“A pretty darn good season”

From left, CBT's new managing director, David Byrd; artistic director, Cal Maclean; and board chair, Liz Stowers

From left, CBT's new managing director, David Byrd; artistic director, Cal Maclean; and board chair, Liz Stowers

That’s what Cal MacLean, artistic director of the Clarence Brown Theatre, told supporters to expect from the Theatre starting Sept. 5. And he brought the goods to prove it at the preview party held at the Southern Depot earlier this month.

Actors rose from the audience to perform snippets from most of the eight plays set for the upcoming Theatre year.

“We are about to start a new adventure,” MacLean related. “And tonight is the first step.”

The artistic director said a season is “an expression of who we really are.”

“It’s about our desire to bring to our community a conversation about what’s important,” he added.

Liz Stowers, chair of the Clarence Brown Theatre’s advisory board, noted that the organization is very much in the news these days with talk of possibly building a new facility on World’s Fair Park. “It’s great for Clarence Brown Theatre to be on the front page of the News Sentinel and on the radar of the highest echelons at UT and the city of Knoxville,” she said. “We need to be sure our students have the best possible training to start their careers.”

The Clarence Brown is both a professional theater company serving the community and the University and a learning laboratory for students and graduate students in the University of Tennessee’s acclaimed Department of Theatre. MacLean serves both as artistic director of the Clarence Brown Theatre and as head of the Department of Theatre.

The preview party also served as an occasion to introduce David Byrd, the new managing director of the Clarence Brown Theatre. Byrd, who came to Tennessee from Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, CT, is a North Carolina native with extensive experience in the operation of theater groups and dance companies.

The Clarence Brown season will start with “Noises Off,” which MacLean described as “one of the funniest plays ever written.”

Actress Carol Mayo Jenkins performing a scene from "Noises Off," which is a play about a theater company.

Actress Carol Mayo Jenkins performing a scene from "Noises Off," which is a play about a theater company.

CBT advisory board member Judi Starliper, left, and Phyllis Driver at the preview party.

CBT advisory board member Judi Starliper, left, and Phyllis Driver at the preview party.

Opening Oct. 5 in the Carousel Theatre next door to the Clarence Brown will be “Our Country’s Good,” which MacLean himself will direct. He said it is another play about theater, but this time “a drama of the first order.” It is about the founding of Australia and is based on real events. MacLean said it is about a play performed by convicts and it demonstrates “the transforming power of theater.”

This is Cory Pniewsky-O’Brien performing a scene from "Our Country's Good." All the actors in this production will be grad students.

This is Cory Pniewsky-O’Brien performing a scene from "Our Country's Good." All the actors in this production will be grad students.

Keyes Williamson, the executive director of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, left, and Alan Carmichael enjoying the preview party.

Keyes Williamson, the executive director of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, left, and Alan Carmichael enjoying the preview party.

Opening Oct. 24 is “Ctrl+Alt+Delete,” said to be “a sharp satire on commercialism, greed and corporate ambition.”

Terry Weber, associate professor of acting and voice, rose for a short excerpt from "Ctrl+Alt+Delete.'

Terry Weber, associate professor of acting and voice, rose for a short excerpt from "Ctrl+Alt+Delete.'

From left, Karen Clark, Jerry Baker and Brooks Clark at the party. Brooks is a member of the CBT Advisory Board.

From left, Karen Clark, Jerry Baker and Brooks Clark at the party. Brooks is a member of the CBT Advisory Board.

“A Christmas Carol” will return. MacLean said it will be the same production as last year “but with some new things.” Hmm. Guess we’ll have to wait and see what those are. It will run Nov. 27 through Dec. 15.

“The Whipping Man” will play at the Carousel Jan. 30 through Feb. 16. MacLean said it is about “the essential contributions of African Americans and Jewish Americans to our culture.” Set in Richmond after the Civil War, it involves a badly wounded Confederate soldier and two former slaves. “This is a part of our national story that needs to be recounted,” MacLean said.

Townes Osborne and her father, Art Lavidge. Townes is a former chair of the Clarence Brown Advisory Board, as am I.

Townes Osborn and her father, Art Lavidge. Townes is a former chair of the Clarence Brown Advisory Board, as am I.

Maggie Erickson, left, and Robin Turner, who is a member of the advisory board

Maggie Erickson, left, and Robin Turner, who is a member of the advisory board

Feb. 20 through Mar. 9 brings “A Trip to Bountiful” featuring Carol Mayo Jenkins in a role MacLean says she was “born to play.” After that, WRENS, inspired by the playwright’s own involvement with the British Women’s Royal Navy Service (WRNS) as a young woman in war-torn England, is Mar.  27 through Apr. 13. In their cramped Orkney Islands barracks on the eve of VE Day, seven women confront the prospect of peace, which also means an end to their new-found wartime independence. Sounds good.

