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Voices of the South

Founded in 1995, Voices of the South is a Memphis based non-profit theatre company that creates, produces, and tours homegrown works of theatre that give voice to the southern perspective. VOTS also promotes literacy through their local and national touring program. The company's extensive touring repertoire includes original plays and adaptations of literature from celebrated regional authors. For the past twelve years the company has performed these works and led theatre workshops/residencies in K-12 schools and colleges and universities throughout the state of Tennessee. The company has also worked in Mid-South senior centers, the Memphis/Shelby County library system, the Lichterman Nature Center, and with COFI, a West Memphis-based non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a safe and educational environment for disadvantaged youth from high crime neighborhoods.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Contact Info

    Voices of the South

    2085 Monroe
    Memphis, TN 38104

    Phone: 726-0800   |   Email   |   Official Website

  • Current Events

    05/25/12- 05/26/12

    The Memphis Children's Theatre Festival Rhodes College: McCoy Theatre The Memphis Children's Theatre Festival Presented by Voices of the South at Rhodes College: McCoy Theatre May 25-May 26, 2012 To whom it may concern: Voices of the South, a non-profit theatre organization in Memphis, is preparing to host the Seventh Annual Memphis Children’s Theatre Festival. The festival will take place at the McCoy Theatre on the Rhodes College campus May 25-26 2012. Our mission of the festival is to create a safe, educational, affordable, and exciting atmosphere in which children and families can attend innovative theatre, and participate in FREE, arts oriented...

  • Upcoming Events

    There are no upcoming events available for this organization at this time.

• Current &
  Upcoming Events

  • Current Events

    05/25/12- 05/26/12

    The Memphis Children's Theatre Festival Rhodes College: McCoy Theatre The Memphis Children's Theatre Festival Presented by Voices of the South at Rhodes College: McCoy Theatre May 25-May 26, 2012 To whom it may concern: Voices of the South, a non-profit theatre organization in Memphis, is preparing to host the Seventh Annual Memphis Children’s Theatre Festival. The festival will take place at the McCoy Theatre on the Rhodes College campus May 25-26 2012. Our mission of the festival is to create a safe, educational, affordable, and exciting atmosphere in which children and families can attend innovative theatre, and participate in FREE, arts oriented...

  • Upcoming Events

    There are no upcoming events available for this organization at this time.

• Past
  Events

  • Past Events

    03/09/12- 03/18/12	Sister Myotis's END TIMES HOOTENANNY TheatreWorks
    09/02/11- 09/03/11	Sister Myotis' Karaoke Smackdown TheatreWorks
    09/01/11	Prison Stories TheatreWorks
    08/19/11- 08/28/11	Alice's Tea Party TheatreWorks
    05/27/11- 05/28/11	The Memphis Children's Theatre Festival Rhodes College: McCoy Theatre
    03/17/11- 03/20/11	Cicada TheatreWorks
    11/12/10- 11/21/10	Wild Legacy The Evergreen Theater
    11/12/10- 11/21/10	Wild Legacy Evergreen (Formerly Circuit Playhouse)
    05/28/10- 05/29/10	VOICES OF THE SOUTH hosts THE MEMPHIS CHILDREN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL Rhodes College: McCoy Theatre
    03/05/10- 03/14/10	Hold Fast TheatreWorks
    01/22/10- 01/30/10	The J&K Self-Rising Cabaret TheatreSouth
    12/11/09- 12/20/09	Pre-sent/Pres-ent 8: Home Sweet Home TheatreWorks
    11/12/09	Pre-sent Present Process Party TheatreSouth
    10/23/09- 10/25/09	For Goodness Sake TheatreSouth
    10/17/09- 10/19/09	The Ugly Duckling The Hutchison School
    09/16/09- 10/03/09	Sister Myotis's Church Retreat TheatreSouth
    08/21/09- 09/06/09	Cicada TheatreWorks
    05/22/09- 05/23/09	Voices of the South hosts The Memphis Children's Theatre Festival Rhodes College: McCoy Theatre
    04/26/09	Spring Arts on the Bluff Metal Museum
    03/20/09- 03/29/09	Sister Myotis: Church Retreat TheatreWorks
    03/20/09- 03/29/09	Homegrown TheatreWorks
    12/12/08- 12/21/08	Pre-sent/Pres-ent presented by Voices of the South and Project: Motion TheatreWorks
    08/22/08- 09/07/08	Sister Myotis: Church Retreat TheatreWorks
    05/23/08- 05/25/08	The Memphis Children's Theatre Festival Rhodes College: McCoy Theatre
    03/25/08	THIS TUESDAY: Works in Progress TheatreWorks
    03/20/08- 03/30/08	The Magnificence of the Disaster TheatreWorks
    01/22/08- 01/26/08	Storytelling/Solo Performance Workshop First Congregational Church

