Pull-Tight Players

Celebrating a Tradition of Live Theatre in Williamson County

  • Home
  • Tickets
  • News
  • Coming Soon
  • Auditions
  • 2022-23 Season
  • About
    • Award Winners
    • Board of Directors 2022-23
    • Bylaws
    • Calendar
    • FAQ
    • In Memoriam
    • Location
    • News
    • Past Productions
    • Photo Gallery
    • Pull-Tight Voting Membership
    • Standing Committees
    • 50th Anniversary Season
  • Youth
    • Teen Youth Actors Guild
    • Junior Youth Actors Guild
  • Donate
    • Our Donors and Sponsors
You are here: Home / Archives for Patricia Street

President’s Blog January 2023

January 16, 2023

Pull-Tight Board of Directors President Lynda Gibbs

Kudos to the cast and crew of Cinderella! This Rodgers and Hammerstein fairytale brought to life was a delightful addition to the holiday season. We congratulate Director J.T. Landry and his cast and crew on a job well done!

The cast and crew of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at Pull-Tight Players

Opening on February 3rd Is Lauren Gunderson’s The Book of Will. This hilarious and poignant story will transport you to the world and time of William Shakespeare and reveal just how important the efforts of loyal friends and fellow actors were to the preservation of his words and legacy. Director Lenny West and his remarkable cast and crew (if, as Producer, I do say so myself!) are ready to transport you to the pages of history, literally!

Thank you again to Stephanie and Chris Dillard for graciously opening their lovely home to us for the Artist Membership Christmas party. It was a great turnout and we had a fantastic time!

It’s very hard for me to believe that we are already halfway through our 2022-2023 season. As ever, we are eternally grateful for the continued support and dedication of our membership, our community and our audience members. Thank you all, and see you at the theatre!

Lynda Gibbs
President, Pull-Tight Players Board of Directors

Filed Under: Blog

Auditions for Funny Money

January 15, 2023

Ray Cooney's "Funny Money" at Pull-Tight Players

When & where

February 12 and 13, 7 p.m.
Pull-Tight Players Theater
112 2nd Avenue South, Franklin

Performance dates

April 14-15, 19-22, 26-29 at 7:30 p.m.
April 16 & 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Production team

Director: Johnny Peppers
Producer: Savannah Aiello
Stage Manager: Dustin Greenleaf

Details

Actors should be prepared to do cold readings from the script.

Auditions will begin promptly at 7 p.m. and end when all auditioners have been seen.

Rehearsals will begin February 19 and typically will be 4 to 5 nights per week. Please come to auditions prepared to list all conflicts you might have during this period. A tentative rehearsal calendar will be provided.

Downloads

Audition sides are provided below for you to prepare.

Download Audition Sides (ZIP file)

Print and complete the audition form prior to arriving.

Download Audition Form (PDF)

Synopsis

Henry A. Perkins, a mild-mannered CPA, accidentally picks up the wrong briefcase, one full of money. Henry assumes it is illicit cash, and he decides to keep it. Knowing that the former owner must have his briefcase, he rushes home to book one-way fares to Barcelona. He tells his confused wife to leave everything behind. They can go to Bali if she doesn’t like Barcelona. They can buy Bali! The doorbell rings as they wait for their taxi. The police detective at the door thinks Henry was soliciting in the men’s room of the local pub; Henry was actually sitting in the loo counting the cash. The bell rings again. Another detective arrives thinking Henry is dead; a man with bullet holes in his head and Henry’s briefcase are found in the Thames. Henry’s inept attempts to extricate himself from this impossible situation lead to increasingly hysterical situations.

Characters

Jean Perkins – a pretty but ordinary woman in her late forties.
Henry Perkins – an insignificant man in his early fifties.
Bill – a middle-aged London taxi driver of spirit, male or female.
Davenport – a bent copper, male or female.
Betty Johnson – a buxom and cheerful woman in her late forties.
Vic Johnson – a brash man with feet of clay.
Slater – a straight copper, male or female.
A passer-by – a mob enforcer

Filed Under: Blog

Pull-Tight Honors Life of Founder Vance Ormes

December 11, 2022

Pull-Tight Players founder Vance Ormes

Pull-Tight received the sad news this month that the theatre’s founder, Vance Gordon Ormes, passed away at his home in Delray Beach, Florida at the age of 69.

