Nfocus August 2022

AUGUST 2022 A preview of what's coming to the stage in 2022-2023

That’s a Wrap

Meet six fascinating people shaping Nashville's film industry

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Contents August 2022 | Vol. xxix, No. 8

parties

Editorial

departments

founding editor

Herbert Fox, Jr. managing editor

13

associate editor

Holly Hoffman social correspondent

15

contributors

Lasting Legacy

19

Better Together

47

Heather Pierce

48

Eric England

features

Daniel Meigs contributing photographers

Michael W. Bunch, Matt Masters, Jen McDonald Production

26

graphic designers

Mary Louise Meadors, Tracey Starck graphic designer /production coordinator

That’s a Wrap

Step Inside Halls Chophouse offers comfortable fine dining and a Charleston experience in Nashville

senior photographer staff photographer

Nspire A new facility for Renewal House brings additional hope and healing to women and children

The Whitland Fourth of July Celebration is a year-round tradition

art director

Behind the Scenes Getting to know the Belcourt Theatre’s Allison Inman

R.H. Boyd celebrates the publisher’s 125th anniversary with the inaugural Legacy Ball

Beth Alexander, John Bridges, Whitney Clay, Geert De Lombaerde, Carrington Fox, Laura Hutson Hunter, Sandy Nelson, Ellen Pryor, Jennifer Puryear, Megan Seling, Varina Willse Art

10

A lively night at Opera on the Mountain

Jonathan Sims

Gloria Houghland

The Hills Are Alive

50

Taking Vows Paige Elizabeth Anderson Marries Edward Thomas Rose

Six Nashville-based film professionals share their inspirations, current projects and more

52

Those Who Teach

56

Nsider United Way Tocqueville Society, Eve of Janus Patrons Party and more

Christie Passarello Marketing

37

Olivia Moye Britton marketing and promotions manager

Robin Fomusa Advertising

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events

A look at three Nashville nonprofits dedicated to teaching the arts

events and marketing director

43

Back to the Stage

59

Jennifer Trsinar Jezewski advertising solutions consultants

Sue Falls, Richard Jacques, Michael Jezewski, Deborah Laufer, Carla Mathis, Heather Cantrell Mullins, Mike Smith, Niki Tyree, Alissa Wetzel, Keith Wright sales operations manager

Chelon Hasty advertising solutions associates

Jada Goggins, Audry Houle Circulation circulation manager

Gary Minnis

60

ON THE COVER

Best Behavior Expert etiquette advice from John Bridges

A preview of the 2022-2023 performing arts season

publisher

Pencil In

Nretrospect A brief look at the history of the Belcourt Theatre

Meleisha Edwards photographed by Daniel Meigs at The Backlot Studio. For more about Meleisha, turn to page 26.

26

Business president

Frank Daniels III chief financial officer

Todd Patton IT director

John Schaeffer Owner FW Publishing, LLC

Bill Freeman

Nfocus is published monthly by FW Publishing, LLC. Advertising deadline for the next issue is Monday, August 22, 2022. A limited number of free copies, one per reader, are available at select retail establishments, listed on the website: nfocusmagazine.com. First-class subscriptions are available for $99 per year. Send your name and address along with a check or credit card number and expiration date to: GARY MINNIS, FW PUBLISHING, 210 12th Ave. S., Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37203 or call Gary at 615-844-9307. For advertising information, call JENNIFER TRSINAR JEZEWSKI at 615-844-9261. Copyright ©2022 FW Publishing, LLC.

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Angle On The Belcourt Theatre’s Allison Inman talks about her most memorable discussion, favorite director and more One of the many creative people in the city’s film industry is Allison Inman, a filmmaker and the education and engagement director at the Belcourt Theatre, Nashville’s nonprofit film center.

There, she hosts filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, performances and seminars, and she takes the Belcourt’s Mobile Movie Theatre to schools and community centers, teaching visual literacy and cinema appreciation.

A degree in journalism, plus a sense of curiosity The Basics instilled by her late mother, gave her the tools she Name: Allison Inman needed to organize and Title: Education and Engagement lead a public documentaDirector at the Belcourt Theatre ry screening series, ITVS Hometown: Cookeville Community Cinema, first Zip Code: 37211 in Denver before bringing Years in Nashville: 22 it here. Soon after, Allison Number of in-house programs got a request from Execueach year: 150 tive Director Stephanie Silverman to see if she would do some education and audience engagement work for the Belcourt, and it didn’t take long for her contract jobs to evolve into a permanent position.

For engagement, Allison welcomes numerous celebrities to the Belcourt, but she gets just as much joy finding the perfect guest speakers from the community. “So many academic speakers generously share their expertise with our audience,” says Allison. “How amazing to present Fire of Love and get volcanologists from Vanderbilt to come over and talk about their research!” The educaWho is the most memorable person you’ve tion piece involves seminars, film club meetings hosted for a discussion at the Belcourt? I so and classes on-site, private field trips for students, enjoyed a weekend of Q&As with Ethan Hawke, Ben Foley and Charlie Sexton for Ethan’s film after-school programming, screenings at places Blaze. But the guests of a lifetime were Kathryn like Oasis Center and teaching tools for educators.

Altman and Michael Murphy during our Robert When she’s not working with stars, scholars or Altman retrospective. A dazzling experience. It students, Allison is making films. Her short docuwas like the end of summer camp when they left. mentary, Carthage House of Beauty, made with Jace What’s your favorite Belcourt education Freeman and Sean Clark of The Moving Picture program? The Strong Leads: A Film Seminar Boys (more on them in this issue), was recently for High School Girls is the highlight of every named Best Tennessee Short at the Nashville Film semester.

Festival. We caught up with Allison at the Belcourt to hear more about her most memorable discusWhat’s the best part about working with afterschool programs? Bringing some joy and movie sion, her favorite movie director and more.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

magic at the end of a long school day. We provide a learning experience, but we mostly hope the students will fall in love with the art form.

What is your all-time favorite movie? An impossible question, but if you’re ever trying to rouse me from a coma, try Coal Miner’s Daughter.

Who is your favorite director, and do you have a favorite film by them? Lynne Ramsay’s Morvern Callar has had a spell on me since I saw it three nights in a row at the Belcourt in 2003.

When you have out-of-town guests visiting, where do you take them? Farmers’ Market,

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Bicentennial Park, Tennessee State Museum, then a drink at Henrietta Red before or after dinner at City House. Grimey’s. And Station Inn, always.

What’s your favorite locally made product?

Jackalope Thunder Ann. Bastion nachos. Siam Café’s Hung Ray Curry with tofu is my desert island dish.

Which fundraising event do you look most forward to every year? The Belcourt’s Red Carpet Evening, of course! It’s a blast to watch the Academy Awards with our beloved patrons and to see everyone dressed up in Belcourt black tie.

What’s one thing you want to cross off your bucket list? Driving through the Scottish Highlands, which I’m doing this month in a rented Mini Cooper! I’m practicing shifting gears with my left hand.

If you could invite any three people to a dinner, who would they be? Tina Turner, Elvis Costello and Judy Blume What’s the one thing you hope never changes in Nashville? Our warm welcome for immigrants and refugees. Our willingness to look after our neighbors, especially elders. Our unwritten Nashville rule of letting celebrities eat dinner or see a movie in peace.

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PA R T I E S

The Hills Are Alive A lively night at Opera on the Mountain

I

June Bogle, Anne Whetsell

Amy Tate Williams, Clementina Moreira

Stacy Widelitz, Nathan Green

t was an evening of song and stargazing when Opera on the Mountain returned to the gorgeous hilltop setting at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. Old-growth trees provided a canopy to escape the setting sun, and gentle breezes gave added relief from the heat for a sold-out crowd of longtime Nashville Opera supporters and the next generation of enthusiasts.

In addition to listening to stellar performances by company members, attendees love to interpret the fundraiser’s BYOB&P (Bring Your Own Bottle and Picnic) with their own unique touches. While some music lovers enjoyed simple picnics on blankets and in lawn chairs on the grass, others took it a step further with fancy boxed dinners. Last year’s La Bella Notte chairs, Jay Jones and Rob Turner, along with their guests, went all out with a posh, catered dinner, complete with servers, fine linens and stemware. Of course, wine was flowing, and Jay and Rob’s tables were generous in sharing pours of their excellent Champagne and Bordeaux with others.

