Calendar of Events

Athens Community Theatre presents Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! February 18 - 28, 2016 in the Sue E. Trotter Theater at The Arts Center in Athens, TN.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's first collaboration remains, in many ways, their most innovative having set the standards and established the rules of musical theatre still being followed today. Set in a Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the century, the high–spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. Although the road to true love never runs smooth, with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love's journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. That they will succeed in making a new life together we have no doubt, and that this new life will begin in a brand–new state provides the ultimate climax to the triumphant Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! is directed by recent Steel Magnolias star and ACT veteran director, Melonie Carideo, with music direction by AACA Executive Director Emeritus, Ellen Kimball, and choreography by Pippin choreographer, Angie Hudson .The score is played by a live orchestra led by Ellen Kimball.

Performances are February 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, and 27 at 7:00pm and February 21 and 28 at 2:00pm. Tickets for all performances are $15 for adults, $8 for students. Tickets are available online at athensartscouncil.org, by phone at 423-745-8781, or in person at The Arts Center, 320 N. White St., Athens, Tennessee. For more information, contact The Arts Center at 423-745-8781.
​​​​​

West High School presents the musical Bye Bye Birdie, February 18th, 19th and 20th at 7 p.m. in the West High School Auditorium.

Still relevant with its emphasis on celebrity crushes and teenage romances, Bye Bye Birdie follows the career of rock star Conrad Birdie, who has just been drafted into the army. Conrad and his fans are devastated, but so is songwriter Albert Peterson, whose song Conrad was just about to record. A publicity stunt where Birdie, loosely based on Elvis Presley, performs Albert’s song and a lucky fan gets a last kiss seems like the answer. But the teenaged winner, Kim McAfee, has a jealous boyfriend and a meddling father. Come see how it all wraps up in this delightful musical comedy directed by West High Theatre Director Lisa Nelson.

The public is invited to attend the performances at West High School Auditorium, 3300 Sutherland Ave. in Knoxville. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.cmajor.net $7 students, $9 adults; or at the door: $9 students, $11 adults. For additional information, contact Lisa Nelson at lisa.nelson@knoxschools.org.

Music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show's unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.

"I can't think of any better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than by spending 90 exhilarating minutes with The Last Five Years, Jason Robert Brown's giddily sorrowful eulogy for a brief marriage."
—Bloomberg News

"It's instantly clear […] that this poignant, richly dramatic and piercingly honest two-character show is destined to be a hit."
—The Chicago Sun-Times

"Jaw-dropping! A gem of a show from Jason Robert Brown."
—New York Magazine

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

William Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” will play on the CBT mainstage February 10-28 with 7:30 pm and 2:00 pm performances. A Pay What You Wish Preview performance will be held Wednesday, February 10, a talk back with the actors will take place Sunday, February 21 following the matinee, and the Open Captioned performance is Sunday, February 28 at 2:00 pm. The production is for mature audiences only.

Believed to be Shakespeare’s first tragedy and most graphically violent, “Titus Andronicus” was created as a crowd-pleasing shocker, full of murder, intrigue, betrayal, and revenge. Returning victorious from war, Titus has lost many sons in battle. And he has no idea that his worst nightmare is yet to take place. His prisoner of war, Tamora, Queen of the Goths, is bent on getting revenge for the loss of her son at Titus’ hands. The two become tangled in a cruel cycle of revenge in which they lose more than either one could ever imagine. Although the tragedy is consistently popular, it is rarely performed.

“The central idea in the play is that when justice and rule of law is subverted by man’s pursuit of revenge, man is capable of unspeakable violence. Even the most principled and civilized man (like Titus) can become barbaric,” said Director John Sipes.

Clarence Brown Theatre / Carousel Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.com. For tickets: 865-974-5161, 865-656-4444, www.knoxvilletickets.com

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is exhibiting an interactive installation Working Memory, by Chalet Comellas in the Geoffrey A. Wolpert Gallery. A closing reception will be held Friday, March 11th from 6-8pm. Admission is free and the community is encouraged to attend with their friends and family.

Working Memory is an interactive installation composed of a quilt-like structure made of fabric, ephemera, paintings and sound. The exhibit creates narratives from memories by reinventing materials such as clothing, textiles and found objects. The viewer can shift and change the work to construct new narratives.

