Any ideas for locations that would offer several opportunities to see summer (probably July) theatre productions in KY, TN, or SC? It would be nice to pick one location as 3 nt. base and make day/night trips out to various theatres. Could also move hotels... but only want to travel an avg. of not much more than 4 hours/day.

We've done Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge... so don't want that to be entire stay. Maybe work it into part of circle trip.

Thanks for any ideas you might have!!!

There is an outdoor theater production of My Old Kentucky Home at Bardstown, KY, each summer--Stephen Foster music.

Iroquois Amphitheater stages various summer productions in Louisville.

Jenny Wiley State Park in KY has an excellent summer theatre program. I'm not sure what their schedule is this summer, but they usually do 3-4 different productions each season.

Great suggestions!

Thank you Carolyn! I had seen the Stephen Foster one... but hadn't heard about the Iroquois Amphitheater.

Thanks too, BetsyinKY! I didn't know about Jenny Wiley SP either!

All these are outdoors... rain or bugs must not be big issues in the summer in KY!???

Gives me something to work with!

Anyone else have any ideas???

Are you looking for outdoor theater only / and/or small regional theaters or larger cities?

Hey Bob_KY!

Really, I'm a little concerned about outdoor venues... what if it rains! I don't know about KY... but around here it can rain for a couple of days... and that would sure take the fun out of a theatre vacation.

I'm open for small or large cities or plays. I just know that night time performances are a great way to spend the evening!

Please let me know your thoughts!

It does rain in KY in the summer-but usually not for days at a time. Most of the outdoor theatres have an alternate location for rain.
Here is the link for Jenny Wiley schedule. Sorry could not get tiny url to work.

http://www.jwtheatre.com/index.php?n=64&id=64

Have you considered NC?

You could make Blowing Rock, NC in the Blue Ridge Mountains your base for a few days and see theatre productions at:

1. Blowing Rock Stage Company
2. Robert & Miriam Hayes Performing Arts Center
3. Lees-McRae Summer Theatre in Banner Elk (supposed to be very good)
4. The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA is only 80 miles away and would be a scenic drive from Blowing Rock.

For accommodations in downtown Blowing Rock check out http://www.blowingrockcondo.com
(minimum stay is one week during the summer months)

Good luck!

All of the bigger cities in those states will have various theater options. I know Nashville and Knoxville have summer theaters. There are a couple of small regional theaters that are well known that I will mention. The first is in Flat Rock NC, between Asheville and Greenville, SC.
http://www.flatrockplayhouse.org/
Greenville also has summer theater downtown, I believe.

In TN, about halfway from Nashville to Knoxville, is the Cumberland Playhouse:
http://www.ccplayhouse.com/

Here are few other options:
Chaffin's Dinner Barn - Nashville
http://www.dinnertheatre.com/
Knoxville Theater (including Shakespeare on the Square):
http://www.tennesseestage.com/
Info about Greenville, SC:
http://www.greenville.com/arts/

Thank you all sooooo much! This gives me some great ideas to work on! Might get to make it several trips!!!

Horse Cave Theater is an hour from Bardstown.

http://www.kentuckyrep.org/

It is a regional theater that is INDOORS.

You could see events in both towns and tour Mammoth Cave National Park during the Day.

Bowling Green has a public theater

http://www.ptkbg.org/

I'm not much of a theatre buff, but have heard really great things about the Cumberland County Playhouse - about halfway between Nashville & Knoxville, plus the area is really beautiful.

http://www.ccplayhouse.com/

It's not in KY but a little further north in Ohio. There are two fantastic outdoor dramas. Tecumseh and Blue Jacket. They are in or near Xenia and Chillothe(sp?).

Another vote for the Cumberland County Playhouse. I'm not sure what they're playing this summer, but I know they've done great shows in the past. They pull in actors from around the region, and the area really is pretty.

I wondered too why you skipped over North Carolina -- and my old "stamping grounds" Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina? It's located in a beautiful area south of Hendersonville.