News

Grecian Glam Gala Celebrates Pull-Tight’s 56th Season

July 14, 2025

Pull-Tight Players’ community of artists and volunteers arrived bedecked in the blue and gold of lapis lazuli to celebrate the accomplishments of its 2024-2025 season. Banquet co-chairs Mark Buchanan and J.T. Landry led the annual Knot Awards ceremony at the Elks Lodge in Franklin, Tenn.

Co-hosts J.T. Landry and Mark Buchanan at the 56th Pull-Tight Players Knot Awards — J.T. Landry, left, and Mark Buchanan

Preceding the conferring of awards was a review of the season’s shows by insult comic, “Jon Rickles.” His good-natured barbs and witticisms produced many laughs and not a few groans.

"Jon Rickles" at the 56th Pull-Tight Players Knot Awards — “Jon Rickles”

Outgoing board of directors president Johnny Peppers made some season-summarizing remarks before introducing incoming president Cabot Pyle.

Incoming board president Cabot Pyle and outgoing president Johnny Peppers at the 56th Pull-Tight Players Knot Awards — Cabot Pyle, left, and Johnny Peppers

Winter Wonderettes star Syndey Hooper sang “Memory” from Cats as we looked back on the contributions of three Pull-Tight players we lost during the past season: Adele Akin, Jayne Swafford Davis, and Alan Mancuso.

Following is the list of Knot award nominees and recipients.

Techie and Congeniality Awards

Something Rotten!

Techie – Bre Hall, Choreographer
Congeniality – Annalee McConnell

The Outsider

Techie – Dustin Greenleaf, Stage Manager
Congeniality – Aleah Christian

Winter Wonderettes

Techie – Jeanne Drone, Stage Manager
Congeniality – Melanie McBurney

Deathtrap

Techie – Glenn Whelan, Lighting Execution and Sound Design
Congeniality – Myna Sowell

Silent Sky

Techie – Tim Massey, Set Designer
Congeniality – Carmela Hofstee

The Spitfire Grill

Techie – Amy May, Costume Designer
Congeniality – Art Peach

Acting Awards

Best Lead Actress – Rachel Sinclair as Louise Peakes, The Outsider
Best Lead Actor – John Scamardella as William Shakespeare, Something Rotten!
Best Supporting Actress – Tammy Sutherland as Williamina Fleming, Silent Sky
Best Supporting Actor – Jon Kieffner as Arthur Vance, The Outsider
Best Featured Actress – Myna Sowell as Helga Ten Dorp, Deathtrap
Best Featured Actor – Roger Csaki as Brother Jeremiah, Something Rotten!
Best Ensemble Actress – Lauren Sage as Ensemble, Something Rotten!
Best Ensemble Actor – Levi Smith as Ensemble, The Spitfire Grill

Board of Directors Awards

Newcomer of the Year – Glenn Whelan
Jim Highfill Techie of the Year – Steven Steele
Behind the Scenes – Myna Sowell and Philip Johnson
Cam Davis Spirit Award – Cindy Davis Massey

Artist Member Awards

Player of the Year – Joey Echeverria
Hall of Fame – Tim Massey

Winners of the 56th Pull-Tight Players Knot Awards

Join the Williamson County Public Library for Story Time at Pull-Tight

July 6, 2025

Pull-Tight Players is proud to host the Williamson County Public Library’s “Story Hour” on stage, in our theater, Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m.

WCPL has chosen to be our show sponsor for our 2025-2026 season opener, Kenneth Jones’ Alabama Story. The play centers on the children’s book, The Rabbit’s Wedding, by Garth Williams. Williams also illustrated the Little House on the Prairie series, as well at Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web.

We invite your family to attend this unique and interactive event featuring library staff and one of our actors from Alabama Story. Admission is free. Register each attendee using the link below.

Parts of this event will be recorded. Should you choose to attend, you will be asked to sign a release to appear in the video.

Alabama Story opens August 1, with tickets going on sale July 21.

