Backstage productions are selected especially for presentation in the intimacy of the backstage theatre setting...playgoers are seated on stage where the action is...near enough to hear every word, every sigh...to see every comical expression and gesture...to feel part of every scene. The staging and seating arrangements change with every BACKSTAGE show.
Brandon Walls received a NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT IN SET DESIGN,
Steve Gwilt received a NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTING
artwork by Bryan Boles
by Jeff Daniels
directed by Marie Ferran
ON THE VERGE by ERIC OVERMYER

directed by Steven W. Gwilt
8 X 10
An Evening of Eight Ten-Minute Plays
Tickets for Drama Center Backstage performances are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for full time students.
Call the Drama Center Box Office for information or ticket reservations. Tickets for each production go on sale two weeks before the 1st performance. 931.528.1313
OLD NEWS:
Escanaba in LOVE awarded BEST PRODUCTION at the 2008 TENNESSEE THEATRE ASSOCIATION/AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY THEATRE CONFERENCE!
The TTA/AACTFEST conference held in October of 2008 at the Renaissance Center in Dickson, Tennessee garnered the Backstage production BEST PRODUCTION, BEST TECHNICAL PRODUCTION, BEST ACTRESS for Heather Frick as Big Betty Balou, and the award for MASS CONGENIALITY.
The AACTFEST conference held in June of 2007 in Charlotte North Carolina was an exciting experience for the participating companies from the 12 shows from across the United States. ESCANABA captured the award for BEST SOUND DESIGN.
The popular Drama Center Backstage production of ESCANABA in da MOONLIGHT by Jeff Daniels and directed by Dave Johnson swept the Tennessee Theatre Association and American Association of Community Theatres (AACT) conference and competition in October, 2006 in Johnson City. Awards garnered were Best Overall Production, -Best Director-David R. Johnson, Best Actor-Steven Gwilt, and the Award for Technical Excellence.
ESCANABA represented Tennessee at the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) Festival as part of the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) in Atlanta in March, 2007. The show ranked 1st, was awarded BEST PRODUCTION and represented the Southeastern United States at the AACTFest National Conference in June of 2007 in Charlotte. Other awards given to ESCANABA at SETC/AACTFest were Best Actor-Steven Gwilt, Outstanding Actor-William Haas, Outstanding Set Design-Chad McDonald, and Outstanding Sound Design-Brandon Walls.
The traveling team of ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT:
CAST: Albert Soady-Steven W. Gwilt, Reuben Soady-Patrick Mannle, Remnar Soady-Randy Randle, Jimmer Negamanee-Bill Haas, Ranger Tom-Brandon Walls, Wolf Moon Dance-Katie Mannle
CREW: Director-Producer-Chad McDonald, David R. Johnson, Stage Manager-Marie Ferran, Sound Operation-Kim Frick-Welker, Light Operation-Katie Randle,
Past DCBS seasons:
2008-2009 - Season 16 (shows played to SOLD OUT audiences)
2007-2008 - Season 15 (shows played to SOLD OUT audiences)
2006-07 - season 14 (shows played to SOLD OUT audiences)
The Speed of Darkness, by Steven Tesich-directed by Michael Birdwell
The Smell of the Kill, by Michele Lowe-directed by Steven W. Gwilt
Foxfire, by Susan Cooper and Hume Cronyn-(a DCBS/Mainstage production)-directed by Kim Frick-Welker
2005-06 - season 13 (shows played to SOLD OUT audiences)
The Underpants, by Carl Sternheim, adaptation by Steve Martin-directed by Michael Birdwell
Escanaba in da Moonlight, by Jeff Daniels-directed by David R. Johnson
Noises Off, by Michael Frayn, directed by Steven W. Gwilt
The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson-directed by Kim Frick-Welker
2004-05 - season 12
Stones in His Pockets, by Marie Jones-directed by Michael Birdwell (1st place in Tennessee Theatre Association/American Association of Community Theatre AACTFest, October 2004, Jackson, TN; "Best Production", "Award for Technical Excellence", "Mass Congeniality Award", "Best Actor"-Patrick Mannle. The production advanced to Southeastern Theatre Conference/American Association of Community Theatres AACTFest, Greensboro, North Carolina, March 2005.)
Nights at the Round Table, by Lou Ann Wright and William Missouri Downs-directed by David R. Johnson
The Gin Game, by D.L. Coburn-directed by Marcia Reel
Cowgirls, music and lyrics by Mary Murfitt, book by Betsy Howe-directed by Steven W. Gwilt
2003-04 - season 11
Catfish Moon, by Laddy Sartin-directed by Kirby Hamilton
Bartleby the Scrivener, by Herman Melville-adapted and directed by David R. Johnson **An original Drama Center Backstage production, original score for Cello composed and performed live by Brendan Townsend
Fuddy Meers, by David Lindsay-Abaire-directed by Steven W. Gwilt
Parallel Lives, by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy-directed by Kathleen Gilpatrick
2002-03 - season 10
Sordid Lives, by Del Shores-directed by Cindy Putman
Talk Radio, by Eric Bogosian-directed by Jerry Young
The Beauty Queen of Leenane, by Martin McDonagh-directed by Steven W. Gwilt
The Odd Couple (female version), by Neil Simon-directed by Cameron West Martin
2001-02 - season 9
Lonely Planet, by Steven Dietz-directed by Charles Long
Cabin Fever, by Joan Schenkar-directed by Dave Johnson
2000-01 - season 8
Jack and Jill, by Jane Martin-directed by Kathy Gilpatrick
Queen of Bingo, by Jeanne Michels and Phyllis Murphy-directed by Charles Long
1999-2000 - season 7
Grace & Glory, by Tom Ziegler-directed by Steven W. Gwilt
1998-99 - season 6
Private Eyes, by Steven Dietz-directed by Cheryl Saylor
Three Viewings, by Jeffrey Hatcher-directed by Rick Woods
1997-98 - season 5
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), by Jess Borgeson, Adam Long, Daniel Singer, J.M. Winfield-directed by Steven W. Gwilt & Mark H. Creter
Night Mother, by Marsha Norman-directed by Steven W. Gwilt
Marvin's Room, by Scott McPherson-directed by Amy Carpenter
1996-97 - season 4
Snow Leopards, by Martin Jones-directed by Amy Carpenter
First Night, by Jack Neary-directed by Rick Woods
Belles, by Mark Dunn-directed by Amy Carpenter
1995-96 - season 3
Oleanna, by David Mamet-directed by Mark H. Creter
1994-95 - season 2
The Dining Room, by A.R. Gurney-directed by Steven W. Gwilt
Patient A, by Lee Blessing-directed by Amy Carpenter
Strange Snow, by Steve Metcalfe-directed by Mark H. Creter
Tennessee & Sand Mountain Matchmaking, by Romulus Linney-directed by Michael Birdwell
1993-94 - season 1
Graceland & Asleep on the Wind, by Ellen Byron-directed by Steven W. Gwilt
Special Occasions, by Bernard Slade-directed by Kathy Gilpatrick
Heidi Chronicles, by Wendy Wasserstein- directed by Kathy Gilpatrick
Love Letters, by A.R. Gurney- directed by Rick Woods