Rabbit Room Theatre to premiere 'The Hiding Place'

Rabbit Room Theatre and Matt Logan Productions are premiering a new adaptation of “The Hiding Place” on June 30.

The performance can be watched at the Soli Deo Center on Christ Presbyterian Academy’s campus.

The collaboration will serve as the official launch of Rabbit Room Theatre, a theater production branch of the faith-based creative community The Rabbit Room. Recording artist Andrew Peterson founded The Rabbit Room in 2006 to hold live events, publish books and produce podcasts and music.

Executive director of The Rabbit Room and the managing editor of Rabbit Room Press, A. S. “Pete” Peterson — the brother of The Rabbit Room founder Peterson — has been appointed the title of artistic director of Rabbit Room Theatre. A seasoned playwright and author, Peterson wrote the stage adaption of “The Hiding Place” — once before for viewing at the George Theater in Houston in 2019 and now at the Soli Deo Center.

Peterson originally conceptualized bringing the play to Nashville around 2020 before planning efforts were paused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the intervening two years, that actually was kind of a blessing in disguise, we really did a lot of brainstorming about some of the untapped potential of the show,” stated Peterson.

A short while before COVID 19-related restrictions took place, Peterson invited Matt Logan, the co-founder and artistic director of Studio Tenn Theatre Company in Franklin from 2009 until 2018, to watch “The Hiding Place” in Houston. Peterson was determined to bring the production to Nashville with Logan of Matt Logan Productions to design, direct and produce the show.

“For me, personally, I was just hoping to have a company that really could go to organizations, go to any entity, and provide top to bottom production,” Logan said about Matt Logan Productions.

“I can provide every element, not because I can do them all, but because I have the people for every element from costuming, set design to set constructions.”

Peterson recalled how he, alongside Matt, had plenty of thoughts about how they could present “The Hiding Place” a little bit differently in Nashville, “It’s gone through a pretty serious evolution since it opened in Houston that I'm really happy with.”

“The Hiding Place” is based on the memoir by Corrie ten Boom about the ten Boom family’s life in the Dutch Underground during World War II and their efforts to shelter Jews from the Nazis. Nan Gurley, an accomplished Nashville stage actress will star as Corrie ten Boom. Broadway, film and television veteran John Schuck will portray Casper ten Boom and actress and singer Carrie Tillis, daughter of legendary country musician Mel Tillis, is cast as Betsie ten Boom.

The cast had two and a half weeks of rehearsal. To Gurley, the process is exciting as will be the end result because the cast is mature, sharp, focused and experienced.

“We know what's at stake. This is a premiere for Rabbit Room Theatre. We want Rabbit Room Theatre to win big on this because we want them to be around for a long time,” Gurley revealed. “It’s kind of like an audition for Rabbit Room. So we're very devoted in making it be fabulous.”

Gurley also praised Logan for his creative ideas and for giving the actors the freedom to experiment, “He hires actors he trusts, and he allows us to sort of explore and make discoveries.”

Logan also believes Nashville audiences, both those who are familiar with the narrative and those who are not, will resonate with “The Hiding Place.”

Interesting design elements, such as a revolving stage, will heighten viewers’ experiences and reach new heights in terms of believability. “The turntable allows us to go from room to room in sort of a cinematic fashion. The interesting thing is also being able to use that as a story element,” explained Logan.

“There are a couple of cheat spots where the rotating not only reflects that of a clock, but it also gives such a delineation between timezones of her as a child and her as an adult. It gives fluidity to the storytelling.”

Although originally set to run until July 17, three additional shows were added due to popular demand, extending the stage production until July 23.

“If you love theater, if you want to see a story where people make choices in the midst of opposition and struggle and were triumphant, if you like a story that's going to inspire you to be a better person and thrill you with the truth of history, come see this,” expressed Gurley.

Tickets for “The Hiding Place are on sale at www.rabbitroomtheatre.com. The prices will vary from $25 to $85. Discounts will be offered for groups of 10 people or more.

For the partnership between Rabbit Room Theatre and Matt Logan Productions, Logan expressed that hopefully there will be more shows to come, “Even though we're launching with a really exciting venture, it’s only the beginning.”

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Rabbit Room Theatre to premiere “The Hiding Place”