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Pull-Tight Players Receives State Congressional and Franklin City Honors for 55 Years of Service

It was a proud day on May 5, 2024, when Pull-Tight Players was recognized for 55 years of bringing affordable, memorable theatre arts to the City of Franklin and Williamson County. During its annual Artist Members’ Meeting, State Sen. Jack Johnson, Franklin’s Mayor Ken Moore, and City Administrator Ken Stuckey attended to personally present their honors.

Pull-Tight received a state congressional resolution honoring its service, and the City of Franklin presented a certificate of recognition.

Pull-Tight’s lifetime board member Iain Macpherson read the state resolution to those in attendance.

Read the Williamson Herald article about the event.

President’s Blog – January 2024

Happy New Year to our season ticket holders, patrons, government partners, corporate partners, and volunteers!

Johnny Peppers, president of the Pull-Tight Players board of directors


What an amazing end to 2023 at the theater. So many great things have been happening over the last few months. We sold out our second show of the season, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, directed by Greg Grimsley, and our Christmastime offering, A Tuna Christmas, directed by Cindy Davis Massey. These two shows couldn’t be more different from each other, and that is one of the best parts of Pull-Tight’s seasonal offerings. You are almost guaranteed to see many different things over the course of a season. The Board of Directors is hard at work finalizing the titles for our 2024-2025 season. Look for that announcement in the coming months.

Next is Home, I’m Darling, directed by Pat Street. This play by British playwright Laura Wade won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2019. It is a real treat to bring new art to the community of Franklin, whether it is born a few miles away or across the pond. I hope you plan to catch this one – tickets go on sale on January 22.

Our Youth Actors Guild and Jr. Youth Actors Guild are preparing for auditions for We Will Rock You, School Edition, to be performed at Freedom Middle School in May. Do you know someone ages 6 to 18 who would like to participate in a musical? Check out the audition page for more information and a link to the sign-up form. Do you know a youth who would like to work with a mentor behind the scenes to learn lighting, sound, crew, or stage management? Email the directors, Leslie Berra or Hollie Osteen to learn about these opportunities.

We saw such growth throughout 2023 in volunteer involvement and personal and corporate giving. It amazes me when I look back at the two hundred volunteers who worked on shows on and off stage, the many hundreds of people who have donated to Pull-Tight in the last year, the thousands of people who enjoyed a performance, and the tens of thousands of memories our community created.

We hope you will join us in 2024 by seeing a show, volunteering for the organization in some way, showing your support with a financial donation, or finding a way to share our love for the arts and the City of Franklin, in which we thrive.

Thank you,
Johnny Peppers
Pull-Tight Board of Directors President

Pull-Tight Puts Holiday Cheer at Center Stage in Franklin

For more than 50 years, Pull-Tight Players has brought high-quality entertainment to Franklin and Williamson County. This holiday season, the organization brought its performers and volunteers out of the theater and into the streets to celebrate.

Pull-Tight participated in the Franklin Christmas Parade Dec. 2, with volunteers carrying our banner and a bright red Ford F-150 playing the part of Santa’s sleigh. Kids received candy, and attendees got a taste of the community spirit Pull-Tight is known for.

  • Pull-Tight Players at the Franklin Christmas Parade, 2023
  • Pull-Tight Players at the Franklin Christmas Parade, 2023
  • Pull-Tight Players at the Franklin Christmas Parade, 2023
  • Pull-Tight Players at the Franklin Christmas Parade, 2023
  • Pull-Tight Players at the Franklin Christmas Parade, 2023
  • Pull-Tight Players at the Franklin Christmas Parade, 2023

On Dec. 9 and 10, Pull-Tight lent its talent pool to the main stage entertainment at the annual Dickens of a Christmas street festival. Actress, choreographer, and former board member Bre Hall coordinated the players in a 20-minute review of Christmas favorites.

“Our Dickens of a Christmas performance was such a delight,” said Hall. We plucked out the best bits from all your festive favorites, including Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some), How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, the Musical, Elf, the Musical, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

“Our all-star cast and creative team had a jolly good time rehearsing this review. Our only mission was to lift spirits and spread cheer, while celebrating the talents of our diverse and inclusive community theater.

“Our eyes are set on the future as we plan to outdo ourselves every year, proving that Pull-Tight has been a staple of this town for ages and will continue to dazzle audiences for decades to come.”

  • Noah Osteen
  • Lauren McGill
  • Ross Canales
  • Lauren McGill
  • The Pull-Tight Players at Dickens of a Christmas, 2023
  • Sydney Hooper
  • Lauren McGill and Ross Canales
  • Sydney Hooper
  • Eli Bell
  • Meredith Seymour
  • The Pull-Tight Players at Dickens of a Christmas, 2023
  • JT Landry with the leg lamp from A Christmas Story
  • The Pull-Tight Players at Dickens of a Christmas, 2023
  • Lauren McGill, Ross Canales, and Eli Bell
  • Meredith Seymour
  • The Pull-Tight Players at Dickens of a Christmas, 2023
  • Leo Moucka, Sydney Hooper, and Ross Canales
  • The Pull-Tight Players at Dickens of a Christmas, 2023
  • Sydney Hooper
  • Ross Canales
  • Ross Canales and Lauren McGill
  • Eli Bell and Meredith Seymour
  • Meredith Seymour
  • The Pull-Tight Players at Dickens of a Christmas, 2023
  • JT Landry and Sydney Hooper
  • The Pull-Tight Players at Dickens of a Christmas, 2023
  • Leo Moucka as Santa and Sydney Hooper
  • Leo Moucka as Santa and Sydney Hooper

The theatre also set up a booth during both days of the festival. Visitors stopped to chat with volunteers about Pull-Tight, play games, and grab a candy cane or two.

