Napoleon Dynamite LIVE

Issue #599

02 Aug

In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Weather | Heavy Thunderstorm with a High of 80

📰 Appalachian Ballet Company Auditions

📣 Business Spotlight:  Tea & Treasures: A South Knoxville Gem

📰 Special Tours at Mabry-Hazen House

🗓️ Upcoming Events

📣 We Want to Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

✅ Advertising Opportunities
 

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Today’s Record High: 97 in 1935 — Record Low: 56 in 1895

Napoleon Dynamite LIVE: Celebrating 20 Years of a Cult Classic

Grab your “Vote for Pedro” shirts and get ready to relive the awkward hilarity of one of the most beloved indie films of all time! Napoleon Dynamite LIVE is coming to Knoxville to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the cult classic with a full film screening followed by a live, on-stage cast conversation you won’t want to miss. September 18, 8:00 PM at  Knoxville Civic Auditorium

Starring:
Jon Heder (Napoleon)
Efren Ramirez (Pedro)
Jon Gries (Uncle Rico)

Released in 2004, Napoleon Dynamite captured hearts with its quirky characters, iconic one-liners, and painfully relatable slice of small-town teenage life. Now, two decades later, the cast is hitting the road to share hilarious and heartfelt behind-the-scenes stories in a live interactive experience.

What to Expect:

  • A full screening of Napoleon Dynamite

  • A live conversation with the original cast

  • Audience Q&A, improv moments, and spontaneous laughs

  • VIP experience with cast meet-and-greet and photo opportunity before the show

Tickets & Info:
Visit www.napoleondynamitelive.com to purchase tickets, including VIP upgrades.

Whether you’ve watched it once or a hundred times, this is your chance to experience the magic again—with the people who made it unforgettable. Gosh! Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime celebration of friendship, tater tots, and awkward greatness.

APPALACHIAN BALLET COMPANY Auditions

Appalachian Ballet Company will hold auditions on August 16th, at the company’s home studio - Van Metre School of Dance, 215 West Broadway, Maryville. Dancers will participate in a ballet class with a panel of qualified judges.

Please note the following times to attend: Registration opens 30 minutes prior to audition times.

  • 12:30 to 1:30 pm - Dancers ages 10 and 11 (must be 10 years old by Dec. 31, 2025)

  • 1:45 to 2:45 pm - Dancers ages 12 to 14

  • 3:00 to 4:15 pm - Dancers ages 15 and up

  • Dancers ages 12 and up should be prepared to dance en pointe.

  • The audition fee is $20.

 Artistic Directors, Amy Morton Vaughn and Kylie Morton Berry along with a panel of judges will be searching for dancers with solid classical training, good musicality, engaging acting skills and a desire to dance.

In October, the company’s 54th season begins with a world-premiere of Dracula. The Nutcracker will be presented in Knoxville and Maryville in early December with The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra providing music for all public shows. This year will be ABC’s 50th anniversary with KSO. One school matinee will be presented, as well. ABC’s spring production The Little Mermaid, an under the sea adventure, will be presented in Maryville for two public performances in March. The Senior level of the ballet company will also perform in Birmingham, AL in April as a member of Regional Dance America/Southeast. The ballet company is the proud Resident Dance Company for The Clayton Center for the Arts. Season tickets are now on sale through the online services of the Clayton Center and the Knoxville Civic Auditorium, as well as Appalachian Ballet Company’s website. For more information visit appalachianballet.org or call 865-982-8463

Discover all upcoming events on our Community Events page

Upcoming Events:

The Tennessee Stage Company proudly presents the 35th Shakespeare Festival, Knoxville Shakespeare, featuring two of the Bard’s most beloved plays:

  • Love’s Labour’s Lost
    July 31; August 2, 8, 10
    7:30 PM nightly; 2:00 PM indoor matinee on July 27

  • Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
    August 1, 3, 7, 9
    7:30 PM nightly; 2:00 PM indoor matinee on August 3

Calling all cheese lovers, curious cooks, and DIY foodies! Get ready to roll up your sleeves, dive into some dairy, and discover the magic behind one of the world’s most beloved cheeses. The Art and Science of Making Homemade Mozzarella Cheese workshop is happening on July 31, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Maryville College Downtown Center (118 E Church Ave, Maryville)—and it’s going to be grate. More Info

Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars at Seven Islands State Birding Park as we shine a light on one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures—bats! This family-friendly program is perfect for curious minds ages 6 and up and will explore the fascinating biology, habits, and critical role bats play in Tennessee’s ecosystems. July 31st Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: Meet at the Bluebird Barn Cost: $10.00 per adult | FREE for kids under 5 Pre-registration is required More Info

Networking:

Veterans:

Free Veterans’ Breakfast: The United Veterans Council of East Tennessee presents 14 free breakfasts for Veterans and guests on four Saturdays, monthly, Coffee line starts at 8am, Chow line starts at 8:30am. Locations and Dates

Commemorate Emancipation Day with Special Tours at Mabry-Hazen House

Join the Mabry-Hazen House on Friday, August 8, 2025, for a day of reflection and remembrance as the museum hosts special guided tours in honor of the Eighth of August—Emancipation Day in Tennessee.

Through the program “...And Then I Became Free: Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House,” visitors will explore the lives, struggles, and victories of African-Americans connected to the historic home. Learn about the legacy of the Franklins—a family once enslaved by the Mabrys who gained their freedom with the arrival of Union troops in the late summer of 1863. Their story, and others like it, reveal the courageous paths taken by those who dismantled the institution of slavery and claimed their freedom through resistance, legal action, and self-liberation.

Tours will feature:

  • Artifacts and documents from the Mabry-Hazen collection

  • Stories of local enslaved individuals and their paths to emancipation

  • New research about the enslaved communities in East Tennessee

  • Insight into the transition from slavery to freedom, including the impact of the 13th Amendment

Tour Times: 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM
Admission: Free (donations appreciated)
Group Size: Limited to 24 participants per tour
 Reservations encouraged: www.mabryhazen.com/events/emancipationday or facebook.com/mabryhazen

Take part in this powerful and important program that sheds light on the personal stories of liberation and resilience at one of Knoxville’s most historic sites.

Tea & Treasures: A South Knoxville Gem Blending Vintage Charm and Local Flavor

For nearly 18 years, Tea & Treasures has been quietly enchanting South Knoxville with its one-of-a-kind blend of vintage charm, specialty teas, and handmade local art. Tucked inside a beautifully preserved 1905 home, this beloved boutique is the vision of Jenny Wolf, a retail and merchandising pro whose 30-year career with Proffitt’s Department Stores and time managing an upscale Memphis boutique laid the perfect foundation for her dream shop.

After Proffitt’s closed in 2005, Jenny transformed her passion for vintage finds and artisan goods into a truly unique retail experience. Tea & Treasures offers a thoughtfully curated mix of old and new, from premium teas and accessories to antiques, artwork, and handcrafted gifts. Their on-site resident artist—and several local makers—can even create custom pieces for that extra-special touch.

Guests don’t just shop here—they explore. With each room of the historic home offering a new surprise, visitors are invited to slow down, sip tea, and discover hidden treasures at every turn. Jenny is also a steadfast supporter of fellow small businesses and regularly donates to fundraisers and auctions, often with charming gift baskets or gift certificates from the shop.

They now have three signature teas curated especially for Teas & Treasures by Inner Perfect. From April through October, don’t miss their Second Saturday Marketplace series, featuring outdoor vendors, music, and food—a perfect way to support local and spend a Saturday in true Knoxville style.

Contact Information:
📧 [email protected]
📞 (865) 250-4008
📲 Facebook | @teatreasures07

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