Tag Archives: CPAC

A new Christmas musical titled “The Best Thing About Christmas” debuts in Cookeville Monday night. Playwright Derek Hinckley said the show set in Nashville centers on a father who writes a musical as a way to rediscover the meaning of Christmas. It is set following the death of his daughter makes him bitter towards the season. He said the story ... Read More »

The Cookeville Performing Arts Center wants local artists to submit paintings and sculptures with the theme “Future and Space” as part of a January exhibit. The sci-fi theme will tie-in with CPAC’s production of “Launch Day; Love Stories from 2108.” Cultural Production Assistant Jordan Strilecky said this is the first time CPAC has officially done a tie-in theme. “We’ve only ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council voted Thursday to begin the process of designing a new Dogwood Park entrance. Leisure Service Director Rick Woods said the expansion will give the park an entryway connecting it to Walnut Avenue. Woods said the department received three proposals, eventually choosing Kimley-Horn. Woods said the design phase would begin December 1. “That’s not to exceed $145,000,” Woods ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council reappointed Dr. Charles Womack as a city appointee to the Tennessee Central Rail Trail Authority Thursday. Womack will serve a full three-year term. The council appointed Womack in 2022 to fill an empty seat on the authority. The city joined with the city of Algood and Putnam County to recently change the authority’s by-laws to allow an ... Read More »

Cookeville Leisure Services requesting engineering and design bids for the creation of a new Dogwood Park entrance and renovations to CPAC. Leisure Services Director Rick Woods said he has always wanted to put in an entrance off of Walnut Avenue. The police department relocated to Neal Street from Broad Street last year, freeing up a large parking lot area adjacent ... Read More »

Cookeville Performing Arts Center presents “Almost, Maine,” a show that explores stories of love and loss through a series of short plays that take place all in one location. Director Kimberly Frick-Welker said that the show was written to reflect the circumstances of communities in rural areas. “John Carione who is the playwright,” Frick-Welker said. “Actually speaks to the fact ... Read More »

Steve Gwilt, a long-time proponent of the arts in Cookeville has stepped down as cultural arts coordinator. Gwilt said he made his way to Cookeville in 1982 and was surprised to find a place like the Cookeville Dramatic Arts Center. Gwilt said that at the time he did not anticipate finding an art community like the one here when he ... Read More »

If you had a case in Cookeville City Court between November and March, your court date has arrived. Cases have been continued until April 13th at CPAC. City Judge David Ledbetter said this is for anyone with a court date between November 1, 2020 and March 30, 2021. Ledbetter said there is still time to try and settle these cases ... Read More »

A collection of six plays focusing on human connection during the pandemic is coming to CPAC’s Backstage Series. The show is titled Alone, Together and directed by Matthew Wilson. Wilson said connecting during the digital age and COVID creates topics everyone can relate to. “I think that’s been a very universal thing is we need that connection with other people ... Read More »

Cookeville Cultural Arts Superintendent Chad McDonald said he is overwhelmed by the honor of being inducted to the Southeastern Theatre Conference Hall of Fame. Mcdonald has been volunteering to help the conference since 2004. McDonald said the conference helps make Cookeville’s performing arts stronger, while lending his expertise to others. “Selfishly, I get a lot out of it but I’m ... Read More »