The company, which took a year off after losing its performance venue at Nashville Music Institute, returned with two new shows which began in April.

The first was At Home and Abroad: An Evening with Tennessee Williams, Anton Chekhov and Edgar Allen Poe, a cabaret-style show that had a single free performance April 16 at the Gaslight Lounge, 165 Eighth Ave. N.

At Home and Abroad was conceived and directed by Jaz Dorsey, who has formed the Southern Writers' Theatre, which plans to concentrate on one-act plays by Williams combined with those of international playwrights, as an offshoot of Razors Edge.

That will be followed by a professional production of Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song Trilogy, set to open June 14 for a three-weekend run at Darkhorse Theatre.

In the lead role of Arnold Beckoff is actor Mark Middleton - better known to Nashville as Bianca Paige.  Current Actor's Alliance president Sher Bach will play Arnold's mother.  The tragic role of the young hustler, Alan, will be portrayed by Daniel Vincent, whose work at The Boiler Room Theater in Franklin has brought him to the attention of local audiences. 

Rounding out the cast is Michael Hughes and Christi Goins.  The set has been donated by Flamboyant Designs and will be designed and constructed by Ron Sanford & Co.

Dramaturg Jaz Dorsey will serve as the production co-coordinator as well as sharing directing responsibilities with Daniel Vaughn and Mancia Davis.

The production will feature two songs by New York cabaret and theatre composer/lyricist Francesca Blumenthal. The songs slated to be used in the production are The Lies of Handsome Men and Cappucing, Per Favore.

As before, Razors Edge intends to produce controversial shows, often with gay themes, artistic director Joel Meriwether said.

''I'd like our next to be (Paul Rudnick's gay comedy) Jeffrey,'' Meriwether said.

''Gay theater is not going to be our primary purpose, but it will be part of the shows we decide to do, in part because most theater companies in Nashville are timid when it comes to this type of theater.''

In April, RAZORS EDGE and THE GASLIGHT LOUNGE presented THE SOUTHERN WRITERS' THEATRE'S production of At Home and Abroad: An Evening with Tennessee Williams, Anton Chekhov and Edgar Allen Poe.  The cabaret-style evening had one public performance, free to the public, on Tuesday, April 16 at the Gaslight Lounge, 165 8th Avenue North. 

The production featured actors Sally Hoke, Jack Hoke, and Amy Chomsky, as well as musical performances by vocalists Rebecca Holden, Cory Ryan and accompanist Daniel Warner. Special guest Angelica DeVille served as master of ceremonies for the performance.  Included in the evening were Poe's classic poem Annabelle Lee, performed by Jack Hoke; Tennessee Williams' The Lady of Larkspur Lotion, and Chekhov's The Proposal.

This cabaret-style production was conceived and produced by Jaz Dorsey, who is also directing The Proposal.

Tickets for Torch Song Trilogy are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, with a special price of $12 for actors with a headshot and resumé

Reservations can be made by calling 773-7130.