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Musical “Annie” March 4-13 at Bethlehem UMC

March 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Musical "Annie"

The Musical "Annie"

Before heading to Broadway next year, the beloved musical “Annie” hits the stage at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, March 4-13, with an incredible  community theatre cast of adult singers/actors, a talented ensemble of orphans and the unique opportunity to adopt a special dog each evening according to BUMC Music and Arts Director Harry Robinson.

In its fourteenth year of community theatre excellence, Robinson said the adult and youth members of the cast are presenting a very charming version of the family-friendly comedy with a dash of adorable dogs.

“With professional Director Dietz Osborne and amazing musicians, ‘Annie’ will be musical theatre magic for the whole family with songs like ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘NYC.’    Our talented cast, including Cate Tucker and Mackenzie Roberts alternating the role of Annie, are joined on stage by theatre veterans Johnny Peppers and Jenny Norris-Light, seen regularly at Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre, with the voices of Mix 92.9’s Bryan Sargent and WAKM’s Tom Lawrence serving as the 1930s radio announcers,” Robinson said. “An exciting element of our production is our partnership with Happy Tales Humane featuring a special dog at each performance available for adoption.”

In addition to the cast dog, Sandy, a Happy Tales dog will appear on stage in various crowd scenes and will be available for adoption.  Interested audience members can visit with the dog during intermission and immediately following the show for possible adoption.  For more information, check out the Bethlehem Players videos at www.youtube.com/bethlehemplayers.

The production will have five shows without meals, three dinner shows and four lunch matinees that will give guests the opportunity to have a picture made with Annie and The Gang.

“Annie” is presented by the Bethlehem Players community theatre at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin, TN (37069) during selected times March 4-13.  Shows without a dinner are presented March 4, 5, 11, 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. Lunch with “Annie and The Gang” are March 5, 6, 12, 13 with box lunch at 12:30 p.m. and the show at 2 p.m.  Dinner shows are March 7, 8, and 10 at 4:45 p.m. and the show at 6 p.m. Tickets are sold to shows only for each of the performances as well.

Annie and orphans are double cast with Cate Tucker as Red Cast “Annie” performing with orphans Kayte Miller, Lydia Crider, Sydney Carr, Lauren Haynes, Mary Claire Armistead, Emily Baker, Diana Richards, and Bryanna Richards. Blue Cast “Annie” is Mackenzie Roberts with orphans Jordan Harvey, Reagan Gibbs, Kelly Sasseen, Addie Leonard, Emma Brugman, McKenna Harrington, Morgan Amond, Miranda Hunter and Katherine Light.

Tickets for show-only are $15 for adults and $10 for high school students and younger.  Dinner show tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for high students and younger.  A 10% discount is available for groups 10 or more paying with one check. For more information, visit www.ticketsnashville.com,  www.bethlehemumc.com,  615-791-6456, ext. 2 or www.facebook.com/bethlehemplayers.

The Bethlehem Players are celebrating their 14th year of exceptional family.  entertainment staging productions in the Bethlehem Performing Arts Center, Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin (37069). The community theatre outreach program was founded in 1997 by Bethlehem UMC Music and Arts Director Harry Robinson. Since its inception, the Bethlehem Players have successfully staged for packed audiences everything from “The Sound of Music” to “Steel Magnolias.” The acting troop launched their first world premiere, original comedy by Osborne & Eppler, “Southern Fried Funeral” in 2010.

Happy Tales Humane is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of animals in Middle Tennessee by rescuing, caring for, and finding adoptive homes for unwanted pets; by taking action to prevent pet overpopulation; by fostering a respect for all life; by encouraging volunteerism; and by educating the community about responsible pet guardianship. For more info, www.happytaleshumane.com.

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Franklin Bullying Awareness Workshop

October 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Gov. Bredesen Bullying Awareness Proclamation

Gov. Bredesen Bullying Awareness Proclamation

A workshop on bullying prevention, entitled Bullying Exposed: Harassment, Bullying or Criminal Behavior?, will be conducted by Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) for parents as well as middle school and high school teens on Wednesday, November 10 at 6:45 p.m. at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, in Franklin.

