical, which opened in Nashville at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, September 21.

As Nashville's summer theater season continues to heat up, anticipation continues to grow for September's First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, the revival of the Music City theater gala that will benefit Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and sponsored by Macy's and BroadwayWorld.com. Set for Sunday, September 19, at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre, First Night 2010 will honor eight individuals for their sustained and continued commitment to theater in Nashville.

Exit The Body runs July 30- August 21, Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees on August 8 and 15 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $16 for students.

An all-star cast takes to the stage in the latest work from the playwriting team of J. Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler: Cinderella 8.0: Truly, Truly, Truly Outrageous, opening June 22 at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. The musical comedy is presented on the mainstage at Chaffin's Barn Tuesday through Saturday mornings, with the house opening at 10 a.m., with the show at 11 a.m. through August 7.

Exit The Body runs July 30- August 21, Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees on August 8 and 15 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $16 for students.

This confluence of events and elements has resulted in the perfect summer diversion at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, Nashville's venerable theatrical venue, with their production of Ray Cooney's Funny Money. Directed with a certain twisted grace by the multi-faceted Nate Eppler and performed by a top-notch band of actors, Funny Money is - put simply - delightfully daft and expertly played.

As Nashville's summer theater season continues to heat up, anticipation continues to grow for September's First Night Nashville Theatre Honors, the revival of the Music City theater gala that will benefit Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and sponsored by Macy's and BroadwayWorld.com. Set for Sunday, September 19, at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre, First Night 2010 will honor eight individuals for their sustained and continued commitment to theater in Nashville.

An all-star cast takes to the stage in the latest work from the playwriting team of J. Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler: Cinderella 8.0: Truly, Truly, Truly Outrageous, opening June 22 at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. The musical comedy is presented on the mainstage at Chaffin's Barn Tuesday through Saturday mornings, with the house opening at 10 a.m., with the show at 11 a.m. through August 7.

The cast for Funny Money includes: Mike Baum (last seen in Rumors), Chris Bosen (last seen in Frankly My Dear), Adam Burnett, David Compton (last seen in Christmas Belles and Alone Together), Jenny Noel (last seen in There Goes the Bride), Dietz Osborne (last seen in Frankly My Dear), Johnny Peppers (last seen in Seeing Stars in Dixie) and Jennifer Richmond (last seen in Frankly My Dear).

The cast for Funny Money includes: Mike Baum (last seen in Rumors), Chris Bosen (last seen in Frankly My Dear), Adam Burnett, David Compton (last seen in Christmas Belles and Alone Together), Jenny Noel (last seen in There Goes the Bride), Dietz Osborne (last seen in Frankly My Dear), Johnny Peppers (last seen in Seeing Stars in Dixie) and Jennifer Richmond (last seen in Frankly My Dear).

Johnny Peppers, the affable 'Every Man' of Nashville theatre, makes his directorial debut with Mixed Nuts, the latest from 3Ps Productions now onstage at Chaffin's Backstage at the Barn. Peppers, who might best be described as the most likable man in Nashville theatre circles - and certainly among the hardest working people onstage anywhere - shows that he is a competent, details-oriented, director whose strongest suit might possibly be his casting skills.