Pull-Tight Players | Live Theatre in Franlin, Tenn.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Blog

Two Actors Cast for December’s ‘A Tuna Christmas’

October 18, 2023

Director Cindy Davis Massey is “over the moon” to announce the two actors who will be broadcasting 12 times from radio station OKKK in the third-smallest town in Texas. A Tuna Christmas will debut Dec. 1, with tickets going on sale Nov. 20.

“We had an outstanding turnout and could have cast the show at least three different ways,” said Massey. “This politically incorrect satire is sure to have audiences rolling in the floor.”

Bowd Beal will appear as Arles Struvie. He is a veteran Nashville actor who has played Thurston Wheelis in both A Tuna Christmas and Red, White and Tuna. As with his underwear, Beal was looking for a change.

Chad Stem will appear as Thurston Wheelis. He is a Nashville native and former teacher, but just like Bertha Bumiller, those kids drove him crazy. He holds two master’s degrees in theatre. Stem was last seen in The Crucible, produced by Elite Studio Works at the Darkhorse Theatre, but witchcraft in Salem can’t top the shenanigans in Tuna, Texas.

Together, Beal and Stem will portray more than 20 characters from the town of Tuna. This is both actors’ first appearance on the Pull-Tight stage.

A Tuna Christmas is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

Filed Under: Blog, Cast & Crew Lists Tagged With: 2023-24 seaason, cast announcement

President’s Blog – September 2023

September 15, 2023


We have opened our 55th season with a quick sellout of Guys & Dolls, one of my all-time favorite musicals, directed by Mark Mason. All who came out to see the show had a great time, and the production team did terrific work bringing this classic to the stage for the first time since the 2007-2008 season.

On opening night, plein air artist Tim Hodge set up his easel and supplies and painted a fantastic rendering of our historic space. Mr. Hodge was there as part of the Franklin Art Crawl. Watching this artist create from a blank canvas right in front of the theater was such a thrill.

We look forward to hanging this unique piece of art in the theater soon.

Plien air artist Tim Hodge painting the Pull-Tight Theater.
Plien air artist Time Hodge's painting of the Pull-Tight Theater.


Our Youth Actors Guild and Jr. Youth Actors Guild hosted a season kick-off karaoke party at the beginning of September. Our Youth Committee is working hard to schedule opportunities, classes, and workshops for our six to 12-year-olds (Jr. YAG) and 13-18-year-olds (YAG). There has been a huge outpouring of support for our youth programming this season from volunteers, parents, and participants. We can’t wait for you to see what this tireless group of volunteers has in store for the children we serve in our community.


We continue our 55th season at the end of September with the opening of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, directed by Greg Grimsley. This show was last seen on our stage in the 1985-1986 season. One of the joys of Pull-Tight for me is the creativity of our volunteers, how they can dramatically transform our small space to help tell the stories. I can tell you that the set design and building teams are at it again, taking our stage from a raised level with streetscapes and mission interiors to the immersive feeling of a sanitarium. You’ll feel like you are in the room with the actors, significantly adding to the storytelling experience. You will be excited to see how our volunteers continue to dazzle audiences with their vision and imagination.

  • Guys & Dolls Set
  • Cuckoo’s Nest Set Construction

We hope you will join us during our 55th season 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 for the City of Franklin in which we thrive.

Johnny Peppers
President, Pull-Tight Players

Filed Under: Blog

Youth Actors Guild Karaoke Party

August 24, 2023

Saturday, Sept. 9
7 to 9 p.m.
Pull-Tight Theater

Join the Pull-Tight Players Youth Actors Guild Saturday, September 9 for a free karaoke party to kick-off our YAG and JYAG season. Get to know the advisors, learn more about what workshops we have planned, and hear a very special announcement about future youth activities at Pull-Tight.

Pizza, snacks and beverages will be served. Each participant will need to complete an information sheet upon arrival.

The event is for students aged 6 to 18. We ask that parents of kids under age 10 remain with them at the event, please

For more information, email Leslie Berra.