Rebecca MacLean, Cal's wife, and Terry Silver-Alford. Silver-Alford, a professor in the Department of Theatre, playe piano for some of the performances at the preview party.

Rebecca MacLean, Cal's wife, and Terry Silver-Alford. Silver-Alford, a professor in the Department of Theatre, played keyboard for some of the performances at the preview party.

Like this musical number from "Spamalot," which will close the season Apr. 24 through May 11.

Like this musical number from "Spamalot," which will close the season Apr. 24 through May 11.

Micah-Shane Brewer in a scene from Spamalot

Micah-Shane Brewer in a scene from Spamalot

Dawn and Richard Ford

Dawn and Richard Ford

CBT staff members Sharon Ward, left, and Jenny Summers

CBT staff members Sharon Ward, left, and Julie Summers

Dr. Lynn and Georgia Blake

Dr. Lynn and Georgia Blake

Bob and Margie Parrott. He is a long-time member of the advisory board.

Bob and Margie Parrott. He is a long-time member of the advisory board.

Carol and Joe Pelliccia

Carol and Joe Pelliccia

From left, Susan Greer, board member Mary Stuart Neely and Sarah Stowers

From left, Susan Greer, board member Mary Stuart Neely and Sarah Stowers

Jayne and Myron Ely with Dale Wortham, on right.

Jayne and Myron Ely with Dale Wortham, on right.

Russ and Florence Johnson

Russ and Florence Johnson

Dr. Margo Uri Simmons, left, and LeAnne Dougherty

Dr. Margo Uri Simmons, left, and LeAnne Dougherty

Robin Conklin of CBT, center, with Kim and Constantine Christodoulou

Robin Conklin of CBT, center, with Kim and Constantine Christodoulou

Julie Howard and Ted Flickinger

Julie Howard and Ted Flickinger

From left, board member Sheena McCall, Alan Carmichael, Richard Ford and Brooks and Karen Clark

From left, board member Sheena McCall, Alan Carmichael, Richard Ford and Brooks and Karen Clark

Since the event was at the Southern Depot, a train station, they went with an "All Aboard!" theme. The luggage came from the CBT prop shop.

Since the event was at the Southern Depot, a train station, they went with an "All Aboard!" theme. The luggage came from the CBT prop shop.

The sunflowers that were everywhere hit a perfect summer note.

The sunflowers that were everywhere hit a perfect summer note.

Sponsors of the preview party were Southern Depot, World Venture Tours and Travel and All Occasions Party Rentals.

Planning committee members were: Barbara Apking, Amy Morris Hess, Brenda Madigan, Peggy Turner, Robin Turner, Melanie Wood and Wendy Wortham (chair).

I join Cal in being very excited about this season. We are buying opening night tickets. To order your tickets, click here. See you there!

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8 Responses to “A pretty darn good season”

  1. Scott Bird, on June 24th, 2013 at 10:09 am said:

    I absolutely cannot wait for “Noises Off” — it’s hysterical! CBT will do a great job with the elaborate staging of my favorite play. (I hope sardines were served at the preview party!)

    Since I saw “The Trip to Bountiful” with well-deserved Tony winner Cicely Tyson recently, I’m also eager to see that play staged here.

    I have Aug. 5 marked on my calendar to buy tickets to both productions.

  2. Cynthia Moxley, on June 24th, 2013 at 10:14 am said:

    Wow, Scott. Now you’ve made me even more excited. I’ve never heard of “Noises Off” before, but I am looking forward to it. I did not see any sardines at the preview party!

  3. Robin Conklin, on June 24th, 2013 at 10:29 am said:

    Thanks so much for the great story, Cynthia!!
    And Scott…not to worry! I’m am trying to figure out how to incorporate those sardines.

  4. Gay Lyons, on June 24th, 2013 at 11:04 am said:

    Thanks for the update. That sounds like a great and varied season. We are so fortunate to have CBT here.

  5. Rusha Sams, on June 24th, 2013 at 11:28 am said:

    Wow! What a line-up! Thanks for posting. And for those of you who haven’t seen Spamalot, get your tickets now. It’s a jazzier version of our very own Carnicus at UT!!!
    Can’t wait for the season to begin.

  6. Karen Clark, on June 24th, 2013 at 1:03 pm said:

    It was an innovative and memorable way to preview the upcoming season. Cal, and the whole CBT team, did their usual outstanding job. CBT is one of the things that makes Knoxville a great place to live!

  7. Georgiana Vines, on June 24th, 2013 at 4:48 pm said:

    I was at the annual J.D. Fox Martini Camp in Florida and unable to attend. So glad to get this report on an evening that set up an exciting year ahead.

  8. Sheena McCall, on June 24th, 2013 at 7:57 pm said:

    Sounds like another great season.
    We are so lucky to have the Clarence Brown Theatre.

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