Open to the public and free of charge, the hands-on workshop will be divided into two separate sessions, one for parents and one for teens running concurrently, with an in depth look at bullying including prevention and protection steps. The workshop will be conducted by Rodger Dinwiddie, STARS executive director and a national Olweus Technical Assistance Consultant with Eric Johnson, associate executive director of STARS and Bethany Bratcher, STARS specialist.

Governor Phil Bredesen has proclaimed November 14-20 “Bullying Awareness Week” in Tennessee joining STARS in heightening awareness and offering steps to combat this tough issue. Dinwiddie said the workshop seeks to help define what is bullying behavior while offering parents and teens important safety precautions and empowerment techniques so bystanders can help eliminate bullying.
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“So much of what is going on today which is gaining national attention is actually criminal behavior. We want to work with our STARS community to outline true bullying behavior and what kids and parents can do together to combat this disturbing trend,” Dinwiddie said. “We are also going to talk about helping kids and adults be good digital citizens with netiquette tips and ways to avoid being a victim of cyber-bullying.”

According to Gov. Bredesen’s proclamation, “bullying is considered aggressive behavior involving unwanted, negative actions, repeated behavior over time and involves an imbalance of strength. Nearly one in five students in an average classroom is experiencing bullying in some way with the rest of the students as affected bystanders. Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) has been working over a quarter of a century helping students overcome tough social and emotional barriers to learning in order to equip students to deal effectively with this problem without taking drastic measures.”

Founded in 1984, STARS specialists operate in elementary to high schools serving more than 70 schools and community sites within a ten-county area. STARS specialists help students tackle tough social issues like cyber bullying, substance abuse, violence and peer pressure. In addition, their highly successful Kids On The Block puppetry program helps educate kindergarten through sixth grade students about health and social concerns that affect their lives while promoting an understanding and acceptance of all children and adults regardless of their differences. STARS is a nationally recognized resource for training and professional consultation.

For more information on attending the workshop, contact STARS at 615-279-0058 or visit www.starsnashville.org or www.bethlehemumc.com. In addition, Vince Gill & Friends are presenting a STARS Benefit Concert on Thursday, November 11 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum being presented by CVS/Caremark.

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Auditions for “Annie”

September 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
"Annie" the musical in Franklin, TN

"Annie" the musical in Franklin, TN

Auditions for the beloved musical “Annie” are being held by the Bethlehem Players the weekend of November 6 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin, Tennessee (37069).

Bethlehem Players Artistic Director Dietz Osborne said the auditions will be held for the March 4-12, 2011 production with five-minute audition spots available by appointment.

On Saturday, November 6 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., girls ages 6 to 15 are invited to audition for the role of Annie, Molly, Pepper, Kate, Duffy, Tessie and July. On Sunday, November 7, from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., men and women are invited to audition. (Only the role of “Lily” has already been cast.)

On Monday, November 8, from 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m., there will be call-backs for Annies, Daddy Warbucks, and Hannigans.

Those auditioning are asked to bring a current, non-returnable photo, a list of play experience and be prepared to sing 16-bars of a Broadway musical. Please bring sheet music in the appropriate key for the accompanist we provide. No taped accompanist auditions are allowed.

Please email for a five-minute audition appointment at drama@bethlehemumc.com. For more information and to view the informational audition video, visit Bethlehem Players on Facebook, www.bethlehemumc.com under Ministries/Music, Drama & The Arts, or 615-791-6456, ext. 2.

Daddy Warbucks

Daddy Warbucks

The Bethlehem Players are celebrating their 14th year of exceptional family. entertainment staging productions in the Bethlehem Performing Arts Center, Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin (37069). The community theatre outreach program was founded in 1997 by Bethlehem UMC Music and Arts Director Harry Robinson. Since its inception, the Bethlehem Players have successfully staged their first 2010 world premiere “Southern Fried Funeral” and for packed audiences “The Sound of Music,” “Father of the Bride,” “The Music Man,” “Fiddler On The Roof,” “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Arsenic and Old Lace”, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Neil Simon’s Rumors,” and “A Bad Year for Tomatoes.”