Vance was born in Franklin to the late Agness and Bill Ormes, who were also very involved with Pull-Tight in its early days. He attended Franklin Elementary School and later Battle Ground Academy, where he graduated in 1970 as salutatorian and was a National Merit Scholar finalist. At the age of 15, Vance participated in a play at the Nashville Children’s Theatre, and it ignited the theater bug. The next year, with the help of some of his parents’ friends, he formed the Pull-Tight Players with a production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, performed in the Franklin High School auditorium.

A young Vance Ormes as a Battle Ground Academy student

Vance graduated from the University of Denver, and wore many hats through the years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager, and designer. In 1995, he entered the Royal National Theatre Studio in London, where he took classes in Shakespeare, Greek and Roman Theatre, Mask, Voice & Movement.

After many years of running a professional theatre in Montana, Vance spent some time in Franklin caring for his elderly parents, which allowed current Pull-Tight members to get to know him. He was also able to travel to Franklin to participate in Pull-Tight’s 50th Anniversary celebration, and contributed to our documentary 50 Years a Treasure via Skype from New England.

Heather Bottoms and Ricki Keckley were two members who enjoyed their friendship with Vance at that time. As Heather says, “Vance was funny and smart and always ready to start a new adventure. Pull-Tight thrives today because of the founding principles he helped to instill, and we will be forever grateful for the way he has impacted our community and the theatre we all love. We are so thankful for the legacy he leaves behind.”

Pull-Tight Players volunteer Ricki Keckley with founder Vance Ormes

Ricki honored his passing by saying, “Every good thing in this life has a beginning and an idea. Vance Ormes had an idea and a great support group to help that idea grow into a reality. For over 50 years, Franklin has been the recipient of that idea and has enjoyed the gift of live community theatre through Pull-Tight Players. I am forever grateful that my path crossed with Vance’s during his time in Franklin caring for his parents. His lifelong dedication to theatre brought with it a plethora of advice and helpful information that will forever be treasured and will help Pull-Tight to exist for generations to come. Vance demonstrated once again that one person can make a positive difference in this world.”

Filed Under: Blog

Auditions for The Book of Will

October 26, 2022

The Book of Will at Pull-Tight Players

Sunday & Monday, Dec. 4 & 5, 6:30 p.m.
Pull-Tight Players Theatre
112 2nd Ave. S., Franklin, TN

Performance dates: February 3-4, 8-11, & 15-18 at 7:30 p.m.; February 5 & 12 at 2:30 p.m.

Pull-Tight Players is thrilled to announce auditions for our upcoming production of The Book of Will by Lauren Gunderson. Auditions consist of readings from the script. A wide variety of roles are available for 8 men and 6 women, ages 18+. All roles are open.

Please be prepared to list any and all conflict dates for the months of December through February. Though this play takes place in Shakespeare’s London, British accents will NOT be used. Please contact director Lenny West at west.lenny@gmail.com for more information.

If needed, callbacks will be held on Tuesday, December 6 at 6:30.

Summary

The year is 1619. William Shakespeare has been dead for 3 years. John Heminges and Henry Condell, Will’s friends and members of his acting company, The King’s Men, are faced with the reality that not only are their friends and fellow performers dying, but so are Will’s plays. With their genius friend’s legacy and their life’s work on the line, John and Henry and a cast of colorful characters set off on a race against time to preserve Shakespeare’s work while it is still possible. With no money or publishing experience, they set out to collect, compile, edit and print The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. This unforgettable true story is a lively, funny and poignant love letter to theater and to the printed word.

Character Descriptions


Men

John Hemings—50+. Former actor and current financial manager of the King’s Men. Owner of the Globe Tap House. A good man, rational, logical, serious. Leads with his head and keeps his emotions below the surface. Husband to Rebecca, father of Alice. Stutters when things become overwhelming.

Henry Condell—45+. Actor in the King’s Men. Feisty, hopeful, sensitive. Has large feelings and emotions and isn’t afraid to show them. Leads with his heart. Husband to Elizabeth.

Ben Jonson—40+. Poet Laureate of England. Friend and rival of Shakespeare. One of the all-time great drunks. A bear of a man, yet surprisingly weepy.

Richard Burbage—50+. A seasoned lion of the stage. Famous across England. Loud and proud.

William Jaggard—60+. Successful if shady publisher of books, plays and playbills. He is confident in his ability to get what he wants. Willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and win. An ass. Blind. Father of Isaac.

Isaac Jaggard—25+. William’s son, will inherit the business. Sensitive. An artist at heart. Strives to do what is right.

Ralph Crane—30s-40s. Humble scribe and editor of the King’s Men. Quick, sure and quiet.