• Video &
  Images

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    Video Video | Images

• Media
  Reviews

  • Media Reviews

    • Event Name: Cicada
      Article: Hot Tickets/ We Recommend
      The Memphis Flyer - Mar 10, 2011
      By Chris Davis

      The hits keep coming for Voices of the South. The innovative company opened Sister Myotis's Bible Camp Off Broadway last summer and launched a national tour of Wild Legacy, a play commissioned by the U.S. government to celebrate the 50th anniversary… Expand

      The hits keep coming for Voices of the South. The innovative company opened Sister Myotis's Bible Camp Off Broadway last summer and launched a national tour of Wild Legacy, a play commissioned by the U.S. government to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Cicada, written by VOTS artistic director Jerre Dye and originally staged in 2009, will be presented with the Bryan Family Award for Dramatic Literature in April when the Fellowship of Southern Writers convenes its annual meeting in Chattanooga. Collapse

• Member
  Reviews

  • Member Reviews

    • Event Name: The Memphis Children's Theatre Festival
      "This is a must attend event!!"
      Review posted by: Connie Ruth Briscoe from Memphis, TN, May 11, 2011
      

      Last year was my first year to attend and I brought my then 3 and 4 yr old grandaughters. They have been waiting all year to come back to the "Party"! We all were so impressed and I have told... Expand

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      Last year was my first year to attend and I brought my then 3 and 4 yr old grandaughters. They have been waiting all year to come back to the "Party"! We all were so impressed and I have told everyone I know with children to plan on attending this year. What a great fun and learning experience for all! Collapse

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    • Event Name: Hold Fast
      "Review by Bob Arnold - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver"
      Comment posted by: Bob Arnold - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Mar 08, 2010
      

      In many ways, there's nothing more theatrical than a solo performance. A single artist, often working on a bare or nearly-bare stage, using his or her voice, words, and a few props to give life to any... Expand

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      In many ways, there's nothing more theatrical than a solo performance. A single artist, often working on a bare or nearly-bare stage, using his or her voice, words, and a few props to give life to any number of characters, emotions, or issues. When done well, there's something elemental about such performances -- they bring you face-to-face with pure talent. Phil Darius Wallace's "Hold Fast," presented by Voices of the South, does just that. The show charts Wallace's life as an actor through his relationship with the poems of Langston Hughes. Along the way, we meet Wallace's parents, his mentor, and other heroes, including Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Richard Pryor. Wallace's journey is neither linear nor extremely dramatic, but it's always compelling, and Wallace is an undeniably powerful performer. It would be easy for a show like this to veer into navel-gazing, but Wallace and director Jerre Dye avoid that pitfall by keeping Hughes's poetry front and center, lending the events of Wallace's life a feeling of connectedness and larger significance. Those who enjoy the art of solo performance will be delighted by "Hold Fast," and those who haven't experienced the style will find this to be a great introduction. Collapse

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    • Event Name: The J&K Self-Rising Cabaret
      "Review by Bob Arnold - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver"
      Comment posted by: Bob Arnold - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Jan 24, 2010
      

      Voices of the South's "J&K;Self-Rising Cabaret," starring well-loved Memphis performers Jenny Madden and Kim Justis, feels less like an evening of theater and more like a fun night at a friend's... Expand

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      Voices of the South's "J&K;Self-Rising Cabaret," starring well-loved Memphis performers Jenny Madden and Kim Justis, feels less like an evening of theater and more like a fun night at a friend's place. The show plays out like a long conversation, following currents of thought that lead to jokes, songs, and heartfelt reminiscences. The two performers have a charming, easygoing chemistry that makes them great fun to watch. There's plenty of ham and cheese built into the show's gags, but the ladies (under the direction of VOTS Artistic Director Jerre Dye) are smart enough to deliver the real groaners with a knowing wink. Both performers have strong singing voices, and the songs they've chosen run the gamut from standards to unfamiliar gems, including a few you couldn't possibly have heard before (Ms. Justis's own "Dirty Whore Blues"). Throughout, J&K;are backed by a tight, energetic quartet that sounds great without ever overpowering the small space. Ostensibly, the show centers on what it means to be a woman in the "New South," but the answers aren't nearly as important as the discussion. Like perfect Southern hostesses, Jenny and Kim go to great lengths to keep you feeling welcome and entertained, all without seeming to break a sweat. Oh, and of course they feed you, too. Collapse

