Step Inside the new Turner Theater

In the Factory at Franklin, next to Mojo’s Tacos and down the hall from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, is a marquee rivaling anything in New York’s Broadway Theater District. 

After undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation, the newly named Turner Theater — previously the Jamison Theater — is now the permanent home of Studio Tenn, one of the area’s most respected professional theater companies. The revamping of the space dovetails with an overall renovation of much of the Factory, which has included bringing in new tenants, such as fan favorite Edley’s Bar-B-Que and a second location of the celebrated Nashville restaurant etch. 

“You have this beautiful new Factory — [an] old, historic, incredible venue being renovated with new restaurants and high-end retail,” says Patrick Cassidy, artistic director of Studio Tenn. “And you have a professional theater in it. Not a movie theater — a theater. I’ve never seen that before.” 

The 319-seat theater, named after one of its main benefactors, Cal Turner, provides impressive event space — complete with a catering kitchen. It also showcases national acts, like a recent one-man show featuring Jason Alexander. Coming up is Driving Miss Daisy, running March 7-17.

The lobby, named for donors Calvin and Marilyn LeHew, features herringbone wood floors and exposed dark gray ductwork, which echoes the theater itself — a nod to the 1929 building’s industrial roots. Originally, the Factory was the home of Dortch Stove Works, Magic Chef and later, the Jamison Bedding Company. 

During the recent renovation, the theater was completely transformed. “The only thing similar to this and what was Jamison is it’s got the same coordinates on a map,” says Tony McAlister, chair of Studio Tenn’s board of directors. “Other than that, it is not the same.”

While Studio Tenn has been performing at the Factory since 2014, the theater company always had a month-to-month lease. “It was called a theater, because we did a lot — all — of our shows [there],” says Todd Morgan, managing director of Studio Tenn. “But we literally set up all the risers and everything. And then, when we were not in here, it was just empty.” Now, the nonprofit theater company has a permanent home. 

Studio Tenn launched a $3.5 million fundraising effort to pay its half in the joint venture with Holladay Properties. Apeiro Design, a theater and performance venue design firm with offices in five cities, including New York and Washington, D.C., helmed the renovation project, in collaboration with Nashville-based Centric Architecture.

A Factory Timeline

In the mid-’90s, a cluster of 11 Depression-era buildings were facing possible demolition when Calvin LeHew purchased them, converting the property into a shopping mall and event space. He sold the Factory to Kentucky native Brad Kelley in 2012, who owned it until 2021 when it was purchased by Holladay Properties. As part of the superorganism of the Factory at Franklin, retail and dining options include: Judith Bright, Luna Record Shop, Greys Fine Cheeses, Five Daughters Bakery, Otaku Ramen, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, Honest Coffee Roasters and Lemon Gift Shop, which features specialty gifts, apparel and home décor.

A Perfect Partnership

Tony says that when people heard the Factory was being sold, some expressed concern that Studio Tenn might not have a home. He found allies in merchants, who told Allen Arender of Holladay Properties that the shows bring customers in. “Allen came and saw a show,” says Tony. “I talked to him afterwards, and he said, ‘Tony, this theater is not the quality of your shows.’ I said, ‘We know.’ He said, ‘Well, let’s do something about that.’” The result is a 50-50 private/nonprofit partnership.

Break a Leg

There’s not a bad seat in the house, says Patrick. As part of the renovation, any obstructed views were eliminated. The comfortable, light-gray seats are adjustable, so the space can accommodate a wide variety of events. In addition to the catering kitchen backstage, there are now three dressing rooms, an orchestra room wired for sound, a restroom and a storage room. Totaling 10,000 square feet, the theater boasts a spacious stage — one big enough to house the orchestra for the upcoming musical Cabaret.