  • Melanie McBurney at Pull-Tight Players' Dickens of a Christmas booth, 2023
  • Pull-Tight Players' booth at Dickens of a Christmas, 2023

Pull-Tight’s first participation in a downtown Franklin parade may date back to the nation’s Bicentennial in 1976. Members rode in a float and presented an original play highlighting local history, A Franklin Diary, by Jan Slusher. Cindy Davis Massey, who participated in this year’s Christmas Parade, can be seen below at the front of the float in 1976.

Pull-Tight Players volunteers riding on a float in a Franklin parade, 1975

Events team

  • Heather Bottoms
  • Mark Buchanan
  • Joey Echeverria
  • Michael Hall
  • John Fraser
  • JT Landry
  • Melanie McBurney
  • Sarah Woodruff

Entertainers

  • Eli Bell
  • Ross Canales
  • Sydney Hooper
  • JT Landry
  • Lauren McGill
  • Leo Moucka
  • Noah OSteen
  • Marjorie Pess
  • Meredith Seymour

Creative team

  • Bre Hall, Coordinator
  • Becky Leopard, Choreographer
  • Dustin Greenleaf, Music Director

Booth volunteers

  • Heather Bottoms
  • Stephanie Dillard
  • Joey Echeverria
  • Richard and Joanne Eddinger
  • Michael Hall
  • Phillip Johnson
  • Sarah Kieffner
  • JT Landry
  • Kyle Langford
  • Melanie McBurney
  • Cabot Pyle
  • Sarah Woodruff
  • Special shoutout to Johnny Peppers for his tent

Parade walkers

  • Cindy and Tim Massey
  • Hollie and Noah OSteen
  • Sarah and Garrett Woodruff
  • Extra shoutout to Vicky Stiles for the “Pull-Tight Players” Christmas sign
  • Steve Mook for the platform

Pull-Tight Announces Cast for Southeastern Premiere of ‘Home, I’m Darling’

Director Pat Street has chosen the actors and actresses who will bring to life Laura Wade’s award-winning Home, I’m Darling on the Pull-Tight Theatre stage. This British comedic drama will have its Southeastern U.S. premiere when it opens Feb. 2.

“We had a great turnout for auditions and have ended up with a thrillingly talented cast,” said the director. “This is definitely an ensemble show, with characters who go through a full range of emotions, and a little jitterbugging thrown in for good measure. Every actor truly has to stretch and carry their weight, and we have the exact right group to do that. Can’t wait to get started!”

The cast is as follows:

JudyChelsea Craig
JohnnyBryan Kratoska
FranJennifer Bennett
SylviaDebbie Kraski
AlexErin Knight
MarcusJohn Scamardella

The show will run through Feb. 17. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 22.

Home, I’m Darling is presented by arrangement with Knight Hall Agency Ltd.

Pull-Tight Players #GivingTuesday Fundraising Campaign

This November 28, Pull-Tight Players will participate in GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

You can partner with Pull-Tight on GivingTuesday to help us make much-needed improvements to our technology and help us cover the costs of a new youth program. This spring, we will present a full-length musical, We Will Rock You, featuring kids aged 6 to 18. This free program will begin with auditions in February. Donations will cover the myriad costs associated with producing a large cast musical, such as licensing, royalties, costumes, sets, props, insurance and custodial fees.

With your help we will be able to provide this much-needed free program to youth in Franklin and surrounding areas. Most theater programs for kids are tuition-based, but we believe it is important to offer something that allows all kids to participate without any financial burden.

Donate using the link below, or via one of our many upcoming #GivingTuesday social media posts on Facebook and Instagram. Follow those accounts so you don’t miss any updates.

Give Now

You may also mail a check to:
Pull-Tight Players
PO Box 682609
Franklin TN 37068-2609

Indicate GivingTuesday in the memo line on your check.

We will continue this campaign through the end of the year. Thank you in advance for your consideration and continued support of Pull-Tight Players.

More information

What technological updates are still needed at Pull-Tight?

Thanks to everyone’s generosity last year we have made many major improvements to our sound and lighting. We are still in need of a special ladder to help keep our volunteers safe when hanging lights and building sets. This important item costs $1,500.

How will my donation be recognized?

All donors will be recognized online, in social media and our website. Donors who give $50 or more will be recognized in our program for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season (three shows) and online. Donors who give $250 or more will also be recognized on a plaque displayed in our lobby. You may also request that your donation remains anonymous.

Are my donations tax deductible?

Yes, Pull-Tight is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, so your donation is 100-percent tax-deductible. You will receive an email from ArtsPeople that will serve as your tax receipt. We will also issue a tax receipt upon request.

How else can I help Pull-Tight on GivingTuesday?

Share Pull-Tight’s fundraising link and our GivingTuesday social media posts. You can use the hashtag #GivingTuesday, and tag Pull-Tight Players in your posts. The more we get the word out, the more potential donors we’ll reach. You can also text and email your friends with our giving link.

Partner with Pull-Tight Players on #GivingTuesday, November 28, 2023

Contact Us

Pull-Tight Players Theatre
PO Box 682609
Franklin TN 37068-2609
Box office: tickets@pull-tight.com
General: info@pull-tight.com

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