Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga

05/28/2026

Here is an opportunity for a new work based on a familiar story.

Looks like a paid opportunity, new musical, developmental staged reading.

I had the opportunity to provide some feedback on an earlier draft. Lots of great potential and the experience of developing a role from the ground up is both a rare one and exciting one.

If you’re interested

Audition Notice:
"The Man on the Middle Cross" - A Staged Reading of a New Original Musical (book in hand)
6 Roles Available (multiple characters for 4 roles): Male & Female (18+)
Paid opportunity

Audition Info
In Person only - July 13 & 14
Submission Deadline - June 5

Link to submit and full details:

Please click the link to complete this form.

05/02/2026

And that's a wrap for now!

This cast, crew, and band really showed up for each other. Every rehearsal, moment of doubt, and breakthrough. But it does not have to end here!

Jonathan Larson wrote RENT as an urgent call to community. Where do you find your people, Chattanooga? A support group, a special action initiative, a charity drive, a political march, a drag brunch, a sing-along, a mutual aid meetup? If you feel comfortable, drop it in the comments, tag a group, or share it on your own page. Someone out there is looking for exactly what you have already found. Keep it moving. Stay connected. Community blooms where you show up.

On stage, behind the scenes, and in the seats, this one will stay with us. The response to this show has meant everything. Farewell for now, Chattanooga.🕯️

📸 Photos by Garry Posey, the cast (thanks Cody, Levi, and Que!), and ETC's social media team.

04/29/2026

The bohemians and artists weren't only on stage. Special thanks to — and from — the creative team and crew. One final post to come, folks! Stay with us.

🔥 Garry Lee Posey (Production Director & Designer) — With more than 75 productions over 19 years, Garry's vision for this production was to use RENT's 30th anniversary to draw a direct parallel to today's social unrest: gentrification, police brutality, and the political abandonment of marginalized communities. Decades-old struggles that have never left us. Every design choice was intentional, right down to the costumes he tailored himself.

🎨 Caleb Sexton (Social Media & Graphic Design) — Built this campaign's visual identity from scratch, rooted in Garry's vision of resistance as art, mutual aid, and community. In five years collaborating with ETC, he has never seen a production resonate like this one, and is immensely grateful to have played a part.

📋 Sarah Evans (Stage Manager) — The kind of fan who drives 2,000 miles round-trip to catch the final tour stop of her favorite show, and gets sent ARCs of q***r horror novels before they hit shelves. Sarah loves with her whole heart, and this production was the lucky recipient of that devotion.

⭐️ Que Howard (Light Board & Sound Cues) — ETC alum and familiar face on television's Snapped, American Detective, and Fatal Attraction. His wife Star Howard was in the ensemble, making this a true family affair.

***To those who showed up for closing week, thank you for jumping in and giving your all.***

🤘🏽 Kidron Bullock (Mic Tech/Sound) — ETC debut. Anyone who knows his passion for live performance won't be surprised he found his way backstage. We're lucky he did.

🎛️ Isaac Sammons (Sound Engineer) — Sound engineer, musician, and music producer, and fiancé to our very own Maureen, Sav Hale. Isaac laid the sonic foundation for this production and handed it off with care.

💃🏻 Wren DeWitt (Costume Dresser & ASM) — Back in the theatre world with full force, and it showed. Lightning-fast costume changes, made to look easy.

04/28/2026

A look inside the world we built.🕯️

What you're seeing is the work of Garry Lee Posey, Director and Production Designer, realized alongside a cast and crew who showed up and got their hands dirty. At ETC, the work behind the curtain is just as worthy of celebration as what happens on show night.

Set construction: Sarah Evans, Lillie Kilgore, AJ DeMary
Painting: Jess Leach, Lillie Kilgore, Nor Caissie, Brendan Ferguson
Lights: AJ DeMary, Avery Moore
Costumes: Jess Leach, Wren DeWitt, DeShanee Thomas, Sav Hale

Also pictured: Que Howard at the light and sound board — one of the many hands that made the magic happen from places the audience never sees. ✨

More to come as wind down draws to a close.

