Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors

By: Sep. 24, 2010
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With a cast of 125 performers, a seven-member band, the show's running crew and a smattering of other people holding forth, the backstage scene at last Sunday night's First Night Nashville Theatre Honors was a virtual stage show in itself with all the hustle and bustle amid the hushed tones associated with the backstage area of a huge theatrical production.

Rehearsals at Belmont University's Troutt Theater started at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 18, with the casts of scens from ten different plays going through the paces of their performances, while music director Jane Kelley Watt and her musicians moved into the space at noon, followed closely by peformers from the various musical numbers that were highlights of the Sunday night program.

The fast pace of Saturday's rehearsal continued on Sunday afternoon as cast members gathered to run through the show's finale - a performance of "Sunday" from Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George - and to rehearse individual musical performances.

"This was strictly Jef's baby; I was just along for the ride," Watt said during Sunday's last-minute preparations. Watt, who had music directed the earlier incarnations of Nashville's First Night Theatre Awards from 1991 through 1996, had begun work on the musical program for 2010 last February, shortly after plans were announced to revive the Music City theater tradition.

Photographer Rick Malkin, who covered most of First Night Week's festivities, pulled double-duty during the weekend by playing drums in the First Night Orchestra under Watt's direction.

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
The cast of Rent backstage at First Night, prior to the show's opening number. Pictured are Benjamin Van Diepen, Karrah Tines, Laura Thomas-Sonn, Laura Matula, Christina Candilora, James Rudolph, Ciaran McCarthy, Mike Baum, Jeffrey Williams, Alan Smith, Valerie Navarre, Michael Holder, Heather Trabucco and Ryan Leyhue

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
First Night's all-star chorus rehearses the show's finale - "Sunday" - backstage prior to the show's curtain.

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
Alan Smith, Tyson Laemmel, Darin Richardson and Joshua Waldrep

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
Corbin and Neely Green, director and producer of both Nine and Rent

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
Cori Laemmel and Kate Adams-Johnson

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
ASMs Eric Ventress and Lila Tuck

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
Jamey Green of Boiler Room Theatre

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
Jane Kelley Watt and Tyson Laemmel

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
First Night founder/executive producer Jeffrey Ellis

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
Red Carpet hostess Jennifer Richmond

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors Joe Mahowald and jane.jpg" />
9 to 5 star Joe Mahowald and Jane Kelley Watt

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
Nine stars Kay Ayers and Corrie Miller

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
First Night honoree Paul Gatrell (center), with Luke Hatmaker, Zack McCann, Ben Stonick and Kyla Lowder, Belmont University students who were among the 2010 Most Promising Actors.

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
Music director Jane Kelley Watt and some of her musicians.

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors
Taylor, Corbin and Jamey Green

Photo Coverage: Backstage at the First Night Nashville Theatre Honors



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