Karaoke, spoken-word poetry, comedy showcases: With three new spaces and five new programs, Hattiloo Theatre is growing in Midtown.

Orpheum Theatre CEO Brett Batterson sees almost every new Broadway production in New York. The first question he asks himself: Should he bring it to Memphis?

You can call it a choreographed, you can call it a performance, you can call it entertainment. But don’t ever call wrestling “fake” unless you want to rile up folks like The Bite-Sized Brawler or Hucklebuck Jenkins. 

Celebrating the best in Memphis theater for the 2025-2026 season, this year’s Ostrander Awards take place at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center.

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.

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

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

Local dance director Katie Smythe’s new performing arts school recently bought Humes Middle, Elvis Presley’s alma mater in North Memphis. 

Opening this week: a darkly comic thriller about a barber whose quest for revenge turns into a spree of murder and cannibalistic meat pies. It also happens to be a beloved musical.

Memphis may be renowned worldwide for its barbecue and Blues, but in the Broadway realm, it’s known for its hospitality.

The lineup includes celebrations for the Shell, Hattiloo and Opera Memphis; festivals like Gonerfest; and concerts like Drivin N Cryin. 

Grant opportunities are now open to local visual artists and nonprofit or government organizations that want to address community issues through art.

Theatre Memphis and Germantown Community Theatre are producing musicals that open Friday. 

A Memphis native has returned home to take the Orpheum stage — and help his castmates find a good place to eat. Plus, the Peabody ducks are keeping time with the help of a new clock.

The Lakeland native started out in the children’s programs at Germantown Community Theatre, Playhouse on the Square, Harrell Theatre and New Day Children’s Theatre.

Jaylen Hunter has toured the U.S. in major stage productions of “The Lion King” and “MJ The Musical,” and in recent weeks, millions around the world have seen him play young Marlon Jackson in the blockbuster movie “Michael.”

“It’s just been amazing what we’ve done with just our sheer talent, just wanting to write and be heard,” Bria Saulsberry said.

The Collierville wins came on a night that brought together students from 56 schools across Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri.

Playhouse on the Square’s production of the Pulitzer prize-winning play “Primary Trust” opens at the Circuit Playhouse Friday, May 8.

A few decades ago, stars like Tom Cruise, Matt Damon and Reese Witherspoon were shooting movies in Memphis. Longtime local film commissioner Linn Sitler discusses what’s changed and why there’s hope for the future. 

After 10 years at TheatreSouth, Quark Theatre is joining TheatreWorks as a resident company. Quark’s motto is “small plays about big ideas.”

A popular and controversial rock opera about Jesus’ final week, a satire about theater egos and getting sardines or a look into the criminal underworld of mobs? Take your pick of what’s showing on theater stages across Memphis. 

This weekend includes a rock opera, roller derby, Shelby Forest Spring Fest, a rescheduled vegan block party and a Lego convention. Plus a Friends of the Library book sale and a yard sale. 

Ashley Hannah Davis considered retiring from dance in 2021. But Machine Gun Kelly, the Prohibition-era gangster born (and later arrested) in Memphis, helped changed her mind — or at least his wife and partner-in-crime Kathryn Kelly did.

The ceremony will take place Thursday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre.