Calendar of Events

By William Goldman, based on the novel by Stephen King
Director: Joseph Johnson

Sunday, January 15th at 7:00pm at Theatre Knoxville Downtown
Monday, January 16th at 7:00pm at Theatre Knoxville Downton
REHEARSAL START DATE: TBA

Performance dates are April 22-May 7, 2023
MISERY follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash by his "number one fan," Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to write a new Misery novel, and he quickly realizes Annie has no intention of letting him go anywhere. The irate Annie has Paul writing as if his life depends on it, and it does.

Available Roles:
Annie Wilkes: (Middle Aged)
Paul Sheldon: (Middle Aged)
Sheriff: (Any Age)

No monologue is necessary. The audition will consist of cold readings from the script.
A headshot and resume are recommended but not required.
Please bring a detailed list of conflicts for the next 4-5 months.

Theatre Knoxville Downtown
800 S. Central Street
Knoxville, TN 37902 - United States
Telephone: 865-544-1999
https://www.theatreknoxville.com/auditions/

On Sunday, January 15th, the Smoky Mountain Blues Society and Bluetick Tavern will be pleased to present Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames! This is a killer veteran all-star, real deal Chicago blues band at its house rockin’ best, led by the Hound Dog Taylor and J. B. Hutto influenced guitarist, Dave Weld. Winner of the 2001 Chicago Blues Completion, Finalist of The International Blues Competition, Blues Blast nomination for Best Rock Blues Album, RAMI Winner for Best Blues Band!

Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames, an authentic blues band, high energy with versatile talent, variety, and a cohesive show that includes original driving blues, rock blues, boogie, R&B and Soul. The originals are classic in nature, the standards are revitalized with striking three-part vocal harmony, three vocal stylists, Passionate slide guitarist, Dave Weld schooled from Grammy Winning Master J.B. Hutto, along with blues diva and two time Rami winner Mona Rose (Monica Myhre) on Lead Vocals, Powerhouse on Keys, Harry YaSeen, Red Hot, Rogers Randle on Sax, a Rock Tight Rhythm Section Jeff Taylor on Drums with a Creamy Vocals and Blazing on Bass, Kenny Pickens.

Born in Chicago in 1952, Dave Weld was first influenced as a child when he found an old Victrola in the basement and wore out the blues 78’s. In high school the Stones, Clapton and Mayall first came out but Dave traded those records for Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin Hopkins, and BB King. After high school Weld moved to New Mexico, and studied guitar under Kurt Black, a jazz player who worked with Benny Carter, Grant Green and others in the New York jazz scene. Also he drove to Nevada and met and jammed with Gatemouth Brown.

Tickets cost $20 for SMBS members and $25 for the general public. Doors open at 5 pm and music will begin at 6 pm to 9 pm. Sorry no advance tickets available.
Bluetick Tavern has a wonderful selection of food, beer, and liquor available to purchase and is located on 128 W Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN 37801
Find more information about the Smoky Mountain Blues Society on their webpage at: https://smokymountainblues.org/ or Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/smokymountainbluessociety/

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in partnership with the Tennessee Theatre will present a special tribute concert honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 3 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre. The performance is free and open to the public.

The KSO is joined by Knoxville poet laureate Rhea Carmon, vocalist Michael Rodgers and Obayana Ajanaku’s Indigenous Vibes edutainment group and Drums Up, Guns Down ensemble to present an inspiring and powerful selection of orchestral works, spirituals, gospel music and more.

“Nearly 60 years since the March on Washington, Dr. King’s dream demands our attention as urgently as ever in these turbulent times,” KSO Music Director Aram Demirjian said. “It is with both joy and solemnity that the KSO joins with some of our most beloved community partners to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy in words and music.”

Demirjian will lead the KSO in an hour-long program complete with spirituals such as “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord” and “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit;” gospels that were influential in the civil rights movement, including “We Shall Overcome” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand;” and orchestral works by African American composers William Grant Still, Florence Price, Valerie Coleman and more.

