Some of you have, but many have not yet noticed that we have added a page here that takes you quickly to a collection of Clarence Brown Theatre show photographs from the past three seasons.  We don’t have every show, but many of them are here.

Disclaimer: some of these photos were a learn-as-you go process, and most of them were taken not with an SLR with proper creative controls, but with a memory card on a video camera.  The resolution is also a lot lower than today’s digital SLRs provide, so the picture size (and blow-up-ability) is less.  We have a new Nikon now, and we’re making progress, though!  Nevertheless, there are some interesting shots here you might find interesting.  We’re storing our photos on flickr, which allows for easy maintenance and several display options.

To go to my CBT summary page, just hit the “Photos” link on the menu bar, or click here or head to http://www.uttheatre.org/flickr.php.

Enjoy!

Ain’t Misbehavin’ is in the final week of its run at the Clarence Brown Theatre.

Audience reaction as been great, but there are still a few seats available for the remaining performances.

Here’s what media reviewers have had to say about the production:

Ben Whiteside in the UT Daily Beacon says that “those who appreciate simple, well-crafted songs about love, dancing, self-expression and, yes, sex, or those who have any sort of interest in musical theater, would enjoy Ain’t Misbehavin’.”

Now if the audience equates “simple, well-crafted songs” with “snooze-o-rama” then they will be surprised, as Waller’s ability and courage to take songs to interesting, humorous and flat-out unexpected places is one of his most endearing qualities. Take “The Viper’s Drag,” for instance — a smolderingly sleazy song that exudes sexuality a la Catherine Zeta-Jones’ steamy Chicago number “All That Jazz” — sung by a man? About smoking the reefer? Really?

He concludes that

“Ain’t Misbehavin’” is a great way to start the new Clarence Brown season, and if the audience is not tapping their feet along with pianist Charles Creath during the show (he never stops), they will definitely be tapping all the way home.

 The Metropulse review by Kieron Barry appeared in mid-run (their Thursday publication date doesn’t help us much — but at least mid-run is an improvement over the couple-of-days-before-closing date that we used to see in the past.)  Mr. Barry has a few nice things to say about the performances, but uses his space to complain that the Clarence Brown Theatre shouldn’t be producing musical revues at all:

Such trompe l’oeils aside, Ain’t Misbehavin’ remains the wrong show in the wrong venue. The Department of Theatre could have triumphed by putting it on mike-free in a studio-space, or as a cabaret event. As it stands, the show is certainly not without its charms, and all in all it’s about as much fun as an inevitable disappointment can be. Entertaining always, and spectacular often. But drama it ain’t.

One reader’s comments totally skewers Mr. Barry’s thesis, so please read those.  I’ll just note that Mr. Barry fashions himself a playwright, and it’s perfectly understandable for a playwright to want to see plays, not revues, performed in theatres — it would seem to improve his shot at getting performed.  But I wouldn’t hold my breath…

As the area’s most read publication, the Knoxville News-Sentinel normally sends a staffer on Opening Night to review CBT performances, although lately, their Doug Mason has been showing up for Preview or other days.  For whatever reason, Mr. Mason didn’t show up until a week after Opening for this show, so his readers were kept waiting.  But as he acknowledged in his review, “seems folks found their way to the theater without my help.”

Late or not, he liked the show:

There was a crowd. They were pleased.

As was I, the late theater critic who enjoyed just sitting back in his seat for two-plus hours, tapping his feet and bobbin’ his head, as close to the rhythm of the music as he was able, and not thinking about much else.

I’m glad he enjoyed it.

Trouble is, time’s running out for this fun show.  Contrary to rumors, the performance run of Ain’t Misbehavin’ is not being extended — it ends Sunday, September 21st — so don’t waste any time — see it evenings on Wednesday the 17th, Thursday the 18th, Friday the 19th, and Sunday the 21st (we take Saturday off for football!), and a matinee on Sunday the 21st.  Call the Box Office at 974-5161 or buy online at www.clarencebrowntheatre.com.