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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

‘Laugh-In at the Knot Awards’ Celebrates Pull-Tight’s 54th Season

July 10, 2023

The program for the 2023 Knot Awards banquet

It was a groovy, far-out evening as Pull-Tight Players celebrated another season of shows at the Franklin Elks Lodge on Saturday, July 8. The theme centered on the classic Rowan & Martin “Laugh-In” variety show and included songs, sketches, and guest appearances from numerous cultural touchpoints of the 1960s.

Pull-Tight Board of Directors Vice President Leslie Berra and longtime artist member Jeanne Drone again served as event co-chairs. The evening looked back on our first full season since the Covid pandemic forced the theatre to go dark in 2020. A costume contest, dinner from Martin’s Barbecue, throwback comedy bits, and 60s song medleys kept the banquet a festive occasion.

Entertainment

The banquet’s entertainment segments spanned the entire evening and included:

  • A 60’s popular song medley
  • A review of songs from the musical Hair
  • The cocktail party sketch from “Laugh-In”
  • “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” by Tiny Tim (Matt Grimes)
  • Gladys and Tyrone’s park bench sketch (Pat Street and Cabot Pyle)
  • Goldie Hawn with two educational segments (Erin Hailey)
  • Lily Tomlin’s Edith Ann (Jeanne Drone) and Ernestine (Bev Kassis)
  • The award presentation for Leading Actress by Agent 99 and Maxwell Smart (Sarah Kieffner and Dan Kassis)
  • The award presentation for Best Ensemble Actor by Samantha Stephens and Endora (Jennifer Bennett and Daryl Tallent)
  • The “Laugh-In” joke wall
  • Board of Directors for 2023-24

    Following some final remarks at the close of her term, outgoing board President Lynda Gibbs passed the gavel to new president, Johnny Peppers. He joins the following Board of Directors lineup for the next season:

    • Leslie Berra, Vice President
    • Iain Macpherson, Treasurer
    • Savannah Aiello, Secretary
    • Stephanie Dillard, Parliamentarian
    • Jennifer Bennett, Cindy Davis Massey, Cabot Pyle, Pat Street, and Wade Woodruff, Members at-Large

    Lynda Gibbs, Bre Hall, and Carmela Hofstee concluded their board terms. Gibbs will remain as President Ex-Officio for one year, a non-voting position.

    Outgoing board president Lynda Gibbs passes the gavel to incoming president Johnny Peppers. Pull-Tight Players, Franklin, Tenn.

    In memoriam

    Board Treasurer and lifetime member Iain Macpherson presented the in memoriam segment, recognizing two longtime Pull-Tight volunteers who passed away in the preceding 12 months.

    Vance Ormes, in Macpherson’s words, was “legendary.” It was his vision as a teenager that led to the creation of Pull-Tight Players in 1968. He helped mount the very first stage production, Our Town. After many years away from Franklin, Vance re-established his connection with Pull-Tight and served as an Honorary Member of the Board of Directors for one year. Vance passed away suddenly at this home in Florida in September 2022. Read our tribute to Vance.

    Similarly, Don Dicie was a dedicated volunteer who lent his hand to all aspects of Pull-Tight. He was a marvelous piano accompanist who could play any song in any style. Don accompanied several shows at Pull-Tight back in the day and appeared on stage on at least two occasions: The Hasty Heart and Christmas with Little Women. Don passed away at age 80 in 2022.

    Awards

    Cast and crew from each show of the 54th season voted for outstanding technical volunteer and most congenial cast members. The winners were as follows.

    The Play that Goes Wrong

    Techie Award: – Savannah Aiello, Assistant Stage Manager
    Congeniality Award: Lee Davies

    All My Sons

    Techie Award: Steve Mook, Set Chief
    Congeniality Award: Cabot Pyle

    Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella

    Techie Award: Melanie McBurney, Assistant Director/Choreographer
    Congeniality Award: Lisa Graham, Melanie McBurney (tie)

    The Book of Will

    Techie Award: Carmela Hofstee, Properties Coordinator
    Congeniality Award: Roger Csaki

    Funny Money

    Techie Award: Dustin Greenleaf, Stage Manager
    Congeniality Award: Myna Sowell

    Cabaret

    Techie Award: Dan Linney, Set Designer/Chief
    Congeniality Award: David Blackburn

    Acting awards

    For the first time since 2020, Pull-Tight’s season ticket holders were invited to vote for awards in acting categories. The awards were as follows.

    • Best Lead Actress: Myna Sowell as Jean Perkins in Funny Money
    • Best Lead Actor: David Blackburn as the Emcee in Cabaret
    • Best Supporting Actress: Pat Street as Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret
    • Best Supporting Actor: J.T. Landry as Max Bennett in The Play that Goes Wrong
    • Best Featured Actress: Sydney Hooper as Charlotte in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
    • Best Featured Actor: Barrett Thomas as Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret
    • Best Ensemble Actress: Breanna Theobald as Annie Twilloil in The Play that Goes Wrong
    • Best Ensemble Actor: Roger Csaki as Richard Burbage and Others in The Book of Will

    Lifetime voting membership

    The Board of Directors conferred Lifetime Voting Member status to two longtime Pull-Tight volunteers. Voting membership usually requires a minimum level of involvement during each season.

    Linda Dunn was involved in the early years of Pull-Tight. She is a past board president and Hall of Fame awardee. Linda directed Our Town to celebrate the 10th season, as well as directing The Last of the Red Hot Lovers. She starred in productions of A Streetcar named Desire, To Kill a Mockingbird, Butterflies Are Free, and others.

