All posts by Chad Hembree

Child Actors, Family-Friendly, Musical, Show, Spotlight Acting School

Disney’s Aristocats KIDS (January 15 – 24)

Presented by Spotlight Acting School
Ages: 4–11
Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston
Music Adapted and Arranged by Bryan Louiselle
Book Adapted and Additional Lyrics by Michael Bernard
Based on the 1970 Disney film, The Aristocats

Two Casts — Two Weekends
Blue Cast: January 15–17
Purple Cast: January 22–24

Performances: Fridays & Saturdays at 6:00pm, Sundays at 2:00pm

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Rating: All ages · Runtime: approximately 30 minutes · Pay What You Can: Friday performances are name-your-own-price; unsold tickets release two hours before showtime.

Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible seating with companion space is in the front row. If you have special needs, just let us know when you arrive.

About the Show
Based on the beloved Disney animated film, and featuring a jazzy, upbeat score, Disney’s The Aristocats KIDS is a non-stop thrill ride of feline fun, complete with unbelievable twists and turns.

In the heart of Paris, a kind and eccentric millionairess wills her entire estate to Duchess, her high-society cat, and her three little kittens. Laughs and adventure ensue as the greedy, bumbling butler pulls off the ultimate catnap caper. Now it’s up to the rough-and-tumble alley cat, Thomas O’Malley, and his band of swingin’ jazz cats to save the day.

Disney’s The Aristocats KIDS features plenty of exuberant group numbers and a cast that can be expanded by adding additional alley cats to the chorus.

Location: The Spotlight Playhouse — 214 Richmond Rd, Berea, KY 40403

Tickets: Coming soon

“Disney’s The Aristocats KIDS” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 423 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019 — www.MTIShows.com

Adult Actors, Comedy, Show, The Bluegrass Players

The Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery (January 29 – February 6)

The Bluegrass Players present
By Brian D. Taylor
Directed by John Bailey
January 29 – February 6

Performances: Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm, Sundays at 4:00pm

Runtime: approximately 75 minutes · Pay What You Can: Friday performances are name-your-own-price; unsold tickets release two hours before showtime.

Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible seating with companion space is in the front row. If you have special needs, just let us know when you arrive.

Rating: Comedy/mystery — recommended for ages 14+

Tickets: Coming soon

🎭 About the Show
The players at The Murder Mystery Playhouse are rehearsing a new show — a not-so-good British murder mystery with cheesy dramatic music and questionable accents. But when the lights go out and a character dies onstage for real, nobody’s laughing.

The cast keeps replaying the scene, and every time they reach the end, someone else ends up with a fire poker in the chest. Is it a curse? A rival theatre company’s sabotage? Or something far more twisted? This hilarious play-within-a-play comedy keeps the audience guessing until the very last twist.

Location: The Spotlight Playhouse — 214 Richmond Rd, Berea, KY 40403

Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Denver, Colorado | www.pioneerdrama.com

Family-Friendly, Musical, Show, Spotlight Acting School, Teen Actors

Cinderella: Youth Edition (January 29 – February 7)

Presented by Spotlight Acting School
Ages 9-14
Directed by Jazzlyn Threlkeld
Music Director: Letha Hembree
January 29 – February 7

Performances:
🔵 Blue Cast: January 29-31 (Fri & Sat 6:00pm, Sun 2:00pm)
🟣 Purple Cast: February 5-7 (Fri & Sat 6:00pm, Sun 2:00pm)

Rating: All ages · Runtime: one hour · Pay What You Can: Friday performances are name-your-own-price; unsold tickets release two hours before showtime.

Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible seating with companion space is in the front row. If you have special needs, just let us know when you arrive.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella: Youth Edition brings the timeless enchantment of the classic fairy tale to the stage in a one-hour musical specially designed for young performers. The beloved story of a kind-hearted girl, a magical evening, and a glass slipper is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm, and elegance. Filled with unforgettable songs like “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” it’s a magical introduction to musical theatre for the whole family.

