On Friday, October 19, Studio Tenn will present their annual fundraising gala, One Night Only, this year dubbed—A Red Carpet Affair. An incredible night of entertainment, food and fun, including an always impressive silent auction, it’s truly one of my personal favorite social events of the season. This year’s party promises to continue the high-energy, stellar talent, Broadway-quality event for which the relatively young theatre company is known. Changing things up a bit, for the first time in the event’s brief but impressive history, Studio Tenn’s One Night Only will take place at War Memorial Auditorium in Downtown Nashville.
Co-charing the event this year are Bob Deal and Jason Bradshaw, who I like to call Nashville’s bon vivant dynamic duo. When asked how they came to co-chair Studio Tenn’s One Night Only, Deal and Bradshaw revealed something very interesting, “Two friends asked if we would be interested in helping out Studio Tenn with their annual Gala, One Night Only as Co-Chairs for the 2018/2019 Season. We both quickly responded with, What’s Studio Tenn?”, they recalled with a grin. That said, apparently all it took was seeing one of Studio Tenn’s gorgeously produced shows earlier this year and they were in. “After seeing a fabulous production of the recent hit, Grease; meeting the talents of the brilliant crew whom make up Studio Tenn; and seeing and hearing those whom are fans of this incredible organization rave about this professional theatre troupe, it all made sense to say YES as Chairmen.”
Bradshaw and Deal also raved about DKates Catering, who’ll be providing the dinner for attendees who opt in for the full sit-down-dinner experience at the gala saying, “Danielle Kates of DKates Catering is doing the delicious food. We had a tasting of fourteen at our home alfresco on September 26. It was lovely. The evening was perfect.”
As for this year’s silent auction, attendees—and this who just like to take advantage of the opportunity to snag a fun and unique action item—have been given a sneak preview via the live online auction co-chaired by Lynne McAlister and Milton White. Having been friends with White for more years than either of us will admit, I reached out to him for his take on working with Bradshaw, Deal and McAlister in preparation of One Night Only. “I loved working with Bob, Jason and Lynne!”, he exclaimed. When asked for details about what the auction has to offer, White eagerly revealed, “This auction has a something for everyone—fabulous food and fashion as well as signed guitars and the chance to dine on the set of Beauty and the Beast!” (the company’s upcoming holiday offering). For a chance to bid on this and all the other items offered at the gala, CLICK HERE.
Speaking of Beauty and The Beast, Laura Matula, a member of the Studio Tenn family known to theatre-goers for her gorgeous vocal skills, having wowed audiences playing everyone from Grease’s Rizzo to The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch, confessed, “I absolutely cannot wait to sing the title song of Beauty and the Beast with my absolute favorite singer, John-Mark McGaha. I will for sure be living out all my Celine Dion childhood dreams and I couldn’t feel any luckier.”
Matula is just one of the many well-known performers who’ll be on stage during this year’s One Night Only. What’s more, she’s also the event’s Music Director/Supervisor. In the weeks leading up to it, she’s organized performers schedules, charted tunes, run rehearsals and coordinated musical equipment staging—a true musical Jill-of-all-trades.
When asked about the mind-blowing musical talent assembled for this year’s even, Matula gushed, “I am astounded by the amount of talent that can fit on one stage whenever I am involved with a Studio Tenn gala. This year’s One Night Only is no exception. We have Broadway performers, American Idols, songwriters and recording artists, Nashville based superstars, and more—phenomenal vocal talents all around plus the most stellar assortment of Nashville musicians: Matt Giraud, Diana DeGarmo, Ace Young, Piper Jones, Melodie Madden Adams, John-Mark McGaha, Libby Black, Megan Murphy Chambers, Eden Espinosa, Bradley Gale, Marissa Rosen…and me, plus an extra special number from Jake Speck and Matt Logan!”
When asked about the change in venue for this year’s gala, Matula revealed, “This year will mark the largest assortment of talent onstage with 12 singers and 13 band members plus some special guests I canąt tell you about! Thank goodness we are at War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Nashville so we can fit everyone on stage! I canąt wait for you to hear the sound of this group!”
