Nashville Repertory Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Party

As the doors opened at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, energy spilled out onto the otherwise-quiet street. Friends and longtime supporters of the Nashville Repertory Theatre filled the room to celebrate the Rep’s 40th anniversary — a significant milestone for any organization.

As guests mingled, stalwart Nashville Rep actors — Megan Murphy Chambers, Mike Sallee, Meggan Utech and more — visited with revelers. The team at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery passed delicious hors d’oeuvres, while many guests made more than one visit to the eye-catching and delicious cheese and charcuterie display.

It would not be a Nashville Rep event without some knockout performances. To start the evening, Megan delighted the room with a rendition of “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” Revelers continued to enjoy performances — peppered with poignant moments — throughout the evening. Between songs, Nashville Rep cofounder Mac Pirkle spoke about the history of the organization. He noted that, thanks to the support of those in the room, “it has been possible for an artist to make a living, buy a home and practice their craft in Nashville.” He then asked the guests to join him in two toasts — one toast to the artists and another to the future of the Nashville Rep. After the toasts, Mac honored Gary Hoff, the Rep’s head of design, for his 25 years of service to the organization and his award-winning work on production designs.

The performances concluded with a surprise appearance from actress, singer and recording artist Liz Callaway, whose work includes acting in The Swan Princess, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon — and most notably, providing the singing voice for the blockbuster animated film Anastasia. Liz charmed the crowd with stories of her career. “I am thankful that the producers of the movie felt like what a Russian princess really needed was someone singing with a Midwestern accent,” she joked. Liz performed a mashup of Anastasia’s “Once Upon a December” and “Journey to the Past,” holding the attention of all in the room. Guests lingered after the event, ready to support the Rep for another 40 years.