Ed Knight—30s-40s. Stage Manager for the King’s Men. Self-important, frenzied and prickly.

Boy Hamlet—20s. A very young and not-so-talented actor playing Hamlet

Marcus—20s. A young apprentice at Jaggard’s print shop. Opinionated, takes his work very seriously.

Barmen, Workers at Print Shop, Members of Shakespeare Society, Actors in Production of Hamlet

Women

Alice Hemings—25+. Operator and bartender of the Globe Tap House. Lover of theater. Sassy, spunky, blunt. Hangs with the boys. Daughter of John & Rebecca.

Rebecca Heminges—50+. Reserved, practical. A good woman, a good wife, a good mother. Strong, busy, but with a sense of humor. She has weathered much and always knows what is right. Wife to John and mother of Alice.

Elizabeth Condell—40s. Henry’s wife. Savvy and fun. Enjoys being the wife of a famous actor. The more practical half of the couple—her feet are on the ground while his head is in the clouds. A true and loyal friend.

Emilia Bassano Lanier—40+. A wealthy, successful poet. Regal and elegant, but warm and feisty. Lover of life (and of Shakespeare).

Anne Hathaway Shakespeare—60+. The ailing wife of William Shakespeare. Strong, classy, stoic.

Susannah Shakespeare—30+. William Shakespeare’s daughter. Has unresolved feelings about her father, disillusioned.

Compositor—25+. A typesetter in Jaggard’s print shop. Quick and efficient.

Barmaids, Ladies of Ill Repute, Members of Shakespeare Society, Workers at Print Shop, Actors in Production of Hamlet

A Few Notes on Casting

What did Shakespeare say? “All the world’s a stage … and one man in his time plays many parts.” This play does not necessarily follow a traditional format. It is written for actors to play multiple roles. Almost all performers will double up on roles (John, Henry and Alice are likely to be the ONLY exceptions). Some performers will have substantial speaking roles. Some will have one REALLY good dialogue scene and work within the ensemble for the remainder of the show. Please don’t think that only the principal roles are worth playing. I guarantee you that EVERY performer will be vital to the success of this show and that everyone will have the opportunity to shine. Part of the fun of being an actor is the ability to disappear into a character. What a fun challenge to disappear into multiple characters within the same show!

Audition Form

If you prefer to complete it ahead of time, download our audition form here.
PT Audition Form DOC
PT Audition Form PDF

Sides

You may download the following sides that will be used at auditions.

John-Rebecca-Alice
John-Henry
John-Henry-Alice-Rebecca-Elizabeth-Ben
John-Henry-Alice-Jaggard-Issac
John-Henry-Alice-Burbage
Emilia-Henry
Rebecca-Elizabeth-Alice
Marcus-Compositor

Filed Under: Auditions, Blog

President’s Blog – July 2022

July 10, 2022

It’s hard to believe we are about to begin our 54th season at Pull-Tight. These past few years have been very difficult for the world, quite frankly, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped us stay on track, from the Board of Directors to our committee members, our volunteers, and of course our dedicated patrons. It was certainly all of us pulling together as a community that helped us weather the storm.

I hope you all got to see our last production of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple. It was such a fun experience, and we thank JK Gregg and her very talented cast and crew for delighting us all! Click HERE to enjoy photos from the show.

In addition, kudos to Leslie Berra and Jeanne Drone, co-chairs of this year’s Knot Awards Banquet. It was quite simply a ball! Thank you again to all the entertainers, presenters, and volunteers who helped make the evening a resounding success! Click HERE for a recap of our fun evening and to see this year’s award winners.

Next up is The Play that Goes Wrong. It will be as much fun as its sounds! Sarah Kieffner and her cast and crew are hard at work to bring us this incredibly funny show. The Box Office opens on July 18 and the show opens on July 29.

Again, we are so grateful to live in the community we do and to enjoy such enormous support from you all. See you at the theater!

Lynda Gibbs, President
Pull-Tight Players Board of Directors

Filed Under: Blog, President's Blog

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Contact Us

Pull-Tight Players Theatre
P.O. Box 105
Franklin, TN 37065
Box office: tickets@pull-tight.com
General: info@pull-tight.com

Get a peek behind the curtain!

Stay in touch with Pull-Tight. Be the first to know when a show goes on sale, when we announce a new season, and all the latest news.

Sign up for our newsletter today.

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Your Williamson

Find us in Downtown Franklin, Tenn.

Pull-Tight Players Theatre in Downtown Franklin Tennessee

Copyright © 2023 · Outreach Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in