About Us
Presenting "Family Friendly Theater" that will encourage, inspire, entertain and strives always to exceed expectations.
Community Players was incorporated as a limited liability non profit corporation in October of 2004. As a non profit organization under IRS code 501c3 all contributions are tax deductible. As a part of our service to the community we contribute a portion of our ticket sales from each production to other worth while organizations that are likewise committed to improving the quality of life for people in need. To see where our contributions have gone visit our Charitable Activities page.
Live theater is a tremendous and unique experience. Human beings have a need to be connected to one another in community. That's why we will sit in front of a television set and watch a movie that has been edited for television, which includes commercials, when we could easily go down to the local video store and rent the same movie. We do this because we know that there are thousands of other people watching the same movie at the same time, and we may feel connected with them in a kind of community. We go to a see a movie at the theater and we experience a more personal sense of community as we share the viewing experience with our fellow audience members. In doing so, the experience is enhanced because our reactions are shared and effected by those around us. However, in live theater you have an opportunity not only to connect with your fellow audience members but to connect with the performers as well. Somehow the message, the story, the joy, humor and drama become much more personal when you share it with an audience and with those who are presenting it.
We invite everyone to participate in our community efforts. And we invite those with an interest in performing or working behind the scenes to contact us and bring your own unique abilities and vision to enhance our efforts.
David Hutson: President of the Board David has a BA in Theater from MTSU and, teaches Theatre Arts at Lavergne High School . He has two children, Katie and Lucas, and a new grandson Noah Parker. He has been a member of the Community of Christ since 1972, and holds the office of Elder. He serves on the Building Committee locally. In the MidSouth Region he is a member of the Youth Council and Campgrounds Development Committee of the Community of Christ. David has directed A Christmas Carol for Community Players for nine of the past ten years. His other directing credits include: From the Garden to the Grave, Fools, A Collaborative Effort, The Diaries of Adam and Eve, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), I'm Herbert, Dearly Departed, Arsenic and Old Lace, Mixed Nuts, The Murder Room, Death by Chocolate, Young Frankenstein, The Crucible, and Annie Get Your Gun. His acting credits include: From the Garden to the Grave (Satan & Peter), Fiddler on the Roof (The Constable), Plaza Suite (Roy Hubley), The Music Man (Mayor Shinn), A Christmas Carol (Marley`s Ghost & Old Joe), I'm Herbert (Herbert), Cabaret (Heir Shultz: Nominated for Irene Ryan Award), The Seagull (Shamraev ), Breaking Up Is Hard To Do ( Narrator), Over The River and Through the Woods (Frank), Fools (Dr Zubritsky), The Murder Room (Inspector Howard), Around The World In 80 Days ( Detective Fix), and Play On! (Henry Benish).
Martha Stephens: Secretary Martha is Community Players' go-to girl. She has been acting with Community Players, along with her daughter Victoria, since 2003. Her acting credits include the past six years' productions of A Christmas Carol (Mrs. Cratchit, Adult Belle, Charwoman, Debtor, Mrs. Fezziwig, Woman Guest, Shopkeeper, Caroler), Play On! (Louise) Around the World in 80 Days (Forster, Sir Francis, Mudge), Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Doris) and the One-Act nights in 2008 & 2009. She has worked backstage, in the house, in the booth, or on the set for nearly every production done in the last several years. Martha has a BS in Business Management from MTSU and an AAS in Computer Networking from ITT Technical Institute. She plays the piano at the drop of a hat, and enjoys singing anything from showtunes to pop/rock to traditional irish music. You can find her online at www.facebook.com/marthatori
Heather Dawbarn-Robinson: Treasurer Heather Dawbarn is a member of the Community of Christ. She and her husband of 21 years Jake Robinson have two daughters, Sydney 18 and Whitney 16. Heather has a BS in Broadcast Journalism from University of Tennessee Martian. She is an entrepreneur, Regional Vice President Partner Primerica, Partnership Board of Directors Citisolutions UK, Regional Vice President Partner GenStar UK, dual citizenship USA/UK, 2007 Mid South Youth Council Chair, 2007 Community Players Board of Directors-Treasurer, Crew Chief for IMPACT (Youth program for Cedar Ridge Community of Christ). Personal hobbies include gardening, interior design, travel and anything to do with the arts. Favorite books are “FISH” and “A Whack on the Side of the Head.” (Both of these books I re-read on a regular basis to remind me to check myself for stagnation and truly unlock my mind for innovation.)
Tim Sturgis (Pastor Community of Christ):
Fran Mazzaferro: Fran Mazzaferro, Community of Christ member since 1949 was ordained to the office of Priest in 1988, to Elder in 1990 and to High Priest in 1994. She served as Pastor of the Cedar Ridge Congregation 1992 – 1995 and 2002-2005, Mid-South District President 1997- 2002 and is currently Mid-South Mission Center Financial Officer. She has cooked at youth camps for years and received the MSMC award for service to youth. Fran earned her BS degree in psychology from TSU and her MSSW from the UTCSW. She is a Certified Master Social Worker, appointed by Gov. Bredesen, she serves on the TN Board of Social Work Certification and Licensure Fran is completing her 20th year as Associate Executive Director of Senior Citizens, Inc (SCI) supervising staff of four senior centers and three community services programs. Fran has served in leadership positions on several local non-profit agency boards, is a lifetime member of Tennessee PTA, is an avid advocate of peace and justice for all people and received awards for service and advocacy from the TCSW and GNRC Area Agency on Aging. Fran and Joe, her husband of 39 years, together have 10 children, 26 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. They have been active supporters/advocates for Community Players from its inception. Fran assists with costuming, building sets, etc and Joe records the performances with his cameras.
Steve Koehler: Stephen Koehler is a graduate of the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and the United States Postal Service Management Institute, Washington, D. C. He has served as President, Crossgate Property Owner's Association, Cub Scout Master, and former United States Postal Inspector specializing in mail fraud criminal investigations. Rev. Koehler is now retired, but worked 28 1/2 years for the Community of Christ as a minister. He served as a pastor, missionary, and Regional Administrator over two regional areas in N. America. He has also served as President of Seventy (Missionary Supervisor) over the northeast United States, Canada, Europe and Africa. Steve has been a supporter and actor in Community Players from the beginning. He has been one of the quartet singers in Charle's Dicken's Christmas Carol for several years. He has been married to Cherry Lynn Gough Koehler for 38 years and they have two sons, Travis (Hermitage, TN) and Eric (Las Vegas, NV). They have one 3 year old grandchild, Madison Rhea.
Lucas Hutson: Lucas is twenty years old, having graduated from LaVergne High School in 2006. He has been involved in Community Players since its beginning, and has been involved in A Christmas Carol, in some way, every year it has been in production. His other Community Players credits include; The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Fools, Over the River and Through the Woods, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Murder Room, An Evening of One Acts, Around the World in 80 Days, From the Garden to the Grave and Harvey. His theater credits outside of Community Players include; A Mid Summer Nights Dream (Murfreesboro Little Theater), Killing Lazarus (Oracle Ministries), Dracula (LaVergne High School),, You Can't Get There From Here (LaVergne High School), The Wizard Of Oz (LaVergne High School), Christmas Carol (LaVergne High School), Death by Chocolate (LaVergne High School), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (LaVergne High School) The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Lakewood) Grease (Rocksprings Elementary School). He won Best Supporting Actor at Lakewood Theater in 2007 for his performance in The Last Night of Ballyhoo.