Chattanooga’s creative scene is getting a new player.

Meet Obvious Dad, a new theatre company that “unapologetically shares bold live performances.”

The new company includes three Chattanooga natives:

Blake Harris, founder + artistic director
Gobbie Dixson, director of connectivity
Alex Miller-Long, production manager

Each has been outside the Scenic City pursuing artistic opportunities — including teaching in LA, performing with Chicago’s Second City, and working in NYC — but they came back to find even more motivation and creativity here, Director of Connectivity Dixson said via email.

The group has 6 members and 2 upcoming shows for the inaugural season at the UTC Fine Arts Center Black Box Theater.

🎭 The shows

Show: “You Got Older” by Clare Barron; Synopsis
Run dates: June 18-July 3
Days/times: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Show: “The Hairy Ape” by Eugene O'Neill; Synopsis
Run dates: Aug. 6-22
Days/times: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets: Available on Eventbrite for “You Got Older” now. Tickets for “The Hairy Ape” will go on sale soon.

🎭 What to expect from shows

Relevant and timely stories for Chattanooga
Connections + an outlet for “unabashed liveness”
Disrupted stigmas about theater, like that it’s boring
Inclusivity
Representation of stories, voices, and communities that aren’t always offered a spotlight
Shows that will evoke questions + make you think differently

🎭 The auditions

Obvious Dad will also be holding auditions for upcoming productions + aims to tap into as much diverse, local talent as possible, from crew and production to actors.

“We want Chattanooga to see people represented on stage that they're still not seeing on tv/film that often or even billboards around Chattanooga.” – Dixson