STUDIO TENN THEATRE COMPANY – New Works Series: “The Odyssey of Tyrell James” by LaDarrion Williams

The third on-stage reading of Studio Tenn’s inaugural New Works Series, The Odyssey of Tyrell James by LaDarrion Williams, will be presented as a 90-minute reading followed by a 20-minute talk-back about the piece with the playwright, director, and New Works Director. There will be a cash bar.

Tyrell James is a troubled young Black man on the verge of losing himself in the harsh streets of Memphis, Tennessee. When he is mysteriously teleported to an 1800’s antebellum plantation, he is subjected to learn the hardships of slavery, past mistakes, and valuable life lessons that will forever change his life. The story brings the past and future together as history and time battle over a young man’s life. It’s a play on love… self-acceptance, forgiveness, and honoring one’s heritage.

The New Works Series intends to cultivate and nurture the talent of the next generation of Southern playwrights, composers, and lyricists, as we feel it is our responsibility to follow in the footsteps of great American Southern playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Beth Henley, and Wayne Kirkpatrick (among others). Furthermore, the Studio Tenn New Works Series strives to deconstruct the notion of what voices, themes, and stories historically come from the Southern region of the United States. We are thrilled to showcase the work of the next generation of Southern playwrights and composers, and in doing so give our community the opportunity to witness how new theater is created.

About Studio Tenn Theatre Company

Studio Tenn is a professional regional theatre company and a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Franklin, Tennessee. Its programming centers around innovative, custom-designed presentations of classic plays and musicals as well as an original “Legacy” series of theatrical concerts celebrating the work of time-honored musicians.