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    • Event Name: Pre-sent/Pres-ent 8: Home Sweet Home
      "Review by Bob Arnold - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver"
      Comment posted by: Bob Arnold - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Dec 15, 2009
      

      Seeing as how the same old songs, plays, and TV specials get trotted out at this time every year, you might think that the holidays are creatively bankrupt -- that, artistically, there's just nothing... Expand

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      Seeing as how the same old songs, plays, and TV specials get trotted out at this time every year, you might think that the holidays are creatively bankrupt -- that, artistically, there's just nothing left to say. Not so. Witness Voices of the South and Project Motion's "Pre-sent Pres-ent," an annual melange of original performance pieces that encompasses monologues, music, movement, and more. Developed by the performers in response to hand-built "gifts" (all of which are Memphis-themed this year), the pieces are by turns charming, thrilling, poignant, mysterious, surprising, and hilarious. And yet somehow it all hangs together effortlessly, leaving you with feelings of wonder and joy that other holiday shows try so desperately to evoke. As with any production this varied, you're bound to like some of the pieces more than others, but all of them are worthy additions, and none sticks around long enough to wear out its welcome. The fact that the evening is emceed by Steve Swift's pitch-perfect Sister Myotis is a major bonus. It's a thrill to go from his loose, improvisational style to a tightly choreographed movement piece and back again. What a gift: a holiday-themed show that manages to find some new things to say about the season, and that evokes sentiment without ever being sentimental. So go see it, but be sure to tuck something in your pocket for the Secret Santa Swap. You've been warned. Collapse

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    • Event Name: For Goodness Sake
      "Preview by David Prete"
      Comment posted by: David Prete - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Oct 20, 2009
      

      Whether Elaine Blanchard is preaching to a congregation, telling stories to children, or playing a character on a theater stage, her audiences have a tough time placing her. At first, they think the... Expand

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      Whether Elaine Blanchard is preaching to a congregation, telling stories to children, or playing a character on a theater stage, her audiences have a tough time placing her. At first, they think the tiny, spiky-haired woman with the mousey voice may be from a distant time or place. And they can't keep their eyes off her. Then she swiftly puts her off-kilter audiences at ease, making them feel as if they've known this strange creature since childhood. This is Blanchard's gift: effortlessly looking through peoples' skin, religion, and gender, their agenda, their past, and their beliefs, directly to their heart. And before her audiences know it, they're doing the same. This weekend she'll be at Voices of the South's new theater, shining that gift on another audience and the ten-plus characters she'll play in her original solo show, For Goodness Sake. The play (written by Blanchard) is a true story about her experience growing up in rural pre-civil rights Florida. During that time she was exposed to some pretty strong racism, sexism, and religious oppression. Throughout the play we see her search for her own religion, sexuality, and goodness while struggling to heal childhood wounds left by her innocent participation in a racially motivated beating. Blanchard manages to tell this story with humor and compassion, never passing judgment on her characters. It's a piece of American history that reminds us how fast and slow we've progressed as a society. It also offers us the opportunity to look at ourselves and our surroundings with a questioning and merciful eye. Collapse

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    • Event Name: Sister Myotis's Church Retreat
      "A Church Retreat for Women"
      Comment posted by: Billy Pullen - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver from Memphis, TN, Sep 21, 2009
      

      Is it a play? Is it a monologue? Is it performance art? Is it a variety show? Brothers and sisters, it's just like the title says, it's a church retreat for women, though several wayfaring men folks... Expand

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      Is it a play? Is it a monologue? Is it performance art? Is it a variety show? Brothers and sisters, it's just like the title says, it's a church retreat for women, though several wayfaring men folks were present last Saturday night, and let me tell you right now that Sister Myotis (Steve Swift) can flat out preach and set folks back on the straight and narrow. The cunning priestess has summoned an audience into the theatre where she can spread the news of living a righteous life, Sister Myotis style. Ably assisted and abetted by sensibly shoed Velma Needlemeyer, Todd Berry, (who used to weigh over 400 pounds, but thanks to God and surgery, is now a svelte fashion statement with a high-class hairdo) and by bespectacled Ima Lone (Jenny Odle Madden), the sensual offspring of two star-struck teenage snake handlers, Sister Myotis, raconteurs on cleanliness, marriage, sex, cooking, politics, and even death. For complete Billy Pullen review, see the Event Detail. Collapse