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Area’s Largest Fish Fry

July 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Neil Little at Bethlehem UMC Fish Fry

Neil Little at Bethlehem UMC Fish Fry

Bethlehem Bluegrass Band member Neil Little will be playing with the band this year at the July 16 Bethlehem UMC Fish Fry on the shaded grounds of the church off Hillsboro Road in Franklin.

Just outside Cool Springs, Bluegrass music and the smell of fresh, farm-raised catfish will soon fill the air as the Grassland community’s largest annual event, the Bethlehem United Methodist Church Fish Fry, gears up for all-you-can-eat catfish on Friday, July 16 on the church grounds at 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road in Franklin off Hillsboro Road.

In its 36th year, BUMC minister Ryan Bennett said Bethlehem Fish Fry is a good old-fashioned social with great food helping support church missions.

“With amazing bluegrass music, a children’s game area with incredible inflatables, the best bake sale around and scrumptious, farm-raised catfish, you don’t want to miss this good old-fashioned fun and fellowship event. We are expecting almost 4,000 of our neighbors and the proceeds helps support several church missions including our upcoming 2011 River of Life area youth mission project and Kathy’s Backpacks program helping school children across our county with much needed fall school supplies and backpacks,” Bennett said.

Started 13 years ago and named in memory of Bethlehem member Kathy Harris, the backpack program has grown just like the fish fry last year filling around 800 backpacks with school supplies serving almost 50 different schools and agencies. Donations will be accepted through August for this program that continues to grow and serve the children of Williamson County who need this help.

Over 1,400 pounds of pond-raised catfish will be served at the fish fry along with hushpuppies, sliced tomatoes, white beans, and delicious cole slaw made from a secret recipe. Attendees will also enjoy free refills, a silent auction, huge bake sale, used book sale, live Bluegrass music and children’s game area.

The Bethlehem Fish Fry will be held on the church grounds off Old Hillsboro Road in the Grassland Area from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., July 16 at 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin (37069).

Tickets are $10.00 for adults until July 15 and $12.00 the day of the event. Children under 10 are always $5.00. Hot dogs are available for children and a separate carryout serving area is provided.

For more information and tickets, contact the church at (615) 794-6721 or www.bethlehemumc.com.

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Southern Fried Funeral

February 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Southern Fried Funeral Play

World Premier of “Southern Fried Funeral” Set for March 12-20

Trouble abounds and hilarity ensues when “Southern Fried Funeral” hits the stage at Bethlehem United Methodist Church , March 12-20.  The family-friendly comedy by noted playwrights Osborne and Eppler features local actresses Kandace Christian, Debbie Robinson and Lisha Pope (left to right in above photo).

Trouble abounds and hilarity ensues when the world premier of “Southern Fried Funeral” hits the stage March 12-20 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Franklin ’s Grassland community off Hillsboro Road  near Cool Springs.

Celebrating its 13th year of exceptional family entertainment, the Bethlehem Players are staging their first world premier comedy written by noted playwrights Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler according to BUMC Music and Arts Director Harry Robinson.

“Osborne and Eppler have developed a reputation of creating fresh comedies which are wildly popular with audiences at Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre.  We are thrilled that after a decade of presenting annual productions to packed audience of our own, the Bethlehem Players are branching out and taking on this hilarious new play ‘Southern Fried Funeral’ which pays homage to popular stories like ‘Steel Magnolias’ and ‘Fried Green Tomatoes,’” Robinson said.

Osborne says the comedic journey follows the Frye family “after the beloved patriarch dies leaving mamma with a broken down family and a house she loves and is about to lose.  There’s tell that Dewey just maybe won last week’s big jackpot. Before you know it, family and neighbors are coming out of the woodwork to pay their respects and claim their share of the prize. “

“Rich, southern comedies are a favorite genre for my writing partner, Nate Eppler, and myself after having appeared in plays like ‘Dearly Beloved’ and ‘Christmas Belles.’ The story of ‘Southern Fried Funeral’ reflects universal experiences and funerals and weddings bring out the best, the worst and the funniest in people.  I think audiences will really relate and enjoy taking a moment out of their busy lives for a laugh,” Osborne said.

