Father of the Bride Heads Down The Aisle April 4-13 Bethlehem UMC Community Theatre

(l to r): Father of the Bride is being staged at Bethlehem UMC April 4 – 13 and stars, Anne Meriwether, Johnny Peppers and Scott Meriwether.

FRANKLIN---The beloved comedy “Father Of The Bride” heads down the aisle into Franklin area community theatre April 4 – 13 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 Bethlehem Loop, just off Hillsboro Road.

Long before “Father of the Bride” was a hit movie, Caroline Francke's adaptation of Edward Streeter's popular novel was a successful stage play. Theatre veteran Dietz Osborne returns to the Bethlehem Players as director of this timeless comedy which revolves around the father, Stanley Banks, learning his daughter is announcing her engagement out of nowhere. He is thrown into a dither as the guest list grows larger each day and the household falls into hilarious turmoil.

“We have a talented and terrific cast who bring this family-friendly production to life. Area actor Johnny Peppers adds depth and humor to the character of beloved curmudgeon Stanley Banks and is ably joined by comedic actress Deborah Robinson. A charming twist to our production is the bride and groom are being played by an adorable, married couple, Scott and Anne Meriwether,” Osborne said. “Anne had previously been on the Bethlehem stage as a teenager in “Meet Me In St. Louis.”

Each year the Bethlehem Players selects a benefiting charity for their productions. This year, donations will be accepted to help underwrite a BUMC Mission Team traveling in July to Cuba to assist the Methodist church in the renovation of an Old Havana building being converted into a seminary to train pastors and other church leaders.

“Father Of The Bride” will be held April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13 at 7 p.m. with general admission tickets $15.00 Dinner shows are April 8 and 10 beginning at 4:45 p.m. and tickets are $20.00. For reservations, contact the Bethlehem Players at (615) 791-6456, ext. 2 or drama@bethlehemumc.com. Group reservations are available for parties of ten or more.

The Bethlehem Players are celebrating their 11th year of exceptional family entertainment. The Players were started in 1997 by BUMC Music and Arts Director Harry Robinson as a community outreach and a unique version of “church softball.” Since its inception, the Bethlehem Players have successfully staged for packed audiences “Music Man,” “Fiddler On The Roof,” “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Arsenic and Old Lace”, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Neil Simon's Rumors,” and “Bad Year for Tomatoes.” For more information, visit http://www.bethlehemumc.com/.

Father of the Bride Heads Down The Aisle April 4-13 Bethlehem UMC Community Theatre

Father of the Bride is being staged at Bethlehem UMC April 4 – 13 and stars, Anne Meriwether, Johnny Peppers and Scott Meriwether.

FRANKLIN---The beloved comedy “Father Of The Bride” heads down the aisle into Franklin area community theatre April 4 – 13 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2419 Bethlehem Loop, just off Hillsboro Road.

Long before “Father of the Bride” was a hit movie, Caroline Francke's adaptation of Edward Streeter's popular novel was a successful stage play. Theatre veteran Dietz Osborne returns to the Bethlehem Players as director of this timeless comedy which revolves around the father, Stanley Banks, learning his daughter is announcing her engagement out of nowhere. He is thrown into a dither as the guest list grows larger each day and the household falls into hilarious turmoil.

“We have a talented and terrific cast who bring this family-friendly production to life. Area actor Johnny Peppers adds depth and humor to the character of beloved curmudgeon Stanley Banks and is ably joined by comedic actress Deborah Robinson. A charming twist to our production is the bride and groom are being played by an adorable, married couple, Scott and Anne Meriwether,” Osborne said. “Anne had previously been on the Bethlehem stage as a teenager in “Meet Me In St. Louis.”

Each year the Bethlehem Players selects a benefiting charity for their productions. This year, donations will be accepted to help underwrite a BUMC Mission Team traveling in July to Cuba to assist the Methodist church in the renovation of an Old Havana building being converted into a seminary to train pastors and other church leaders.

“Father Of The Bride” will be held April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13 at 7 p.m. with general admission tickets $15.00 Dinner shows are April 8 and 10 beginning at 4:45 p.m. and tickets are $20.00. For reservations, contact the Bethlehem Players at (615) 791-6456, ext. 2 or drama@bethlehemumc.com. Group reservations are available for parties of ten or more.