As good as, if not better than, that gourmet picnic experience was the program for the evening. After a few words from Board Chair Nathan Green, the entertaining mix of opera classics and Broadway show tunes began with mezzo-soprano Clementina Moreira singing “Carceleras” from “The Daughters of the Zebedeo,” followed by soprano Sangeetha Ekambaram’s rendition of “We Kiss in a Shadow” from The King and I. Tenor Gregory Sliskovich, one of next year’s Mary Ragland Emerging Artists and a soon-to-be participant in the nonprofit’s education programs, delighted everyone with songs from Guys and Dolls and “The Mikado.” All were accompanied by pianist Amy Tate Williams.

The heavenly night ended with the exciting announcement of the Opera’s 2022-23 season by CEO and Artistic Director John Hoomes and a special trip to the roof to check out the nearly full gibbous moon through Dyer’s grand telescope.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

Helen Rich, Jessica Rich, Lucy Grace Rich, Emma Howe

Owen Joyner

Jay Jones and Rob Turner

Elliot Jaffe, Claudia Gutierrez

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PA R T I E S

Lasting Legacy R.H. Boyd celebrates the publisher’s 125th anniversary with the inaugural Legacy Ball

W

ith a fortuitous break from the stifling heat and humidity, the inaugural Legacy Ball, benefiting the R.H. Boyd Family Endowment Fund, was off to a perfect start. Guests arrived at the Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown in their finest black-tie attire to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the oldest Black printing and publishing company in America, R.H. Boyd. LaDonna Boyd, its fifth-generation president and CEO and founder of the Legacy Ball, noted that the evening underscored founder Richard Henry Boyd’s mission to “give voice” to the unheard and that the fund’s scholarships and grants represent ongoing investments in university students and community initiatives nationwide.

The black-and-gold decor was carried throughout, and tables showcased the company’s illustrious history with framed photos and archived newspapers dating from 1909. After an elegant seated dinner, guests were treated to the melodic, signature sound of popular gospel singer Maranda Curtis before the presentation of three awards. James Hildreth received the R.H. Boyd Humanitarian Award for his work, both locally and nationally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the R.H. Boyd Service Award went to The Equity Alliance for its notable job in registering voters and bringing awareness to the importance of civic engagement. In a bittersweet moment, the R.H. Boyd Excellence Award was given posthumously to T.B. Boyd III, LaDonna’s father, who passed away in May, in honor of over four decades of service as the fourth-generation president, CEO and chairman emeritus of the R.H. Boyd family of companies and chairman emeritus of Citizens Bank.

This ball wasn’t all about business, however. These patrons know how to celebrate, and they did just that, dancing to the sounds of Louis York, the multi-Grammy Award-nominated duo consisting of Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony. The night rocketed to a crescendo once the music began, making it abundantly apparent this event would become an annual mainstay for years to come — a legacy unto itself.

Breonus Mitchell, LaDonna Boyd, Jacquita Mitchell

Maranda Curtis

BY GLORIA HOUGHLAND PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF PADRION SCOTT AND R.H. BOYD

continued on page 16

Yvette Boyd, Vicky Yates

Jordan and Kailey Cornett

Becky Magura, Derek Anderson

Michael and Charlandra Watson

Charlane Oliver, Tequila Johnson

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Tunisia Scott, Patricia Malone Smith

Ashley Currie, Domonique Townsend, Brittany Cole, Karen Williams

Imani Sailers, Jacob Uskavitch

Brad Schultz, Neika Stephens, Candice and Andy McQueen

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PA R T I E S

Samantha Hallman and Dino Paganuzzi with Oliver

Chenault and Gracie Sanders with Ellie

Scott Knowles, Dee Patel, Judy Spencer

Ida-Rose Chabon, Libby Callaway

Better Together The Whitland Fourth of July Celebration is a year-round tradition

Steven and Kate Ezell, Kristin Paine

F

or 45 years, the Whitland Fourth of July Celebration has been kicking off Independence Day for hundreds of Nashvillians, from the neighborhood and beyond, who gather for marching and music under the midday sun. A whistle launches the kids’ parade, followed by fifes accompanying a red, white and blue procession of wagons, trikes and bikes. Patriotic singing, inspirational remarks and a prelude of drums lead to the Pledge of Allegiance and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Then, it’s time for hot dogs.

The tried-and-true formula makes for a perfect holiday celebration. But the Whitland Avenue Fourth of July Celebration is more than a three-hour party. It’s a year-round collaboration and celebration of community. Throughout the year, neighbors convene — on front porches and through email — to fine-tune plans, invite speakers and special guests, dole out assignments, and ultimately prep for the day. Leading up to the Fourth, there’s an annual Patriots dinner to thank all the families who support the tradition. This year, Patriots gathered at Brooks and Bert Mathews’ house for a gorgeous dinner catered by Johnny Haffner. The run-up to the big day brings annual errands, including hanging flags along the avenue, suspending sun canopies from the trees, filling canoes with iced drinks, setting up hundreds of chairs and grilling a mile of hot dogs.

This year, the committee named siblings Flavia and Fletcher Burton the grand marshals of the parade, a nod to their parents, Pat and Dan Burton, who co-founded the event and hosted it in their front yard for many years. Amid the festivities, the gathering held a moment of silence for beloved neighborhood party planner and “hot dog man” Ralph Mosley.

Things may change from year to year, but Chip Arnold’s dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence always brings goosebumps. Delivered with thunderous fanfare from the Whitland Band, it’s the highlight of a joyful celebration of a nation and a neighborhood.

Olive Meigs, Leland Meigs, John Cooper

Susan Chapman, Cameron Simmons

BY CARRINGTON FOX PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL MEIGS continued on page 20

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PA R T I E S

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Ken Venick, Sharon Nelson

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F E AT U R E

Meleisha J. Edwards Vice President of Production, 353 Media Group

Ten years ago, Fisk University and Middle Tennessee State University graduate Meleisha J. Edwards was just one year into medical school when she surrendered to her urge to explore the television and film industry. “I wanted to learn more about film and TV and start telling stories that I, as an African American female, can relate to,” she says. “I started shadowing people in Nashville and taking courses at the University of California Los Angeles to learn the business — writing, producing and directing. As a result of taking classes at UCLA, I did my first short film, and I was inspired to do the second.”

Meleisha says she was also inspired by other Black female filmmakers, including Mara Brock Akil, Debra Martin Chase, Debbie Allen and Gina Prince-Bythewood, noting that “African American women are less than 3% of Hollywood’s TV and filmmakers. They gave me hope that, one day, I could make it.” Since then, Meleisha has produced more than 20 projects, from music videos and documentaries to award-winning shorts and feature films. She also developed a production company called Et Al Films with Fisk classmate Asher Turney.

We talked with Meleisha, who tells us more about her nontraditional career path and gives us a peek at current projects, including an intriguing documentary she’s working on with David Arquette and his wife, Christina.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS My first film was called Echappé. I was taking virtual classes at UCLA, and we were charged to produce a film that we wrote.

I was so proud of that story. When I look back now, I realize there was so much in film and TV that I needed to learn. I still love that film because it was the beginning and helped me get to the place that I am today. My first hired project was to help produce Dark Girls 2, a documentary on colorism, with director D. Channsin Berry. I was a big fan of the original Dark Girls, which premiered about five years before I met the director at the International Black Film Festival in Nashville through another project. Dark Girls 2 premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network in June 2021.

JOB PERKS One of the best perks has been meeting some of the people that I have met. From the president of OWN to so many great actors, directors and writers that I have looked up to. Currently, I am working with David Arquette and his wife, Christina, on a great documentary that looks at Bozo the Clown and the art of being a clown. I have learned so much that I would not know if I were not on the project. David and Christina are a joy to work with.

JOB CHALLENGES The biggest challenge is always financing. Making movies is a very expensive task. I do not think most people realize how difficult it is to get the proper financing for a TV and film project; it can take years. There are usually an [almost] insurmountable number of nos before a yes. Great scripts and ideas come around all the time, but having the financing to do them will always remain a challenge.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE My biggest influence early on, and still to this day, is Oprah Winfrey. The success that she has achieved, even from the difficult background that she came from, has always influenced me. She broke so many glass ceilings for women in general but especially for African American women. She still inspires me, and the fact that a documentary that I

produced aired on her network still gives me goosebumps and brings me joy.

