"The Road To Bethlehem" by Robert A. O'Connell: December 12-21 2008

"Deftly uses humor to deliver its ultimately sincere message. Entertaining, endearing, and funny."
-- Martin Brady, Nashville Scene

Behold! A Christmas comedy!

GroundWorks Theatre presents its latest World Premiere: "The Road To Bethlehem," an original Christmas comedy written and directed by company co-founder Robert A. O'Connell. "The Road to Bethlehem" tells the story of two simple shepherds following an unlikely path to witness a miracle, meeting along the way a well-meaning but bumbling angel, a conscientious Roman Centurion, a young couple on the verge of delivering a very special baby, local revolutionaries, an overworked innkeeper, and a certain little drummer boy.

GroundWorks Theatre presents "The Road to Bethlehem" at the Darkhorse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Avenue, from December 12-21 2008. Performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors. SPECIAL: All tickets on Tuesday nights are $10! Call 615-262-5485 for reservations, or purchase tickets online HERE.

Check out the Tennessean preview here!

Check out the CityPaper preview here!

Check out the Nashville Scene review here!




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Auditions: "The Road to Bethlehem" by Robert A. O'Connell

GroundWorks Theatre announces auditions for Robert A. O'Connell's "The Road to Bethlehem," to be directed by the author. Auditions will be held on Saturday, September 6 2008, from 3:00-5:00pm, and Sunday, September 7 2008, from 12:00-2:00pm, at the Darkhorse Theater. The play will run December 12-21 2008, also at the Darkhorse.

Description: In this light-hearted but reverent story, a collection of some of the lesser-known and behind-the-scenes characters from the original Christmas get their moment in the spotlight, including a couple of philosophical shepherds, a Roman Centurion, a second newborn child, an overworked innkeeper, and a certain little drummer boy.

Roles are available for 11 men (20s-50s), 4 women (20s-40s), one boy (who can play approximately 7), and one angel (gender and age not specified). Actors of all ethnicities encouraged to audition. Appointments are not necessary, headshots and resumes are helpful but not required, and auditions will be by cold readings from the script.

For more information, visit www.groundworkstheatre.com or contact Robert A. O'Connell (playwright/director) at 262-1832.



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GroundWorks Theatre Announces 2008-2009 Season

GroundWorks Theatre proudly announces their 2008-2009 season, including a one-man show, original Christmas story, the company's first musical, and an incisive look at the Middle East. Since 2004, GWT has presented a slate comprised exclusively of Nashville premieres at the Darkhorse Theater, including four world-premiere productions.

The new season opens October 3 with Lee Blessing's one-man-show "Chesapeake," directed by company co-founder Robert A. O'Connell and starring Jack E. Chambers.

"Basically, we'd like to be able to say three words and leave it at that. Art. Politics. Dogs. Anyone who finds each word intriguing on its own and the three irresistible together should be transported by the shaggy Blessing story." (Newsday)

The company continues its run of original holiday entertainment with the premiere production of O'Connell's own "The Road To Bethlehem" (which he will also direct), a light-hearted yet tender look at some lesser-known characters from the story of the original Christmas -- two shepherds, a drunk, another newborn child, a Roman Centurion, an inkeeper, and a certain little drummer boy.

March 2009 brings GroundWorks' first-ever musical offering, Stephen Sondheim's "Marry Me A Little," a collection of outtakes and lesser-known songs from the acknowledged master of the modern American musical theatre. The songs were collected and assembled by Craig Lucas (who also wrote "Prelude to a Kiss") and Norman Rene, and tell the story of a young man and woman living in the same apartment building, each unaware of the other, whose lives are more interconnected than they could know. Jack E. Chambers will direct the production, with Brian T. Hill providing the musical direction.

The season closes in May with A. R. Gurney's "O Jerusalem," a seriocomic take on diplomatic and interpersonal relationships in the modern-day Middle East, centered around a novice diplomat who falls in love with a woman whose son is a member of Hamas. The New York Times called it "deeply touching in [its] urgency." Melissa Bedinger Hade will direct the production.

GroundWorks also announces the addition of online ticket sales (through a partnership with BrownPaperTickets.com), and the introduction of season tickets in the form of 4-ticket FlexPasses, which will be available at the Box Office and through www.groundworkstheatre.com.



Contact Information

Robert A. O'Connell -- Co-Founder, Artistic Director -- home 615-262-1832
Jack E. Chambers -- Marketing Director -- home 615-300-5560