Location: The Spotlight Playhouse — 214 Richmond Rd, Berea, KY 40403

Tickets: Coming soon

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella: Youth Edition is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com

Adult Actors, Comedy, Dinner, Family-Friendly, Show, The Bluegrass Players

Tuned in for Murder Dinner Show (February 11 – 14)

The Bluegrass Players present
By Chad Hembree
February 11 – 14

Performances: Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 6:30pm, Sunday at 1:30pm

Runtime: approximately 3 hours, including dinner

Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible seating with companion space is in the front row. If you have special needs, just let us know when you arrive.

Rating: 14+ — all welcome

Tickets: Coming soon

Dinner menu: Coming soon

📻 About the Show
Completely revamped for this season, Tuned in for Murder is a fan favorite 1980’s Themed Murder Mystery Dinner Show. Written by local playwright and director Chad Hembree, this zany mystery delights audiences with a host of crazy characters. You’re invited to the 50th Anniversary of WJRK, and the owner has big news to share if he can live that long.

Location: The Spotlight Playhouse — 214 Richmond Rd, Berea, KY 40403

Dinner

Dinner Shows at The Spotlight Playhouse

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Dinner theater is back in full swing at The Spotlight Playhouse. Here’s what’s coming:

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (All-New) Dinner Show

October 2, 3, 10 & 11 — Fridays & Saturdays at 6:30pm, Sunday October 11 at 1:30pm. An all-new mystery dinner show written by Chad Hembree, presented by The Bluegrass Players.

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Dinner Show

December 17, 18, 19 & 20 — Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 6:30pm, Sunday December 20 at 1:30pm. Written & directed by Chad Hembree, presented by The Bluegrass Players.

Tuned in for Murder

February 11 – 14 — Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 6:30pm, Sunday at 1:30pm. By Chad Hembree, presented by The Bluegrass Players.

Tickets: Coming soon — check the show pages above or call 859-756-0011.

Spotlight Acting School, The Bluegrass Players, The Spotlight Players

The Spotlight Playhouse 2018/2019 Season

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As we begin rehearsals for our last few shows of the 2017/2018 season we look forward to another season of great entertainment, all located in our new 13,000sq ft Playhouse in Berea.

The shows are listed in Chronological order, but exact dates could change at this point.

The season consists of over 32 shows for 46 weeks of entertainment with over 150 performances. Don’t let anyone say there is nothing to do in Berea.

Look at the calendar in the next few days to see performance dates.

  1. Murder Mystery Dinner Show – by the Bluegrass Players
    (Aug 2018)
  2. A Spectacular Season Preview – by the Spotlight Players
    (Aug 2018)
  3. Press Start – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 4-9
    (Sept 2018)
  4. Let Your Hair Down, Rapunzel – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 4-11
    (Sept 2018)
  5. Young Frankenstein – by the Bluegrass Players
    (Sept 2018)
  6. You Can’t Take It with You – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 11-18
    (Oct 2018)
  7. Honk Jr. – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 9-14
    (Oct 2018) 
  8. Dracula  – by the Bluegrass Players
    (Oct 2018) 
  9. Brigadoon – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 11-18
    (Nov 2018)  
  10. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – by the Spotlight Players (Intergenerational)
    (Nov 2018) 
  11. Christmas Showcase – by the Spotlight Players (Intergenerational)
    (Dec 2018)
  12. An Old Time Christmas Live Radio Show – by the Spotlight Players
    (Dec 2018)
  13. Christmas Mystery Dinner Show – by The Bluegrass Players
    (Dec 2018)
  14. Disney’s My Son Pinocchio JR. – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 4-9
    (Jan 2019)
  15. End Days  – by the Bluegrass Players
    (Jan 2019)
  16. Shrek Jr. – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 9-14
    (Feb 2019) 
  17. Space Pirates! – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 4-11
    (Feb 2019)  
  18. High School Musical – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 11-18
    (Mar 2019) 
  19. The Importance of Being Earnest  – by the Bluegrass Players
    (Mar 2019)
  20. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – by the Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 11-18
    (Mar 2019)
  21. Festival of Short Plays
    (Mar 2019)
  22. Twelfth Night  – by the Bluegrass Players
    (Mar 2019)
  23. Musicville – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 4-9
    (Apr 2019)
  24. The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe – by the Spotlight Players (Intergenerational)
    (Apr 2019)
  25. Spamalot  – by the Bluegrass Players
    (May 2019)
  26. Junie B. Jones The Musical JR. – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 4-11
    (May 2019) 
  27. Clue Dinner Show  – by the Bluegrass Players
    (May 2019)
  28. Singin’ in the Rain JR. – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 9-14
    (Jun 2019)
  29. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 11-18
    (Jun 2019)
  30. Oklahoma! – by the Spotlight Players (Intergenerational)
    (Jun 2019)
  31. A Broadway Revue – by Spotlight Acting School
    Ages 9-18
    (Jun 2019) 
  32. Moon Over Buffalo  – by the Bluegrass Players
    (Jul 2019)
Cast Lists, The Bluegrass Players