SHOP LOCAL Some of the local locations that have provided [either] a space for us to shoot or other resources include Germantown Pub, Fisk University, National Museum of African American Music, Tennessee State University, Revv boutique, Meharry Medical College, El Rey Azteca, 9 Bar\Lounge, RENTaCAMERA.com, Film House and The Backlot Studio.

BEST ADVICE Be persistent. The film and TV industry can be difficult to get into, and it’s even more difficult to get “respect” in the industry. Most people believe you must work from the bottom to get to certain positions. There will be people that will tear you down and say that you will never make it. If you want it, go for it! Don’t let people discourage you! And if you can’t get on anyone’s set, create your own. There are so many resources online and so many ways to get your content out (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).

PROUD MOMENT My favorite project that I have worked on was Dark Girls 2 because the subject matter was dear to my heart. I have dealt with colorism in my life, and when the original Dark Girls came out, I was happy that this subject was finally being talked about. Working on Dark Girls 2 was so surreal to me; I just could not believe that I was now working on something that I was a fan of before. I am still grateful that I had that opportunity.

IN THE WORKS We are currently working on two documentaries: one called Loving Me to Death, a documentary on medicine, and one called Dying to Deliver, a documentary that discusses the disparities that African American women face with child delivery. We just completed a thriller pilot called Doctor, Doctor that is currently being shopped to networks. We also have a film, Francesca, that was produced in Greece and is currently being submitted to film festivals. And more to come!

BY MEGAN SELING PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

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F E AT U R E

Jace Freeman and Sean Clark Filmmakers, The Moving Picture Boys

The Moving Picture Boys are Jace Freeman and Sean Clark, two local filmmakers who are, as they explain it, “disillusioned by the direction of documentary film, with its talking heads, celebrity worship, cheap plot devices and agenda-driven simplifications.” With the patience needed to uncover deeper stories and the guts to break a few traditional filmmaking rules, Jace and Sean have built up an impressive filmography.

They made their debut in 2012 with Nashville Docujournal, a stunning web series that showcased day-to-day life in the city, portions of which were featured in the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit The Way We Worked. In 2014, their documentary The Ballad of Shovels and Rope, which followed the band Shovels and Rope as they recorded their critically acclaimed album O’ Be Joyful, was featured at festivals across the country. It took home multiple awards at the Nashville Film Festival that year. Most recently, Jace and Sean directed and produced 2019’s Saint Cloud Hill, which made its television broadcast debut on PBS, and earned co-directing credits on Baracoa, a documentary about Leonel, a young boy growing up in Cuba. The film was nominated for the Glashütte Original Documentary Award at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the 2019 Málaga Film Festival in Spain. We caught up with Jace and Sean to see what they’re working on next, their favorite thing about working in film and more.

CAREER PATH When we started collaborating over 10 years ago, we stumbled upon an ethos that definitely set us down a particular path. We’re primarily a two-person filmmaking team with a philosophy that less is more when creating our projects. Our shared methodology keeps each other in check and continues to evolve a unique style.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS In the beginning, we were just hungry to make something, so we started creating short documentary videos on YouTube. The idea was to combine street journalism and ‘60s cinema to create a new way to tell stories about the city around us. We produced a series called Nashville Docujournal that chronicled people and events around the city in a gritty, black-and-white style. It culminated in a film called Nashville 2012 that won Nashville Film Festival’s Best Tennessee Feature and helped introduce us to some critical partners in Nashville’s film industry.

JOB PERKS A special byproduct of documentary filmmaking is the exposure to different situations, events and cultures to which we would otherwise have no access. It could be something magical, like exploring a cave by torchlight in the Cuban countryside or getting The Braai Experience on a remote beach in South Africa, or something very serious, like witnessing a mother facing deportation or a teenager awaiting sentencing for potential life in prison. It’s very humbling.

JOB CHALLENGES I think one of the greatest challenges in our work is to continue to push for artistic growth in a way that stays true to us. It’s easy to get pulled one way or the other when new opportunities arise or new technologies and trends come to the market. We have a lot of conversations to stay grounded, keep it fun and fuel our passion for the work that is meaningful to us.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE The writer Wendell Berry has been one of the guiding lights in our work.

As we tell stories about the people and places around us, he encourages

us to seek out and remember that we’re all interconnected with each other and our land in a way that demands reverence and humility.

SHOP LOCAL From our experience, the Nashville film community is an extremely supportive group that does what they can to help each other, especially around artistic endeavors. A unique, local artist that we love is Sam Smith (aka Sam’s Myth), who creates beautiful film posters and artwork for The Criterion Collection.

BEST ADVICE Redefine what filmmaking means to you. Cinema exists outside of the multiplex and Netflix. There’s little holding you back, because you most likely have the technology in your pocket, and stories are all around you.

GET INSPIRED The Belcourt Theatre provides us inspiration through its programming and fostering of community. Having a physical place to gather and watch old and new films with people that we love has been vital for us over the years.

PROUD MOMENT One of our favorite projects was following the husband-and-wife duo Shovels and Rope as they were just starting out as a band. It was really surreal to capture the writing of one of their songs “Birmingham,” and then witness it performed onstage at the Ryman Auditorium to win Song of the Year at the Americana Music Honors & Awards.

IN ANOTHER LIFE We would most likely lean toward something else that’s creative and/or active in the community.

IN THE WORKS We’ve been growing a lot by collaborating with other local filmmakers, like Rachel Lambert and Allison Inman. We are currently working with Inman on a series of short observational documentaries that we’re really excited about.

BY MEGAN SELING PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

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F E AT U R E

Demetria Kalodimos Documentarian, Award-Winning Journalist and Community Leader

For almost four decades, Demetria Kalodimos has been a household name and trusted voice in Middle Tennessee since first gracing our TV screens as a respected anchor and reporter at WSMV. She’s received the top awards in broadcast journalism, including 16 Emmys, three Edward R. Murrow Awards for investigative reporting and the Gracie Award from Alliance for Women in Media twice. Closer to home, she was inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame, and readers of the Nashville Scene, one of our sister publications, consistently voted her Best Local Anchor. In the community, she has endeared herself to many by serving as an active board member and volunteer for numerous nonprofits.

Demetria has another career that also involves cameras, scripts and facts, but this time, she’s behind the scenes, making her own award-winning documentaries, music videos and other visual content through Genuine Human Productions, her documentary and production company. Her films were named official selections at the Chicago International Film Festival, where she received Honorable Mention, and the Nashville, Sidewalk, Indie Memphis, Berkeley and Barebones film festivals. The 13-episode songwriter series she produced, Barnegie Hall, aired nationally on PBS stations across the country and received a Telly Award.

In addition to her ongoing documentary work, Demetria is currently executive producer of Nashville Banner, a nonprofit digital civic news organization, and she just completed a year as professional in residence at Lipscomb University School of Communication. In September, she will serve as the moderator at our Most Powerful Women luncheon, co-hosted with another sister publication, the Nashville Post.

We wanted to learn more about Demetria’s work in documentary filmmaking and met up with her at The Filming Station, a former 1930s gas station thoughtfully and stunningly transformed with salvaged and repurposed materials. Since the renovation, it has served as the office and studio space for Genuine Human Productions and provided a creative community space to host concerts, tape broadcasts, screen films and hold events. She shared what led to her interest in documentaries, who inspires her and what we might see — or hear! — from her next.

CAREER PATH I was privileged to work at a time when our local television station was producing “long-form” stories. A documentary was a reward you had to earn. That led to my study and appreciation for great docs.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS All of my Genuine Human [Productions] documentaries have been 100 percent funded from my own cookie jar. That has meant a lot of DIY thinking.

I’ve been involved in some other productions with decent budgets that didn’t “spend” as wisely as my low-budget efforts. My first real “splash” was Friends Seen and Unseen, the story of a Nashville cult preacher.

JOB PERKS Of course, my TV news (day) job gave me a front seat to almost 40 years of history. But the filmmaking has allowed me to spend time and go deep with people I might have never met otherwise — not to mention a fair bit of travel.

JOB CHALLENGES The current reluctance of people to deal with journalists or filmmakers because of the misplaced notion of media dishonesty. It has kept some important doors shut.

my re-creations and period shots. I also scour garage sales for anyone’s cast-off home movies.

BEST ADVICE You will not make money or get rich off of a documentary — ever. If that has you saying why bother, then you are not a documentarian.

GET INSPIRED The programmers at the Belcourt, for discovering great work and allowing us to see it on a big screen. And my fellow creative video artists. It’s a very generous and sharing community.

