Belmont University’s Troutt/Black Box Theater and the Belmont Theatre program both won Best of Awards in the 19th Annual “Best of Nashville” issue of the Nashville Scene, on newsstands now. The Scene’s Martin Brady noted, “… for high impact and versatility, the opening of Belmont University’s new facility gets the gold star. Not only is the Troutt a lovely multipurpose venue in a hip part of town, but it also houses a cool alternative space in its Black Box Theater. Maybe more importantly, the university has opened these theaters for use by Naked Stages, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Actors Bridge Ensemble and other companies in need, thus helping to alleviate Music City’s long-standing crunch for theatrical space.”
For the “Best College Theater Program,” Brady added, “Belmont has been turning out talented actors and musical performers for a good while, including Blue Man Group’s Christopher Brown… and American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle. Energetic theater department head Paul Gattrell has shored up the acting program with the hire of Bill Feehely, and he’s entered into collaborative relationships with local theater entities. Small wonder the young players who pepper every one of the college’s productions seem unusually stage-savvy.”