Chalet Comellas is an interdisciplinary artist who works in painting, sculpture, fiber art, video and new-media installation. Chalet is an Assistant Art Professor at Florida State University where she received her Master of Fine Arts in 2012. She has performed and exhibited her work in museums, art fairs and galleries including In Light Richmond, hosted by 1708 Gallery in Richmond, VA (2014), Grace Exhibition Space in Brooklyn, New York (2013) and Fountain Art Fair in Miami (2012). Chalet has participated in several public art projects in Florida including an outdoor video installation commissioned by the Tampa Museum of Art during Art Basel Miami (2006). For more information, visit her website at www.chaletcomellas.com.

Gallery hours are Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturday 10am - 4pm. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

Edward S. Albers, Jr. has a unique way of capturing travel memories. Rather than the traditional camera, he travels with paints, a sketchbook, and a folding stool and often skips shopping for a scenic spot and an hour of sketching. Visitors to the Museum of East Tennessee History can vicariously travel the world with Bud Albers through a selection of his most interesting and beautiful paintings, such as Dublin Doorway, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Russia, and Hong Kong Harbor from Victoria. Local pieces include a painting of Bud’s grandfather Andrew J. Albers, seated in his carriage and holding his small son, Edward S. Albers, Sr., who became Bud’s father. In the background is the family’s beautiful home that stood on the corner of Market and Locust, until torn down to make way for the present Medical Arts Building. The painting reproduces the scene from an old photograph. The exhibition, Bud Albers Recollections: Works from Life and Travels, is on view in the Bilo Nelson Auditorium of the East Tennessee History Center.

Albers is a retired businessman, philanthropist, and artist, whose family is deeply rooted in Knoxville and East Tennessee. He has a strong interest in history, and his vision was instrumental in the creation of the Museum of East Tennessee History.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: M-F 9-4, Sa 10-4, Su 1-5. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

The Farragut Museum Committee and Farragut Arts Council will host two free events in honor of Black History Month this February at Farragut Town Hall. The theme for this year's celebration is "Honoring Service and Talent."

An art show featuring the work of Gwendolyn Campbell-Johnson, a Tennessee artist and art teacher at Farragut Middle School, will be on display starting Monday, Feb. 8 through Friday, Feb. 19 during regular Town Hall hours (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Campbell-Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in art education from Tennessee State University; her art focuses upon African American origins, history and identity development.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, a reception will take place at 2 p.m. to honor Campbell-Johnson as well as Bill Valentine, who will give a presentation following the reception at 3 p.m. A Vietnam Veteran dedicated to teaching about soldiers from a past era, Valentine will present an entertaining and informative one-man act entitled "The Buffalo Soldier." Buffalo Soldier is the name synonymous with the all African American regiments in the United States Army established by Congress in 1866. Valentine has presented this lecture at no charge to bring history alive in local schools, churches, colleges and civic organizations.

The reception will also feature museum tours and light refreshments.

The Farragut Museum is committed to preserving the heritage of its East Tennessee community and features a remarkable collection of artifacts from the area, including an extensive collection of the personal belongings of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, first Admiral of the U.S Navy and hero of the Civil War. Housed in the Farragut Town Hall located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive, the museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offers free admission. For more information, visit www.townoffarragut.org/museum, like Farragut Museum on Facebook, or contact Museum Coordinator Julia Barham at jbarham@townoffarragut.org or 966-7057.

Blount County Public Library has been selected to be one of nine sites in the nation to host Discover Earth: Our Changing Planet, a national traveling exhibition exploring the fascinating world of earth science.
Discover Earth: Our Changing Planet explores Earth’s ever-changing physical and biological systems using stunning media and interactive experiences. Earth science topics in the exhibit include topics such as short and long-term time changes, the differences between weather and climate, and what it means to be a steward of our amazing planet.

The exhibition will be displayed at the library from February 3 through April 29. Blount County Public Library will also offer a related series of public events to bring STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programming to children, teens and adults.

The Grand Opening and kick-off event will be on Saturday, February 6, at 2 p.m. Mike Maslona, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Ranger, will give a presentation “National Park Service – 100 Years Old” describing the mission of the National Park Service, in its 100th anniversary year, to conserve over 400 diverse park units throughout the United States and their rich natural and cultural history while also providing for their enjoyment unimpaired for future generations.
Among other presentations during the exhibit will include “Reporting the Weather” by WATE-TV meteorologist, Matt Hinkin, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 20. “The Natural History of Southern Appalachia” will be presented by Dr. Paul Threadgill, Biology Professor at Maryville College, on Monday, February 29, at 7 p.m. Other programs will be announced soon and will be available on the library website at www.blountlibrary.org or on calendars or call 865-982-0981.