Youth Actors Guild Karaoke Party Saturday Sept. 9 2023

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: YAG

Actors Cast for ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’

August 18, 2023

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at Pull-Tight Players

Director Greg Grimsley has announced his cast for Pull-Tight Players’ production of Dale Wasserman’s classic play, One Flew Over the Cuckoos’ Nest. The show is part of Pull-Tight’s 55th season and will run Sept. 29 through Oct. 14. Tickets will go on sale Sept. 18.

Greg appeared as Randle P. McMurphy in Pull-Tight’s only other staging of the play in 1986. Producer Cindy Davis Massey played Candy Starr in that production. “During that time I fell in love with the theatre and the people here,” Greg said. “Some have become dear friends. I also developed a deep love for the characters who tell this story, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit in the midst of what appears to be insurmountable repression.”

Greg had this to say about the audition process: “During the two nights of auditions, I witnessed an amazing level of talent! It is every director’s dream to have choices. I had enough choices to keep me awake at night. Believe me when I say that casting a play is not always an easy thing to do. But I believe we have brought together the right actors, actresses, and creative staff for this time. And, it will include several new faces!”

The cast is as follows:

Chief BromdenDave Taylor
Aide WarrenLeo Moucka
Aide WilliamsBob Buchholz
Nurse RatchedStephanie Dillard
Nurse FlinnCarly Gresham
Dale HardingHarry Marsh
Billy BibbittPayton Justice
ScanlonNick Ponder
CheswickRoger Wells
MartiniJoey Echeverria
RuckleyRichard Eddinger
Randle P. McMurphyPhil Fitzgerald
Dr. SpiveyDan Kassis
Aide TurkleTom Naughton
Candy StarrMadilene Alden
SandraAutumn Siebold

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

Filed Under: Blog, Cast & Crew Lists Tagged With: 2023-24 seaason, cast announcement

President’s Blog – July 2023

July 18, 2023

Johnny Peppers, Pull-Tight Players board of directors president


Hello, Pull-Tight patrons, donors, volunteers, and partners. My name is Johnny Peppers, and I am honored to serve as the Board’s President for the 2023-2024 season.

This season will continue the long-standing Pull-Tight traditions of a healthy volunteer base; an unprecedented number of season ticket holders; a continuing financial commitment from our individual donors and corporate partners; and unwavering support from the City of Franklin, its legislative body, its residents, and the community at large.

Pull-Tight boasts a mix of veteran volunteers and new faces every season, and last season was no different. More than a third of the cast and crew members directly involved in shows last season were experiencing their first show with Pull-Tight, either on stage or off.

We sold out our season ticket offering in just 28 days of public sales, with 92 percent of last season’s ticket holders returning for this upcoming season.

Our individual donors and corporate partners continue to support Pull-Tight financially year after year. Going into this season’s calendar, our donations have increased by 32 percent from a year ago. This provides funds to upgrade technical equipment that will allow us to improve our production values every season and continually.

The City of Franklin supports Pull-Tight in numerous ways, and we have loved our City Hall neighbors for almost 40 years of performing in the historical building on 2nd Avenue South. We are so grateful to the City and its leaders, citizens, and businesses for their partnership and for allowing us to be an integral part of the arts in Downtown Franklin. Here’s to 40 more!

We closed last season with Cabaret, a show originally slated for the 2020 finale. Audiences were moved by the performances, delighted by the visuals, and in awe of the transformation of our small space into a nightclub circa 1930 Berlin, Germany. The cast and crew spent years working on bringing this to the Pull-Tight stage, and they did not disappoint.

From 1930 Berlin to Manhattan in the 1950s, our stage is transformed for our 55th season opener, Guys & Dolls. This classic musical begins what is a very diverse offering for all types of theatergoers. The Play Reading Committee and the Board of Directors work very hard to craft a season of shows that make you laugh, cry, think, sing, or wonder – and sometimes all those emotions in one show!

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

Johnny Peppers, President
Pull-Tight Players Board of Directors

Filed Under: Blog, President's Blog Tagged With: 2023-24 seaason, board of directors

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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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