New Summer Sessions series for Williamson County middle and high school students offered June 27 to–29 to provide educational enrichment within a historic performance setting

FRANKLIN, TENN – May 22, 2023 – The Franklin Theatre, a crown jewel for culture, arts, and education in downtown Franklin since 1937, today announced a new three-day educational program, in collaboration with Williamson County Schools, to educate and enrich students in the arts. The inaugural Summer Sessions: Student Theatre & Music Business Intensives will be held at Franklin Theatre from June 27 to June 29. Up to 160 Williamson County students will be able to immerse themselves in specific areas of Fine Arts and Music Business, with sessions led by educators and working professionals. “Education is central to Franklin Theatre’s mission, and we are excited to launch the first annual Summer Sessions to work with the students of Williamson County to foster future performers, industry professionals, and fans,” said Paul Jankowski, a Franklin Theatre board member. “The Advisory Board, led by Jennifer Parker, consists of some of the most engaged Arts and Music professionals in the business and our plan is for this to be the start of something that is highly anticipated by students and educators every summer.” “The youth of Williamson County are dynamic and talented, and we are so proud that we can leverage the history and world-class performance stage of Franklin Theatre to nurture that talent,” said Bari Beasley, President and CEO of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, which revitalized Franklin Theatre and oversees it. “I look forward to a day when this program has run for many years, and we are able to point to numerous alumni that have accomplished great things in music and performance.” Two distinct sessions will be available this summer from June 27 to 29: Two-Day Music Theatre Intensives: June 28 and June 29 Led by Independence High School’s head of Fine Arts, Becky Williams, the sessions will feature guest artists, clinicians, and theatre educators from Williamson County Schools and across the Middle Tennessee theatre community.  They will develop young performers by offering training that covers all areas of musical theatre. Areas covered:
  • Performance
  • Acting Through Song
  • Theatrical Dance
  • Technical Theatre
  • Audition Workshop
  • Acting Techniques
The program is open to rising 6th – 11th grade students. Music Business Sessions: June 27 Summer Sessions is a day-long intensive for WCS High School students.  The goal of Summer Sessions is to educate and mentor aspiring musicians with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to succeed in the music industry.  Aided by the efforts of Ravenwood’s Accelerated Music Program (A.M.P.), the session will bring together some of the most respected professionals in the industry to share their insights and expertise. Session topics include:
  • Artist Branding Touring
  • Social Media Marketing and Promotions
  • Recording and Song Distribution
  • Songwriting
  • Artistry and Performance
  • Musicians Clinic
The program is open to students in 9th – 12th grades. “Summer Sessions at The Franklin Theatre will give students a sneak preview and a jumpstart on an exciting new curriculum that will expand on educational opportunities within one of Tennessee’s most vibrant industries,” said Mark Kinzer, Director of Fine Arts at Williamson County Schools. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with the Heritage Foundation and the Franklin Theatre to offer these sessions to students at a historic arts and culture destination, and we encourage all eligible students who are interested to register.” Interested parties can receive more information and sign up for the sessions HERE.

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ABOUT THE FRANKLIN THEATRE Following a complete restoration by the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County in 2011, the historic Franklin Theatre (Est. 1937) reopened its doors as a state-of-the-art live music venue featuring performances by world-renowned artists.  The theater also honors its heritage by continuing to show movies. Franklin Theatre’s mission is to provide world-class, diverse performing arts experiences to residents and visitors alike and to be a platform for local philanthropic engagement and education, all delivered with unparalleled guest service. For more information about The Franklin Theatre, visit  www.franklintheatre.com.   ABOUT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY Since 1967, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County has been dedicated to preserving Williamson County’s architectural, geographic, and cultural heritage as well as promoting the ongoing revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation. Notable projects include The Franklin Theatre, Roper’s Knob, parts of the Franklin battlefield and the Old, Old Jail. Events and festivals produced by the Heritage Foundation such as Main Street Festival, the Heritage Ball, Pumpkinfest and Dickens of a Christmas bring hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors to downtown Franklin each year. The Heritage Foundation owns and operates The Franklin Theatre, the Downtown Franklin Association, Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens, and the newest project: The History & Culture Center of Williamson County. For more information about the Heritage Foundation, visit  www.williamsonheritage.org.