Rising Stars: Meet Douglas and Annabelle Fox-Tieman of Franklin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Douglas and Annabelle Fox-Tieman.

Hi Douglas and Annabelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
It’s hard to know where to start.  I guess you could say we started writing our story as young performer’s playing orphans.  I played Oliver in a community production of “Oliver!”  in Kentucky and my wife Annabelle played Annie in “Annie” at her school in Connecticut.  It was the early 2000’s and the theatre bug bit us both.  We met in 2010 as musical theater majors at Belmont University in Nashville Tennessee.  Our backstage flirtations quickly turned into something more meaningful.  Although we graduated two years apart and I moved to New York City first we kept our relationship alive and eventually were married in 2016.

This personal history is important because I began writing my bluegrass musical JOHNNY & the DEVIL’S BOX in 2014 with the express purpose of creating a show in which my wife and I could perform together, (also so that I could play the fiddle on stage. A “special skill” of mine).   I was initially encouraged to begin writing by Nashville songwriter Roger Murrah after performing at the Station Inn’s open mic night.  I took his advice to just start writing and adopted the idea that I would keep writing and developing the piece until someone told me I should stop.  That still hasn’t happened.

This musical’s developmental history includes a Johnny Mercer Foundation Writer’s retreat at Goodspeed Musicals, a Drama League Rough Draft Residency, and three concerts at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. A workshop at Belmont University, a music video, winning a Frank Young Fund’s Writers Retreat Grant, a 29 Hour reading with Studio Tenn, and a concert with New York Theatre Barn featuring Tony Trishka, to name a few steps along the way.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A smooth road, especially in theatre, is practically unheard of. Yes, we have had struggles. The biggest of which was, and continues to be, this pandemic. In early 2020 we were preparing to launch JOHNNY & the DEVIL’S BOX at Goodspeed Musicals, the premiere regional theater that first produced “Annie” and “Man of La Mancha.” We also had two other workshops planned in Houston and Seattle. It was going to be our biggest year yet. Then Covid-19 hit. At first, it seemed like our plans would just be delayed for a few weeks. But as time passed and we fled NYC for Annabelle’s family home in Connecticut, we saw our hopes for a successful 2020 production slowly slipping away. We realized that we could not afford to continue living in the New York City area without the level of opportunity that pre-pandemic life had afforded us. So, we decided to relocate to Nashville, the city that first brought us together. It also seemed like a natural fit for the project because this musical is infused with bluegrass, country, and folk music. A major turning point in the plot occurs on The Ryman’s stage. Since relocating, we have successfully recorded and released our first concept album, completed a concert tour, and are preparing for our regional premiere in November. All this to say, we are thrilled to be living in Nashville, even though it took an international pandemic to get us here.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The most exciting thing to know about our work right now is the regional premiere of JOHNNY & the DEVIL’S BOX that will be opening on November 18 at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tennessee. The show is an original bluegrass musical for which I wrote the full book, music, and lyrics. I am extremely proud of this piece. I have always believed that bluegrass and country music would make for an amazing musical theatre experience. I think the buzz around this show’s premiere and our recently sold out concert at the Franklin Theatre suggests that audiences feel the same way. On Instagram, you can find ticket links for the shows at www.johnnyandthedevilsbox.com and @thefiddlinproject. I should also mention that Annabelle and I just welcomed our first child into the world on April 29, Oliver James Fox-Tieman. He is definitely what we are most proud of.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
We love Nashville’s vibrancy. The proximity to high-quality music, theatre, dance, and art makes this town the perfect fit for us. We love the friendly people, too, as well as the beautiful parks and college campuses. What we like least is the challenge of the housing market. I guess we aren’t the only ones who love Nashville.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.johnnyandthedevilsbox.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefiddlinproject/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd6228aJj9I
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/album/johnny-the-devils-box-the-concept-album/1608697013

Image Credits
MA2LA JAMES JIN IMAGES NATALY MOTTA LAUREN FROST PHOTOGRAPHY JOHNY HURLEY INGRID HERES