The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) is excited to announce its 2024-25 season of musicals and plays in their home venue THE BLACK BOX. The exciting lineup will include School of Rock, Proof, To Tell a Story About the Earth, The Producers, and Little Women. 

FPAC will open its season with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock – The Musical October 18-27 at THE BLACK BOX. Based on the hit movie, School of Rock follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn an extra bit of cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight–A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. But can he get them to the Battle of the Bands without their parents and the school’s headmistress finding out? With its sensational live kids’ rock band, School of Rock - The Musical is a loving testimony to the transforming power of music. Directed by FPAC Artistic Director Raye Lynn Mercer, with choreography by Broadway’s Clay Rice-Thomson (Moulin Rouge!, KING KONG, Matilda, Newsies), and music direction by Hallie Wetzell.

The season continues with David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof November 15-17 at THE BLACK BOX. Catherine has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, Robert. When he dies she has more than grief to deal with: there’s her estranged sister, Claire, and Hal, a former student of her father’s who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that Robert left behind. And a further problem: how much of her father’s madness - or genius - will Catherine inherit? Directed by Nick Paone. Patrons are advised: Proof deals heavily with themes of grief, death, and dying and contains strong language and some mature themes. 

FPAC Holiday Productions will mount their annual production of The Nutcracker with live orchestra, special guest artists, and more than 100 area dancers December 7-8 at the FHS Auditorium. December 20-21, the holidays are jolly and bright as ‘Tis the Season! returns to entertain audiences with great merriment, fanfare, and fun. An original large cast musical first presented by FPAC Holiday Productions in 1995, ‘Tis is an upbeat, jazzy extravaganza with contemporary arrangements of favorite holiday classics in musical styles ranging from R&B, gospel, and Motown to Rock, Pop, and Broadway.

After the holidays, FPAC will present To Tell a Story About the Earth, a new play by Miranda Rose Hall in development by LubDub Theatre Co January 10-12 at THE BLACK BOX. After a disastrous first production, a fledgling theater company has decided to call it quits. But when the local librarian requests a new performance for Earth Day, the young artists have a decision to make, and questions abound: what’s the deal with this weird fish? Who built the room we’re standing in? Isn’t there supposed to be a storm tonight? Part scripted play, part guided introduction to devising methods, part environmental investigation, and part fill in the blank, To Tell a Story About the Earth prompts ensembles everywhere to create and share an original show about the natural world close to home. Directed by Caitlin Nasema Cassidy and Geoff Kanick.

The 2024-25 season will continue with Mel Brooks’ The Producers March 14-23 at THE BLACK BOX. The plot is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history, thereby bilking their backers (all “little old ladies”) out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit. The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they maneuver their way fecklessly through finding a show, hiring a director, raising the money and finally going to prison for their misdeeds is a lesson in broad comic construction. At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends. With a truly hysterical book co-written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (Annie) and music and lyrics by Mr. Brooks, The Producers skewers Broadway traditions and takes no prisoners. Directed by Raye Lynn Mercer, with choreography by Broadway’s Clay Rice-Thomson (Moulin Rouge!, KING KONG, Matilda, Newsies), and music direction by Hallie Wetzell. The Producers is a Mel Brooks comedy full of adult humor and innuendo. Audience discretion is advised.  

FPAC’s season will conclude with the musical adaptation of Little Women June 6-8 at THE BLACK BOX. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America. Little Women embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. The powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache, and hope – the sounds of a young America finding its voice. Directed by Ali Funkhouser with music direction by Hallie Wetzell. 

FPAC is an Actors’ Equity Small Professional Theater company based at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin. Each season, FPAC produces musicals, plays, ballets, and more featuring Broadway stars, professional actors, local artists, and students of the arts. Tickets for the 2024-25 season will be on sale soon. Follow Franklin Performing Arts Company and THE BLACK BOX on Facebook and Instagram for updates on programming.