For more information regarding the KSO, please visit www.knoxvillesymphony.com or call 865-291-3310.
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

East Tennessee Bluegrass Association (ETNBA) and Ijams Nature Center are partnering to bring folks together to create music in a beautiful space! Join the fun at a community jam session for all acoustic bluegrass instruments (no harmonicas or spoons at this time) every third Sunday from 2-5 pm (winter hours).

All skill levels are welcome. Pre-signup is requested to get an idea of how many people will participate. Jam sessions will be inside the Visitor Center during the winter months. Chairs will be set up and ready for you to enjoy the show!

Not a musician? Feel free to come out and enjoy the music! Always FREE and open to the public.

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Visitor Center open daily 10-6; grounds and trails open daily from 8 AM - dusk. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

Mark your calendar for our January Jumpstart XXIII on January 14 – 15, 2023, in person at the Comfort Inn in Oak Ridge, TN. We will have tracks in both Poetry and Fiction.

Jane Hicks Poetry Leader : Jeff Hardin is the author of seven collections of poetry, most recently Watermark, A Clearing Space in the Middle of Being, and No Other Kind of World. His work has been honored with the Nicholas Roerich Prize, the Donald Justice Prize, and the X. J. Kennedy Prize from Texas Review Press. Almost a thousand of his poems have appeared in such journals as The Southern Review, Hudson Review, The Laurel Review, North American Review, Zone 3, Poetry Northwest, Grist, Southern Poetry Review, and many others. He is professor of English at Columbia State Community College.

Darnell Arnoult Fiction Workshop Leader : Susan Gregg Gilmore started her career as a reported for the University of Virginia’s award-winning newspaper, The Cavalier Daily. She continued her education at the University of Texas at Austin where she received her Master of Arts in American Studies. Later Susan wrote for newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and the Chattanooga News-Free Press. Susan has written four novels, including Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove, and The Funeral Dress. This most recent work was selected for TARGET’s Emerging Author Program as well as named a TARGET Recommended Read.

Registration fee: $150 (Includes coffee and tea before the morning sessions, and lunch Saturday)
Registration Deadline: December 30, 2022
Hotel Rate: $82 + tax
https://tmwi.org/january-jumpstart-xxiii/

The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is proud to announce the special exhibition, The Sculpture of William Edmondson: Tombstones, Garden Ornaments and Stonework, in partnership with Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. The exhibition is sponsored by the University of Tennessee Division of Diversity and Engagement and will run from January 13 to May 14, 2023.

The exhibition reexamines and recontextualizes the life and work of African American artist William Edmondson (1874–1951). Edmondson is the most significant sculptor to emerge from Tennessee during the 1930s and 40s and remains one of the leading American artists of the twentieth century.

This is the first large-scale museum exhibition of the artist’s career in over twenty years. During Edmondson’s life, he was well known for his yard art, including whimsical birdbaths, fanciful "critters," sculptures of everyday people, and grave markers he carved for African American families.
https://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/2022/12/13/mcclung-museum-to-feature-one-of-the-most-significant-collections-of-tennessee-artist-william-edmondson-in-new-exhibition/

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Dr on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-2144. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 12–4 p.m.

Knoxville Children’s Theatre, in partnership with the Clayton Foundation will present a live production of “Sherlock Holmes and the First Baker Street Irregular.” The play will be performed January 13th through the 29th, Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM.

On a dare from her fellow street urchins, 14-year-old Wiggins tries to pickpocket a strange old man. Not only is Wiggins unsuccessful, but the old man, who is actually Sherlock Holmes in disguise, manages to take the gold ring that was in Wiggins’ pocket and leave behind a note directing her where to go to get it back. When Wiggins goes to 221B Baker Street to retrieve the ring, she is shocked to find out how much Holmes knows about her. After Wiggins sees Holmes use the ring to solve a case, Wiggins proposes to work as his assistant. Intrigued by her potential, Holmes agrees to begin training Wiggins on a trial basis. Wiggins and Holmes must learn to trust each other as Wiggins and her group of street urchins help him solve two dangerous mysteries: The Red Headed League and The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. A fun mystery for the entire family.