Pull-Tight Players is proud to host the Williamson County Public Library’s "Story Hour" on stage, in our theater, Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m.

Celebrate Pull-Tight’s 56th Season in ‘Grecian Glam’ at the Knot Awards Banquet

June 13, 2025

Saturday, July 12
6 p.m. cocktail hour
7 p.m. dinner
Elks Lodge of Franklin
485 Oak Meadow Drive

Join us for the 2025 Knot Awards Banquet. We will celebrate a memorable 56th season in style with cocktails, dinner, and awards to recognize the season’s sensational shows, spectacular performances, and significant contributions from our artist membership.

Lapis lazuli is traditionally associated with a 56th anniversary. We are taking inspiration from the stone’s beautiful deep blue color and veins of gold for our celebration. Please don your most festive and elegant blues, golds and/or whites as we experience an unforgettable evening of “Grecian Glam.”

Hosts will present Pull-Tight’s annual awards for best actors and actresses, Player of the Year, and the Hall of Fame, among others. Individual show participants have also been casting votes for congeniality and technical volunteers, with those awards set to be announced during the event.

The $25 attendance price will include dinner catered by Chef Kevin (The Pop Up Chef). There will also be a cash bar.

Buy Knot Awards Tickets

Pull-Tight Volunteers Participate in World Reading Day

September 20, 2024

Pull-Tight Players had the pleasure of participating in World Reading Day, a vibrant celebration of all things literary, at Bethesda Elementary School Sept. 13. This fun-filled day invites book lovers of all ages to dive into the pages of their favorite stories, discover new genres, and share their reading adventures with friends and family.

Libraries and schools come alive with exciting events like book fairs, read-a-thons, and creative storytelling sessions. Whether you’re cozying up with a classic or exploring the latest bestseller, this day reminds us that reading opens doors to endless imagination and connection.

It was an amazing opportunity for our storytellers to participate. Our players had read to Bethesda students in two groups. Events Committee member Frankie Piccione took the lead in adapting a script that included the stories of The Three Little Pigs, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and The Three Bears.

Our talented actors and volunteers included Claudia Finnegan, Tom Trabucco, Jean Hevel, Lindsey Scruggs, and Board Member/Events Committee member Joey Echevarria, who also attended.

The students dressed up and thoroughly enjoyed the live reading, which even featured a puppet played by Frankie.

We feel incredibly grateful to serve the community this way. We’ve received an invitation to return, so if you’re interested in getting involved, email Committee Chair Bre Hall.

Pull-Tight Players volunteers participate in World Reading Day at Bethesda Elementary School

Knot Awards Banquet Celebrates 55th Season in Style

June 30, 2024

2024 Pull-Tight Players Knot Awards Banquet

The theme was black and white, but the talent and dedication on hand the evening of June 29, 2024 in Franklin spanned the spectrum. Pull-Tight Players celebrated the end of our 55th season with awards, songs, laughs and cheers. Longtime artist members and banquet committee co-chairs J.T. Landry and Mark Buchanan gave us a night to remember, opening the evening’s festivities with an appropriately rewritten version of “Welcome to the Renaissance” from our 56th season opener, Something Rotten!

Knot Awards Banquet committee co-chairs Mark Buchanan and J.T. Landry

Board of Directors President Johnny Peppers then offered remarks that brought attention to the team spirit of Pull-Tight Players. He noted the many unseen and unrecognized volunteer activities that keep our organization running year after year. Johnny also thanked our outgoing board members Jennifer Bennett, Leslie Berra, and Wade Woodruff; and welcomed our incoming members Mark Buchanan, Jeanne Drone, and Joey Echeverria.

And speaking of Something Rotten!, the awards ceremony included a decidedly un-rotten preview of the musical that featured its two lead cast members. Pull-Tight newcomers Caylin Maguire (Bea) and Aaron Gray (Nick Bottom) performed “Right-Hand Man” from the show.

Following is the complete list of our 2024 Knot Award winners.