News

Gateway Chamber Orchestra will host their second concert of the 2019-20 season Masterworks Series, Transfigured Night, on Monday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m.

Soar through darkness into light with the dramatic program of works by the renowned Ottorino Respighi, Claude Debussy and Arnold Schoenberg. GCO harpist Paula Bressman casts light onto Debussy’s beautiful Danses with grace and elegance. Schoenberg’s stunning Transfigured Night pushes the GCO’s boundaries to new heights in a performance you will not want to miss.

The Masterworks Series includes four concerts exploring established masterworks, overlooked treasures and works by contemporary American composers. This season, titled Emotion Abounds, presents a slate of powerful and emotional programs featuring favorite composers of the GCO, including Mozart, Schubert, Schoenburg, and, of course, Haydn, who will be celebrated in the annual America’s Haydn Festival on April 6, 2020. The season will culminate with the 2nd annual BBQ, Brews & Beethoven featuring Copland’s Appalachian Suite, local craft beer and delicious BBQ.

Individual ticket prices to Transfigured Night range from $25 to $40 with discounts given to students and active duty military or reserve. For more information about the GCO, visit gatewaychamberorchestra.com.

For tickets, call the Franklin Theater box office at (615) 538-2076 or CLICK HERE.

Audience participation encouraged at Mafia-themed show…

Backlight Productions, a theater arts program for adults with special needs, will host a mass interactive game experience based on the classic “whodunnit” party game, Mafia, at the Franklin Theatre.

The game will be led by Backlight actors performing alongside professional actors, and will also include audience participants as they seek to weed out the guilty amongst the innocent.

Audience members can choose to be interactive participants or observers, and all levels of tickets can be purchased HERE. It’s sure to be the perfect event for anyone looking to do something fun and unique.

The Mafia Experience will be held on Oct. 27 from 6-9 p.m. CLICK HERE for more information.

Tickets are on sale now for the Gateway Chamber Orchestra’s 2019-2020 Season – Emotion Abounds. This season, the GCO will perform inspiring musical programs that will transport audiences through time to explore the passionate works that have influenced centuries of music.

Join the GCO for a musical experience that will surprise, entertain and move you as you listen to some of the most noteworthy musicians in the Southeast. This season presents a slate of powerful and emotional programs, featuring favorite composers of the GCO including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Arnold Schoenberg and of course, Franz Joseph Haydn. Internationally acclaimed soloists are scheduled to perform, including Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra principal flutist Lorna McGhee.

“The 2019-2020 season continues a thread from last season by featuring works and composers who have helped shape our unique musical voice,” said Gateway Chamber Orchestra Music Director Gregory Wolynec. “Each program will explore a wide range of emotions in collaboration with exhilarating soloists. The sublime beauty of Mozart’s Gran Partita, the symphonic weight of Schubert’s Tragic and the radiant glow of Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night will be just a few of the highlights of the upcoming season.

Season tickets (includes four events) begin at $50 for students/military and $80 for adults. The Gateway Chamber Orchestra performs at the Franklin Theatre, with concerts on Monday evenings.

For more information about the GCO, visit gatewaychamberorchestra.com. For tickets, call the Franklin Theater box office at (615) 538-2076 or visit www.franklintheatre.com. Season tickets are on sale now. Individual concert tickets will be available Sept. 3.

The GCO is a nationally-recognized cultural institution committed to enriching lives through innovative concerts, distinctive recordings and inspiring educational programs. Conducted by Gregory Wolynec, the GCO performs in two permanent homes – The Franklin Theatre in Franklin and the Mabry Concert Hall on the campus of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville.

MASTERWORKS SERIES

• Artistry of Lorna McGhee

Monday, September 30th, 7:30 p.m.

Gabriel Fauré – Pelléas and Mélisanda Suite

Carl Reinecke – Flute Concerto with Lorna McGhee

Franz Schubert – Symphony No. 4 in C minor

The GCO kicks off an emotion-packed new season with powerful works from Gabriel Faure, Carl Reinecke and Franz Schubert. The orchestra welcomes Lorna McGhee, principal flute of the Pittsburgh Symphony, for Reinecke’s gripping concerto. Schubert provides a dramatic finale to the season opener with his Tragic Symphony.

• Transfigured Night

Monday, November 4th, 7:30 p.m.

Ottorino Respighi – Ancient Airs and Dances Set III

Claude Debussy – Danses with Paula Bressman, harp

Arnold Schoenberg – Transfigured Night (Verklärte Nacht)

Soar through darkness into light with this dramatic program of works by renowned Ottorino Respight, Claude Debussy and Arnold Schoenberg. GCO harpist Paula Bressman casts light onto the beautiful Danses with grace and elegance. Schoenberg’s stunning Transfigured Night pushes the GCO’s boundaries to new heights in a performance you will not want to miss.

• Gran Partita

Monday, January 27th, 7:30 p.m.

Felix Mendelssohn – Nocturno

Jacques Ibert – Cello Concerto with Meghan Berindean, cello

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Serenade in Bb, K. 361/370a Gran Partita

The GCO tugs at heartstrings in this concert featuring GCO cellist, Meghan Berindean. Works from Felix Mendelssohn and Jacques Ibert lead up to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s powerful Gran Partita serenade, a ‘signature’ work for the GCO featured on our debut recording and received national media praise.

• America’s Haydn Festival*

Friday, April 3rd, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, April 6th, 7:30 p.m.

Franz Joseph Haydn – Symphony No. 49 in F minor La passion

Franz Joseph Haydn – Lord Nelson Mass

The final Masterworks concert honors the late Franz Joseph Haydn at our 2^nd Annual America’s Haydn Festival. The multi-day event includes a string quartet performance featuring the Omer Quartet as well as full orchestra and choir performances of works from the famed composer.