PROUD MOMENT When I screened my documentary Injurious George, about the Nashville foot stomper in 2002, we took a show of hands, and about half the room had encountered him. Shocking. Also, to see two people who had been on “opposing sides” for decades embrace after the screening of my documentary Indelible, about Marcia Trimble’s murder.

IN ANOTHER LIFE Living on a Greek island and wanting to make a doc about it.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE Wow. I never miss an Errol Morris doc. And I appreciate great storytellers of all styles. My husband’s custom soundtracks often inform my editing and take it to a level I don’t anticipate.

IN THE WORKS A doc about a recent trip to Scotland, where my musician husband recorded for five days with some other amazing players and singers in a castle. I am also finishing a cold case podcast, which is the same process — simply an audio form of documentary.

SHOP LOCAL I could not live without Goodwill dig stores. The treasured props and finishing touches I’ve gotten there for pennies on the dollar make all the difference. I have an olive green dial phone that has made it into many of

FUTURE PLANS If I can continue to have the time and opportunity to tell meaningful stories in a memorable way, I’d be just fine. “Real people and true stories,” that’s my motto and passion.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

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F E AT U R E

Zack Hall

Freelance Video Editor, Belcourt Theatre Programming and Education Coordinator and In-House Media Producer

At the Belcourt Theatre, Programming and Education Coordinator and In-House Media Producer Zack Hall oversees film curation and engagement around a variety of signature series — including the popular Midnights program, Science on Screen, 12 Hours of Terror — and other repertory and first-run films and is responsible for on-screen video content, such as trailers, promotional spots and pre-show videos. In fact, his work is so good that he’s earned national acclaim for pieces that won first place in the Art House Convergence’s annual Trailer Wars competition.

Zack has simultaneously built a second successful career as a freelance editor, working on trailers, music videos and promotional spots for The Criterion Channel, Janus Films, Third Man Records, the American Genre Film Archive, the Spectacle theater, IFC Center and National Geographic. He began directing music videos and experimental video works, some of which were featured in the Frist Art Museum’s Pattern Recognition exhibition, and he received an Audience Award from Far Out Film Fest. In 2014, his first solo show was recognized as Best Video Art Installation by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

After 15 years at Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre, Zack knows the importance of a vibrant film community and actively participates in expanding the reach of film education in Nashville. He talked to us about how he got his start, his proudest moment and more.

CAREER PATH I started learning to edit in high school and was very fortunate to have a film class in which we shot 16 mm and made a few digital video projects. At that point, I wanted to be a director — something inspired by a deep dive into movies at my local video store and art house movie theater. When I went to college to study filmmaking, I just kept editing my own projects, and it became apparent that there was a surfeit of folks who wanted to be directors and a real dearth of editors. As a result, it was much easier finding work editing straight out of school than spending years working my way up the production chain.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS My first project out of college was actually for a former professor of mine and was a feature documentary about Iraqi Kurds and the genocide they endured under Saddam Hussein. It was a truly humbling and eye-opening project, and I learned so many valuable lessons from the various successes and failures along the way.

JOB PERKS The biggest job perk in both my Belcourt work and my editing projects is the necessity of watching a wide variety of films I might not seek out on my own. I’ve worked with lots of cool people over the years and been involved in projects I could have only ever dreamed of. It’s certainly provided plenty of “pinch me” moments.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE Early on, I was incredibly inspired by a bunch of old French dudes — the French New Wave auteurs, to be exact — who always seemed to push the boundaries of how a film should feel and look. Their movies opened the door to so many other wonderful modes of filmmaking, and I’ve gleaned so much inspiration from seeing all the different ways you can tell a story visually.

SHOP LOCAL Most of the time, I’m working on my computer in my office. It can be a kind of lonely existence, so I force myself to venture out of the house and make the rounds of all the great used media stores on the west side. I’m an avid collector of VHS tapes, sci-fi and horror paperbacks, and movie ephemera, so Rhino Books, The Great Escape, and

McKAY’s are great resources for finding that stuff, and it’s always nice to grab some lunch at Kien Giang or Miss Saigon while I’m over there.

BEST ADVICE We’re living in a time where everyone’s running around with a video camera in their pocket, but there are so few people who have the time, patience or skill to take that raw information and make it engaging. Every company has video content, and being able to edit, put your own creative spin on what a client wants and make those images sing will be 10,000 times more reliable securing you gigs than waiting for someone to pay you to make your own film. In the process, you learn a whole lot about what works and what doesn’t and can apply that knowledge to your own creative projects.

GET INSPIRED I’m inspired most by all my incredibly talented friends. There are so many genuinely impressive and creative folks who live in Nashville and have to work in restaurants or theaters or retail to support their creative endeavors. Their commitment to doing what they love and seeing out their artistic vision, despite it being harder than ever to be financially independent as a creative in Nashville, keeps me going when I feel overwhelmed.

PROUD MOMENT I’ve been fortunate to work with some pretty impressive people over the years, but the project that stands out is when I worked with a former Nashville filmmaker to make this absolutely insane career-spanning video for Ozzy Osbourne. He liked it so much he decided to show it onstage while he played “Paranoid” on tour.

IN THE WORKS I’m working on a trailer for a theatrical rerelease of some muchbeloved cult action films.

FUTURE PLANS At some point, I’d love another opportunity to edit a feature film, but for the time being, I’m pretty satisfied working on smaller projects that don’t tie me down for months on end.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC ENGLAND

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F E AT U R E

Jason Padgitt Executive Director, Nashville Film Festival

Before Jason Padgitt joined the Nashville Film Festival as executive director in 2018, he was working in another creative industry near and dear to so many Nashvillians’ hearts: the music industry.

After receiving valuable experience fresh out of college at the award-winning entertainment PR and marketing communications agency Rogers & Cowan, Padgitt followed his love of music and knack for creative global marketing campaigns to secure leadership roles at both Gibson Brands Inc. and Fender Musical Instruments Corp.

“Over several years, there became many natural tie-ins to the film industry, and I gained a strong interest in how film and music worked together in the broader entertainment industry,” says Padgitt. “I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to work in roles throughout my career that have not only been of great personal value to me, but have also helped build careers of musicians and filmmakers. It’s been a very rewarding journey so far.”

Padgitt recently took a break from the frenzy of film festival preparations to tell us more about hanging out with rock stars, working behind the scenes at major industry events and how the NFF is developing engaging film and education programs to ensure the next generation of Nashville’s creatives have a place to grow and explore.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Immediately after college, I moved to Los Angeles and landed a job as an assistant at a major entertainment PR firm. Within months, I found myself being responsible for running the press room at the Grammy Awards, so it was a pretty big leap in a very short amount of time. Beyond all of the impressive aspects of the talent and celebrities involved, it became very clear how much of an actual business the entertainment industry is, and while it can be a lot of fun, it also takes an incredible amount of work to be successful.

JOB PERKS Building an organization that is able to present new and innovative films to the Nashville community is incredibly rewarding.

For me, the joy in the experience is not as much about the films themselves but getting to experience some of the creative journey with the filmmakers. Being able to spend time with a director and share their experience of seeing their film on a big screen with an audience for the first time is amazing.

JOB CHALLENGES The biggest challenge I face is generating funding to help grow the organization. While the actual festival is a very high-profile part of what the Nashville Film Festival does, it is not all we do.

We produce year-round film screenings, an education program, music and film mentoring projects and more. We depend on a mix of grants, sponsorships, memberships and donations, but it’s always a challenge and takes a lot of time and energy to get our message out to build a larger, more engaged audience.

BEST ADVICE One thing most aspiring filmmakers don’t inherently recognize is that any great film is equal parts art and science. The skill sets required are both creative and technical, and you can’t underserve either one. So if you have a strength in one and a weakness in the other, focus on strengthening your weakness first. The other thing to remember is that the film industry is a very difficult business, and as much as you may want to be a creative filmmaker, you also need to learn to be a businessperson to succeed. You need to sell yourself and your film to

get it made. That can be a lot more difficult for people who are highly creative.

PROUD MOMENT One of the most memorable and certainly unique periods of my career involved working closely with Eddie Van Halen to help brand and launch his line of EVH guitars and amplifiers.

