The Roxy Story
Since the early 1900s, the corner of Franklin and First has been the cornerstone of local entertainment.
In July of 1913, the corner of First and Franklin was changed forever when the Lillian Theater opened its doors to Clarksvillians. After a fire shut it down briefly for a remodel, the Lillian re-opened in October, 1915, boasting state-of-the-art motion picture technology and a gigantic pipe organ, and served the community of Clarksville well until its doors closed in August of 1936.
On Christmas Day of 1941, the Roxy Movie Theater opened for business in the Lillian’s old shell. After a devastating fire that destroyed the structure in 1945, the current structure that now occupies the corner of First and Franklin was built, opening its doors in March 1947. The Roxy carried on the Lillian’s legacy as a downtown movie house for almost 34 years, until November 1980 when the Martin Twin Theater Corporation made the decision to cut their losses.
After a failed campaign to level the building to make room for a new parking lot downtown, the South Stage Theatre Corporation purchased the building and began an extensive remodeling project. On November 3rd, 1983, Mack and Mabel opened to rave reviews in the historic building, and the theatre company that would become the Roxy Regional Theatre was born.
What started as a community dinner theatre has transformed over the last 40 years into a renowned professional regional theatre that has served as the launch pad or stepping stone into theatre for a vast number of young artists as well as the careers of several Broadway and film and television actors. The Roxy has provided a constant stream of theatrical experiences for the Clarksville community, from offering schoolchildren their first chance at seeing live theatre to offering interactive experiences for audiences, an escape from daily life, and even challenging and pushing the confines of the norm.
For over 40 years, the Roxy Regional Theatre has supplied entertainment to make you laugh, cry, think, and has continually raised its standard of live performance in doing so. Through bringing live entertainment to the corner of First and Franklin, the Roxy has helped to expand the growth of Downtown Clarksville.
OUR MISSION
The Roxy Regional Theatre attracts, motivates, entertains and challenges audiences with theatrical productions ranging from the classics to new works. Furthermore, it trains and supports the next generation of theatre artists; provides educational programming, and promotes a wide range of learning to a diverse community. The Roxy Regional Theatre celebrates the importance and the impact theatre has on the citizens of Clarksville-Montgomery County and Middle Tennessee.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION and ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
We understand that the foundation of a vibrant, thriving arts and performance venue is the cross-pollination of creative and diverse programming, the cultivation of inclusive practices and strategies, and the development of a diverse team of employees and volunteers who share in these values. We believe that engaging in the arts is essential to the human experience. We at Roxy Productions, Inc. stand strongly for improving equity, diversity, and inclusion for our entire community.
EQUITY
We recognize that not everyone starts at the same place, addressing inequities in access and opportunity, and allowing for full and fair participation.
DIVERSITY
We acknowledge and respect human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups we are a part of or with which we are associated. These qualities includes but are not limited to: ethnicity, race, color, country of origin, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual or relationship orientation, family structure, religion, beliefs, political affiliations, experiences and ability differences.
INCLUSION
We honor and accept the gifts, backgrounds, experiences, and wisdom that every individual brings with them, so that every stakeholder feels valued. Our stakeholders are staff, artists, students, board members, donors, audiences and community members. We will strive to create a culture of inclusion where individuals can thrive, succeed, are able to participate in, and contribute to the progress and success of the arts, while growing both professionally and personally.
We recognize and value individual differences, and we acknowledge structural and systemic racism and other access barriers that prevent full and fair participation of people outside the dominant culture and power dynamics. We acknowledge the complexities of becoming a fully inclusive and anti-racist organization, and we accept the challenge to build an organization where full and fair participation is the norm. We commit to providing fair treatment, access, opportunity and advancement, and to creating space for culturally diverse voices to be heard and power to be shared.
LEADERSHIP MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Click images to view bios
EMILY RUCK
Artistic Director / Acting Managing Director
KENNETH L. WATERS, JR.
Production Stage Manager
DAVID GRAHAM
Production Associate
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JOINT APPOINTMENT
Kurt Kowalski, Chair
CITY OF CLARKSVILLE APPOINTMENT
Melissa Schaffner, Vice Chair / Secretary
Nancy Ladd, Treasurer
Charlie Foust
Andrea Herrera
Rich Holladay
ROXY REGIONAL THEATRE APPOINTMENT
Joseph Britton
Jason Knight
David Shelton
Linda Shephard
EX-OFFICIO / ROXY AMBASSADORS
Nancye Britton
Laurie Matta
Mayor Joe Pitts
Jennifer Scribner
Councilperson Joe Shakeenab
Monthly meetings of the Roxy Regional Theatre Board of Directors are typically held at 6:00 pm on the third Monday of the month at Edward’s Steakhouse at 107 Franklin Street.