July 26, 2021
Area youth will take the stage of the Official State Theatre of Tennessee on July 29.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley will present its first Youth Arts Initiative (YAI) Variety Show, “Follow the Blue Brick Road,” at the Tennessee Theatre on Thursday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m.
The showcase will feature dance, music and theatre performances, as well as a gallery showcase in the lobby with artwork created in YAI visual arts classes. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the event is free to the public.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley for this event and to provide students with a once-in-a-lifetime experience of performing on the Tennessee Theatre stage,” Tennessee Theatre Executive Director Becky Hancock said. “This opportunity allows us to further our mission of sharing the Theatre with everyone in the community, as well as to help further the mission of the Youth Arts Initiative.”
The YAI program provides school-aged children with high-quality visual, applied and performing arts programming so they can engage in hands-on skill development using real tools and technology to support their growth as artists and individuals.
“We invite the community to come support our community’s youth and their interest in the arts, as well as enjoy a free event inside the beautiful Tennessee Theatre,” Hancock said.
The YAI Variety Show has been organized at the Tennessee Theatre thanks in part to a generous grant from the Thompson Charitable Foundation to cover production and related event costs.
For more information and an event calendar, visit tennesseetheatre.com. Follow Tennessee Theatre on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
About the Tennessee Theatre
Located in the heart of downtown Knoxville, the Tennessee Theatre opened in 1928 as a movie palace. The Tennessee Theatre is the Official State Theatre of Tennessee and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Tennessee Theatre is the region’s leading performing arts facility with advanced technology, staging and lighting that draws top entertainment to the Knoxville area. The Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation is a nonprofit organization tasked with maintaining and preserving the historic theatre and ensuring diverse arts and cultural entertainment remains in downtown Knoxville. For more information, visit www.tennesseetheatre.com.