We would meet at his studio and go over things, and then, he would always start sharing stories about his life and career. He was one of the most impressive, intelligent and generally misunderstood people of all time. What I loved about working with him was understanding that his musical genius was driven by a passion that is really hard to achieve. You don’t become great at anything just because you were born with talent. You take that talent, add passion and work really, really hard, which is exactly what he did. More than a great guitar player, he was truly a great person, and I miss him a lot.

IN ANOTHER LIFE I would almost certainly want to be in a recording studio somewhere with all my musical friends, trying to simultaneously write and record the next great American classic album — maybe even a concept album that would later be adapted to a film.

IN THE WORKS The 53rd annual Nashville Film Festival is taking most of my time now. We’re thrilled with how it’s shaping up, and it will take place Sept. 29-Oct. 5. We hope everyone in Nashville will be a part of it.

FUTURE PLANS I would love to see a year-round cinema workshop in Nashville that could serve everyone in learning the basics of filmmaking, screenwriting and music for film. This would take the place of an arts degree but give everyone a chance to explore the art of filmmaking in a fun and collaborative way. I’ve got a lot of thoughts on how to make this work and would love to put all the pieces together to make it a reality someday soon.

BY MEGAN SELING PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC ENGLAND

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F E AT U R E

Girls Write Nashville

Sophia Pin, Assistant Director, and Jen Starsinic, Co-founder and Executive Artistic Director In 2016, Jen Starsinic and Georgia English got more than they bargained for, when a small, onetime community arts project quickly turned into a vibrant, successful organization. The two musicians founded Girls Write Nashville with a small Metro Arts Thrive grant, and the nonprofit now serves more than 200 students around the city. Last year, Sophia Pin joined Jen to help lead the organization.

At its core, Girls Write Nashville is a free songwriting mentorship program for young, female-identifying and nonbinary artists who attend Metro Nashville Title I public schools and face systemic barriers to participation. But it’s so much more than teaching students how to write songs. Jen says, “By focusing on community-building, authenticity and the vulnerability of creative risk-taking, Girls Write Nashville participants not only receive [a] world-class music and songwriting education, but they [also] find their voice, building confidence, leadership, self-advocacy and social-emotional skills needed to truly thrive as human beings in any arena.”

The program is split into progressing guilds. All students start out in the larger flagship Girls Write Nashville Guild, which is facilitated by local professional artists at schools around the city. Starting in 9th grade and after being in one of the satellite guilds for at least one year, students can then apply to the All-City Artists Guild, which is an advanced guild that focuses on more technical skills.

Students in this guild spend the whole season working up to recording and producing a song with a team of studio musicians in a professional studio. They then perform their song at a public album release show.

Jen and Sophia watch the students grow from uncertainty in expressing themselves, especially to their peers, to sharing and performing their works and opening themselves up to critique. “Working in the after-school programs and workshops and seeing students write lyrics that initially scared them and then see them find the bravery to present to the class, is such an incredible experience,” exclaims Sophia.

And while some students, such as Lindsey Loomis, do go on to find great success in music, that’s not the goal of the program, Jen explains. “We always emphasize that creative success doesn’t have to look like this and that you don’t have to achieve fame or even go into the traditional music industry in order to have a fulfilling creative life or be a ‘successful’ artist.” For example, Alora Young, 2020 Nashville Youth Poet Laureate, is a graduate of Girls Write Nashville, and many others find the confidence they need to pursue lives in other areas while using creative outlets to express themselves more fully.

BY JONATHAN SIMS PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

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F E AT U R E

The Porch

Katie McDougall, Co-founder and Co-director In 2014, Katie McDougall found herself sitting at a coffee shop across from Susannah Felts, who was excitedly sharing her dreams of opening a dedicated writing center in Nashville. Susannah had been missing the vibrant literary scene she was a part of in Chicago and wanted to bring that energy here. Katie was teaching high school English but longed for an opportunity to explore writing as a career, and she jumped at the invitation to be a part of Susannah’s vision. The Porch was born, and they launched the website later that year, not anticipating the response that was coming from the community.

In the years since launching, The Porch has become Nashville’s foremost writing community, now offering more than 100 adult writing workshops and hosting around 20 events each year from their headquarters in an adorable little cottage in Berry Hill. Both Susannah and Katie are experienced writers and educators with long lists of published works and awards, and they’re sharing their experience and earned wisdom with burgeoning writers across Middle Tennessee alongside an extensive roster of experienced and highly qualified instructors.

As the community has grown, so too has the breadth of programs they’re able to offer, always working to fulfill their mission “to inspire, educate and connect writers and readers of all ages and stages.” In addition to traditional writing groups, they offer workshops on every aspect of the writing and publishing journey, from research and finding inspiration to editing and book proposals. The Porch also hosts reading groups, such as Lit Mag League and Better Off Read; a Brown Bag Lunch Series, in which participants discuss various elements of writing and the writing life over a casual meal; and youth programs that include the Slant Creative Writing Summer Camp and the Novel Collab Lab. And their reach is ever-expanding, as they help amplify diverse voices through the Immigrants Write program.

The success of this unique nonprofit is evident in the many students who have been accepted into MFA programs, been published in literary journals or even received book deals. But more than that, it’s evident in the hundreds of lives that have been improved by the creative support that The Porch offers. “The classes I’ve taught tend to have so many beautiful moments when people connect and bond,” says Katie. “I’m currently facilitating a workshop at Mending Hearts, a therapeutic community for women in addiction recovery, and the courage and support that comes from writing their hearts out and then sharing has blown me away.”

BY JONATHAN SIMS PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

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F E AT U R E

Nashville Jazz Workshop

Lori Mechem, Founder and Director of Education With little more than a handful of students and a desire to offer something more than the traditional, academic approach to jazz education, Lori Mechem and her husband, Roger Spencer, created the Nashville Jazz Workshop. For the last 25 years, they’ve helped countless students fall in love with jazz and develop their talents. But the duo are much more than instructors; they’re both respected jazz musicians with impressive discographies. Lori taught commercial piano at Belmont University for nine years and has performed with jazz legends, such as Dizzy Gillespie, Red Holloway and Jimmy Smith, and recorded her own awardwinning and chart-climbing albums. Roger, a bassist, has traveled and recorded with such artists as Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis.

Over the years, Lori and Roger have assembled an incredible faculty of more than 50 instructors, including drummer Chester Thompson, vocalist Donna McElroy and saxophonist Joel Frahm, to teach an extensive catalog that covers the full range of vocals, instruments, techniques and styles. Today, the Nashville Jazz Workshop offers up to 15 classes in six-week sessions for 75 students.

They even offer jazz history and appreciation courses for enthusiasts, such as “Comparative Listening: The Great Jazz Standards,” “The Influence of Afro-Latinx Culture in Contemporary Music” and “Jazz in Film.”

Unfortunately, just before the pandemic, they were pushed out of the building in which they had taught classes and held performances and visual arts exhibits for almost 20 years to make way for more condos. When the pandemic did hit, construction on their new home in the Buchanan Arts District came to a halt, making their transition particularly difficult. In the fall, they started offering virtual classes, which had the unexpected benefit of opening the curriculum to a global audience. They now have students in 16 countries and 46 states, and they finally opened their doors for in-person classes and performances in July 2021.

While they are proud of all of their students over the years, many have gone on to enjoy great success in music. Rachael Price, lead singer of Lake Street Dive and Rachael & Vilray; Kandace Springs, pianist and vocalist on Blue Note Records; and Monica Ramey, vocalist with the renowned pianist Beegie Adair, who passed away earlier this year, have all come through the Nashville Jazz Workshop. And Tyler Bullock, a longtime NJW piano student, is currently studying at Juilliard. Lori suggests keeping an eye on his career.

Both students and professionals share their love of jazz and their appreciation for all that the Nashville Jazz Workshop has taught them in the new Jazz Cave, where anyone who is interested can come and celebrate one of the most beloved and diverse genres of music with others.

BY JONATHAN SIMS PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL MEIGS

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PA I N T I N G

THE

SMOKIES

A R T, C O M M U N I T Y, A N D T H E M A K I N G O F A N AT I O N A L P A R K

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A final stroke of midnight changes it all when a beautiful princess, handsome prince, and glass slipper come together on stage for a sparkling rendition of Cinderella.

Oct. 6–9 at TPAC

Tickets on sale now at NashvilleBallet.com or call 615-297-2966 x 710

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PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW

Back to the Stage A preview of the 2022-2023 performing arts season After more than two years of canceled and restricted performances, Nashville’s performing arts organizations are back in full swing for the 2022-2023 seasons.

