No doubt about it - one of Nashville's greatest treasure's is our
brilliant pubic library - especially the stunning Main Library on
Church Street, whose architecture resonates with the same classical
power that we see in The Parthenon and the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall.
For attendees at a recent Nashville conference of The American Societyfor Theatre Research, the library - and the current exhibition
reflecting on Nashville's theatre and performing arts history - were
on the short list of not to be missed places to visit in downtown
Nasvhille.
CURTAIN CALL is a beautifully curated exhibit covering over 100 years of
the performing arts in Music City which lines the walls of the Special
Collections gallery on the second floor of the Main Library. Curated
by Special Collections staff member Beth Odles, the exhibit draws on
materials in the library archives - materials which have been donated
over the years by Nashvillians whose passions for the performing arts
and the city's history are now passed down to us ( and serve as an
important example of why it behooves the current generation to see
that materials from the history that WE are making today find their
way into the archives.)
The CURTAIN CALL exhibition first went up in 2003, but the current
version has expanded on that original to include all aspects of
entertainment, including music and cinema. In fact, as I learned from Beth, the
Main branch of the library sits on the same block that once boasted
Nashville's Vendome Theatre.
Materials in the exhibit range from the late 1800s through the 1950s,
with a few more recent relics, including a First Night program and a
flyer from my own 2003 production GHOSTS OF NASHVILLE. Among these
treasures are materials from the Lula C. Naff scrapbooks - Ms. Naff
ran the Ryman back in the day, when folks like Katherine Hepburn and
Roy Rogers came to town - to sheet music collections from young ladies
who studied music back in the 1800s to memorabilia from the founding
of The Nashville Children's Theatre in 1935.
CURTAIN CALL will remain up until the end of the year and is something
that Nashville's theatre community should not miss - and for those who
have never been, an excellent opportunity to check out Special
Collections, which includes such wonders as The Civil Rights Room and
the Nashville Authors Special Collection.
And while you're down there, pick up the forms which will allow you to
add materials from your company or film and theatre projects to the archives.
Come to Nashville and Go to the Theatre!
Jaz Dorsey
The Nashville Dramaturgy Project
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