Backstage Series

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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.

Escanaba News!!!
At the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC)/American Association of Community Theatre (AACTFest) held in Birmingham in March, ESCANABA IN LOVE by Jeff Daniels, directed by Marie Ferran received two honors:

Brandon Walls received a NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT IN SET DESIGN,

Steve Gwilt received a  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTING

 

 

The 2008-2009 BACKSTAGE SEASON:

artwork by Bryan Boles

by Jeff Daniels
directed by Marie Ferran

ON THE VERGE by ERIC OVERMYER

directed by Steven W. Gwilt

CAST
Nancy Lynn Hargis-Mary
Sarah Young-Fanny
Amber Autry-Alex
Dave Davidson-Grover, Alphonse, The Gorge Troll, THe Yeti, Gus,
Madame Nhu, Mr. Coffee, Nicky Paradise
production dates January 30, 31, February 3, 5, 6, 7, 2009

8 X 10
An Evening of Eight Ten-Minute Plays

March 20, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 2009, 7:30 p.m.

 

 

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.

Escanaba in da Moonlight awarded BEST SOUND DESIGN at the 2007 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY THEATRE NATIONAL FESTIVAL!

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,

The Drama Center is updating patron information. If you would like to be included on a mail or e-mail list, please send us an e-mail message, or give us a call to update current e-mail, address, and phone information. Thanks!

Past DCBS seasons:

2008-2009 - Season 16 (shows played to SOLD OUT audiences)

  • Escanaba in Love, by Jeff Daniels-directed by Marie Ferran (1st place in Tennessee Theatre Association/American Association of Community Theatre AACTFest, October 2008, Dickson, TN; "Best Production", "Award for Technical Excellence", "Mass Congeniality" Award, "Best Actress"-Heather Frick. The production advanced to Southeastern Theatre Conference/American Association of Community Theatres AACTFest Birmingham, Alabama, March 2009; "Notable Acheivement in Set Design"-Brandon Walls, "Notable Achievement in Acting"-Steven W. Gwilt)
  • On the Verge, by Eric Overmyer - directed by Steven W. Gwilt
  • 8 X 10 (Eight-ten minute shows) - directed by Kim Frick-Welker, David Davidson, Dave Johnson

2007-2008 - Season 15 (shows played to SOLD OUT audiences)

  • Greater Tuna, by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, Ed Howard-directed by Chad McDonald
  • Zara Spook & Other Lures, by Joan Ackermann - directed by Elizabeth Ayres
  • Camping with Henry and Tom, by Mark St. Germain - directed by Brandon Walls
  • An Experiment with an Air Pump, by Shelagh Stephenson - directed by Kim Frick-Welker

2006-07 - season 14 (shows played to SOLD OUT audiences)

  • The Speed of Darkness, by Steven Tesich-directed by Michael Birdwell

  • Escanaba in da Moonlight, by Jeff Daniels-directed by David R. Johnson (1st place in Tennessee Theatre Association/American Association of Community Theatre Festival, October 2006, Johnson City, TN; "Best Production", "Award for Technical Excellence", "Best Director"-David Johnson, "Best Actor"-Steven Gwilt. The production advanced to Southeastern Theatre Conference/American Association of Community Theatres AACTFest Atlanta, Georgia, March 2007, "Best Production"; "Best Actor"-Steve Gwilt, "Outstanding Actor"-William Haas, "Outstanding Set Design", and "Outstanding Sound Design". The production advanced to the National American Association AACTFest in Charlotte, North Carolina in June 2007; "Outstanding Sound Design")

  • 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)

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

  • Headset, A View from the Light Booth, by William Downs-directed by Kirby Hamilton

  • Lonely Planet, by Steven Dietz-directed by Charles Long

  • Cabin Fever, by Joan Schenkar-directed by Dave Johnson

  • Art, by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton-directed by Steven W. Gwilt

2000-01 - season 8

  • The Complete History of America (Abridged), by Adam Long, Reed Martin, Austin Tichenor-directed by S.W. Gwilt

  • Jack and Jill, by Jane Martin-directed by Kathy Gilpatrick

  • Queen of Bingo, by Jeanne Michels and Phyllis Murphy-directed by Charles Long

  • Private Wars, by James McClure-directed by Patrick Mannle

1999-2000 - season 7

  • The Harry & Sam Dialogues, by Karen Ellison-directed by Steven W. Gwilt (1st place in Tennessee Theatre Association/American Association of Community Theatre ACTFest, Knoxville, October, 1989; "Best Production", "Best Actor"-Scott Strahan.  The production advanced to Southeastern Theatre Conference/American Association of Community Theatres AACTFest, Norfolk, Virginia, March 2000; "Best Actor"-Eric Strahan, "Best Director"-Steven W. Gwilt)
  • Daddy’s Dyin’, Whose Got the Will?, by Del Shores-directed by Cindy Putman

  • Grace & Glory, by Tom Ziegler-directed by Steven W. Gwilt

  • The Border Land, by Jim Grimsley-directed by Michael Birdwell

1998-99 - season 6

  • Sylvia, by A.R. Gurney-directed by Steven W. Gwilt

  • Private Eyes, by Steven Dietz-directed by Cheryl Saylor

  • Three Viewings, by Jeffrey Hatcher-directed by Rick Woods

  • Patio Porch, by Jack Heifner-directed by Kathy Gilpatrick

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

  • Picasso at the Lapin Agile, by Steve Martin-directed by Michael Birdwell

1996-97 - season 4

  • All in the Timing, by David Ives-directed by Michael Birdwell (entered in Tennessee Theatre Association Festival, "Best Actor"-Steven W. Gwilt)

  • 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

  • Greater Tuna, by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, Ed Howard-directed by Steven W. Gwilt & Mark H. Creter
  • Down the Road, by Lee Blessing-directed by Michael Gilpatrick

  • Oleanna, by David Mamet-directed by Mark H. Creter

  • Mama Drama, by Rita Nachtmann, Leslie Avazian, et. al.-directed by Amy Carpenter

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