With world premieres by local artists and returning Broadway favorites, annual traditions and one-time-only shows, we’ve collected just a handful of the many incredible upcoming performing arts offerings. Whether you’re planning a romantic evening with your partner, an outing with the whole family or a night out on the town with the girls, we’ve got you covered. And to lift your holiday spirits, several of Nashville’s favorite traditions are back this year!

BY JONATHAN SIMS

DATE NIGHT Holst’s The Planets: Take a journey through the solar system with your partner, as Grammy-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich joins the Nashville Symphony and its Women’s Chorus for Kaija Saariaho's Asteroid 4179: Toutatis, Tchaikovsky’s “unplayable” Violin Concerto and Gustav Holst’s The Planets. Sept. 29Oct. 2, 2022, nashvillesymphony.org.

Meow Meow: Spice up your date night at War Memorial Auditorium, as OZ Arts presents an enticing evening with “post-post-modern” chanteuse, diva and comedienne Meow Meow, a show that is sure to enchant and move you. Oct. 28, 2022, ozartsnashville.org.

Ledisi: Nina and Me: In a moving tribute to the great Nina Simone, Grammy Award-winning Ledisi joins the Nashville Symphony to bring the legendary singer’s romantic and revolutionary songs to life on the Schermerhorn’s stage. Nov. 6, 2022, nashvillesymphony.org.

MEOW MEOW

Sinatra and Beyond With Tony DeSare: What could be more romantic for you and yours than a night on the town with Ol’ Blue Eyes? Tony DeSare will serenade you late into the evening with classic Frank Sinatra hits alongside the Nashville Symphony.

Nov. 7, 2022, nashvillesymphony.org.

Attitude Anthology: This mesmerizing concept by Paul Vasterling is an exploration of Nashville, featuring music by Jordan Lehning, Beethoven and more; original compositions performed by MORGXN; and choreography by Mollie Sansone. Feb. 10-12, 2023, nashvilleballet.com.

The Pirates of Penzance: Come aboard for this humorous and clever tale on the high seas. What more could you want for a fun date night than pirates, love stories and music by Gilbert & Sullivan? April 21-23, 2023, nashvilleopera.org.

The Beach Boys With the Nashville Symphony: Sing and dance the night away together, as the legendary Beach Boys team up with the Nashville Symphony to take you back to the early days of surfing sounds and crisp harmonies. May 25-27, 2023, nashvillesymphony.org.

FAMILY FUN Click, Clack, Boo: All the animals on the farm are excited about the upcoming Halloween party, but Farmer Brown isn’t so sure. The animals try to convince him just how much fun Halloween can be in this spooky

barnyard musical. Oct. 1-30, 2022, nashvillechildrenstheatre.org.

Ghostbusters in Concert: Pack your family into your Ecto-1, strap on a proton pack and prepare for an evening of busting ghosts with the Nashville Symphony. As Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect opportunity to share the beloved paranormal comedy with the whole family. Oct. 14-16, 2022, nashvillesymphony.org.

The Wizard of Oz: You don’t need to wait for a Kansas twister to join Dorothy and Toto on their journey down the yellow brick road, making a few friends along the way. Nov. 17-Dec. 23, 2022, nashvillechildrenstheatre.org.

The Music of Star Wars With the Nashville Symphony: Get ready for a journey to a galaxy far, far away featuring pre-concert activities and all the John Williams themes you and

your family know by heart from across the entire film saga. Jan. 12-15, 2023, nashvillesymphony.org.

Ratatouille in Concert: Without help from particularly skillful rats (as far as we know), the Nashville Symphony is cooking up an extra-delicious performance of the hit Disney-Pixar family film in the spring. March 17-19, 2023, nashvillesymphony.org.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: This adventure tells the story of a teenager with an extraordinary mind, who pushes beyond the limits everyone, including himself, set for him to solve a mystery and clear his name. It will lift your spirits and open your family’s eyes to a world you might not understand. March 24-April 2, 2023, nashvillerep.org.

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P E R F O R M IN G ARTS PREVIEW

SIX

retelling of the beloved classic, with rapping robots and stepsisters obsessed with social media and featuring music and lyrics by Rona Siddiqui. April 13-May 21, 2023, nashvillechildrenstheatre.org.

Disney's Aladdin: You know the songs and love the characters. Now, you can hop on the magic carpet and see the spectacular Broadway adaptation of the wondrous Disney classic on the stage. May 2-7, tpac.org.

The Sleeping Beauty: Experience the wonder and excitement of this timeless classic with the whole family performed by the talented students and up-and-comers of the School of Nashville Ballet. May 5-14, 2023, nashvilleballet.com.

GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT Kristin Chenowith: From Wicked to Schmigadoon! to her new book, What Will I Do With My Love Today?, Kristin has dabbled in a little bit of everything.

Join her and the girls for an intimate performance as part of TPAC's Cabaret On Stage series. Sept. 10, 2022, tpac.org.

Trailblazing Women: Commissioned to celebrate great women composers for the centennial of the 19th Amendment, this program presents Florence Price’s Piano Concerto, a performance by Joan Tower, and the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Julia Wolfe’s Her Story, featuring the Lorelei Ensemble. Sept. 15-17, 2022, nashvillesymphony.org.

Pretty Woman: It may be one of the most loved romantic comedies ever, but seeing the story of Vivian Ward and Edward Lewis onstage in this musical rendition is like falling in love all over again. Sept. 27-Oct. 2, 2022, tpac.org.

The Cake: If you're obsessed with watching competitive baking shows, then you'll love this dramatic comedy that takes you into the kitchen of a traditional Southern woman who is preparing to appear on The Great American Baking Show and is forced to grapple with some big questions when she's asked to bake a cake for a wedding with two brides. Oct. 21-30, 2022, nashvillerep.org.

ALADDIN

SIX: There’s a whole lot of girl power heading to TPAC in February, as the six wives of Henry VIII get their lyrical revenge against the infamous king of England, albeit 500 years later, in the energizing hit Broadway musical. Feb. 21-26, 2023, tpac.org.

Here You Come Again: In a tribute to one of Tennessee’s most cherished icons, this musical celebrates all things Dolly Parton, told from the perspective of a struggling comedian who looks to her songs as a guide during hard times.

May 17-28, 2023, studiotenn.org.

HOLIDAY HITS Home Alone in Concert: Don’t accidentally leave any kids at home when you head to the Schermerhorn for this can’t-miss annual tradition. No holiday season is complete without watching Kevin McCallister defend his home from The Wet Bandits as the Nashville Symphony plays John Williams’ unmistakable score. Dec. 2-4, 2022, nashvillesymphony.org.

Nashville’s Nutcracker: One of Nashville’s favorite holiday traditions is back! But this year, Paul Vasterling’s interpretation of the revered classic features a new, never-before-seen reimagined snow scene you won’t want to miss. Dec. 9-24, 2022, nashvilleballet.com.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: Merry Christmas to us all! Yes, that includes all 18 of the characters Mark Cabus plays in his unique solo performance of the old holiday favorite.

Dec. 10-11, 2022, studiotenn.org.

Music City Christmas: Get ready for a holiday show you’ll never forget!

Featuring incredible dancers, Broadway singers and more, this magical tradition will put you in the holiday spirit in no time, especially when Santa makes his big appearance. Dec. 15-18, 2022, nashvillesymphony.org.

Elf: The Musical: Whether or not you like the taste of syrup on spaghetti, you’ll love this stage rendition of the instantly beloved holiday film, which tells the story of Buddy the Elf, a human raised by elves, as he explores New York City and gets to know his father, who’s on the naughty list. Dec. 21, 2022-Jan. 1, 2023, nashvillerep.org.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF KARYN PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE NASHVILLE BALLET, NASHVILLE CHILDREN'S THEATRE, NASHVILLE REP, OZ ARTS NASHVILLE AND TPAC

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ANNE BLAIR BROWN

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NSPIRE

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL MEIGS

(New) Home Sweet Home A new facility for Renewal House brings additional hope and healing to women and children In 1996, Renewal House was founded as the first longterm provider of addiction treatment in Middle Tennessee where women and children could stay together and be cared for simultaneously. Numerous organizations, including the Junior League of Nashville, believed in the mission and provided the funding to get it off the ground.

It opened in a 1960s former apartment building with 17 units on Clarksville Pike. Today, Renewal House is still the only such facility in the region. On June 24, the nonprofit celebrated the grand opening of a new facility.

“This building is going to change our lives, how we work, and then transform the lives of so many more families,” said CEO Pamela Sessions. And it will. At 30,000 square feet, it holds offices, meeting rooms and space for telehealth services, and best of all, 34 apartments, which doubles the capacity. It opened debt-free and sits adjacent to the former facility, both on a 14-acre tract owned by the organization. The old building is being rehabbed into longterm recovery housing for clients who have completed the program — a gift to them when “affordable” housing is increasingly difficult to find. “It gives us the opportunity to see these women for a long time. If it looks like they’ve hit a bump in the road, we can offer assistance to the graduate,” Pamela explains.

Pamela’s passion for helping people is obvious as she takes us through the new facility. She’s rightfully excited and proud about the enhanced and increased services that she and her team will be able to provide residents.

First, she shows us a few of the apartments, of which there are 31 one-bedrooms and three two-bedrooms.

Each is generously sized, with a roomy bath, and has large picture windows and a full kitchen with all-new appliances — even dishwashers!

After our tour, we return to a couple of apartments to join some volunteers already in the process of setting up. Each unit has boxes crammed with dishes, utensils, bedding and more that need to be unpacked and put away. In one, we meet Gayle Goodall, one member of several teams of volunteers from Dell, who are readying the spaces. She’s been involved with the nonprofit for a long time, first as a JLN volunteer, then as a board member, and she lets us know “I’m always quick to sign up” when the opportunity arises.

Dell volunteers have provided assistance since the early days of this project, and the company has made financial and in-kind donations for years. For the new building, it gave a significant amount of technology, including large monitors for staff training and a computer lab for residents. As for the new laptops that now allow staff to go to work with clients in their apartments, Pamela exclaims, “It’s a real game changer!”

Renewal House welcomes volunteers year-round for help with child care, supplies, solicitations and more.

Some groups bring dinners and lunches for the residents to enjoy together or in their apartments. If hands-on work isn’t your style, come get inspired at the annual Renewal House Thanksgiving, a luncheon to be held Nov. 2 at the Omni Hotel.

We were grateful to be invited for this first look at the new Renewal House facility and for the chance to participate in such a special volunteer project, one that was easy to carry out and goes to improve the lives of so many women and children. To learn more about the excellent work at Renewal House and its programs, volunteer opportunities and events, visit renewalhouse.org.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN

Disclaimer: I was chair of the JLN’s then-called Community Council that recommended the initial funding of $50,000 for Renewal House.

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Down the Hall Halls Chophouse offers comfortable fine dining and a Charleston experience in Nashville A frequent patron of Halls Chophouse in the new Broadwest building recently texted general manager Chad Ellis, asking if he could wear shorts to dinner at the newly opened restaurant.

“Of course,” Chad replied. “It’s your living room.”

The Hall family, who opened the original Halls Chophouse in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2009, prides itself on creating a warm, inviting environment, albeit an elegantly appointed one. “The overall experience is what sets us apart," says Executive Chef Chris Von Egger, who calls Halls a classic, old-school steakhouse. “It’s not stuffy in here. It’s fine dining, but it’s a family atmosphere.” The wait staff serves the side dishes at the table, asking diners, for instance, if they’d like more collard greens or creamed corn. And it’s not unusual to see the executive chef or a member of the Hall family greeting guests. “I’ll be in the dining room anytime I can, saying hi and talking to people,” says Chris.

In keeping with the relaxed but elegant theme, a baby grand piano is positioned near the entrance, where a three-to-seven-piece band plays music every night from a variety of genres, such as “jazz or pop with a certain swing to it,” says Chad. There are 64 speakers in the restaurant, which is just over 10,000 square feet. All the ceiling tiles are custom-made acoustic panels designed to reduce ambient sound. “A lot of work went into making the music sound great,” says Chad. “It’s Nashville, so that’s important.”

The look of the restaurant is equally impressive. The Columbia, South Carolina-based Garvin Design Group was both the architect on the project and the interior designer. Signature, custom-made runners in shades of blues and beige, patinated to resemble antique Persian rugs, dot dark wood floors. Exposed brick archways recall the original Halls. “It has been important to the Hall Family to be consistent with the brand components initiated at the original Halls Chophouse in Charleston,” says Kim Moon, the interior designer who worked on the project.

“Some signature elements are the classic mosaic tiles in the bar, the wood wainscoting and the ‘schoolhouse’ light fixtures.” There are five Halls Chophouse restaurants, four of which are in South Carolina. Nashville is the first out-of-state location. The newly constructed restaurant is highlighted by an open kitchen. The large space is divided into intimate dining rooms, many named for the Hall children and grandchildren.

BY WHITNEY CLAY PHOTOGRAPHS BY JASON BIHLER PHOTOGRAPHY

CLASSIC FARE The steakhouse serves a variety of USDA prime steaks from Allen Brothers of Chicago, including filet mignon, New York strip, rib eye and Japanese A5 wagyu filet. Patrons may choose from sauces, such as béarnaise, peppercorn-brandy and red wine bordelaise. Seafood is also featured prominently on the menu. There’s ahi tuna, pan-seared scallops and shrimp and grits, among other offerings. Rounding out the menu are quail and braised duck. The well-suited sides include sweet-and-sour collard greens and pepper jack creamed corn.

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STEP INSIDE

RAISE A GLASS The restaurant, which seats 360, with 70 on the outside patio, has two bars and an extensive wine collection featuring 1,600 bottles on display, including cabernet, Bordeaux, Spanish and Italian wines. Halls has two sommeliers and has plans to hire a third. The bar in the back is particularly popular with whiskey drinkers, where they offer sought-after bourbons, like Old Rip Van Winkle, Heaven Hill and Eagle Rare. It’s also worth a look to see the spectacular view from the bar to downtown.

FOLLOW YOUR ART Much of the artwork is of wildlife, including game birds and hunting dogs. The art was curated by longtime Hall family friends Jimmy and Beth Huggins. Jimmy is the president of the Charleston-based Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. The paintings of dogs are fitting, as the Hall family has hosted multiple fundraisers for animal rescues. In a nod to Nashville, there are also paintings of downtown Broadway and the historic Ryman Auditorium to, as Kim describes, “create a sense of place, incorporating the local landscape and culture.”

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TA K I N G VO W S

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTIN WRIGHT

erson d n A h t e b a Paige E liz Marries omas Rose h T d r a w Ed

Paige Anderson and Edward Rose were set up for a date by a mutual friend in Manhattan, New York, in April 2014. They married eight years later, in April 2022 in downtown Nashville on the pool terrace of the new Grand Hyatt Nashville with family friend Judge Joe Binkley Jr. officiating.

The sunset ceremony was followed by a reception featuring music by The NashVegas All Stars and a three-course dinner featuring Tennessee filet and Chilean sea bass. Dessert Designs by Leland crafted the tiered vanilla bean and caramel wedding cake.

Paige wore a gown and veil by Ines Di Santo from The Bride Room in Nashville, and Edward wore a custom-designed tuxedo by Mohan’s Custom Tailors

in Manhattan. For the reception, Paige changed into a blush-colored Romona Keveza gown.

Amos Gott designed the bridal bouquet, as well as the table centerpieces featuring coral accents, taking a cue from Paige’s favorite color. Jessica Clark at Ink Nashville designed the invitations, Kristen Carpenter was responsible for the art accents, and Val Cole was the calligrapher.

“This was truly my hometown destination wedding,” said Paige. “After nearly a decade living in New York, it was so special to celebrate my nuptials in Nashville. Our visiting guests from across the country were thrilled to join us in Music City against the backdrop of such vibrant and exciting growth. I know

many locals long for the Nashville of yesteryear, but I am delighted to see the future and beyond.”

After a mini-honeymoon to Miami, the couple returned to their home in Manhattan, where Paige, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, is in the pharmaceuticals and biotech industry, and Edward, an alumnus of Villanova University, is in finance.

Their parents are Nancy Anderson of Nashville and the late Robert Jackson Anderson III (Bob) and Edith and Richard Rose of Boca Raton, Florida. Paige is the great-granddaughter of the late Evelyn Anderson, the longtime proprietor of the eponymous antiques gallery in Belle Meade.

BY SANDRA NELSON

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NSIDER

Phil Billington, Sandra Morgan, Joe Steakley

Dave Walton, Brian Hassett

Chase Smith, Darren Gottschalk, Shawn and Amanda Hurley

Ben Rechter, Jennifer Paisley

United Way Tocqueville Society Nearly 150 members of the United Way Greater Nashville’s Tocqueville Society enjoyed a very special cocktail reception at the Nashville Soccer Club’s new GEODIS Field. They escaped the heat in the Valkyrie Premier Club, where they enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres and took in the breathtaking view of the pitch. After hearing from Nashville SC principal owner John Ingram and Society Co-chair Sandra Morgan, this group of UWGN’s most generous supporters were treated to private, behind-the-scenes tours of the new facility.

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BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY CARLY CLARK

Billy and co-chair Tracy Crawford, Co-chair Carolyn and Dawson Thombs

Jennifer and Billy Frist

Jennie and Adam Esbenshade

Carroll Kimball, Tricia Ericson, Caroline Sirko, Jamie Granbery

Eve of Janus Patrons Party Jamie and Jimmy Granbery opened their lovely Hillwood home to patrons of the Eve of Janus. Co-chairs Tracy Crawford and Carolyn Thombs welcomed the Tri Delta alums and parents who came to celebrate the young women and men to be presented at the upcoming black-tie gala, which benefits the Tri Delta Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. After a few words from Honorary Chair Adam Esbenshade, the jovial crowd enjoyed a tasty summer spread from Kristen Winston Catering.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY RACHEL MOORE continued on page 54

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PHOTOS: JORDAN POWERS PHOTOGRAPHY

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MAGGIE BOND M 615.481.9203 • O 615.383.6964 mbond@villagetn.com @maggiemovesnashville License #334675 • nfocusmagazine.com | AUGUST 2022 << 53

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Courtney Grimes, Lauran Sauter

Anna Ezell, Sarah and Ryan Torti

Leslie Roberts, Sam Hamby, Tatiana Buchanan

Casey O’Grady, Nigel Vorbrich

Noted: Songs, Sips & Stories Renewed’s fifth annual Noted: Songs, Sips & Stories took place at City Winery, with co-chairs and mother-daughter team Mary Lee Bartlett and Ansley Page at the helm. The evening of great music included a top-notch lineup of performers, including Andrew Greer & Friends, Point of Grace, Cindy Morgan, Brandon Heath and more. The nonprofit is the leading statewide provider of hope, education and support for men, women and young adults seeking recovery from all forms of eating disorders and body image concerns.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC ENGLAND

Susan and Tim Wipperman

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Country Music Hall of Fame Honor Society Country Music Hall of Fame board member Ken Levitan and his wife, Gloria Dumas, welcomed members of the nonprofit’s Honor Society to their gracious Oak Hill home for cocktails, bites and, of course, song. Attendees were treated to a special performance by Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and singersongwriters Matraca Berg and Jaime Hanna. Members of the Honor Society also receive an invitation to the exclusive Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Medallion Ceremony, the annual induction of new Hall of Fame members.

BY HOLLY HOFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY AMIEE STUBBS

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PENCIL IN

AUGU ST MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

STARS FOR WISHES AUGUST 5

5

After postponement due to the pandemic, Stars for Wishes returns with an evening of entertainment at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The best part of the night?

Funds raised help Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee create life-changing wishes come true for children and their families — wishes that give them renewed energy and strength and bring them closer together. wish.org

18 SUMMER SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

BROADWAY BRUNCH

AUGUST 18

Start your day off right with mimosas and get excited for the Nashville Rep’s upcoming season by attending its signature fundraiser, Broadway Brunch! As she has so many times before, this year’s Ovation Award recipient, Tony Awardwinning actress Donna McKechnie, will sing and dance her way into attendees’ hearts when she joins the Rep’s talented artists onstage for a surprise performance. nashvillerep.org

AUGUST 21

21

The Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s “Shakespeare in the Park” returns with two productions: August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean and Cymbeline

by William Shakespeare. The family- and dog-friendly nights include pre-show concerts, “Insight” scholar-led discussions, NSF Apprentice Company performances, food trucks and more! It begins Aug. 18 and runs for four weeks at The Yard at OneC1ty and one week in Franklin. nashvilleshakes.org

OTHER NOTEWORTHY EVENTS Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25: Dog Nights of Summer (Cheekwood) Aug. 16: A Tennessee Waltz Patrons Party (Tennessee State Museum) Aug. 25: River Swing Patrons Party (Harpeth Conservancy)

For a full listing of upcoming events, visit calendar.nfocusmagazine.com.

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OPENING NIGHT:

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WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY & CHORUS Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor

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WITH SUPPORT FROM

BEST B E H AV I O R

38 YEARS 4 3,0 0 0 D E S I G N S E X P E R I E N C E M AT T E R S

Great Expectations Expert etiquette advice from John Bridges

CAUGHT IN THE ACT Over the past couple of years, I’ve seen people posting pictures of the food they’re eating and pictures of themselves cooking on Facebook. Since everybody’s been quarantined, I can understand it, but now that we’re back in restaurants and out of the house, people, even my friends, seem to forget that I don’t like people taking pictures of anything at the table, even at a restaurant, much less the food. At a dinner party I threw the other night, a woman was taking shots of the plates. I asked her why. It wasn’t a particularly pretty plate, but she said she wanted to share the pictures with her Facebook friends. I almost threw her out. What should I have done?

— Anonymous, Green Hills You pulled together the guest list, and you cooked up the dinner. You had the right to make the rules and decree that all iPhones go into purses or pants pockets before anybody hit the table. But apparently, you didn’t. So, the paparazza decided to share her shots with the wide world. In a restaurant, unless there’s a clearly stated policy of no food shots, there’s nothing you can do. If you’re not paying for dinner, your cause is lost. But now you know what to do on your own turf: Hang a bag on a convenient doorknob, where people can stash their phones. If they won’t, you don’t have to invite them back. You didn’t send the woman with the flashing phone out to the sidewalk. That was the right thing (not) to do. Just saying no is the best thing a hostess can do, now and then — but only in the kitchen, before the entrée’s on the plates. It’s time for her to learn how to go to a dinner party again and sit down, chew and chit-chat again — not at the same time, of course.

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PLAYING THE GAME I’m dating a man who’s into hiking and biking. He has tickets for the Titans too. I know that, as a man, even a gay man, I’m supposed to like these things, but quite honestly, I don’t. I’m more into movies, music, books and cooking — the stuff gay guys are supposed to do. I like the man, so I’ve been going along with whatever he wants to do. I guess it’s time for me to tell him the truth.

Help me figure out what to do. — Anonymous, 12South If you found your boyfriend on a dating app, you might have asked for references ahead of time. He assumes that you like the “nongay” things he likes to do. That’s why he invites you along. He’s been doing them alone — or with somebody else — since long before he met you. You’ve invented a picture of what you’re supposed to do and what he’s obligated to do. Give his world a try or two. But don’t let it go on for too long. Tell the guy that what he wants to do doesn’t work for you. You lived separate lives before; you can live the same way now, should you choose to do so. No marriage vows have been exchanged.

Have they?

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BY JOHN BRIDGES

John is the author of How To Be a Gentleman and the co-author, with Bryan Curtis, of other books in the GentlemannersTM series. Send your Best Behavior questions to jbridges@nfocusmagazine.com, and check out his up-to-theminute advice on life’s puzzling problems every Friday at nfocusmagazine.com.

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NR E TR O S P E CT

60 EATRE; CIRCA 19

E BELCOURT TH

URTESY OF TH PHOTOGRAPH CO

Time Lapse A brief look at the history of the Belcourt Theatre The Belcourt Theatre’s vibrant history began almost 100 years ago, when it opened as the Hillsboro Theater. It showed silent movies and had a Kimball organ, 800 leather seats and Nashville’s largest stage. Guests entered through what is now The Villager Tavern.

(Just imagine what those early patrons would think if they walked through there today!) The Nashville Children’s Theatre and Grand Ole Opry performed there in the 1930s before it was renamed Nashville Community Playhouse and hosted community events, live theater and film. In 1966, it was purchased by the Massey family, who renamed it the Belcourt Cinema and added a second hall.

Fifty years later, the Belcourt Theatre underwent a massive renovation and preservation project, and today, the nonprofit cultural institution is a leader among the country’s art houses, both regionally and nationally.

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verragio unlike any other ring

E XC LU S I V E LY AT

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