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    • Event Name: Sister Myotis's Church Retreat
      "Preview by David Prete - ArtsMemphis Rants & Raver"
      Comment posted by: David Prete from Memphis, TN, Sep 16, 2009
      

      You're in day one of a week-long training session for your new church group, the Honeybees Ladies' Auxiliary (HLA). As a new HLA member much is expected of you, because in many ways, the Auxiliary... Expand

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      You're in day one of a week-long training session for your new church group, the Honeybees Ladies' Auxiliary (HLA). As a new HLA member much is expected of you, because in many ways, the Auxiliary runs the church. HLA ladies will tell you they merely do the muscle work while the men make the decisions, but they do have the men's ears. Regardless of what you were before this retreat, you're now a woman. Explaining what you're in for this week is your host and President and Founder of HLA, Sister Myotis. She's a woman obsessed with power and accomplishing things for her church. She's of the: we're-all-right,-they're-all-wrong religion. She's also an overblown theatrical character played by actor/writer Steve Swift, longtime Voices of the South company member; and for the next three weeks she'll be appearing at Voices' new performance space: Theater South. Swift describes the show as "an interactive comedy show." It mixes the audience interaction and response of stand-up comedy with theatrical structure. There's some improvisation, but all in all it's a clown show. "My drag and pony show," says Swift. Myotis was created in 2002, as part of Voices' Present Present, a holiday show in which performers receive presents from Artistic Director, Jerre Dye, and create a short piece inspired by their gift. Swift was given a vial of glitter, a crown of thorns and the phrase, I give, and I give, and I give. These are such stuff as satires are made on. Ironic as it may seem, the play is not a satire on religion. But like all satire, it lays function beneath its humor. "It deals with the politics of human interaction." says Swift. "One person wanting power over another person." Church happens to be the perfect setting for that subject. As Sister Myotis' Church Retreat is the inaugural show in Theater South, a word about the space is in order. It's an intimate black-box in the basement level of First Congregational Church (1000 S. Cooper) and seats up to about 75. It has an entrance in the south parking lot and is wheelchair accessible. Sister Myotis has two helpers on this retreat: Sister Ima Lone (Jenny Odle Madden), a secretary, and Sister Velma Needlemeyer (Todd Berry), world-renown gospel tambourine player. In summer 2010, the three sisters will enjoy a month-long Off-Broadway run in NYC. Our blessings go with them. Collapse

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    • Event Name: Cicada
      "Inspiring"
      Review posted by: Impressed from Memphis, TN, Aug 30, 2009
      

      I saw this play this afternoon and I must say it was gorgeous. It has a very earthy feel and gave me access to a side of the south I don't often get to see living here. Well written and well... Expand

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      I saw this play this afternoon and I must say it was gorgeous. It has a very earthy feel and gave me access to a side of the south I don't often get to see living here. Well written and well performed. Collapse

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    • Event Name: Cicada
      "Cicada"
      Review posted by: Billy Pullen - ArtsMemphis Rants & Ravers from Memphis, TN, Aug 23, 2009
      

      Cicada, a new play by Voices of the South Artistic Director Jerre Dye, contains elements of a memory play, narrative theatre, and the Greek chorus. For the full review, see the event detail.

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

      Cicada, a new play by Voices of the South Artistic Director Jerre Dye, contains elements of a memory play, narrative theatre, and the Greek chorus. For the full review, see the event detail.

      All reviews/comments and complete event details

    • Event Name: Sister Myotis: Church Retreat
      "Gosh darn good cultural entertainment I sure guess."
      Comment posted by: An Okie that's NOT from Muskogee. from Edmond, Oklahoma, Apr 21, 2009
      

      A friend sent me a YouTub video of you beautifully lookin' funnee than a stripped down corn cob some kind of religiouslee country gal nut types and I laughed til mi eyeballs got wet. So, I then tried... Expand

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      A friend sent me a YouTub video of you beautifully lookin' funnee than a stripped down corn cob some kind of religiouslee country gal nut types and I laughed til mi eyeballs got wet. So, I then tried to find you webside butt then had to Goooooooooogleeeee to this here Memphis electrotronnic location. So, hear I am a thinking that this here funnnneeee stuff should come to the land of Okleeeohoma as we here also need a good laugh too, thongs and all considered. Have a good time....see ya! By the way, this hear site says thet I have 395 characters left, but I only kno bout 3 karacters here abots.Bye! Collapse

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