Tennessee Rep. to hold Artistic Yard Sale as it readies to move in with Nashville Public Television

Nashville's public television station, NPT, held a yard sale earlier this summer to clear its offices and storage areas of an accumulation of CDs, video tapes, and odds and ends. Now Tennessee Repertory Theatre (TRT) is doing the same, offering up everyday as well as theatrical furniture, costumes, and props from past productions.

And it's not just a coincidence.

Tennessee Rep is in the process of moving in with NPT at 161 Rains Ave, near the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. TRT's production activities have been housed at Chestnut Square, down the street from the Sounds Stadium, for many years.

Its administrative offices recently moved back to Chestnut Street when the organization's three-year administrative consolidation with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center ended.

Now, both production and administrative work will be housed with NPT.

"We will have about the same amount of space at NPT," TRT Audience Development Director Bennett Tarleton said, "but there's no need to pack up and move everything TRT has built, bought, and stored for 20 years. While our yard sale will include plenty of one-of-a-kind theatrical items and costumes - perfect for Halloween - we have used-but-perfectly-good furniture. Just the thing for dorm rooms and rec rooms."

The move to NPT is a welcome one, according to Tarleton, because TRT joins an arts-oriented group housed there that includes the Nashville Film Festival and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-South Chapter.

"We believe there may be opportunities for partnerships and collaborations beneficial to all of us," he said. "Maybe even more yard sales or our own strange version of 'Antiques Roadshow.' And the studio space is ideal for rehearsals and some of our educational activities."

Beth Deem, TRT's production coordinator, is in charge of the sale.

"People who have items they would like to donate for the yard sale should phone me at (615) 687-4314 by Aug. 12. They will receive a tax deduction form for the items we accept," she said. "We also seek volunteers to help with the pre-sale work and on the sales days."

The yard sale will be held at 429B Chestnut St., 8:30 AM-7 PM, Friday and Saturday, August 19 and 20. Directions: From 8th Avenue S., take Chestnut Street east for about 1 mile, passing Greer Stadium where the Sounds play.
Information: (615) 244-4878 or (615) 782-4000. All purchases must be picked up by 5 PM, Saturday, Aug. 20. Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted.