The Scene

Mark Creter sits down with Amy Ing, founder and owner of Spotlight Costumes—based in Cookeville, Tennessee—whose handcrafted costume designs have graced productions from Knoxville’s Bearden High School’s Hamlet to Prescott Middle School’s The Lion King. Hailing from nearby White Bluff, Amy’s passion for theater costuming blossomed into a thriving business offering unique rentals, custom creations,...

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On this episode of The Scene, Mark Creter is joined by guests Francis Brooks and Donna Venclir as they discuss the Tennessee Jewels. The Tennessee Jewels are a great interpretive dance group who strive for greatness. Listen To The Scene Podcast Today! literock959.com

Mark Creter sits down with Malena Alderman to discuss the remarkable history and revitalization of the iconic Palace Theater in Crossville, Tennessee. Originally opened in 1938, the Palace served as a beloved movie theater for decades before closing its doors in 1978. What was once slated to become a parking garage has since been transformed into a thriving community arts venue, thanks to the effo...

Mark Creter sits down with Mitchell White, a professional artist and board member of the Overton/Livingston Arts Council, to discuss the growing arts scene in Overton County. Formed in 2023, the council focuses on promoting arts education, supporting local artists, and drawing attention to Livingston’s historic downtown through events and classes. Mitchell shares details about the upcoming Paint L...

Mark Creter talks with Joe Clark, director of Shakespeare at Dogwood Park, about his upcoming production of Troilus and Cressida. Joe shares how a previous play inspired him to take on this lesser-known Shakespeare work—one of the Bard's longest and only performed once during his lifetime. Set during the Trojan War, the production will feature period-appropriate costumes and a large cast, staying...

Mark Creter sits down with Mitchell White, a professional artist and board member of the Overton/Livingston Arts Council, to discuss the growing arts scene in Overton County. Formed in 2023, the council focuses on promoting arts education, supporting local artists, and drawing attention to Livingston’s historic downtown through events and classes. Mitchell shares details about the upcoming Paint L...

Mark Creter sits down with self-taught filmmakers Noah Mears and Gibson Berke, a creative duo making waves in the Upper Cumberland film scene. Though they’ve only been working together a short time, they’ve already produced several short films and one feature, with another — Before Hollywood Calls — on the way. Noah, who originally set out to write scripts in college, met Gibson after asking him t...

On this week's episode of The Scene, Dwight Wages joins Mark Creter! They discuss Dwight's love for music, how he got into it, and much more! They also talk on the upcoming Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Fall Concert Series, which they have been hard at work on for a while! Listen To The Scene Podcast Today! literock959.com

Mark Creter sits down with Prudence Van Aalten, a New York-born actress and theatre teacher now living in Cookeville, TN, who grew up in a Shakespeare-loving household where Broadway dreams were part of her upbringing. Though she trained as a performer, Prudence says teaching has deepened her love for theatre, as she helps students discover what kind of actors they are by breaking down emotional w...

In this episode, Mark Creter sits down with Dan Allcott and Melissa Ellis of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra—the only professional symphony in residence outside of an urban center in Tennessee, proudly serving the Upper Cumberland region They discuss their roles within the orchestra, their tenure, and how the ensemble got started through its longstanding partnership with Tennessee Tech. Dan and Melis...

In this episode, Mark Creter sits down with young actors Kaden Hobbs and McKenna Proffitt from Warren Arts to discuss their upcoming production of Funny Girl. They share what first inspired them to get involved in community theatre and reflect on the impact Warren Arts has had on their artistic growth. Kaden and McKenna also touch on the origins of Warren Arts, announce the dates and times for Fun...

Mark Creter welcomes Sherri Denning, Executive Director of Warren Arts in McMinnville, to discuss their upcoming auditions for Shrek The Musical. Sherri shares the inspiring origin story of Warren Arts and her role in guiding its growth and vision. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process that brings their productions to life and celebrates the unique spirit of community theatre...

Mark Creter sits down with singer-songwriter Raniece Marie to discuss the upcoming Singing on Spring event, taking place August 13th in Cookeville. Originally from New York, Raniece shares her journey to the region and offers insight into what makes Cookeville’s arts community so distinctive. She reflects on her early involvement in local events, the milestones she’s achieved since arriving, and h...

Mark Creter sits down with Amy Ing, founder and owner of Spotlight Costumes—based in Cookeville, Tennessee—whose handcrafted costume designs have graced productions from Knoxville’s Bearden High School’s Hamlet to Prescott Middle School’s The Lion King. Hailing from nearby White Bluff, Amy’s passion for theater costuming blossomed into a thriving business offering unique rentals, custom creations,...

Mark Creter sits down with Melissa Ellis, Development Director for the Upper Cumberland’s own Bryan Symphony Orchestra—the only professional orchestra in rural Tennessee. Melissa’s passion for music began at age 15 when she joined the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, and later studied music therapy at Tennessee Tech before working as a jazz artist until 2020. She became an 11-time nomine...

Mark Creter talks with Shane Cunningham, director of the theatre program at Cookeville High School. From a childhood interest sparked by a story from his dad to leading successful student productions, Shane shares his journey into theatre, the events his students travel to and place in, and what exciting performances are coming up next. Listen To The Scene Podcast Today! literock959.com

Join Mark Creter as he chats with Andrea Kruska, a landscape and nature photographer whose lifelong passion began in high school when she discovered her dad’s vintage film camera. Since officially launching her photography journey in 2019, Andrea has melded traditional film techniques—learned through classes and self‑instruction—with her keen eye for capturing the hidden beauty in nature. She dive...

Mark Creter sits down with Meredith Lewis, an artist and professor at Tennessee Tech. A Kentucky native, Meredith always had a love for the arts and theatre but initially set out to pursue a more "normal" career path. Her passion was reignited after visiting the Appalachian Center for Crafts in Tennessee, where she fell in love with the atmosphere and the vibrant local art community. Listen To The...

Adele Seitzinger shares her artistic inspirations, how she discovered her passion, and how you can try your hand at silk painting. Listen To The Scene Podcast Today! literock959.com

Mark Creter catches up with Aaron Ramsey, a local director and former student from Tennessee Tech who found his love for theatre by chance. What started as just another class to fill a credit quickly turned into a full-on passion, with Aaron diving into every production he could. Now, he's directing a 400-year-old comedy by the French playwright Molière, and this production is set to hit the stage...

Today, our host Mark Creter sits down with Judith Sullivan and Diane Pulte to discuss the story behind the Diana Riggs concerts that will be taking place on June 15th @ 3pm at the Pleasant Hill Community Church. (Cumberland Co.) Listen To The Scene Podcast Today! literock959.com

Learn The History of the Agatha Christie original play "Mouse Trap", and how to audition. Auditions will be held June 9th - 10th at CPAC, and the play will be preformed from August 15th - 23rd at CPAC. Listen To The Scene Podcast Today! literock959.com

Mark Creter takes a trip to The Cabana on stage at Cookeville Performing Arts Center with writer/director Laura Holloway. Also - your opportunity to enjoy the community band at Dogwood Park. Listen To The Scene Podcast Today! literock959.com

During this episode, our host Mark Creter sits down with Andrew Smith and Dakota Brown who are co producers of Community Sings Bob Dillon - which is an event taking place on June 5th at 7pm. Listen To The Scene Podcast Today! literock959.com