Suttree’s Knoxville: A Hymn to the Past in Film and Music
In what promises to be the multi-media event of the summer, if not the year, Big Ears is presenting Suttree’s Knoxville: A Hymn to the Past in Film and Music this Thursday evening, July 8, at Lakeshore Park. The show will consist of a 70-minute archival film drawn from an archive of film footage and photographs by Eric Dawson of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image & Sound that will be accompanied by live music from a notable ensemble of musicians. Inspired by Cormac McCarthy’s book, Suttree, set in Knoxville in the 1950s, the film references Knoxville locations, scenes, and characters described in the book.
The music ensemble will include Knoxville’s RB Morris with guitarist Greg Horne and bassist Daniel Kimbro; jazz singer and ukulele player Kelle Jolly with saxophonist Will Boyd; balladeer, guitarist, and folklorist Jake Xerxes Fussell; and guitarist and composer Bill MacKay with banjo player and old-time music expert Nathan Bowles. Selections from the novel will be read by RB Morris.
The performance will be staged on the lawn at Lakeshore. Admission is FREE.
Music will begin at 8:00 PM with the scored film starting at 9:00 PM. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and/or blankets, along with food and beverages if desired. Food from Sweet P’s Barbecue, Captain Muchacho’s, and Fai Thai will be available for purchase.
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Tennessee Stage Company: Shakespeare Off the Square
Ijams Nature Center is the location for the Tennessee Stage Company’s 31st season of summer Shakespeare performances. The season, which runs from July 8 to August 8, features two alternating plays, Twelfth Night and The Tempest. The performances will take place on the lawn at Ijams, a space that offers a natural hillside for the audience as well as social distancing. Performances will move inside Ijams Visitor Center in the case of rain. Ijams is at 2915 Island Home Avenue in the South Knoxville Urban Wilderness.
Admission is $15, both for reservations & in-person tickets, with a four-pack for families offered a 15% discount.
TWELFTH NIGHT — July 8, 10, 16, 18, 22, 24, 30; August 1, 5, 7 at 7:30 pm; July 18 at 2:00 pm
THE TEMPEST — July 9, 11, 15, 17, 23, 25 29, 31; August 6, 8 at 7:30 PM; July 25 at 2:00 pm
Tickets: www.Ijams.org/shakespeare. Up to three students (K-12) may attend for one penny with a paying adult.
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Knoxville Children’s Theatre: Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.
Knoxville Children’s Theatre is presenting The Little Mermaid, Jr. from Friday, July 9 thru July 25.
The production features music by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. The Little Mermaid is based on the book by Doug Wright. The music for this version was adapted and arranged by David Weinstein. Performers are 25 young actors, ages 10 to 18. The show is directed by KCT student intern Elijah Payne with musical direction by Deena Seals and Paul Jones.
Performances are Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM and 7 PM.
Knoxville Children’s Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue
Information: 865-208-3677, www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com
