Touching hearts in the community through entertainment

Victoria Reed never imagined how well her entertainment background and the years she spent traveling the world doing USO shows would prepare her for her role as Director of Performing Arts at the Williamson County Performing Arts Center.

Since arriving in Franklin nearly seven years ago, Reed has worked to add live musical performances. That includes a series of tribute shows honoring musical groups and theatrical productions, four of which she directed. And among those four, two were shows she wrote, including "Sweet Soul Music," which finished in April.

“It ended up being a bit hit, which was very exciting,” Reed says. "It had a cast of twelve. Four of the leads were black, and we had a mixed choir because when Ray Charles did 'I Can't Stop Loving You,' he had a huge choir behind him, and I wanted to do it as authentically as possible."

She has a reputation for doing extensive research on all of her productions.

“I believe it’s my job to not only entertain, but to teach. I call it infotainment. So, I put in a lot of history about the songs, and I did that especially with “Sweet Soul Music.”

Reed has always been passionate about blending music and theater. After graduating from college, the Massachusetts-native headed to New York to pursue her dream of acting on Broadway. But as she started getting traction, she felt the need to do something more meaningful. 

“I moved to New York after getting a musical theater degree, but early on, the journey started getting old. I was taking voice lessons, vocal coaching, and dance lessons, and it felt like it was all about me. I started getting callbacks for roles like the mother in “Tommy” and other things, and I had already done a bunch of national tours and my own show on cruise ships, but I felt empty inside.”

Then, she saw an advertisement for female performers to tour veterans’ homes and hospitals for Christmas. She auditioned and got the job. Her first performance changed her life.

“The front row was mostly veterans who had lost their legs, and many were World War II veterans,” she recalls. “And when we went to sing ‘God Bless America,’ I’ll never forget the feeling I had when I saw those men trying to stand up. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever witnessed. I realized singing for them made my heart happy, and it wiped out the emptiness I’d been feeling.”

Reed took over management of the group, and in the years that followed, moved up the ranks at the USO. She ended up traveling the globe to entertain those who serve.

“It was a labor of love,” she says. “I’m really proud of my work with the military and veterans. My dad was a World War II veteran.” 

She eventually left the USO and became the Bob & Dolores Hope Director of Entertainment at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. While there, she produced, directed, and wrote several original shows.

After nearly a decade in Louisiana, Reed’s father passed away, and her mother became ill, and she decided she needed a change. She left to spend time with her mom and see what might happen next. Within three weeks, her husband spotted the Williamson County opening.

Reed remembers him saying, “I've been reading about Franklin, Tennessee, and it's really beautiful there.”

She applied and got the position, with the goal of helping the small, 265-seat theater broaden its role.

“When I showed up, this was primarily a children’s theater and rental venue. And the director, Gordon Hampton, wanted it to be a more even piece of the pie and offer more to the community.”

Reed has certainly been successful in doing that.

“We’re all seeking purpose, so if you find something in your life that really touches your heart, you’re very lucky. And to have the opportunity to work, direct, and create something is magical. And taking people on a journey is so much fun.”