Pull-Tight Celebrates ‘A Year of Firsts’ at 57th Annual Knot Awards Banquet

A place setting at the 2026 Knot Awards Banquet

It was a black, white, and red-all-over affair at the Elks Lodge in Franklin, Tennessee on the night of July 11, where joy and pride could be read all over the faces of everyone present. Artist Members, guests, and honorees gathered to celebrate Pull-Tight Players’ 57th season.

The theme was “A Year of Firsts,” noting the organization’s three new show directors in a single season and the inauguration of a new series of Readers Theatre performances.

The beloved community theatre began its season in August 2025 with the stirring drama, Alabama Story, and concluded in June 2026 with the classic musical, Once Upon a Mattress. In between we saw the slapstick song and dance of Lucky Stiff, some holiday hilarity with Seasonal Allergies, the historical importance of These Shining Lives, and the always-poignant Harvey.

Incoming Board of Directors President Myna Sowell and her husband John hosted the evening, with a few enlightening sessions of “Would You Rather” and knockdown trivia battles between show casts and crews.

Pull-Tight said farewell and thank you to three outgoing board members: Secretary Stephanie Dillard, President Cabot Pyle, and Vice President Pat Street. Joining the board for the next three seasons are Carmela Hofstee, Parliamentarian Cindy Davis Massey, and Secretary Mark Mason.

The “In Memoriam” segment honored Pull-Tight actor and volunteer Stephen Henry, who passed away in 2025. Stephen appeared in 1999’s musical review Forever Plaid and 2003’s Two by Two. His final appearance was as the title role in Scrooge: The Musical.

New to the Pull-Tight stage in its 57th season were three Readers Theatre productions – one-night-only stagings of plays intended to broaden the organization’s ability to welcome more performers. Audiences and volunteers thoroughly enjoyed these efforts: Murder by Poe, Neil Simon’s Fools, and A Piece of My Heart.

Steve and Cathie Stamps, longtime volunteers, received the honor of Lifetime Voting Membership. Any volunteer may gain voting membership for the year with involvement in at least two productions. This special recognition shows that Steve’s and Cathie’s years of dedication merit permanent membership.

Johnny Peppers presented the Howard Tellis Friend of the Year Award to local business owner and philanthropist Rodney Pewitt. The award recognized Rodney’s tireless and enthusiastic support for Pull-Tight, a cause for which he is well known and deeply appreciated.

Individual show Techie and Congeniality Awards were presented as follows:

Alabama Story
Techie Award: Tim Massey
Congeniality Award: Annalee McConnell