Meet Phoebe A. Moore | Producer | Multi-hyphenate | Founder, The Nu Table Collective

I’ve always been a creative person and theatre has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember. The first musical I saw was the film adaptation of The Wiz (1978) starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross. I knew that I wanted to do *that* whatever that was. As a 4th gen Nashvillian, I grew up surrounded by music and arts (in fact, we’re called “The Music City” because of Black people – the Fisk Jubilee Singers). My parents always involved us in the arts and I gravitated toward the stage especially. But it hasn’t always been my main focus career wise. I got my degree in Strategic, Legal, and Management Communications with the intention of going straight to law school and eventually helping Black & brown creatives protect their intellectual property. Having artistic/creative outlets was key to finding balance while I was at Howard: fine arts electives, mock trial, and planning campus events allowed me to explore.

When the pandemic began in 2020, I’d been out of school for almost 2 years and hadn’t really allowed myself to believe that I could be a theatrical producer along with all the other roles I know. I believe that when God closes one door, He sometimes opens a window– in my case a Zoom window. The Black Theatre Coalition’s virtual fellowships for Black theatre professionals I credit for reigniting my passion and confidence in this changing industry. The business of theatre is all very new to me and there is so much more to learn but I’m excited for the journey ahead.

I think what sets me apart is that my background isn’t in the arts per se. I am an event planner, I’ve done contracting/admin work, with some non-profit/policy/legal experience mixed in as well. So while I’m learning to put face, names, and new processes together in the theatre space, what I’m finding is that I actually know how to do much of it already. {insert sigh of relief} The hard part is simply starting to put those things into practice. And doing so in a space where I as a Black woman am heard and engaged with – not just seen.

When we think about going to see a show, often times it’s all about the actors or the director, but there are hundreds of roles played by people unseen to get that show from the playwright’s brain to that stage and you a seat in the audience – roles many people don’t know exist. So I thought ‘How do people find out about those jobs?…and why don’t more Black & brown people occupy them?’

Enter: The Nu Table Collective. One learning I’ve picked up on is that in the arts, it’s all about community. And that community is very connected and very knowledgeable. Whenever we go out in Nashville, my friends joke that “I know everybody” but I was raised by very social parents. This project for me feels very much like a grassroots effort to connect Black theatre creatives based here in the Music City in every role imaginable. And it’s more personal to me than just being the “connector” who brings folks in my community who have been producing, writing, directing, and managing among other endeavors for decades together with those artists who are breaking into this industry and want to learn, create, and connect – I wanted to be able to do that for my brother, who is polymathically talented but does not know the first step to publish, license, or workshop one of the many plays he’s written. Understanding the foundations of intellectual proprietorship are key to our creative success. I am excited for new stories of unbridled joy, undying love, and unending hope to be supported on our stages.

A week? Well I’ll start by saying where we wouldn’t go and that’s to the honky tonks… they’re not for *us*. That said, Nashville is (slowly) seeing an increase of Black and brown-owned businesses and it’s important that we support them so that they stay around for a long time. Places like the Jefferson Street Sound Museum, the Van Vechten Art Gallery, Alkebu-lan Images, and the National Museum of African-American Music are just a few of the cultural pillars that keep the flame lit.

Of course, the first thing I’m checking is what shows are playing! Performing arts companies like TPAC, Nashville Reparatory Theatre, Circle Players, OZ Arts, and Fisk’s Stagecrafters put out really great productions each season (and some are free). In the spring/summer though, you’ll definitely catch us outside at Sulfar Dell Field for a Sounds baseball game, the Farmer’s Market for the Nashville Black Market every first Friday of each month, and the Buchanan Arts District Juneteenth block party.

Without a doubt, we’d HAVE to get hot chicken from the OG hot chicken restaurant: Prince’s. No question. Would also have to grab some sweet treats from the Cupcake Collection or Rolled4Ever Ice Cream in Germantown. In the past couple of years, many late night food spots have abbreviated their hours so the newly opened Assembly Food Hall at 5th & Broadway is a GREAT place to grab a drink and good food after 10pm. We’ll always find good vibes at local hangouts like EG+Mc, Plaza Mariachi, and the Local Distro for Monday Night Jazz.

Out east, we’d definitely have to hit the many unique vintage and record stores. I’ve found some of the coolest pieces in my closet at East Nashville Antiques. Just outside the city, we could spend entire days walking our many gorgeous greenways, going horseback riding, touring the Nearest Green Whiskey Distillery, or having a picnic at Arrington Vineyards.

No matter the season, it’d be a packed week for sure!

Lastly, I thank the pioneers of the art form who came before me: specifically Barry Scott, who with his passing in September of 2020, left Nashville with an immense legacy and humble mission to continue — to work with and for our community. Your torch has not gone out.