Roxy Regional Theatre

Since the early 1900s, the corner of Franklin and First has been the anchor for Clarksville's entertainment community. The Lillian, built in 1912, was the first movie house in Clarksville. Following a fire in 1913, The Lillian was rebuilt in 1914 and saw thousands of patrons enjoying first-run movies. Following a second fire in 1945 and with the advent of Fort Campbell, The Lillian was completely rebuilt and became The Roxy, offering Clarksvillians movies until 1980.

Bound for the wrecking ball, in 1983, Tom Thayer, Roxy executive director, and John McDonald, Roxy artistic director, refurbished the rundown movie house and transformed it into The Roxy Regional Theatre. The Roxy was restructured into a nonprofit organization in 1985, with a volunteer board of directors who oversee activities.

Soon to be in its 29th season, The Roxy is the longest running live theater and only professional theater in Clarksville. Productions, presented by professionals from around the country, include world and regional premieres, modern dramas, Broadway musicals and Shakespearean classics on its main stage. Cutting edge productions, as well as class projects by students of The Roxy Saturday School of the Arts, are presented in the OtherSpace, a 50-seat black-box theater.

Just beyond the lobby, visitors can enjoy exhibits in the Peg Harvill Gallery. The changing exhibits feature works by local and regional artists.

Thayer and McDonald produce more than 16 productions each season, serving 70,000 patrons, 26,000 of whom are schoolchildren attending daytime matinees. In addition to producing live theater, this nonprofit organization functions as a school for the arts, making stars of local actors, many of whom have gone on to perform on Broadway, as well as in movies and television.

Ryan Bowie joined the Roxy as director of fundraising and development in late 2010, as well as continuing to appear in Roxy productions as part of the theater's professional company.

School of the Arts

The Roxy offers acting classes for students interested in live theater, through its Saturday School of the Arts. Instructors are McDonald and members of the professional company. Classes are $60 per month, and students must be at least 10 years old.

The school added dance/musical theater lessons in 2010, to much success. Instruction is provided by Travis Kendrick, a member of the Roxy's professional company.

New for the fall 2011 semester are voice lessons taught by Lisa Conklin-Bishop and Thomas King, Austin Peay State University professors. To participate in voice and dance lessons, students must be attending acting classes in the Saturday School of the Arts. Tuition for voice and dance is an additional $40 per month.

Yoga at the Roxy

In addition to being a professional actor and dance teacher, Kendrick is a certified yoga instructor. The Roxy's morning yoga program, lead by Kendrick, offers one-hour classes Monday through Friday. There is no advanced reservation required, at a cost of $10 per session.

Expansion plans

Plans are under way to expand the current 153-seat Roxy into The Roxy Regional Center for the Arts and Education, which will include a state-of-the-art 500-seat performance hall, art galleries, studio spaces, coffee and gift shops, a welcome center for Clarksville, classrooms for dance, art, theater and music. The total cost of the 35,000-square-foot project has been estimated at $15 million. The Roxy continues to raise money for the project through various fundraising events including the theater's annual gala, and a new endeavor "Pennies for Plays."

"The idea behind "Pennies for Plays" is for local schools to place a jug in their common area where students can put loose change," Thayer said. The school that raises the most money will receive a live Roxy performance at their school. A "Pennies for Plays" jug also will be put out at the Roxy, and a collection bucket will be passed through the audience during each production.

For additional information go to www.roxyregionaltheatre.org or call the Roxy at 931-645-7699.