Lipscomb Theatre presents Disney's <em>Beauty and the Beast</em> and more as part of 2016-17 season

Lacey Klotz | 08/18/2016

Lipscomb Theatre recently announced its 2016-17-theater season, and this year there’s something for everyone. From romance and mystery to comedy and family-friendly, Lipscomb Theatre aims to provide entertainment, as well as education and enrichment to audience members of any age.  

“Our 2016-17 theater season highlights new community partnerships and features world premieres, cutting edge shows and classic tales that the community is sure to love,” said Beki Baker, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Theatre. “We have a very complex selection process that studies trends, our resources and what stories we are passionate about telling; and there is a very well-balanced season ahead.”

The season includes:

• The 39 Steps – Sept. 16-18 and 23-25 in Flatt Amphitheater
• Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Oct. 27-Nov. 6 in Collins Alumni Auditorium
• Peter and the Starcatcher – Feb. 17-19 and 24-26 in Shamblin Theatre
• Elevate – March 8-10 in Shamblin Theatre
• Richard II in conjunction with the Nashville Shakespeare Festival – April 13-16 and 20-23 in Shamblin Theatre

“One of the cornerstones of the theatre department is our collaboration with professional arts organizations in the community,” said Baker. “Almost every year we have at least one show crafted as a joint effort, and this year we have two! The Nashville Symphony and the Nashville Shakespeare Festival are two pillars of the arts in this city, and we honored to work alongside them to mount exciting and important works.”

The season begins with The 39 Steps, Sept. 16-18 and 23-25, in Lipscomb’s Flatt Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m.

Directed by Lipscomb’s Kari Smith, The 39 Steps, features six actors playing 139 roles in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action, and follows the story of handsome hero Richard Hannah as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing double agents and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women. The show is rated PG.

“We are very excited to kick off our season this fall with a staged version of Alfred Hitchcock’s film thriller The 39 Steps,” said Baker. “Everyone will get a kick out of watching this British mystery outside in the Flatt Amphitheater. With six cast members playing multiple characters, the play calls for lightning-fast quick changes, a lot of physical comedy and complicated stage tricks that are sure to entertain both a younger and older crowd.”

The season will continue with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 4-5 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 at 2:30 p.m.; and Nov. 3 at 9:30 a.m. and is rated G.

Be our guest for the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out; if the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Mike Fernandez, dean of Lipscomb’s College of Entertainment & the Arts, will direct the show, and David Weinstein, a musician and composer who founded the avant-garde music institution, Roulette Intermedium, will be the music director.

“This November, we are pulling out all the stops with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, a musical that is not only entrancing for children, but is an exciting challenge for our department to stage,” said Baker. “The musical will feature a cast of more than 30 people, including children, and Leigh Anne Ervin, a dance instructor formerly employed by Disney, will choreograph the dance numbers. This production will truly bring the Disney spirit to Collins Alumni Auditorium.”

Lipscomb Theatre will perform Peter and the Starcatcher, Feb. 17-18 and Feb. 24-25 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 19 and 26 at 2:30 p.m. Rated PG, this show will be held in Lipscomb’s Shamblin Theatre and directed by David Ian Lee, an active actor and director in New York.

Fresh off Broadway, Peter and the Starcatcher is a five-time Tony Award-winning play that features a dozen actors playing more than 100 unforgettable characters using their enormous talent, ingenious stagecraft and the limitless possibilities of imagination. This grown-up prequel to Peter Pan will have you hooked from the moment you let your imagination take flight.

Lipscomb Theatre’s resident dance company, Foundation Dance Theatre, presents Elevate, a dance concert, March 8-10 at 7:30 p.m. in Shamblin Theatre.

Directed by Kari Smith and Leigh Anne Ervin, Elevate features Lipscomb students in the dance company, in conjunction with invited professional dancers and students in theater dance courses, telling stories through all styles of dance including jazz, ballet, tap, Broadway, modern and more.

Lipscomb’s Theatre season will conclude with William Shakespeare’s Richard II, in partnership with the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, April 13-16 and 20-23 in Shamblin Theatre. This show is rated PG.

Directed by Sean Martin, a Lipscomb adjunct professor who has trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Richard II features an all-female cast that will bring to life the famous story of heads of states falling from power. The play begins England’s struggle with succession, known as The War of the Roses, and it is the story on which the popular books and TV series Game of Thrones is based.

“This is our first true collaboration with the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, since they moved their winter show to Collins Alumni Auditorium in 2015,” said Baker. “We have had a lot of connections with them throughout the years and are very excited to see our female students perform a historic story with local professionals.”

Lipscomb Theatre is offering discounted season ticket packages for community members to enjoy all of its seasons’ offerings.

Tickets are regularly $17 for adults, $12 for university faculty/staff and $5 for students per show. This year, there are also sampler subscriptions.

Season subscriptions include all of the fall and spring performances including: The 39 Steps, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Peter and the Starcatcher, Elevate and Richard II. Season subscriptions must be purchased by Sept. 25, 2016. Prices: $50 for adults (regularly $85), $40 for faculty/staff as a payroll deduction (regularly $60) and $20 for students, under 18 or with a valid student ID (regularly $25).

Sampler subscriptions include the choice of two performances from all on-campus fall and spring productions. This package can be purchased at any point of the season. Prices include: $25 for adults (regularly $35), $20 for faculty/staff (regularly $24) and $8 for students (regularly $10).

To order season or sampler subscriptions contact the Lipscomb Box Office at 615.966.7075.

To learn more about Lipscomb Theatre visit: theatre.lipscomb.edu.