Dan Kassis – Page 15

Pull-Tight Supports New Play, STAND

September 24, 2012

The local theatre community is coming together to support the new play STAND, which will raise funds and awareness to help fight homelessness and addiction right here in Nashville through Room at the Inn. STAND, written by local playwright Jim Reyland, is the true story of Johnny “JJ” Ellis, who spent three drug-addicted decades on the streets of Nashville and a Good Samaritan who stepped up to help him. The play is directed by David Compton. “JJ” is played by Barry Scott and the Good Samaritan is played by Chip Arnold.

STAND runs through November 10 at theaters and churches in Nashville and surrounding areas, including Franklin. All general admission tickets to STAND at all venues are $15 and available at ticketsnashville.com or at the venue the day of show. No other discounts are available.

“Because STAND will be presented in venues throughout Nashville, we are hoping that it will raise the consciousness of so many throughout our community by dramatizing the complexities and struggles faced by the homeless,” said Father Charles Strobel, founding director, Room In The Inn’s Campus.

We hope to see you at one of the shows.

Pull-Tight Celebrates 43rd Knot Awards

August 1, 2012

The 2011-2012 Knot Awards winners were announced at the Pull-Tight Season Celebration, June 30, 2012.

Award Winners

Hall of Fame – Debbie Kraski
Player of the Year – Stephanie Dillard
Cam Davis Spirit Award – Pat and Steve Evans
Jim Highfill Techie of the Year – Carol Brown
Newcomer of the Year – Ron Geagan
President’s Special Recognition – Jim Tallent

Youth Actors’ Guild Awards

YAG Hall of Fame – Hannah Impeartrice
Youth Actors’ Guild Scholarship Recipients – Hannah Impeartrice, Kelsey Person, Shelby Stielstra, Maggie Trabucco

Acting Awards

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Amy Warren in Side by Side by Sondheim

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Dan McGeachy as “Don Quixote” in Man of La Mancha

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Beth Woodruff as “Ethel Banks” in Barefoot in the Park

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Ken Jackson as “Thomas Edison” in Camping with Henry and Tom

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role
Delaney Amatrudo as “Margot Frank” in Diary of Anne Frank

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role
Preston Crook as “Telephone Repairman” in Barefoot in the Park

Best Performance by an Actor in a Cameo RoleBest Performance by an Actress in a Cameo Role
Arvis Wright as “Moor/Attendant to Knight” in Man of La Mancha

Hanes Sparkman as “Nazi Officer” in Diary of Anne Frank

Show Techie Awards

Man of La Mancha – TJ Aiello, Set Design
Diary of Anne Frank – Hanes Sparkman, Stage Manager
Romeo and Juliet – Janice Thomas, Costumer
Barefoot in the Park – April Pressley, Stage Manager
Side by Side by Sondheim – Hanes Sparkman, Stage Manager
Camping with Henry and Tom – Pat Street, Stage Manager

Incident at Fort Granger Performance to Raise Funds for Pull-Tight

May 21, 2012

Two of the cast of “Incident at Fort Granger” are Jim Anderson and Vince Cusomato. This is the 8th production of this locally-written play, being Jim’s first performance, while Vince has played his role for 15 years.

Incident at Fort Granger a play about a true event that happened at Franklin’s Fort Granger in June 1863, will be performed in the Pull-Tight Theatre on Sunday afternoon, June 24, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for this one-time-only performance are $15.00. The production is a fundraiser, proceeds to be used for this summer’s theatre renovation.

A limited quantity of tickets will be available for sale at the door.

The play, written by former Franklin resident Bob Holladay, has been performed many times since its first major production on the Public Square in 1998 as part of Franklin’s Bicentennial. Opening scenes of the play were performed in 1997 at Fort Granger upon the occasion of the dedication of the fort’s historical markers.

Subsequent productions were performed twice at Carnton Plantation, once at Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church, twice in the Pull-Tight Theatre, and once on the lawn at Tudor Place in Washington, D.C.

Directed by Peggy Macpherson, the cast of Incident at Fort Granger includes Vince Cusomato, Nelson Bryan, Jeanne Drone, Ron Geagan, John Fraser, Jim Anderson, T.J. Aiello, Jerry Sharber, Hanes Sparkmanb, Avery Alvis, Joey Bryan, Preston Crook, Cary Smith, Bob Grunow, Mark Hyssong, and Taylor Sokoll.

Director Macpherson says: “I grew up in Franklin hearing that two spies visited Fort Granger and got hung. That was the story – you can tell it in a sentence. But because this story has moved me so much, now that I can see these two “spies” as human beings with families and friends – thus the Tudor Place connection – I find myself directing it again and again, now for at least the eighth time. To bring so many of the cast back time and again over the years, with new ones added who never say no, says something about its impact on all of us.”

Holladay, who now lives in Florida, says: “This is a story of soldiers under pressure in wartime, having to make human decisions in a hurry and ultimately paying the consequences. I was immensely fortunate to find a director and cast who understood what this play was really about and took it to heart.”

Pull-Tight’s 42nd Knot Awards Winners Announced

May 5, 2012

Pull-Tight Players celebrated the end of its 42nd season with the annual Knot Awards banquet. A list of award winners follows.

Season Award Winners

Hall of Fame – Kyle Rybczyk
Player of the Year – Heather Bottoms
Cam Davis Spirit Award – Stephanie Dillard

Youth Actors Guild Awards

Youth Actors’ Guild Hall of Fame Award – Anna Brown
Youth Actors’ Guild Scholarship Recipients – Scot Aiello, Aja Baldwin, Anna Brown

Show Techie Awards

Oklahoma – Taylor Sokoll, Assistant Stage Manager
Every Christmas Story Ever Told and Then Some – Steven Steele, Light Design
Seussical, The Musical – Tanner Tuttle, Stage Manager
Wait Until Dark – Lucretia Goddard, Light Execution
Doubt – Megan Nussell, Stage Manager
Godspell – Hanes Sparkman, Stage Manager
Dearly Beloved – Teresa Jones, Backstage Crew

Special Judges’ Award

Seussical, The Musical

Acting Awards

Best Performance by an Actress in a Cameo Role
Jill Braddock Watson as “TJ” in Dearly Beloved

Best Performance by an Actor in a Cameo Role
Bill Jones as “Wiley” in Dearly Beloved

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role
Layne Sasser as “Geneva” in Dearly Beloved

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role
JT Landry as “Jeffrey” in Godspell

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Jill Braddock-Watson as “GJ” in Dearly Beloved

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Jim Tallent as “Dub” in Dearly Beloved

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Debbie Kraski as “Sister Aloysius” in Doubt

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Lenny West as “Jesus” in Godspell

Pull-Tight Supports New Play, STAND