Opening night for the world premier on March 12 includes the opportunity for a Patrons Party immediately following the play at $25.00 per person which includes a ticket to the play and the party at a Bethlehem Players’ patron’s home with the full cast and playwrights.

Tickets are available for March 12 – 20 for show only and/or dinner on nights when applicable. Shows only are March 12-13 and March 19-20 at 7 p.m. A box lunch matinee is March 14, at 12:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. show. Dinner shows are March 15, 16 and 18 with 4:30 p.m. dinner and 6 p.m. show with food by Barbara’s Restaurant.  Show only ticket prices:  $15 adults/$10 students. Dinner and Show ticket prices: $20 adults/$15 students.  Parties with 10 or more persons paying with one check get a 10% discount and may reserve their tickets today at 615-791-6456, ext. 2.

The Bethlehem Players are celebrating their 13th year of exceptional family.  entertainment staging productions in the Bethlehem Performing Arts Center, Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin (37069), just outside of Cool Springs. The community theatre outreach program was founded in 1997 by Bethlehem UMC Music and Arts Director Harry Robinson . Since its inception, the Bethlehem Players have successfully staged for packed audiences “The Sound of Music,” “Father of the Bride,” “The Music Man,” “Fiddler On The Roof,” “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,”  “Steel Magnolias,” “Arsenic and Old Lace”, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Neil Simon’s Rumors,” and “A Bad Year for Tomatoes.” For more information, visit www.bethlehemumc.com.

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Broadway at Bethlehem

February 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Dietz Osborne

Broadway at Bethlehem returns with an incredible salute to fifty years of Broadway hits on Saturday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center of Bethlehem United Methodist Church off Hillsboro Road in the Grassland Community of Franklin.

One of broadwayworld.com’s top Nashville performers of the year, Dietz Osborne, is returning as host for the popular Broadway revue which has sold out each year.

“Incredible singers from across the region, including one returning from the London School of Musical Theatre, will be joining us for a spectacular night of entertainment. It is a fun night of Broadway hits which helps the Bethlehem Players underwrite their upcoming spring production of “Southern Fried Funeral,” Osborne said.

Slated to perform to date are international artist Jennifer Richmond, off-Broadway performer Megan Murphy, Disney/Pixar artist Kandace (Williams) Christian, regional artist Mike Baum and noted writer/musician Bryan Ward. Osborne said there are also several special surprise guests as well.

Tickets are now on sale for $15 per person which includes the Broadway revue, a dessert extravaganza and silent auction. Some of the auction items include stunning faux finished furniture pieces by award-winning faux artisans Bell & Tucker, Amy Grant’s new autographed CD, tickets for Chaffins Barn Dinner Theatre, Towne Centre Theatre and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as well as a “Julie and Julia” movie package and Famous Dave and Valentino’s dinner certificates.. For more information, 615-791-6456, ext. 2 or drama@bethlehemumc.com.

The Broadway revue benefits the upcoming production of “Southern Fried Funeral,” by Osborne and Eppler, set for March 12-20 at Bethlehem UMC. The Bethlehem Players have been presenting quality, family entertainment for over a decade and will be launching their first world premier of this hilarious, southern comedy in March.

For more information, visit www.bethlehemumc.com or check out the Bethlehem Players on Facebook.

Celebrating their 13th year of exceptional family entertainment, the Bethlehem Players is an outreach effort of Grassland area Bethlehem United Methodist Church. The Players were founded by BUMC Music and Arts Director Harry Robinson as a community outreach and a unique version of “church softball.” Since its inception, the Bethlehem Players have successfully staged for packed audiences “Sound of Music,” “Father of the Bride,” “Music Man,” “Fiddler On The Roof,” “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Arsenic and Old Lace”, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Neil Simon’s Rumors,” and “Bad Year for Tomatoes.”

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