Over the last few years, Douglas Waterbury-Tieman and Annabelle Fox have racked up some impressive stage credits, performing regularly with Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Rep and Studio Tenn – to name a few.
Perhaps it should come as no surprise that this multi-talented husband-and-wife team also has mastered the fine art of balancing their busy professional and family lives.
“It’s definitely a unique lifestyle,” says Annabelle, an accomplished actor, singer and dancer, who grew up in Connecticut and now lives with Douglas in Franklin, along with their 3-year-old son, Oliver, and a Goldendoodle named Dandy.
“It takes a lot of thought and planning to keep everything running smoothly,” she said. “But, we are so grateful for it all. We love performing, and we love this crazy life we’ve built together.”
The couple first met as musical theater majors at Belmont University. After graduation, Douglas worked with the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville before moving to New York City in 2013. Annabelle joined him there after earning her own degree, and soon both were working steadily, performing in a host of off-Broadway and regional productions. But like so many theater artists, the pandemic forced them to reconsider their path.
Anabelle Fox and Douglas Waterbury-Tieman with their son Oliver and dog Dandy
“I think we always knew that we would eventually come back to Middle Tennessee,” says Douglas, a versatile actor, singer, musician and writer who grew up in Kentucky. “We had such a wonderful experience at Belmont, and had performed together at Studio Tenn in shows like The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof. So, we really fell in love with Nashville and Franklin. When Covid happened, we considered it to be more of a fast-forward to Tennessee, as opposed to a set-back. Of course, we knew that this would be a perfect place to continue to pursue our artistic vision and goals – I mean, this area is full of actors, artists, songwriters and musicians. It’s been nice getting to work with so many old friends, and making some new ones along the way.”
Life certainly has been full since the couple’s return to Tennessee in 2020. They starred together in Douglas’ original bluegrass musical Johnny and the Devil’s Box, which premiered at the Cumberland County Playhouse in 2022. They both teach, leading a summer musical theater camp at Christ Presbyterian Academy and working with students at Roots Academy in Brentwood. Douglas is a fiddler for the General Jackson Showboat in Nashville, and just recently established New Musical Theatre Nashville – a creative collective that enables composers and writers to connect and share their work. And this season alone, the couple appeared together in Nashville Rep’s polished production of Waitress, along with NCT’s delightful Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
To the casual observer, such a packed schedule might seem rather overwhelming. But Annabelle insists that it’s all about striking the right balance and being present in the moment.
“It’s important to create the best possible rhythm in our daily routine, especially when it comes to our son,” she says, noting that she often documents the family’s adventures on Instagram. “We try to have consistent rituals at home, making time for walks with Dandy or visits to Pinkerton Park, while maintaining our focus and professionalism in the work environment. With every contract, we sit down and map out a game plan – sometimes, months in advance – looking at how we’re going to navigate various projects, and when we’ll need Douglas’ parents to watch Ollie. We’re so fortunate to have them living nearby. We really couldn’t do it without them, especially in this busy season of life.”
Things may be getting even busier, as Douglas recently teamed up with Rabbit Room Theatre to continue developing Johnny and the Devil’s Box. In fact, Rabbit Room will host a new reading of the musical’s first act on May 31. And, the couple will return to Cumberland County Playhouse on June 28 for an intimate cabaret performance they’ve created, called Meet Me in the Wings: Our Life in Revue.
Another important debut is planned for late September, when the couple expects to welcome their second child.
“We’re so excited,” Annabelle says. “Ollie is going to be the best big brother, and everyone has been so supportive. We feel incredibly blessed to be living this life with so many creative outlets and this amazing theater community. And I honestly think we’re better parents because we get to live out all of our passions and dreams. It’s an unusual lifestyle, but it’s so rewarding.”
Douglas agrees, reinforcing the importance of family, friends and community.
“We have such a great support system – that’s what makes it all possible,” he says. “But Franklin really is a special place. I remember back when we were just starting out, working with Studio Tenn, we’d stroll down Main Street and wonder what it might be like to actually live here. So, this all feels like sort of a wild, full-circle moment for us. We’re lucky to call this home.”