Larry Tobias News

Casting is complete for the world premiere of An American Country Christmas Carol, a new musical that will be presented in a staged reading at Franklin's Boiler Room Theatre on December 5, 6 and 12 at 8 p.m. Heading the cast as Ebenezer Scrugg is Larry Tobias, whose selected credits include the national tour of Stand By Your Man and numerous productions of Ring of Fire. In Nashville he has been seen as Pap in Tennessee Rep's Big River and in Studio Tenn's Our Town.

The musical version of Mark Twain's classic tale sweeps audiences down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are propelled by an award-winning score from Roger Miller, which provides a theatrical celebration of pure Americana.

But three other individuals are perhaps most responsible for the overall delight that is Tennessee Rep's 25th Anniversary season production: director Rene Dunshee Copeland, whose imaginative work helps to re-invent this musical on a basis that is at once more intimate while, somehow, is on a grander scale; music director Paul Carrol Binkley, whose concept for performing the work's music gives it the ideal down-home feel that only a band of expert Nashville players can give it; and design genius Gary Hoff, who transforms Johnson's black box space into something we've never seen in that venue before - the proscenium theatre you've only seen in your mind's eye - and who, in so doing, elevates Nashville theatrical design beyond its previous limits, fashioning it into something of opulently epic proportions.

The musical version of Mark Twain's classic tale sweeps audiences down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are propelled by an award-winning score from Roger Miller, which provides a theatrical celebration of pure Americana.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will present Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with music and lyrics by Nashville legend Roger Miller. Like Tennessee Rep, Big River-winner of seven Tony Awards--celebrates its 25th anniversary this season. Big River runs March 20 - April 10 at TPAC's Johnson Theater.

The musical version of Mark Twain's classic tale sweeps audiences down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are propelled by an award-winning score from Roger Miller, which provides a theatrical celebration of pure Americana.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will present Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with music and lyrics by Nashville legend Roger Miller. Like Tennessee Rep, Big River-winner of seven Tony Awards--celebrates its 25th anniversary this season. Big River runs March 20 - April 10 at TPAC's Johnson Theater.

With the strains of 'Auld Lang Syne' mere moments away, minds are apt to be caught up in reflection, remembering the year now ending as a new one awaits just over the horizon. Certainly that's what I've been doing lately, looking back over the past year in Nashville theatre as I pencil in dates in my new 2010 (Here's a question to ponder: Is it 'two thousand ten' or 'twenty ten'...think about it and get back to me) calendar for the shows set to open in the months ahead.

Created by Jean Doumanian, Jeffrey Richards and Rick Steiner ('in association with Janet Pailet,' according to the program), The Great American Trailer Park Musical is about all the rednecks, hicks and white trash you've ever met - well, if you know anybody from the aforementioned groups - and the whole set-up is beyond hilarious and so inspired by the tasteless that you simply cannot go and not enjoy yourself. Unless, of course, you hope to hear every word and see every bit of onstage business.

'This is a show about agoraphobia, adultery, '80s nostalgia, strippers, roadkill and hysterical pregnancy...it's everything a musical should be,' according to Cathy Sanborn Street, executive artistic director for the company. Directed by Larry Tobias, performances will be held at 'Armadillo Acres,' located at 1031 Elm Hill Pike, just off the Fessler's Lane exit of I-24. Curtain is at 8 p.m. for Friday and Saturday shows; at 5 p.m. for Sunday performances.

Auditions for The Great American Trailer Park Musical, directed by Larry Tobias, will be held on Saturday, August 29th from 10-4pm , with callbacks on Sunday, August 30th at 6:30pm at Tulip Street United Methodist Church , 522 Russell St. , in East Nashville .

Auditions for The Great American Trailer Park Musical, directed by Larry Tobias, will be held on Saturday, August 29th from 10-4pm , with callbacks on Sunday, August 30th at 6:30pm at Tulip Street United Methodist Church , 522 Russell St. , in East Nashville .

Chris Blisset, previously seen at Mason Street Warehouse in 2005 returns to lead a talented team in Pump Boys and Dinettes. This Broadway classic promises fun for the entire family. The pump boys sell high octane on Highway 57 in Grand Ole Opry country and the dinettes run the Double Cupp diner next door.

Auditions for The Great American Trailer Park Musical, directed by Larry Tobias, will be held on Saturday, August 29th from 10-4pm , with callbacks on Sunday, August 30th at 6:30pm at Tulip Street United Methodist Church , 522 Russell St. , in East Nashville .

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will celebrate its 25th season of live, critically acclaimed theatre by welcoming a mix of familiar favorites and new faces.

Chris Blisset, previously seen at Mason Street Warehouse in 2005 returns to lead a talented team in Pump Boys and Dinettes. This Broadway classic promises fun for the entire family. The pump boys sell high octane on Highway 57 in Grand Ole Opry country and the dinettes run the Double Cupp diner next door.

Purchase one adult or senior priced ticket for Pump Boys and Dinettes for Tuesday August 4th and receive one child's ticket (age 6-17) for 50% off!

The next show at the Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown is billed as a show the entire family will enjoy. Honus & Me, a play by Steven Dietz adapted from the book by Dan Gutman, tells the story of little league player Joey Stoshack who finds the most valuable baseball card in the world, the T-206 Honus Wagner - while cleaning out an elderly neighbors attic.

The Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown is kicking off the 2009 anniversary season with an adaptation of another 70th anniversary celebrant, the 1939 classic Gone With the Wind. I'll Never Be Hungry Again is a musical spoof that takes the sweeping drama and classic romance and turns it on its head.

The next show at the Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown is billed as a show the entire family will enjoy. Honus & Me, a play by Steven Dietz adapted from the book by Dan Gutman, tells the story of little league player Joey Stoshack who finds the most valuable baseball card in the world, the T-206 Honus Wagner - while cleaning out an elderly neighbors attic.