*String Quartet tickets sold separately.

Individual Concert Tickets Available 9/3

SEASON TICKETS & MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Having received more than 200 submissions the festival program, the final films have been selected for the 2019 Franklin International Independent Film Festival.  The opening night for FIIFF will be held at the Franklin Theater on August 14, 2019 with screen local film director, Barbara Hall’s American Masters film “CHARLEY PRIDE, I’m Just Me.”

“I could not be more excited about the program lineup,” said Nancy Puetz. President of Williamson County Cultural Arts Commission.  “The storytelling brought by this amazing group of filmmakers is exciting, thought-provoking and most of all entertaining. These filmmakers have carved out their carefully drawn images for film lovers and other filmmakers with a keen eye and great respect for the process. Our festival program is an homage to the power of a truly international group.”

The doors open for the FIIFF programming at 9:30 AM on the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th with incredible programming in all genres. As Ms. Puetz said, “From documentary, music and drama to comedy and animation and purpose films, there is a film for everyone to enjoy.”

August 17th daylong programming is at Columbia State College with television/ music panels and workshops with such acclaimed experts as Petra Terzi, recent Cannes Film Festival winner of AFI Peacemaker award. Filmmakers represent Cyprus, the Republic of Georgia, Canada, Sweden, Korea and the United States. Local industry greats such as, David Deborde, Andy Hill, Steve Hayes, and others whose passion and knowledge of film, music and media will provide advice and a roadmap for long-term success. A long requested workshop presented by Seed and Spark, the Indie Film crowdfunding platform is also on the program for Saturday.

As an added bonus to audiences, a special celebrity guest host is planned for opening night.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS:

Festival Passes: http://bit.ly/FIIFFTN 

Daily Events at The Franklin Theatre:  FIIFF 8/14, FIIFF 8/15, FIIFF 8/16, FIIFF 8/18

Workshops and Panels at Columbia State College: FIIFF 8/17

“REJOICE. It is even more glorious than promised.” – New York Times

“Once in a blue moon, a show comes out blazing and restores your faith in Broadway.” – New York Post

TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year, MATILDA THE MUSICAL, is coming to The Franklin Theatre as part of the Act Too Players professional company, AT PRO, August 2-11, 2019.

Winner of 50 international awards including 4 Tony Awards ® and a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards ® including Best Musical, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is based on the beloved novel by best-selling author Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox). It is the story of an extraordinary girl who dreams of a better life. Armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, Matilda dares to take a stand and change her destiny. Book by Tony Award®-winning playwright Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Australian comedian, musician and composer Tim Minchin.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL is directed by Sondra Morton, Theatre Arts Director for the Act Too Players.  Reece Benton and Reagan Schmicker share the title role of Matilda, New York based actor Thomas Demarcus will lead the way as Ms. Trunchbull, while Megan Murphy Chambers is set to play the wacky Mrs. Wormwood. Jeremy Maxwell plays the corrupt Mr. Wormwood, Erica Haines plays the kindly Ms. Honey, and Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva plays the lovely Mrs. Phelps. The show features the talents of several Act Too students and children. Jamey Green is Musical Director, while Jayme Smith serves as the production’s Stage Manager.

Performances run from August 2-11.

Tickets run from: $20 – $49, available at www.franklintheatre.com, 615.538.2076

The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN has hired an interim executive director for its division The Franklin Theatre. Longtime veteran of the theatre industry and executive producer of the Foundation’s 2017 50th anniversary celebration, Paul T. Couch will join the organization this week.

CEO of the Heritage Foundation Bari Beasley said, “Paul brings a tremendous amount of experience, energy and a thoughtful, collaborative nature to The Franklin Theatre. From national touring productions to local theater, he understands what it takes to be in the sometimes-difficult show business but also how to maximize partnerships, sponsorships and the local community to better the entertainment experience for everyone.”

Couch has extensive experience in venue management as well as producing and presenting entertainment, including his time as general manager of the Ryman Auditorium. At Nashville’s most historic live music venue, he booked and promoted a variety of shows, including country, pop, rock, bluegrass and classical music concerts. He also produced the musicals Always…Patsy Cline, Lost Highway—The Music and Legend of Hank Williams, and Bye Bye Love—The Everly Brothers Musical and the Ryman’s first season of repertory musicals.

From there Couch ventured to Savannah, Georgia, where he directed the renovation and opening of the Lucas Theatre for the Arts in the city’s historic district. While there, he presented successful seasons of Broadway shows and classical performances as well pop, rock, country, bluegrass and comedy shows.

Not long after, Dollywood theme park hired Couch as its director of entertainment and executive producer where he became one of the theme park industry’s most award-winning entertainment producers. Dollywood won over 20 Brass Ring Awards and six Golden Ticket Awards during his tenure, from 2003 to 2014. He was also responsible for managing the operations of the park’s eight performance venues. It was there that Couch and Dolly Parton began a creative partnership that includes several major musical productions and a Hallmark Channel television special.

For the past five years Paul has been a Franklin resident where he continues to create and produce musicals. Most notably, he is collaborating with Dolly on the new musical Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol, an original adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic. The work recently sold out three showcase performances at the Ordway Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota. Couch graduated from Muskingum University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and a minor in Theater and received his MBA from Belmont University.

Couch will replace current Executive Director Dan Hays, following Hays’ last day on Friday, June 7.

To learn more about the Theatre’s upcoming shows and movies, visit FranklinTheatre.com.