Memphis theater community gathers for 41st Ostrander Awards
Awards were given in a wide range of categories, including acting, directing and backstage contributions.
Alys Drake
Alys Drake is a Memphian born and raised in the Bluff City. A theater-lover, she has worked in a variety of marketing and communications roles at entities within the advertising, legal, marketing, religious and financial services sectors. She is a graduate of Memphis Central High School and Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.
There are 107 articles by Alys Drake :
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August 2025
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Performing Arts -
The To-Do List The Orpheum is alive with the ‘Sound of Music,’ and Labubus hit the runway
On The To-Do List this week are the Memphis Chicken and Beer Fest and an Unapologetic anniversary. Plus, Like Really Creative is doing, like, a lot this week.
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Performing Arts 10-minute play fest features shows from Memphis, New Zealand and beyond
Two big musicals and a compilation of new works based on a familiar nursery rhyme open on stages across Memphis this month.
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July 2025
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The To-Do List Party in an Uptown alley, art-crawl in the Edge and dance at a coffee shop
This week, GloRilla’s show goes on despite her arrest, the Last Vegan on Earth is in Crosstown and the “Most Epic Lemonade Stand in Memphis History” is in Collierville.
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Performing Arts ‘The Wiz’ and ‘Jubilee’ coming to Memphis theaters in July
Also in July, Germantown Community Theatre teams up with the Kroc Center of Memphis, and a competition winner has its world premiere at TheatreWorks.
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The To-Do List Asian Night Market is back, and Wilco’s Pat Sansone pops up
This week, learn what happens if you fall inside a black hole, watch a summer cult classic and ease on down the road to see “The Wiz.”
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June 2025
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: HoochieCon, Project Pat, Brewfest and summer solstice fun
This week, Juneteenth events continue, the rained-out Mid-South Pride parade has a new date and Lukah releases a new album — with lasers.
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Performing Arts Playhouse stages ‘A Bronx Tale’ musical
Theatergoers can choose from award-winning musicals, a show filled with ‘80s tunes, a dark comedy and an intimate drama on Memphis stages in June.
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Black Pride, dog yoga and what to do for Bonnaroo FOMO
This week, Juneteenth gets started early, the BoDeans are at the Shell and the Memphis Social Bicycle Club races — in drag.
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Pride is on Beale, and ‘weird music’ is at Crosstown
This week, Juneteenth kicks off early, Just City gives us a reason to laugh and you can sip booze in a bookshop for a good cause.
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May 2025
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Performing Arts Local stars shine bright at high school theater awards
The Orpheum High School Music Theatre Awards took place Thursday, May 22, at the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Memphis.
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Garden secrets, water lanterns and Miranda Lambert
This week, read in the Ravine with Cafe Noir, and try vegan dishes paired with music at Alex Wong’s Permission Party.
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The To-Do ListThe To-Do List: SmokeSlam, Cosmic Carnival and Bill & Ted’s last adventure
This week, Ruby Bridges is here for her namesake reading festival and GWAR brings shock rock (and lots of fake blood) to Minglewood.
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April 2025
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Performing Arts Ostrander Awards to return to the Orpheum
The annual Memphis theater awards program has overcome its financial shortfall with a fundraising drive and plans a change for this year.
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Performing Arts ‘Cabaret,’ ‘Caroline, or Change’ and more take Memphis theaters in May
Comedies and musicals are what’s on stage this month in Memphis theaters.
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Race cars or crawfish, and nerd out on the science of wine
This week, watch 10-minute plays at Hattiloo Theatre, see Julien Baker & Torres in Oxford and get a sneak peek of Baron von Opperbean (with cocktails for a cause).
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Hot Foot Honeys, drag time travel and a bad tattoo contest
This week, Martin Luther King Jr. is honored, a fashion legend is celebrated and a mid-century home transforms into a vintage pop-up shop.
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Premium
Performing Arts‘Some Like It Hot,’ ‘Saint Joan’ among April theater openings
A Broadway version of classic Marilyn Monroe film — with plenty of tap-dancing — is one of several shows opening in Memphis theaters in April.
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March 2025
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Women spin, blossoms bloom and nerds unite
This week, punk rock changes a teen girl’s life at Circuit, Black-owned food trucks take over Tiger Lane and you’ve got one more chance to go back to Comeback Coffee.
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Premium
MusicOrpheum brings Broadway smash-hit musical to Memphis for new season
The Orpheum announced a new Broadway season, including a new musical that flips the script on Shakespeare’s tragic “Romeo & Juliet,” asking — what if Juliet didn’t die?
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: How to celebrate St. Pat’s Day, plus daffodils and drag
This week, the owls are not what they seem at Crosstown Arts, “Whose Line is it Anyway?” hits the road and the Orpheum reveals its next Broadway lineup.
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Premium
MusicWomen in the Arts speakers have a word of advice: Stay ready
Being prepared was the theme of the day at the Women in the Arts event, which was held Saturday at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and at Theatre Memphis.
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Premium
Performing ArtsGermantown Community Theatre new season includes ‘Nunsense,’ ‘Annie Jr.’
The eight productions in Germantown Community Theatre’s latest season include musicals, comedies, plays, a youth production, and the winner of the organization’s emerging playwright contest.
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Premium
Performing ArtsPlayhouse 2025-26 season includes ‘Jagged Little Pill,’ more
Seven musicals will be presented, including a regional premiere of “Come From Away,” the Tony Award-winning musical.
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Premium
Performing ArtsMemphis’ 2025 theater awards in doubt due to outstanding debt
Memphis' annual Ostrander Awards may not be held this summer as the organization struggles to find funding.
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