Nashville community theatre: From the Little Theatre Guild to the Nashville Community Playhouse

In the early 20th century the Little Theatre Movement swept through the United States. Theatre enthusiasts in cities and towns across the country sought to raise the standards of theatrical productions by creating quality volunteer-driven theatre companies that not only entertained, but also became an integral part of the local community. This paper focuses on two such groups in the city of Nashville, Tennessee: the Little Theatre Guild of Nashville (later the Nashville Little Theatre) and the Nashville Community Playhouse. Both groups shared ties to the national movement and showed a dedication for producing the most current and relevant plays of the day. In this paper the formation, activities, and closure of both groups are discussed as well as their impact on the current generation of theatre artists.