President’s Blog

President’s Blog – January 2024

January 12, 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

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

President’s Blog: November 2022

November 14, 2022

Pull-Tight Board of Directors President Lynda Gibbs

I hope you all were able to see Pull-Tight’s last production, Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. It was a stunning drama, beautifully created by Daryle Tallent and her incredible cast and crew. It literally left audiences sitting on the edges of their seats as they were completely engaged from one scene to the next. We thank them all for a job well done.

Opening December 2 is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. JT Landry and his very talented cast and crew are hard at work bringing this beloved story to life with our own special holiday touches. Join us as we step into the pages of this classic fairy tale, wicked stepmother and all! Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. November 21.

It was wonderful to see so many of our Artist Members at our Fall meeting in October. Thanks again to Beth and Woody Woodruff for so graciously offering their home for the get-together. Thanks too to Leslie Berra for all the organizing and delicious food!

As we reflect on our many blessings, especially this time of year, the Board of Directors and I want to thank you for your extraordinary support. We wish you all a season filled with the love and warmth of family, friends and community. See you at the theater!

Lynda Gibbs
President, Pull-Tight Board of Directors

President’s Blog: September 2022

September 11, 2022

Let me just begin by saying, the play that went right! Well, sort of.

What a fabulous way to open our 54th season. Kudos to Sarah Keiffner and her cast and crew for the delightful production of The Play that Goes Wrong. I heard so many comments and raucous laughter all around me as the audience went on this crazy ride with this dedicated cast and crew. It was terrific fun and we thank you.

Next up is the Arthur Miller play, All My Sons. Daryle Talent and her cast and crew are hard at work to bring this incredible, taut drama to the Pull-Tight stage. Tickets go on sale on September 19, and the show opens on September 30. This was Arthur Miller’s first success as a playwright and was written at a particularly tumultuous time in our nation’s history. Daryle and I were both cast in Pull-Tight’s 2001 production. It is very dear to both our hearts.

Speaking of our hearts, the Pull-Tight community was very saddened to hear of the unexpected death of our founder, Vance Ormes. It took a particularly creative, determined young individual to bring us into existence, which was quite a feat for a then 16 year old. The foundation upon which we have since built was largely due to the dedication and commitment he instilled in others. He will be missed.

As fall descends, stay well, and thank you all for your continued support. See you at the theater!

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

President’s Blog – January 2024

President’s Blog – July 2023

President’s Blog: November 2022

President’s Blog: September 2022

President’s Blog – July 2022

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Get a peek behind the curtain!

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