    Alan Mancuso was a charter member of Pull-Tight and performed in the first production of Our Town, as well as the 10th anniversary production. He appeared in The Girls in 509; Bell, Book & Candle; Night Watch, The Miracle Worker, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Odd Couple, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Harvey, You Can’t Take it With You, Wait Until Dark, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Lost in Yonkers, just to name a few. Alan directed The Sandbox, Bus Stop, The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Gazebo, Father of the Bride, and Oh, Kay! He served on the board of directors, created artwork, worked on publicity, as provided make-up for several shows.

    Annual awards

    Howard Tellis Friend of the Year: Philip Martin
    Jim Highfill Techie of the Year: Michael Hall
    Behind the Scenes: Ricki Keckley
    Newcomer of the Year: Joey Echeverria
    Cam Davis Spirit Award: Peggy Macpherson
    Player of the Year: Tim Massey
    Hall of Fame: Lenny West

    Winners at Pull-Tight Players' 54th annual Knot Awards celebration.
    Left to right, front row: Lenny West, Myna Sowell, Dustin Greenleaf, Peggy Macpherson. Second row: Carmela Hofstee, Pat Street, Dan Linney, Sydney Hooper, J.T. Landry, Michael Hall, Ryan McFadden, Steve Mook, Cabot Pyle. Back row: David Blackburn, Barrett Thomas, Tim Massey

    Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 2022-23 season, Knot Awards

    ‘Guys & Dolls’ Cast Announced Following Impressive Audition Turnout

    June 11, 2023

    Guys and Dolls at Pull-Tight Players

    Director Mark Mason has chosen the performers who will open Pull-Tight Players’ 55th season this August. The classic musical Guys & Dolls will bring song, dance, and romance to Franklin audiences.

    “How incredibly lucky we are at Pull-Tight,” said Mason. “The amount of talent we had was overwhelming. Several longtime Pull-Tight members who were present said it was the best vocal talent we’ve ever had at an audition for a musical. We had 50 people audition but were only able to cast 23 roles. Very tough decisions!”

    “It is with much gratitude that we thank all who came, as well as our amazing audition crew and production staff. The group we have assembled is amazingly talented and diverse, ranging in age from 20 to 70-plus, with some beloved Pull-Tight regulars and a number of newcomers. We can’t wait to welcome you to magical, mesmerizing 1950s New York City!”

    The cast is as follows:

    Sky MastersonRiley Bowers
    Sarah BrownStephanie Jones
    Nathan DetroitElijah Bell
    Miss AdelaideLauren McGill
    Nicely-NicelyMark Buchanan
    Big JuleWelles (Mike) Propper
    Benny SouthstreetArt Peach
    Arvide AbernathyIain Macpherson
    Harry the HorseBryan Kratoska
    Gen. CartwrightSydney Hooper
    Lt. BranniganBill Jones
    AgathaCarmela Hofstee
    MarthaAbby Newman
    Angie the OxJosh Rolston
    Joey BiltmoreDavid Weatherbee
    Crap Shooter/Featured DancerMatthew Grimes
    Crap Shooter/Mission BandLlewyn Beaver
    Crap ShooterBryant Miller
    Hot Box GirlsMariah Batten
    Breanna Johnson
    Sydney Rogers
    Skyeler Paparteys
    Meredith Seymour

    This will be the fourth production of Guys & Dolls since Pull-Tight Players began in 1968.

    Performances will run August 4-19. Tickets will go on sale July 24.

    Guys & Dolls is presented by special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

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

    President’s Blog – May 2023

    May 22, 2023

    Pull-Tight Board of Directors President Lynda Gibbs

    It’s hard to believe that this will be my last blog post as President of the Board of Directors. It has been an honor to both serve and be such an integral part of this tremendous group of people. They are incredibly talented, committed, and hard-working, and I am so proud to have worked alongside them throughout this season.

    I hope you were able to join us for our last production, Funny Money! Johnny Peppers‘ perfectly cast show and talented crew provided laughter at an astounding pace. Like an intricately choreographed ballet, an incredible number of moving parts came together seamlessly in a hilarious fashion. Thank you all for such a terrific show!

    Funny Money at Pull-Tight Players

    We had a wonderful turnout at our Annual Artist Membership meeting earlier this month. Many thanks to Leslie Berra and Carmela Hofstee for providing us tasty snacks. The membership had lots to discuss before our election and it was great to see so many of them at the meeting.

    The last show of our season, Cabaret, opens on June 9. Set in 1931 Germany, it tells the tale of a society and world about to be altered forever as the Nazis rise to power. Through the music of the Kit Kat Klub, director Leslie Berra and her incredibly talented cast and crew will transport you to that tumultuous time in this Tony Award-winning classic.

    As ever, we are grateful to our Artist Members, our amazingly supportive community, and our generous and faithful patrons that allow us all to do this thing we love and love to bring to you. See you at the theatre!

    Lynda Gibbs, President
    Pull-Tight Board of Directors

    Filed Under: Blog

    Pull-Tight Elects New Board Members

    May 12, 2023

    At its May 7th Artist Membership Meeting, Pull-Tight elected three new members to the Board of Directors. Board members serve for three years. The newly elected members are:

    • Stephanie Dillard
    • Cabot Pyle
    • Pat Street
      Pat Street

    Filed Under: Blog

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    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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