The play is performed by 18 talented young actors, from ages 9 to 16. KCT veteran Elijah Clemes will portray Sherlock with Xavier Truman playing Dr. Watson and Caroline Alley portraying Wiggins.

The show is directed by KCT Guest Director Sara Venable with assistance by KCT intern Evie Braude.

Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-208-3677, www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com

The Primary Players Children’s Theatre Group, Jan. 13 – 15 at the Clayton Center for the Arts.

CATS is set amongst a larger-than-life junkyard playground and is alive with purr-fect felines, including Rum Tum Tugger, Mr. Mistoffelees, Macavity, Jennyanydots, Old Deuteronomy, Skimbleshanks and Grizabella. The Jellicle Cats come out to play on one special night of the year—the night of the Jellicle Ball. One by one, they tell their stories for the amusement of Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, who must choose one of the Cats to ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.

CATS has been presented in over 30 countries, translated into 16 languages, and seen by more than 73 million people worldwide. The original Broadway cast recording won the Grammy Award for Best Cast Album. Lloyd Webber’s magnificent musical score includes the poignant hit song “Memory,” which has been recorded by over 150 artists from Barbra Streisand to Liberace to Barry Manilow.

Directed by John Cherry, Music Direction by Dr. Ken Hawkins and Choreography by Hilary Barrett, CATS features 35 young actors between the ages of 8 to 17.

Clayton Center for the Arts, 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Information/tickets: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

If you’re looking for “natural” inspiration, visit the Ijams Hallway Gallery in January to enjoy the work of two local nature photographers, Brooks Clark and Matthew Harris! Brooks’ photos reflect his desire to share his experience and exploration of open spaces. His hope is that these works will inspire others to appreciate the countless remedies of time spent in nature. Matthew’s photos allow you to start a journey in the heart of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina through the eyes of a local traveling photographer.

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Visitor Center open daily 10-6; grounds and trails open daily from 8 AM - dusk. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

Featuring Steve Olson's first solo photography show!
Reception on Sun Jan 22, 2-4 PM

The Center is the second building on the right when you turn into Rarity Bay. The Center is open Monday thru Friday 9 to 4. It is best to call ahead because the Center often has meetings or events going on: 423-884-3800

150 Rarity Bay Pkwy, Vonore, TN 37885

RED Gallery is proud to announce the opening of Highway Flowers, an art exhibition by Summer Small.
The show will open on January 6, 2022, 5:00pm (First Friday) and run through February.

Highway Flowers
And other beautiful things you didn't ask for

Summer Small is a self-taught visual artist from East Tennessee. Her debut show Highway Flowers is her private love letter to modern Appalachia. Through bright color and intense pattern, Summer tells a raw, folksy story about grief, persistence, and ultimately appreciation for those things that are out of our control. Her aim for this show is that it recalls to you a familiar feeling, like a reminder of summertime in the dead of winter. Summer Small, summersmallstudio@gmail.com

RED Gallery, at 130 E Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN, features local and regional artists. The gallery is located in the historic Jackson Atelier building in Knoxville’s Old City. Gallery owner Robin Easter is proud to provide a unique space for Knoxville to experience and enjoy a broad range of visual arts. To learn more about RED Gallery, email robin@robineaster.com.
865-524-0146 | www.robineaster.com

The show opening will be from 6-8pm on January 6th.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we prefer that masks be worn inside the store. Thank you for helping us stay safe!

Event Page Here: https://shoprala.com/blogs/blog/december-first-friday-with-mike-c-berry

Rala: Regional and Local Artisans, 112 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Sa 11-6, Su 11-5. Information: 865-525-7888, https://shoprala.com or www.instagram.com/ShopRala