All Smiles
All Smiles
For Ages 0-6 and their Families
Presented at the CPAS Black Box
Located in Centennial Park
March 13th-22nd
Fri, Sat, Sun - 10:30am
Saturdays at 1pm
Created by Samantha Provenzano
How do you smile? With your mouth or with your eyes? Does it show on your face or just on the inside? We all have different ways of showing, sharing and processing our emotions. All Smiles is a joyful, interactive performance that celebrates the full spectrum of emotion—because every feeling is a good feeling. Through color, movement, sound, and play, we invite our youngest audiences to explore what it means to feel happy, sad, surprised, calm, and everything in between.
All Smiles reminds us that emotions are not problems to fix, but experiences to share. In a world where young people are often told to “calm down” or “cheer up,” this performance offers something radical in its simplicity: the freedom to feel, knowing that those feelings are OK.
Scroll down to meet our fabulous artists and learn what to expect.
Built For Ages 0-6
This show invites littles to move, explore, and engage however they like! As long as they are safe, they are welcome to move around the space.
The performance happens up close — full of color, sound, and gentle interaction. For our littlest viewers, we make sure the story comes right to them, perfect for little eyes still learning to see the world.
All shows, Sensory-Friendly
Designed from the ground up to be gentle on the senses — with no startling sounds, sudden surprises, or emotionally intense moments. Audience members are welcome to move, vocalize, and experience the show in whatever way feels comfortable.
Pre-show Activities
Before the performance, the room will be open for families to arrive and settle in gradually. Quiet activities like coloring and books will be available, snacks are welcome, and children may sit or move in ways that feel comfortable to them. We honor each child’s pace as we begin the show together.
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Performance Dates:
March 13th - 22nd
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Times:
Fri, Sat, and Sun - 10:30am
Saturdays - 1pm
Doors Open 30 mins before shows
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Ticket Rates:
$10 - Bigs & Grown Folk
$5 - Littles (Ages 0-6)
Know Before You Go
Parking and Arrival
- Doors open 30 minutes before the performance.
- Free parking is available next to the theatre and along the street near the Parthenon.
- Families are welcome to enjoy the nearby playground and open field before or after the show.
- Inside, fidget tools, toys, and coloring materials will be available to explore as you settle in.
Seating and Space
- This is an open, floor-based experience with no assigned seating. We will have chairs for anyone who requires them.
- To maximize space for families, we ask for strollers to be left in the lobby.
Needs and Comfort
- Bathrooms are next to the theatre with changing tables in both restrooms.
- A vending machine with snacks is available (prices ranging from $1.00-$2.50).
- Bottled water will be available at each performance. Families are welcome to take water as needed. A QR code will be available for those who wish to make a $1 suggested donation per bottle, with all proceeds benefiting the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee.
Performance Experience
- Families are welcome to enter or exit the performance as needed.
- Our experiences for this age group are designed to be gentle, sensory-friendly, and flexible.
- Children are welcome to move, make noise, or take breaks as needed. There is no expectation to sit still or stay in one place for the entire performance.
Additional FAQs can be found below.
Artistic Team
Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva (she/her)
Actor
Jennifer is an interdisciplinary performing artist from Nashville, Tennessee. She received her BA in Theatre Performance and Dance from Austin Peay State University. Recent credits include It’s A Wonderful Life (Clarence/Uncle Billy) at Nashville Repertory Theatre; Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (Old Woman) at Nashville Children’s Theatre; and The Play That Goes Wrong (Annie) at Studio Tenn. Jennifer is grateful for opportunities to create and grow within vibrant, supportive artistic communities.
EmElise Knapp (she/her)
Actor
EmElise Knapp is a neurodivergent screenwriter, actor, and teaching artist with a passion for children’s media. She believes in the transformational power of play and has spent the last decade working as a theatre maker doing just that. Em holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University and writes film, television, and theatre for young people. She is grateful to be back in Nashville, acting in a project that encompasses inclusion, accessibility, and joy, her favorite things.
Colin Peterson (he/him)
Director
Colin Peterson is an autistic self-advocate, facilitator, and theatre director committed to inclusive, community-centered work. A longtime leader in Theatre for Young Audiences, he spent 15 years at Nashville Children’s Theatre transforming access, equity, and education, work recognized by the Nashville Business Journal’s Diversity Awards, and now continues as the founding Producing Artistic Director of Little Blue Theatre.
Christen Heilman (she/her)
Costume Designer
Christen Heilman is a costume designer who treats fabric like story ink—stitching character, confidence, and a little sparkle into every seam. Known for body-kind fittings and smart, stage-ready solutions, she blends historical nerdiness with modern practicality. Her superpower: making performers feel seen, supported, and unstoppable.
Joe Mobley (he/him)
Musician
Joe Mobley loves a good time. After graduating from Belmont University with a BFA inTheatre Performance, he has gone on to act, direct, and teach all over Nashville. Most recently he was seen on stage at the Nashville Children’s Theater in Inside Out and Backwards. When Joe isn’t telling stories and playing songs, he loves spending time with his person, snuggling his cats, and playing board games with people of all ages through his company Game Penguins. Learn more: gamepenguins.com
Jo Twaddle (they/them)
Scenic Design
Jo Twaddle is a Nashville based scenic designer, stage/production manager, & artist. In 2021, they received their M.F.A. in Scenic Design from the University of Seattle. They have worked around middle Tennessee with theatre companies--such as, Source One Five, Woven Theatre Company, Vanderbilt University's Department of Theatre and Blair School of Music, Studio Tenn Theatre. Recent credits: Alice Tierney, Magical Journey, and Kevin McCallister’s Fun House & Stranger Brews Pop-Up Bars.
Kyle Odum (he/him)
Sound Design
William Kyle Odum (Harlem, GA; based in Nashville) is a director, sound designer, video/projections designer, and theatre technician. He holds a BFA in Directing (Belmont) and an MS in Nonprofit Administration (LSUS). A founding member of Woven Theatre Company, he also leads Live Audio/Video at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. Recent credits include Elijah Rock!, She Kills Monsters, and original productions include Death Drop! and Magical Journey. Member: TSDCA + ASD.
Coleton Wood (he/him)
Lighting Design
Coleton is thrilled to join this amazing team for the debut performance of the Little Blue Theatre Company! He currently works as a Freelance Lighting Designer and at the Nashville Children's Theatre as the Head of Electrics and Assistant Production Manager. He graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2021 with a BFA in Theatre Design & Technology and moved back to Nashville where he has had the pleasure of working with various venues and artists from around the world.
FAQs
Do children need to sit still or stay quiet?
How long is the performance?
Can my child interact with the performers?
Is the show appropriate for neurodivergent children?
Is the show ONLY for neurodivergent children?
What kind of sounds or music are used?
Are siblings outside the age range welcome?
Can adults participate too?
What if my child has big feelings during the show?
Is this a “sensory-friendly performance” in the traditional sense?
Do you offer refunds?
Additional Questions? info@littlebluetheatre.org
Because play is serious work.
Help us make Little Blue Fly!
