After a long extended intermission due to the pandemic, Middle Tennessee theaters are finally able to open their curtains once again and unveil plans for the upcoming 2021 – 22 performing arts season.
As summer starts to wind down, none are busier than Nashville Shakespeare Festival (NSF), who is teaming up with Kennie Playhouse Theatre (out of Antioch) to perform this year’s 33rd annual Summer Shakespeare Festival live on the outdoor stage at oneC1TY in Nashville from August 12 – September 12, and outdoors at Academy Park in Franklin from September 16 – 19. The lineup includes KPT’s production of August Wilson’s Jitney alongside NSF’s production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
“We are very excited to share these shows by two master playwrights and hope everybody makes plans to see both of them,” says NSF Artistic Director Denice Hicks.
This will be the second year that Summer Shakespeare will be in its new location at oneC1TY, Nashville, after a 32-year run in Centennial Park. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with “INSIGHT,” free scholarly discussions featuring guest experts on August Wilson and Shakespeare. At 6 p.m. the pre-show concert begins, featuring local entertainment. At 6:45, the children participating in Elf & Fairy camp will perform, followed by the Apprentice Company, leading straight into the main performance at 7 p.m. Food trucks will be on-site and adult beverages will be available for purchase. Dogs on a leash are welcome, and while Twelfth Night is a family-friendly show, Jitney is for Mature Audiences.
OneC1TY is located just off the 28th – 31st Avenue connector and Charlotte Avenue in Nashville’s Midtown District. There’s abundant parking in a three-level garage and plenty of blanket and lawn chair space, as well as bleacher seating. The Festival is free, but donations are encouraged. Bring your own blanket or chairs or purchase reserved “Noble” seating for $40.
For more information on Summer Shakespeare Festival 2021, visit nashvilleshakes.org.
Coming to Tennessee Theaters in 2021-22
*Check back for regular updates on new shows added and season announcements.
TENNESSEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
505 Deaderick St., Nashville
615-782-4040
The Band’s Visit
October 19 – 24, 2021
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage
Dec. 16 – 22, 2021
Disney’s The Lion King
January 6 – 23, 2022
Mean Girls
February 8 – 13, 2022
The Prom
February 22 – 27, 2022
Dear Evan Hansen
March 2 – 6, 2022
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
March 22-27, 2022
What the Constitution Means to Me
March 29 – April 3, 2022
Come From Away
April 19 – 24, 2022
Oklahoma!
May 3 – 8, 2022
May We All
June 7 – July 17, 2022
CENTER FOR THE ARTS
110 W College St., Murfreesboro
615-904-2787
Little Women: The Musical
October 22 – November 7, 2021
Elf: The Musical
December 3 – 19, 2021
Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical
January 14 – 30, 2022
Driving Miss Daisy
February 18 – 27, 2022
The Hunchback of Notre Dame: A New Musical
March 11 – 27, 2022
Noises Off
May 13 – 22, 2022
The Spongebob Musical
June 10 – 26, 2022
Avenue Q
July 8 – 24, 2022
The Savannah Sipping Society
August 19 – 28, 2022
HENDERSONVILLE PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY
260 W Main St., # 204, Hendersonville
615-826-6037
Ragtime the Musical
September 9 – 26, 2021
Scrooge in Rouge
November 26 – Dec. 12, 2021
Diary of Anne Frank
January 21 – Feb. 6, 2022
Little Women the Broadway Musical
March 24 – April 10, 2022
Legally Blonde the Musical
June 2 – 19, 2022
NASHVILLE REPERTORY THEATRE
161 Rains Ave., Nashville
615-244-4878
Ragtime
November 11 – 14, 2021
A Christmas Story
December 2 – 19, 2021
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
February 10 – 20, 2022
Mary Poppins
April 28 – May 8, 2022
NASHVILLE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
161 Rains Ave., Nashville
615-255-2273
Jitney (mature audiences)
oneCITY Nashville: August 12 – 22
Academy Park, Franklin: Sept. 16 – 17
Twelfth Night
oneCITY: Aug. 26 – Sept. 12
Academy Park, Franklin: Sept. 18-19
PULL-TIGHT PLAYERS
112 2nd Ave. S., Franklin
615-791-5007
The Real Inspector Hound
September 10 – 25, 2021
The Curious Savage
December 3 – 18, 2021
Crimes of the Heart
February 4 – 19, 2022
Madame Buttermilk
April 1 – 16, 2022
The Elephant Man
May 27 – June 11, 2022
SPRINGHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY
14119 Old Nashville Hwy., Smyrna
615-852-8499
The Music Man
September 10 – 11; 17 – 18 & 24 – 26, 2021
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
December 3 – 5 & 10 – 11, 2021
The Importance of Being Earnest
February 12 -1 3, 18 -1 9 & 25 – 27, 2022
Anne of Green Gables
April 15 -1 6, 22 – 23, 29 – 30, & May 1, 2022
STUDIO TENN THEATRE COMPANY
408 Church St, Franklin
615-541-8200
Elvis My Way
August 6 – 8, 2021
*Hasn't announced full seasons at this time: Nashville Children's Theatre, The Theater Bug, Bravo Creative Arts Center