Photos by Garry Posey, the cast (thanks Cody and Jordan!), and ETC's social media team. 📸

04/27/2026

That's final curtain folks, and oof, we need a moment to come down from the magic of this weekend. Watching everyone sing Seasons of Love back to us during the encore. The last note still hasn't faded.

There's a specific kind of joy that only happens when a room full of people allows themselves, all at once, to feel something together. That was this show. That is RENT.

To the cast, band, crew, and every single person who showed up — thank you for being a part of it. And to everyone who liked, shared, and reposted along the way: you helped fill those seats and we don't take that lightly.

If you have photos you're willing to share, drop them in the comments or tag us. This story isn't just ours to tell. 🕯️

Special thanks to our stage manager Sarah Evans for grabbing the pre-show cast shot! 📸

More to come in this week's wind down.

04/24/2026

🎶 Tonight, we open. But first, meet the band.

Nor Caissie (Music Director) — Chattanooga performer, songwriter, and in case one job wasn't enough, they are also in the cast as Roger. You may also know them from musical group NOR & SAV.

Neal Brite (Guitar) — A familiar face in Chattanooga's live music scene — NOR & SAV, Sloppy Street Tacos, and this weekend, the RENT pit.

Thyrell Smith (Accompanist) — ETC alum, Chattanooga Pride Festival main stage veteran, university wind symphony performer, and composer. Someone who genuinely never stops making music.

Kyle Coplen (Percussion) — NOR & SAV member and ETC pit veteran. A familiar presence with Chattanooga State and the Chattanooga Christian School. If you've seen it on a local stage, you've probably heard Kyle. And this weekend he's performing with a broken arm! We are unworthy.

Ethan Efaw (Bass) — Accomplished bassist and, for those in the know, quietly legendary on automotive TikTok.

To our cast, our crew, and this band, tonight is yours!

04/23/2026

Meet the rest of the cast of RENT. (2 of 2)

This company brings together artists from across Chattanooga’s theatre and music communities, and that energy is at the heart of this production.

We’re a limited, four-performance run. We’ll do our best to accommodate walk-ups, but tickets in advance are the safest way in. We recommend a generous margin of time to park and find seating before showtime.

Join us this weekend!

🗓️ April 24–26�
🎟️ Tickets at the link in bio / website

04/23/2026

Meet the cast of RENT (1 of 2)

This group has been building something special, and it’s been incredible to see the response that has taken shape around it.

We’re a limited, four-performance run, and tickets have been moving quickly. We’ll do our best to accommodate walk-ups at the door, but we strongly recommend grabbing tickets in advance if you can, and arriving with generous amount of time before showtime. It's going to be a packed house!

Come spend an evening with this company.

🗓️ April 24–26
🎟️ Tickets at the link in bio / website

04/21/2026

3 days until opening night. 📢
🚨 Two shows already SOLD OUT. 🚨

Maureen & Joanne have been a lot. But so has this city.

Played by Sav Hale & Jordan Bennett, these two are RENT's great contradiction. A performance artist who lives for the crowd and a Harvard-educated lawyer who lives for the cause. They're fighting the same fight in completely different languages, showing up for the people the city keeps trying to erase.

Together they represent the two faces of protest. Maureen makes the noise. Joanne litigates. The rest is complicated.

RENT — April 24–26, 2026
🗓️ Fri April 24 | 7:30 PM **SOLD OUT**
🗓️ Sat April 25 | 2:30 PM **SOLD OUT**
🗓️ Sat April 25 | 7:30 PM
🗓️ Sun April 26 | 2:30 PM

Get your tickets soon—available through our website or the link in our bio.

04/19/2026

5 days until opening night. 🔥

Roger & Mimi have been battling inner demons.

Played by Nor Caissie & Lillie Kilgore, these two are RENT’s great struggle. They are the battle with acceptance itself. Two people trying to shirk the weight of existence, finding in each other a reason not to. Roger had shut the world out. Mimi came to his door like a firestorm.

Together they learn that you can’t create, and you can’t really live, until you stop running. Watch their story unfold this coming weekend.

RENT — April 24–26, 2026
🗓️ Fri April 24 | 7:30 PM
🗓️ Sat April 25 | 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM
🗓️ Sun April 26 | 2:30 PM

Tickets available through our website or the link in our bio.