Nashville Children's Theatre's $6.3 million renovation was a major (and historic) local development, but for high impact and versatility, the opening of Belmont University's new facility gets the gold star. Not only is the Troutt a lovely multipurpose venue in a hip part of town, but it also houses a cool alternative space in its Black Box Theater. Maybe more importantly, the university has opened these theaters for use by Naked Stages, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Actors Bridge Ensemble and other companies in need, thus helping to alleviate Music City's long-standing crunch for theatrical space. —MARTIN BRADY