Dracula 2017 Cast

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Stuart Rose – Reverend Wesley

Kyrsten Daugherty – Sarah Christian

Ryan Peters – Robert Christian

Kayla Stewart – Mary Christian

Lucas Slagle – Professor Silas Mason

Taylor Edwards – Maude Mason

Saylour Burchfield – Phoebe Mason

Micheal Soens – Thomas Mason

Gary Burchfield – Sheriff Broaddus

Shandi Johnson – Katie Broaddus

Will Marr – Jud

Laura Case – Eva

Annie Johnson – Sadie

Braelyn Cameron – Olivia

Bradley Powell – R. M.

Darrell Harrison – Count Dracula

Cast Lists, The Bluegrass Players

Carol Burnett Show Cast 2017

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Carol Burnett

Cast:  Darrell Harrison, Braden Mills, Paula Davis, Shandi Johnson, Sally Iseral, John Harter, Daniel Stuart Rose, Kayla Stewart, Bradley Powell, Annie Johnson, Scottie Johnson, Toni McHugh, Kyrsten Daugherty, Gary Burchfield, Sophia Sheperd, Chasity Bowlin

Skits:

Bonnie and Clod
Carol  –  Sally
Harvey  –  Darrell

 

The Wall Flowers
Carol – Sophia
Cass – Kyrsten
Harvey – Bradley
Lyle – Scottie

 

The Coffee Commercial
Carol – Paula
Debbie – Toni
Harvey – John

 

Late Date
Carol – Kyrsten
Harvey – Gary
Vicki – Annie

 

Hospital Nudge
Harvey – Stuart
Lyle –Darrell
Carol – Chasity

 

The Most Happy Stella
Lyle – Bradley
Harvey – Stuart
Don – Scottie
Carol – Kayla
Farmhand – Braden
Minister – Gary

 

Lovely Story
Carol – Annie
Harvey – Braden
Vicki – Shandi
Milton – Darrell
Boy – Stuart
Lyle – John

 

As the Stomach Turns #2
Lyle – Bradley
Tim – Darrell
Carol – Sally
Vicki – Kayla
Ken – Stuart
Harvey – Scottie

 

Flight 13 to Nowhere
Carol – Toni
Lyle – Braden
Harvey – Gary
Nan – Annie
Bob – Scottie
Ken – John
Vicki – Shandi

 

Gone with the Breeze
Carol – Chasity
Harvey – Darrell
Dick – Stuart
Lyle – Braden

 

Passion on 10th Avenue
Carol – Kayla
Art – Bradley
Nanette – Kyrsten
Old Lady – Paula

 

The Welfare Worker
Carol – Sally
Michele – Shandi
Harvey – Gary
Vicki – Sophia
Lyle – Bradley

 

The Old Folks
Carol – Toni
Harvey – John