Adonai Theatre Past Shows

From its inception, our theatre program has grown into a vibrant tapestry of artistic expression. In August 2021, we enthusiastically welcomed T. Josiah Haynes as our first Theatre Director. By the spring, he had launched full-scale theatrical productions casting young actors and aspiring student artists.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Feb-Apr 2022)

- Performed April 21-24, 2022 -

Creative Director: Wendy Morrison
Executive Producer: T. Josiah Haynes
Sound/Lighting Op: Matthew Long
Lead Assistant: Emmitt Kussrow
Assistant: Megan Irons
Assistant: Pierson Smith

Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream started the program off strong with amazing visuals and impressive performances of classic Shakespeare by dedicated kids. This production was helmed by Creative Director Wendy Morrison and produced by Haynes.

Playwriting Workshop (Jun-Jul 2022)

Instructors: T. Josiah Haynes & Charlotte Myhre Shealy
Actors: Marsha Allen, Brandon Rodermond, Charlotte Myhre Shealy, Montgomery Sparrow & T. Josiah Haynes

In summer 2022, Haynes and Charlotte Myhre Shealy taught 6 talented kids in Adonai Theatre’s first Playwriting Workshop. Designed as a week-long theatre camp, 6 students aged 8-12 each wrote a short play performed on Friday evening by local Nashville actors.

Program for the Friday showcase:
The Fantasy of Thomas Parker by Elijah Etheridge
The Child-Eating Lawn by Mira Jans
Detour by Hewan Bratcher
The Heroic Rescue of Aron 22 by Caleb Jans
Mind Of Mushrooms by Mina Claire
Where Is That? by Violet Oakley

Sherlock Holmes & The Mystery Of The Opera House Killer (Sept-Nov 2022)

- Performed November 17-19, 2022 -

Creative Director: Poem Bokoles
Assistant Director: Angie Fenton
Executive Producer: T. Josiah Haynes
Writers: Poem Bokoles, Anthony Bokoles & T. Josiah Haynes
Costume Designer: Denese René Evans
Master Carpenter: David Wigart
Set Painters: David & Bonnie Deese
Original Music: Anthony Bokoles
Sound & Lighting Op.: Anthony Bokoles
Makeup Designer: Lydia Buford
House Manager: Megan Freeman

As the seasons changed and leaves fell in Fall 2022, Adonai Theatre transported audiences into the world of Sherlock Holmes & the Mystery of the Opera House Killer, unraveling a captivating mystery play directed by Creative Director Poem Bokoles, written by Bokoles, her husband, and Haynes. The community’s response exceeded expectations, fostering an ever-growing interest in our theatrical productions.

Twelfth Night (Jan-Apr 2023)

- Performed March 30-April 2, 2023 -

Creative Director: Rebeka Rosales
Assistant Director: Abram Haynes
Executive Producer: T. Josiah Haynes
Costume Designer: Denese René Evans
Master Carpenter: David Wigart
Set Painters: David & Bonnie Deese
Original Music: Rebeka Rosales
Lighting Op.: Cullin Spellings
Makeup Designer: Lydia Buford
House Manager: Megan Freeman
Photographers: Haydin Olivia Photography

In Spring 2023, the spotlight shone brightly on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, orchestrated with finesse and flair by Creative Director Rebeka Rosales and produced once more by Haynes.

Summer Theatre Camp (Jun 2023)

- June 12-16 -

Instructors: T. Josiah Haynes & Poem Bokoles

Haynes and Bokoles reunited to teach 11 students the fundamentals of acting and musical theatre. At the end of a week-long theatre camp, these dedicated students put on a Friday evening showcase of 3 dramatic and comedic scenes, plus a dance set to “Seize the Day” from Newsies.

Annie Jr (Sept-Nov 2023)

- Performed November 9-12, 2023 -

Creative Director: Charlotte Myhre Shealy
Music Director: Lindsay Broome
Assistant Director: Marsha Allen
Executive Producer: T. Josiah Haynes
Costume Designer: Denese René Evans
Master Carpenter: David Wigart
Set Painters: David & Bonnie Deese, Carol Marion
Lighting Design/Op.: Jonathan Beaty
Spotlight Operator: Jenson Holden
Sound Operator: William Lankford
Mic Technician: Tabetha Nice
Makeup Designer: Lydia Buford
House Manager: Cassie Ponomarev
Photographer: Kenn Stilger
Co-Teacher: Brandon Rodermond

In Fall 2023, Adonai Theatre put on its first musical, Annie Jr. Adding mics, music, dances, and custom lighting, Annie Jr. proved to be their biggest show to date. It seems right that this huge production value was met with our biggest audiences, by far. We’ll definitely be doing more musicals going forward. Director Charlotte Myhre Shealy set a high bar for future Adonai Theatre productions and left a powerful legacy that will continue to impact the students and the theatre for years to come.

AS YOU LIKE IT (Jan-Apr 2024)

- Performances April 4-6, 11-13 -

Creative Director: Rebeka Rosales
Executive Producer: T. Josiah Haynes
Stage Manager: Angie Fenton
Assistant Director: Kiki Farrell
Lighting Design/Op.: Jonathan Beaty
Sound Operator: Meg Freeman
Audio Consultant: William Lankford
Mic Tech: Tabetha Nice
Makeup Designer: Lydia Buford
House Manager: Cassie Ponomarev
Photographer: Jason Bihler

April 4-13 2024, Haynes and Rosales reunited to put on Adonai Theatre’s third Shakespeare production, As You Like It, the classic comedy set in 1950’s America with a circus vibe. This production did not take place in the Heritage Chapel but in a less traditional space, the lobby inside Nashville First Church of the Nazarene. This was also our first production to take place over 2 weekends.