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.