Nashville Repertory Theatre

Nashville Repertory Theatre is a professional, Actors' Equity-affiliated regional theatre company based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville Repertory Theatre was founded as Tennessee Repertory Theatre in 1985 by Mac Pirkle and Martha Rivers Ingram.[1] The first production was Macbeth.[2] The theatre's original home base for production was the 1100-seat James K. Polk Theater in the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. With an annual budget of more than $3 million, Pirkle emphasized the development of new musicals.[3] Dream, a musical revue based on the lyrics of Johnny Mercer, was developed at Tennessee Rep and had a Broadway run in 1997.[4]

After Pirkle's departure from Tennessee Rep in 1999,[5] the leadership of the theatre changed hands frequently.[6] David Grapes was artistic director until 2004, when David Alford took over.[7] In 2007, René Copeland was named artistic director. During this period of transition, Tennessee Rep shifted its production base from the Polk Theater to the 250-seat black box Andrew Johnson Theater, still located within the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. With the production of Sweeney Todd in October 2014, Tennessee Rep was rechristened Nashville Repertory Theatre.[8] Copeland held the artistic director position until her departure in May 2019,[9] after which managing director Drew Ogle assumed leadership.[10] 2021's production of Ragtime marked the Rep's return to the Polk Theater, with the company henceforth producing shows in both the Polk and the Johnson. In 2023 Micah-Shane Brewer was named artistic director of Nashville Rep.

Ingram New Works Project

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Founded in 2009, Nashville Rep's Ingram New Works Project helps new playwrights develop their work, and has three parts:[11]

References

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  1. ^ Van West, Carroll (2004). A History of Tennessee Arts: Creating Traditions, Expanding Horizons. University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 978-1572332393.
  2. ^ Reyland, Jim (September 2014). "The Tennessee Rep: Celebrating the Big 30". Nashville Arts Magazine.
  3. ^ Renshaw, Grace (September 7, 1995). "Choose Your Pleasure". Nashville Scene.
  4. ^ "Dream". Internet Broadway Database.
  5. ^ Dubois, Lisa A. (November 12, 1998). "Dramatic Tension". Nashville Scene.
  6. ^ Stewart, Travis (2002). "Take Me Home, Country Road: Theatre carves a niche for itself in the hometown of the Grand Ole Opry". American Theatre.
  7. ^ Brady, Martin (December 11, 2003). "Changes at the Rep". Nashville Scene.
  8. ^ Brady, Martin (September 18, 2014). "Rebranding Alert: Tennessee Rep Is Now Nashville Repertory Theatre". Nashville Scene.
  9. ^ Ellis, Jeffrey (May 23, 2019). "BREAKING NEWS: Rene Copeland Steps Down as Artistic Director of Nashville Repertory Theatre". Broadway World.
  10. ^ De Lombaerde, Geert (May 24, 2019). "René Copeland to Step Down From Nashville Rep". Nashville Scene.
  11. ^ Piccalo, Gina (May 2018). "Ingram New Works Festival". Nashville Arts Magazine.
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36°08′07″N 86°45′56″W / 36.13525°N 86.76551°W / 36.13525; -86.76551