NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Thursday marked opening night for a new show, part of a Nashville tradition that spans five decades.

There's something to be said for longevity. There are few things that can prove longevity quite like an audience completely involved in a play written roughly 425 years ago.

"This is William Shakespeare's comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor ," said Jason Spelbring, artistic director for The Nashville Shakespeare Festival. "It resonates today because people see themselves in these plays."

Shakespeare's stories are adaptable. Remember that movie John Tucker Must Die? Based on this play. Yes, really.

"Shakespeare's timeless!" Spelbring said.

Spelbring shared the story of how The Nashville Shakespeare Festival started in 1988 with a small production of As You L

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