I couldn’t chat with Matula without begging for a hint of what to expect. To that end, she teased, “The theme of the music this year is Songs from the Movies. This gave us such a wealth of incredible music to pull from and boy this set list is on fire! We have everything from James Bond to Barbra Streisand to songs from The Greatest Showman, The Bodyguard, Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret, Moulin Rouge, and more! It’s bigger and better than ever but with the same intimate feeling the singers on stage bring as members of the incredible Studio Tenn family of artists and entertainers.”
Something many fans, patrons and company members are thinking about is the recent news that Matt Logan, one of Studio Tenn’s co-founders will be leaving his position as Artistic Director, with One Night Only marking his final official event with the troupe. Matula addressed this by adding, “It will also be incredibly emotional as we share our endless love and gracious hearts with Matt Logan as he departs the Studio Tenn family. He is a storyteller and art maker and I am so grateful to be able to be a part of celebrating him for an incredible night.”
With that, I reached out to Logan for his take on the evening. “I’m so excited to hear our powerhouse vocalists. I think it is no secret that I am a huge fan of these Broadway and Tennessee stars. They are not only great friends but the best singers in the world”. He continued, “I know that many of our patrons love their talent but I do think that the patrons love seeing how much we love each other. We have a great community and we don’t take it for granted.”
Of his pending departure, Logan added, “The bittersweet element of my last night is in saying goodbye to a community that has blessed me so richly. do believe that every great chapter must come to an end. The timing is right for me to move on but Im gonna miss it terribly.”
Speaking of bittersweet, as alluded by Matula, Friday’s One Night Only will also feature an on-stage reunion between Logan and Studio Tenn’s other founding member, Jake Speck. Earlier this year, Speck left his position at the company when he accepted a job with a theatre company in Texas. Of the pair’s upcoming One Night Only re-teaming, Logan divulged, “Jake and I will do some talk and song. It’s nothing major, but it will be a final goodbye to the thing we created. We know Studio Tenn will carry on but this chapter will be at an end for us.” Thinking back on the journey that brought him to this point, Logan shared, “The funny thing is that we both were high school buddies growing up in Tennessee and then we were given the chance to bring back what we learned and effect the artistic landscape of Middle Tennessee. Even now, it is hard for me to wrap my brain around the enormous gift we were given. This evening will be a great moment to thank everyone who made Studio Tenn what it is.”
While the evening does mark the end of an era for Studio Tenn, rest assured the company is ready for what the future holds. Of their hopes for the evening, Bradshaw and Deal enthused, “We are honored and delighted to be a part of this event and hope they take back with them, like we did, that special moment that uniquely makes Studio Tenn…a 10!”
One Night Only will not only be chocked-full of jaw-dropping entertainment, festive music and great food, it will also remind attendees just how fabulous the company is as they continue their ninth season and look forward to their history-making tenth year. Select tickets for One Night Only are still available. Table Seating on the Main Floor includes drinks, a delicious dinner, silent auction access and an up-close and personal view of the evening’s entertainment. Tickets are $325.00. Mezzanine/Late Party tickets, which include pre-show libations, hors d’oeuvres, access to the silent auction and an amazing second story view of the evening’s entertainment are available for $95. CLICK HERE for tickets.
Up next for Studio Tenn, just in time for an enchanted holiday, they’re presenting Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, with performances December 7-30. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. Following Beauty and the Beast, Studio Tenn’s 2018/2019 Season continues with Tennessee William’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof from Friday, February 8 thru Sunday, February 17. That will be followed by this year’s Legacy Series entry, The Sinatra Legacy: A Tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes, onstage at The Franklin Theatre, Thursday, March 14-Sunday, March 17. Studio Tenn will wrap their current season with Damn Yankees from Friday, May 17 until Sunday, June 2. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information.
Be sure to check out Studio Tenn online at StudioTenn.com or on social media at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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