Call for Artists & Artisans

Come be a part of the new Tennessee Artisan Market at The Renaissance Center!

Calling all professional artists and artisans for a new and exciting retail store, the Tennessee Artisan Market at The Renaissance Center. The retail gallery will feature art and fine crafts from across Tennessee on consignment and will include an online retail store and multimedia features on participating artists. The Grand Opening is scheduled for Sat., Dec. 4th, 2010.
Artists interested in participating, or for more information, contact: LeAnn Polk, Events Coordinator, at leann.polk@rcenter.org or 615-740-5503.

The Dead Are a Family Affair at The Renaissance Center

The dead have risen from the grave in The Renaissance Players production of “Night of the Living Dead” at The Renaissance Center in Dickson, Tennessee. The cult classic opened to an enthusiastic theater audience this past weekend and the zombies and ghoulies will return next weekend with Friday and Saturday night performances, Oct. 29 and 30, at 7 p.m.

 

Despite the terror-filled storyline of seven people trapped in an isolated farmhouse, held hostage by the ravenous flesh-eating zombies, this popular production is actually a family affair as many of the 40-plus cast members include mulitple family members. Cast in the role of Barbara, Rachel Gunn, of Dickson, is accompanied by her daughter, Tory (News Anchor), her oldest son, Will (in the role of Ben) and her three younger boys, Andy, Al & Luke, all zombies. Beth Burch, of Bellevue, is playing the role of Helen and her son, Jeremy, was cast in the role of Tom. The mother/daughter team of Vickie and Paige Songer, father/son team of Jim and PJ Reyome, mother/son combo of Arden and Austin Gatlin, and sister/sister duo of Jessie and Amanda Woodland also are a part of the act. “Theatre is one of the few things that an entire family can do together anymore, and The Renaissance Players is like one big family. . .even at Halloween,” says Director, Bryan Wlas.

The show is unlike anything ever seen on The Renaissance Center’s stage, as it’s completely done in traditional black and white. “We’ve never done a show on a grayscale before, including skin tones, so this is an exciting new boundary to push that I think audiences enjoy and appreciate it,” Wlas notes. Based on the classic independent film from 1968, directed by George Romero, the theater production is also set in the 1960s. “We wanted to keep true to the original movie, but with our own take. It’s a classic for a reason, ” adds Wlas.

Gather your family of ghoulies and zombies and come out to see “Night of the Living Dead” at The Renaissance Center. After all, the family that plays together… can have a lot of fun together!

Performances: Oct. 29 and 30, at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $15/adult, $12/seniors, and $8/children. Call 615-740-5500 for reservations today, or visit the website, www.rcenter.org for more information.

Filled with Quilts!

Once again the rotunda and halls of The Renaissance Center are filled with beautiful and impressive quilts! The 9th Annual Sew Delightful Quilt Guild Show is free to all and runs through Saturday, October 23rd. This year's theme is Breast Cancer Awareness and includes many pink-themed quilts as well as traditional and modern quilt designs.

This Cathedral Window Quilt, by Judy Scheerhorn took 3 years to complete and includes:

20 yards of muslin, 567 7" squares and 1127 2" squares of fabric, and over 1200 yards of thread! Thank you Judy for sharing it with us!

The 75+ quilts displayed this year include many pink breast cancer awareness-themed pieces.

The guild will also sell pens and bracelets for breast cancer awareness and some quilters have pledged to donate a portion of sales for breast cancer research.

The Renaissance Center is located on Highway 46 in Dickson, TN, about 35 miles from downtown Nashville.

Miracle on 34th Street Cast List!

Here is the Cast:

Kris Kringle Mike Lyttle
Dr. Pierce Trudy Whiting
Doris Walker Jennifer Bennett
Ms. Shellhammer Megan Gallup
Miss Adams Emma Shows
Sourpuss Santa David Hodges
Cleo Cyndi Culpepper
Fred Gailey Jeremy Hudgens
Susan Walker Claudia Bennett
Jake and Mom Jed Jordan, Laurie Jordan
Judy and Mom Scout Yokley, Kelly Yokley
Sally and Grandma Abigail Shows, Ruth White
Maryke and Mom Mattie Anderson, Angela Anderson
Mr. Macy Jon Kopischke
Mr. Sawyer Tom Whiting
Newspaper Boys Clifton Cummings/Drew Holley
Mr. Gimble Steve Yokley
Radio Announcer Melinda Kirby
Photographer Brennan Hicks
Dr. Rogers Kenya Hicks
Judge Henry X. Harper David Mead
Finley, the Bailiff Brennan Hicks
Charlie Holloran Steve Yokley
Mr. Mara David Hodges
Mrs. Henry Harper Janice Cauthern
Harper Grandchildren Abigail Ratliff, Hannah Ratliff, Haley Jennings, Peyton Jennings
Tommy Mara, Jr. Tate Blunt
Mrs. Mara Leslie Hudgens
Alice Golden Linda Sue Simmons Runyeon
Louise Spoletto Emma Jordan

Chorus:
Mary Margaret Culpepper, Taylor Blunt, Kaylee Hodges, Stephanie Wright, Gabriella Mann,
Yael Mead, Shane Kopischke, Alyssa Runyeon, Arianna Wooten, Allison Paige Haynes

Don't Miss This!

The Golden Dragon Acrobats present Cirque D'Or on October 29th at 11am and 7pm. Call 615-740-5600 for tickets!

Sneak Peek: Pump Boys and Dinettes

Meet the Artist!

Denise Stewart-Sanabria is an artist whose work is currently featured in the Renaissance Regional Art Exhibition on view through October 24th.

Denise was born in Massachusetts and received her BFA in Painting from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has lived in Knoxville since 1986. She has received over twenty awards during a five year period from both curators and directors from the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Knoxville Museum of Art, The Hunter Museum of Art, the National Portrait Gallery and most recently the Purchase Award from The Renaissance Center.

Here's a little information about Denise's piece Class of '37 currently on display...

This particular piece was part of a large project inspired by abandoned photo albums I got at a Elders Used Book Store in Nashville. This album was a do-it-yourself high school yearbook from 1937. I integrated the commentary and found objects that the owner had placed in the album into my portraits of the students. The high school as Vashon High School of St. Louis, MO. I was later able to trace what became of many of the students through the St. Louis Genealogical Soceity.


Denise's other work can be viewed at www.stewart-sanabria.com. Also, Denise will be exhibiting her life size plywood people in the East Wing, January 22nd, 2010 - March 6th! But if you can't wait till then come by and see her work before the Regional Exhibit closes!