When visiting the exhibition, plan to spend at least one to two hours or plan several visits. Because there are many interactive exhibits, plan sufficient time to explore the numerous topics and sciences.

The exhibition is free and open to the public during library hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 1 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays.
Discover Earth: Our Changing Planet was developed by Space Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL), the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office, the Lunar and Planetary Institute and the Afterschool Alliance. Blount County Public Library, located at 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, where services are an example of your tax dollars at work for you.
For further information about library programs or services, call the library at 982-0981 or visit the Web site at www.blountlibrary.org .

A weekly class on Saturdays to learn Improv for ages 7-17. Cost is $5-20/class or $35-120 for the six-week series. No class February 20th or March 5th. Karl Hess will instruct the class. He performs regularly with The Improv*bales and is a trained Special Education teacher. He has worked with kids of all ages for ten years in the public and private school settings. He has been practicing Improv for two years and is active in the acting and performing arts community.

We will meet at The Birdhouse (800 N. 4th Ave.). For more info contact: karlalanhess@gmail.com or 865.208.9206

Vienna Coffee House presents “Art for the Heart, The Conversations Exhibit” and the Harrison Inman Exhibit. These exhibits will be displayed through March 5 at 212 College Street in Maryville. http://viennacoffeehouse.net/

Knox County libraries will host the New Play Festival's table readings. The Carter, Fountain City, Bearden, Farragut and Lawson McGhee branches provide a free venue for three of this year’s plays. Audience members are encouraged to stick around after the readings and tell the playwright what they think of each play. The playwright then has the opportunity to adopt the suggestions and improve upon his/her play.

Caves by Jean Battlo (Kimball, WV) – Rita Rochella-Baker lives in a dying coal town in West Virginia. Now she must construct a past to save her town’s future.
2/6/16 1:00 pm at Carter Branch Library
2/16/16 6:00 pm at Farragut Branch Library
2/20/16 2:00 pm at Fountain City Library
2/28/16 12:00 pm at Lawson McGhee Library

Four Old Broads by Leslie Kimbell (Winder, GA) – Life in a retirement community can be dangerous…or hilarious. It depends on your approach to life.
2/6/16 2:00 pm at Fountain City Library
2/13/16 2:30 pm at Bearden Branch Library
2/20/16 1:00 pm at Carter Branch Library
2/27/16 2:30 pm at Lawson McGhee Library

Under the Esso Moon by Linda P. Marion (Knoxville, TN) – In the week she turns thirteen, Vera Lee Phillips experiences awakening, change and danger in an apartment above an Esso station.
2/8/16 6:00 pm at Fountain City Library
2/13/16 1:00 pm at Carter Branch Library
2/20/16 2:30 pm at Bearden Branch Library
2/28/16 2:00 pm at Lawson McGhee Library

The New Play Festival presents un-published, un-produced plays for their worldwide premiere. Tennessee Stage Company accepts new play submissions throughout the year from all over the United States. In October, the company selects which plays it will produce from the submitted works. Info: 865-546-4280 or www.tennesseestage.com

Broadway Studios and Gallery (1127 N. Broadway) is pleased to host artist Marianne Ziegler (Knoxville) with her recent body work entitled "Alley Cat"

Marianne, better known as "Ziggie", frequently photographs the abandoned areas about town and describes the "Alley Cat" series as a journey which reveals vivacity within the decay of the places we pass by every day. The results are an exhilarating look into our back alleys and abandoned spaces which are often thought of as eyesores.

Her work will be shown Feb. 5th through March 1st. in the main gallery.
Opening reception is First Friday Feb. 5th from 5-9pm
Light refreshments will be served and parking is free.

Broadway Studios and Gallery are located at 1127 N. Broadway in Wight Place next to Vinyard Flooring one block from WATE Greystoke Mansion.
Main gallery and gift shop are both open from 11-7 Thursday, Friday, Saturday. All work is for sale ranging from magnets to wall sized masterpieces.
For more info: BroadwayStudiosAndGallery@Gmail.com or www.BroadwayStudiosAndGallery.com