Simmons Theatre Department

TNT Theatre (Troupe in a Trunk)...

 

is an auditioned performing group of 6th-8th grade students from Simmons Middle School who travel to elementary schools in the area providing theatre excellence free of charge.  TNT, established by the theatre director, Delle Kincaid, is founded on the belief that performing arts are an essential component to a rich and excellent education.  Furthermore, that a passion for theatre ignites at an early age.  Therefore, it is the mission of TNT to provide young area school children with high quality, live, theatrical experiences.  

 

In previous years, Simmons’ TNT has traveled to Gwin, Bluff Park, Green Valley, Trace Crossings, and South Shades Crest elementary schools bringing excellence in theatre to thousands of K-2nd grade students.  Productions in the past include Jack Tales (Stephenson), Aladdin (Goldberg), Fairy Tales (Kincaid), and Marcy Heisler’s Dear Edwina, Jr.   TNT, now in its tenth season, has expanded by inviting area K-5 students to view the fall musical at Simmons.  Keeping in line with the program’s goals, TNT will provide transportation and a show free of charge to all participants.  Financial support for the TNT program has been sustained through PTO grant monies, private donations, and yearly fundraising via the school’s Junior Thespian Society.  The administration (Brian Cain, principal) and faculty of Simmons have also been extremely supportive of TNT, allowing students the flexibility to travel and perform during school days.

 

The TNT program is the first of its kind in any Over the Mountain secondary school and one of the only outreach programs in the state sponsored by a public school.  Outside of the TNT program, performing arts at Simmons gained state and national notoriety when they took the main stage at the 2013 State Thespian Festival and National Thespian Festival with their production of Once on This Island, Jr.  The 2022 production of Music Man Jr boasted 110 students in the cast and an additional 42 who sang behind the scenes in the “Pit Chorus”.

 

To provide the highest quality of producvtion, TNT and Simmons Theatre relies on Community partners for Hairspray Jr. include costuming by Mary Gurney (Samford University) and Jeanette Waterman (Theatre Tuscaloosa) with sets by Wheeler Kincaid (Theatre Tuscaloosa) and lighting design by Bryan Comer (Media Solutions).