{"id":40411,"date":"2018-01-05T23:33:04","date_gmt":"2018-01-06T05:33:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tuts8dev.wpenginepowered.com\/uncategorized\/memphis-creative\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T23:56:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T04:56:22","slug":"memphis-creative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/memphis-creative\/","title":{"rendered":"New TUTS Artistic Director Dan Knechtges to Direct <em>Memphis<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;off|phone&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Related Programs&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||true|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;40px||40px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;||40px||false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; make_equal=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;gcid-secondary-color&#8221; header_2_font_size_tablet=&#8221;32px&#8221; header_2_font_size_phone=&#8221;28px&#8221; header_2_line_height_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; header_2_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_2_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_3_font_size_tablet=&#8221;26px&#8221; header_3_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; header_3_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_3_text_color%22,%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Theatre<strong> Under The Stars Artistic Director, Dan Knechtges<\/strong> is directing the upcoming production of<em style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;\">Memphis<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m so excited to be able to bring such an outstanding team to Houston to work at TUTS. Houston audiences will be dazzled by what this creative bunch comes up with!,\u201d said Knechtges.<\/p>\n<p>This will be the first production Knechtges\u2019 has directed at TUTS since becoming Artistic Director of the organization. Previously, he directed the 2016 production of <em><strong>How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying<\/strong><\/em>. Joining Knechtges on the production is <strong>Jessica Hartman<\/strong> as Choreographer, <strong>Darryl Ivey<\/strong> as Music Director, <strong>Ryan O\u2019Gara<\/strong> as Lighting Designer, <strong>Andrew Harper<\/strong> as Sound Designer, <strong>Kevin Depinet<\/strong> as Set Designer, <strong>Leon Dobkowski<\/strong> as Costume Designer, and <strong>Jeff Knaggs<\/strong> as Hair and Makeup Designer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hartman\u2019s<\/strong> Broadway credits include serving as the Associate Choreographer for Lysistrata Jones and as the Assistant Choreographer, Dance Captain and swing for <strong><em>The Boy From Oz<\/em><\/strong>. Most recently, she choreographed a world premiere at the Kennedy Center that moved to The New Victory Theatre in NYC, as well as <strong><em>All Shook Up<\/em><\/strong> at The MUNY. <strong>Ivey<\/strong> served as the Associate Conductor for the touring production of <strong><em>The Color Purple<\/em><\/strong>, and more recently on the Broadway production of<strong> <em>Shuffle Along<\/em><\/strong>. <strong>O\u2019Gara\u2019s<\/strong> Broadway credits include Associate Lighting Designer for <em><strong>Prince of Broadway<\/strong>, <strong>Come From Away<\/strong>, <strong>A Bronx Tale<\/strong><\/em>, and <strong><em>Hamilton<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Harper<\/strong> is an independent Sound Designer who has worked with TUTS many times on productions such as <em><strong>Dreamgirls<\/strong>, <strong>The Rocky Horror Show<\/strong>, <strong>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying<\/strong>,<\/em> and<strong> <em>In The Heights<\/em><\/strong>. <strong>Depinet<\/strong> is known for his set design on productions of <strong><em>Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/em><\/strong> (Paramount Theatre), <strong><em>Smokey Joe\u2019s Cafe<\/em> <\/strong>(Drury Lane Oakbrook), <strong><em>Into The Woods<\/em><\/strong> (TUTS), and <strong><em>Jesus Christ Superstar<\/em><\/strong> (Paramount Theatre). <strong>Dobkowski<\/strong> has designed costumes for innumerable productions including <strong><em>The Wizard of Oz<\/em><\/strong> (The MUNY), <strong><em>Mamma Mia!<\/em> <\/strong>(The MUNY), <strong><em>A Christmas Story<\/em><\/strong> (Paper Mill Playhouse), and <strong><em>Hairspray<\/em><\/strong> (The MUNY). <strong>Knaggs<\/strong> has worked on many TUTS productions including <strong><em>Dreamgirls<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>Into The Woods<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>The Rocky Horror Show<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>Million Dollar Quartet<\/em><\/strong>, and <strong><em>Heathers<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Inspired by actual events, <em><strong>Memphis<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves \u2013 filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock \u2018n\u2019 roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards\u00ae including Best Musical, <em><strong>Memphis<\/strong><\/em> features a Tony\u00ae-winning book by Joe