2022-23 season

‘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}

‘Cabaret’ Cast Announced for Season Closer

March 24, 2023

Director Leslie Berra has announced her cast for Pull-Tight’s 54th season-ending musical, Cabaret. More than 45 actors, singers, and dancers came for three days of auditions and callbacks. The show will debut June 9, with individual tickets going on sale May 29.

Leslie had this to say on the announcement:

I am over the moon to finally get to announce the cast of Cabaret! I was overwhelmed by the talent who came out to audition, and thrilled to assemble these incredible performers to tell this important – and still very relevant – story. A huge thank you to everyone who auditioned for sharing your time and talent with our production team.

Cabaret is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, on behalf of Tams-Witmark, LLC. The show is for mature audiences only.

The cast is as follows:

Cliff Bradshaw – Ross Canales

Sally Bowles – Elizabeth Burrow and Chelsea Craig, with each actress appearing in half of the 12 performances

The Emcee – David Blackburn

Ernst Ludwig – Barrett Thomas

Fraulein Schneider – Pat Street

Herr Schultz – Mark Buchanan

Fraulein Kost – Erin Knight Hailey

Max – Roger Csaki

Kit Kat Club Ladies – Christiana Allison, Bailey Borders, Bailey Dorflinger, Lauren McGill, Rachel Simons, Allison Truman

Kit Kat Club Gentlemen – Sebastian Fenton, Jeremy Hargis, Luke McGuire, Mike Oxford

‘Funny Money’ Cast in Place for Pull-Tight’s Spring Comedy

February 20, 2023

Correction: *Funny Money* opens April 14

Director Johnny Peppers has announced his cast for the April comedy for Pull-Tight Players. Ray Cooney’s Funny Money is a classic British farce about accidentally stolen loot, mistaken identities, harried detectives, and a nosy cab driver. The show opens April 14, with tickets going on sale. April 3.

“I’m so excited to get back in the director’s chair after a long while,” said Peppers. “I can’t be more pumped about the cast that has so graciously agreed to do all the heavy lifting in this hilarious British farce. It’s going to be a treat to share one of my all-time favorite plays with the community.”

The cast is as follows:

Henry – J.T. Landry, who appeared in our season opener, The Play that Goes Wrong.

Jean – Myna Sowell, a newcomer to Pull-Tight.

Vic – Joe Shepherd, who has worked on sound design for various productions.

Betty – Katie Kramer, another newcomer.

Davenport – Roger Csaki, who just completed a role in The Book of Will.

Slater – Wade Woodruff, a member of our board of directors returning to the stage after a long absence.

Bill – Mark Dunn, rounding out our Pull-Tight newcomers.

Passer-by – Mike Oxford, in his first role at Pull-Tight, but having debuted as a backstage assistant for Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Funny Money is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

Cast Is Set for ‘The Book of Will’

December 12, 2022

Director Lenny West has announced the cast for Lauren Gunderson’s award-winning drama, The Book of Will. The play, part of Pull-Tight Players’ 54th season, will open February 3.

“The turnout for this audition was so far beyond what I ever hoped for, both in terms of quantity as well as quality,” remarked West. “To say it was a director’s dream is an extreme understatement. My hat is off to every single person who took the time to share their time and immense talent with this production and our theater. The cast we ultimately assembled … I mean, I have no words! This cast is something seriously extraordinary, and I cannot wait to share the journey of this incredible play with them.”

The cast is as follows.

John Heminges — Steve Mook, who most recently appeared in All My Sons.

Henry Condell — Jon Kieffner, who was the titular character in The Real Inspector Hound.

Alice Heminges — Megan Roberts, in her third consecutive show following Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Rebecca Heminges — Jennifer Bennett, a member of our board of directors and one of the Pigeon sisters in The Odd Couple.

Elizabeth Condell — Stephanie Dillard, who played the baker’s wife in Into the Woods.

Ben Jonson/Francisco — Matt Grimes, a past board president who appeared in Death of a Salesman.

Ralph Crane — Donald Seitz, a newcomer to Pull-Tight Players.

William Jaggard — Woody Woodruff, who played a double role in Legally Blonde.

Isaac Jaggard/Barman 2 — Nathan Basner, whose first role at Pull-Tight was this seasons’ All My Sons.

Anne Hathaway Shakespeare — Adele Akin, an ensemble member of Waiting in the Wings.

Richard Burbage/Sir Edward Dering — Roger Csaki, the one and only Ford from Madame Buttermilk.

Emilia Bassano Lanier/Susannah Shakespeare & others — Bridget Dunn, another new face at Pull-Tight.

Boy Hamlet/Marcus/Marcellus & others — Philip Johnson, who went wrong in The Play that Goes Wrong.

Ed Knight/Barman 1/Bernardo & others — Stephan Roselin, rounding out our list of Pull-Tight newcomers.

Barmaid/Compositor/Horatio & others — Autumn Siebold, assistant stage manager for All My Sons.

Tickets for The Book of Will will go on sale January 23.

Announcing the Cast of ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella’

October 4, 2022

Rogers & Hammerstein's Cinderella at Pull-Tight Players

Director JT Landry has released the cast list for our December production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, part of our diverse and entertaining 2022-23 season.

“We have assembled a stellar cast for our upcoming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” remarked Landry. “We can’t wait for you to experience the magic December 2 through 17. Midnight is calling.”

The cast, including both veterans and newcomers, is as follows.

Ella – Crystal Kurek, a Pull-Tight newcomer who recently played Cinderella in a production of Into the Woods.

Topher – Ross Canales, another new face who appeared this summer in Little Women: The Musical in Eugene, Or.

Madame – Sarah Kieffner, director of this year’s The Play that Goes Wrong.

Sebastian – Jeremy Hargis, a past season executive producer and cast member of Waiting in the Wings.

Marie – Lisa Graham, a veteran actress with Murfreesboro Center for the Arts.

Gabrielle – Chelsea Craig, who most recently starred as Carly Speranza in Pull-Tight’s production of Madame Buttermilk.

Charlotte – Sydney Hooper, returning to our stage following her appearance in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Jean-Michel – Forrest Hutchinson, adding to our slate of Pull-Tight first-timers.

Lord Pinkelton – Logan Michael, a board member and artistic director at Elite Studio Works in Murfreesboro.

Ensemble – Erin Hailey (Big Fish), Bev Kassis (Waiting in the Wings), Megan Roberts (All My Sons), Rachel Sinclair (The Miracle Worker), and David Weatherbee (lighting and sound technician on Crimes of the Heart).

Tickets for our 12 performances will go on sale Nov. 21.

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

Entertainment

Board of Directors for 2023-24

In memoriam