The Bethlehem Players are celebrating their 11th year of exceptional family entertainment. The Players were started in 1997 by BUMC Music and Arts Director Harry Robinson as a community outreach and a unique version of “church softball.” Since its inception, the Bethlehem Players have successfully staged for packed audiences “Music Man,” “Fiddler On The Roof,” “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Arsenic and Old Lace”, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Neil Simon's Rumors,” and “Bad Year for Tomatoes.” For more information, visit http://www.bethlehemumc.com/.

Directions to Bethlehem United Methodist Church:
Located off Hillsboro Road in the Franklin’s Grassland Community. From Nashville, travel Hillsboro Road south toward Franklin. Turn at traffic light onto Old Hillsboro Road. First left onto Bethlehem Loop. BUMC is located on the right at 2419 Bethlehem Loop. Event night number: 615/582-0554.

Singer/Songwriter Sarah Hart Host "Daughters Day of Reflection"; Women's Retreat to Benefit Jacob's Ladder Preschool, April 19, 2008

(NASHVILLE, TN)—Though her career as a singer, songwriter and speaker leads her to travel all over the globe, it is Sarah Hart’s role as mom that has led her to Nolensville, Tennessee. On Saturday, April 19, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., this noted artist and speaker will lead women in a one-day retreat dubbed ‘Daughters Day of Reflection,’ held at Nolensville First United Methodist Church.

‘Daughters Day of Reflection’ will allow women the opportunity to see what makes them unique and yet connected to one another, through reflection on the women of scripture. The day includes extensive study of prominent women of the Bible, snack, lunch and music by Sarah Hart.

Tickets for the event are $25 and are available by contacting Jacob’s Ladder Preschool at 776-7362. All proceeds go to benefit Jacob’s Ladder Preschool at Nolensville First United Methodist Church. The preschool is a non-denominational Bible-based early childhood development center in the community for children ages three to five.

“This is my daughter’s third, and sadly, last year at Jacob’s Ladder,” says Hart. “We have been so blessed to be a part of this program. What Terri and her staff have accomplished with the children and families at Jacob’s Ladder is a gift to our community; this day is just a little ‘thank you’ from my own family!”

“There will be lots of singing, storytelling, and sharing during the Day of Reflection,” she continues. “And every woman who attends should feel refreshed and re-energized after our time together!”

Sarah is currently at work on her latest project, Road to Ohio, slated for a spring release on Centricity Records. A folk recording, described by Hart as “sparse and acoustic”, it is co-produced by Sarah and friend Mitch Dane, known for his work with Grammy Award-winning band Jars of Clay. She also begins a new recording in March of 2008 entitled SaintSong, which will feature the writings of some of the greatest religious thinkers of history set to contemporary music.

Sarah has toured with such contemporary Christian artists as Wes King and Kathy Troccoli, and has performed with numerous other artists such as Newsboys and Randy Stonehill. Her music has appeared on radio everywhere and has been featured on such television shows as Joan of Arcadia and Strong Medicine. Sarah has received six Unity Awards from the United Catholic Music and Video Association for her work, including the 2005 awards for Producer of the Year, Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for her third solo project, Into These Rooms.

Hart is the mother of two girls, and makes her home in Nolensville with husband Kevin. In addition to recording three solo albums and numerous compilation projects, she is an award-winning record producer, a founder of the popular all-women singing group Daughters of God, and has been a staff songwriter for major Christian music publishers. She also works with the Tom Tichener Children’s Theater at the Nashville Public Library as a songwriter and performer. To learn more about Sarah Hart, go to www.SarahHartmusic.com.

Jacob’s Ladder Preschool is headed by Terri Anderson, and is a ministry of Nolensville United Methodist Church. The Church is pastored by Rev. Sandy Shawhan, and is located at 7316 Nolensville Road in Nolensville, Tenn. To find out more about Jacob’s Ladder Preschool or Nolensville United Methodist Church, go to www.nolensvilleumc.org or call 615/776-2815.