DiPietro (<strong><em>I Love You, You&#8217;re Perfect, Now Change<\/em><\/strong> and <strong><em>All Shook Up<\/em><\/strong>) and a Tony-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MEMPHIS<\/strong> is possible thanks to the generous support of production sponsors, <strong>ConocoPhillips<\/strong>, <strong>Apache<\/strong>, and <strong>Freeport LNG<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Children\u2019s Memorial Hermann Hospital<\/strong> is the official healthcare partner of Theatre Under The Stars. <strong>United Airlines<\/strong> is the official airline partner of Theatre Under The Stars. <strong>KTRK ABC-13<\/strong> is the official media partner of Theatre Under The Stars. TUTS is supported in part by the <strong>City of Houston through the Theater District<\/strong> and the <strong>Texas Commission on the Arts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Theatre Under The Stars Artistic Director, Dan Knechtges is directing the upcoming production ofMemphis. \u201cI\u2019m so excited to be able to bring such an outstanding team to Houston to work [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":42105,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p><strong>Theatre Under The Stars\u2019 (TUTS) Artistic Director, Dan Knechtges<\/strong> is directing the upcoming production of <strong>MEMPHIS! <\/strong><\/p><p>\u201cI\u2019m so excited to be able to bring such an outstanding team to Houston to work at TUTS. Houston audiences will be dazzled by what this creative bunch comes up with!\u201d said Knechtges.<\/p><p>This will be the first production Knechtges\u2019 has directed at TUTS since becoming Artistic Director of the organization. Previously, he directed the 2016 production of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. Joining Knechtges on the production is <strong>Jessica Hartman<\/strong> as Choreographer, <strong>Darryl Ivey<\/strong> as Music Director, <strong>Ryan O\u2019Gara<\/strong> as Lighting Designer, <strong>Andrew Harper<\/strong> as Sound Designer, <strong>Kevin Depinet<\/strong> as Set Designer, <strong>Leon Dobkowski<\/strong> as Costume Designer, and <strong>Jeff Knaggs<\/strong> as Hair and Makeup Designer.<\/p><p><strong>Hartman\u2019s<\/strong> Broadway credits include serving as the Associate Choreographer for Lysistrata Jones and as the Assistant Choreographer, Dance Captain and swing for <em>The Boy From Oz<\/em>. Most recently, she choreographed a world premiere at the Kennedy Center that moved to The New Victory Theatre in NYC, as well as <em>All Shook Up<\/em> at The MUNY. <strong>Ivey<\/strong> served as the Associate Conductor for the touring production of <em>The Color Purple<\/em>, and more recently on the Broadway production of <em>Shuffle Along<\/em>. <strong>O\u2019Gara\u2019s<\/strong> Broadway credits include Associate Lighting Designer for <em>Prince of Broadway, Come From Away, Bronx Tale<\/em>, and <em>Hamilton<\/em>.<\/p><p><strong>Harper<\/strong> is an independent Sound Designer who has worked with TUTS many times on productions such as <em>Dreamgirls, The Rocky Horror Show, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,<\/em> and <em>In The Heights<\/em>. <strong>Depinet<\/strong> is known for his set design on productions of <em>Les Miserables<\/em> (Paramount Theatre), <em>Smokey Joe\u2019s Cafe<\/em> (Drury Lane Oakbrook), <em>Into The Woods<\/em> (TUTS), and <em>Jesus Christ Superstar<\/em> (Paramount Theatre). <strong>Dobkowski<\/strong> has designed costumes for innumerable productions including <em>The Wizard of Oz<\/em> (The MUNY), <em>Mamma Mia!<\/em> (The MUNY), <em>A Christmas Story<\/em> (Paper Mill Playhouse), and <em>Hairspray<\/em> (The MUNY). <strong>Knaggs<\/strong> has worked on many TUTS productions including <em>Dreamgirls<\/em>, <em>Into The Woods<\/em>, <em>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying<\/em>, <em>The Rocky Horror Show<\/em>, <em>Million Dollar Quartet<\/em>, and <em>Heathers<\/em>.<\/p><p>Inspired by actual events, <strong>MEMPHIS<\/strong> is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves \u2013 filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock \u2018n\u2019 roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony\u00ae Awards including Best Musical, <strong>MEMPHIS<\/strong> features a Tony\u00ae-winning book by Joe DiPietro (<em>I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change<\/em> and <em>All Shook Up<\/em>) and a Tony\u00ae-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan.<\/p><p><strong>MEMPHIS<\/strong> is possible thanks to the generous support of production sponsors, <strong>ConocoPhillips<\/strong>, <strong>Apache<\/strong>, and <strong>Freeport LNG<\/strong>.<\/p><p><strong>Children\u2019s Memorial Hermann Hospital<\/strong> is the official healthcare partner of Theatre Under The Stars. <strong>United Airlines<\/strong> is the official airline partner of Theatre Under The Stars. <strong>KTRK ABC-13<\/strong> is the official media partner of Theatre Under The Stars. TUTS is supported in part by the <strong>City of Houston through the Theater District<\/strong> and the <strong>Texas Commission on the Arts<\/strong>.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mainstage"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}