Nashville Stages has partnered with "Out & About Newspaper" to bring the Out & About Theatre Series to Nashville in 2007. The series will consist of three shows, including the popular "Naked Boys Singing" off-Broadway hit.
Bringing the series together for Nashville has been the brainchild of Kaine Riggan, who is the producing director for Nashville Stages.
"We are convinced that Nashville has the audience for this series" admits Riggan. "Other metropolitan cities have full theatrical companies dedicated to material for the GLBT demographic, and it's about time that we do too."
Pam Wheeler, community relations director for "Out & About Newspaper," agreed, and said the newspaper was pleased to be able to help bring the three shows to Nashville.
"We're really excited to help bring these shows to Nashville," Wheeler said. "Three diverse shows for a very diverse community."
"Naked Boys Singing" will run March 1 – 17 at Marathon Village, 1305 Clinton (11th Avenue North, Downtown Nashville), and is now in the seventh year of its Off-Broadway run. The show has recently hit the road to sell-out performances in nearly every major city that appreciates the artful awe of -- well -- a naked man singing. Check out www.nakedboyssinging.com for more information about the show. A mixture of local actors and the best from LA and New York auditions make up this cast of eight naked singer-actor-dancers in the show that already has Nashville talking.
“Don't miss out,” Riggan said. “This short Nashville run will sell out fast."
"SITCOM," starring Calpernia Addams and Bianca Paige, will run May 16 - 19 at TPAC. These are the same characters that Nashville fell in love with in Riggan's original comedy series which debuted at PLAY in 2005. In this all new full-length, two-act version of the series, we are reintroduced to Sugar (now played by television and film actress Calpernia Addams) and Maxine Monroe (played by Nashville favorite Mark Middleton aka Bianca Paige). The rest of the original cast is back for the new installment in the unending drama of the life, love and laughter that occur backstage at a popular drag bar.
“You will not want to miss this show,” Riggan said. “You'll laugh, cry and learn a little more about the spirit of a friend ... and perhaps yourself.”
The series ends in October with the huge camp-rock musical "The Rocky Horrow Show" (tentatively slated for TPAC).
“October in the Music City has never quite been the same since Frankenfurter and his group of misfits transcended upon a select group of local theatres in 1976,” Riggin said. “Now, that you have completely grown out of that 'awkward phase,' Nashville Stages is bringing you the live, uncut musical that started the Rocky Horror phenomena thirty years ago. Watch "Out & About Newspaper" and other local publications for the announcement of the cast later in 2007.
Local auditions for the 2007 "Out & About Theatre Series" will be on Saturday, Nov. 4 from Noon - 5 p.m. at LP Field (Titan's Stadium) in cooperation with the GLBT Life & Business Expo 2006. Auditions will be for singing and non-singing roles in "The Rocky Horror Show," "SITCOM," and the Nashville premier of the hit off-Broadway musical "Naked Boys Singing."
Actors should bring sheet music that displays range. Series musical director Mark Beall will be on hand as piano accompaniment. Prerecorded accompaniment is also allowed on tape or CD. There will be no dance audition at this time. Readings will be from the script, but prepared monologues are also welcome.
Advance season tickets are now available for only $69. This includes VIP seating at each show, free admission to hang out with the cast at PLAY after the show, and your choice of performance dates for each production.
And yes, the front rows for "Naked Boys Singing" are only available for season ticket holders. You can order them on line at www.nashvillestages.com (click on Out & About Series) or call (615) 889-4000.
