Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Alys Drake

Arts Beat: New festival brings works of Hemingway, Whitman, Wright to the stage

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:38:32 -0500

“We’d really like Memphis to be known as a classical arts incubator — one of the capitals of classical theater, not just for Shakespeare but for the great American writers, too.”

Tomatoes get edgy, A. Schwab rocks out and Playhouse is gonna be so 'fetch'

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:10:25 -0500

This week, “Inception” will bend your mind, a comedy fest goes to the dogs and tequila is everywhere.

Movers & Shakers: Fox13 hires news director

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:00:09 -0500

Fox13, BLDG Memphis, Bluff City Advisory Group, Burch, Porter & Johnson and the River Inn of Harbor Town announce new hires and promotions.

'The Music Man,' 'Mean Girls' open Memphis theater seasons

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:36:46 -0500

Quark Theatre begins its season in its new home at TheatreWorks with a musical whodunit that includes a four-hands piano duet.

Arts Beat: 'Matrix' and 'Blacklist' actor starring in Hattiloo show

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:43:18 -0500

Harry Lennix said Hattiloo’s success has shown what a Black-led regional theater can mean for a city’s cultural life.

Dinosaurs, trains, Phoebe Bridgers and a dive-in movie at a city pool

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:49:29 -0500

In this week’s To-Do List, John Legend is live at the Garden, a “Matrix” actor stars in a Hattiloo play and you can get a sneak peek at Stomping Grounds.

Movers & Shakers: New Ballet Ensemble names artistic director

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:00:08 -0500

Also, moves were announced for the American Red Cross, South Point Grocery, First Horizon, Financial Federal and Lewis Thomason.

Movers & Shakers: Church Health creates new role

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Also, new leaders are named at Diversified Trust, Guaranty Bank, Paragon Bank and Allen & Hoshall.

Movers & Shakers: Cato Johnson joins YMCA

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:46:08 -0500

Also, the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, AutoZone, Southern College of Optometry and Obsidian Public Relations announce promotions.

Arts Beat: 'Suffs' musical brings suffrage fight — and Tennessee's pivotal role — to Orpheum

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:57:40 -0500

The show also highlights the movement’s Black activists and Memphians Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell, who fought to keep questions of racial justice from being sidelined by white suffragists eager to appease Southern lawmakers.

Orpheum adds 3 shows to 2026-27 Broadway season

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 20:06:42 -0500

The Orpheum is expanding its run of shows this season with a Tony Award winner, a global phenomenon and the musical version of a beloved film.

Movers & Shakers: Nonprofits and a college name new leaders

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:12 -0500

From enrollment and music promotion to historic preservation, the new hires reflect three organizations looking to grow their impact across Memphis.

Movers & Shakers: Rhodes College adds career-services center

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:08 -0500

The Catholic Diocese of Memphis, Commercial Bank and Trust and Allen & Hoshall also announce moves.

Movers & Shakers: Youth Villages names chief of staff

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 04:00:06 -0500

Also, the Museums of Science and History, Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Pickering Firm make announcements.

Summer parties, West Coast cruising culture and B.B. King's second chance

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:41:11 -0500

In this week’s To-Do List, a band of medical pros play on a rooftop, a 1975 coming-of-age classic is on the big screen and songwriters compete to have the “Last Song Standing.”

Arts Beat: 'Tarzan' and a world premiere open in Memphis-area theaters

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:54:20 -0500

Disney’s “first prince” and a beloved American president are the focus of the two shows opening this weekend.

Movers & Shakers: Leader honored and other moves

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:16:19 -0500

An engineering and architecture leader is honored by his alma mater in this week’s Movers & Shakers.

Collierville student wins at National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:09:47 -0500

The ceremony — hosted by Bowen Yang, formerly of “Saturday Night Live” — followed a 10-day intensive that included coaching sessions, training and rehearsals led by Broadway professionals. Participants come from 58 programs across the U.S.

Opera Memphis announces 2026-27 season featuring classics, premieres, and free citywide events

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:23:14 -0500

The mainstage season opens Oct. 24 with “Rigoletto” at the Cannon Center in collaboration with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

How to celebrate Juneteenth; plus, brews, cars and the art of protesting

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:49:20 -0500

In this week’s To-Do List, the Empress of Soul is on the King of Rock’s stage, and “Jaws” is swimming in just in time for your beach trip.