FRIDAY 5 (+1) on Thursday: [title of show]'s Bowie, Rourke, Fitzgerald, Medoff & Kirby

Clarksville's Roxy Regional Theatre presents the regional debut of Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell's [title of show], opening this Friday night, April 28, and running through May 13. Described as a "love letter to musical theater" and the people who create it, [title of show] is co-directed by Ryan Bowie and Emily Rourke and features a four-person cast that includes Bowie, Grant Fitzgerald, Jessica Medoff and Beth Kirby.

With tech week taking up virtually every moment of their lives this week, the talented foursome - and their equally impressive co-director - found time to answer our Friday 5 (+1) questions to offer some insight into what makes them tick, what the creative process is like for each of them and to explain why you should come see their show.

Here's our advice: Read their responses to our questions, then call the theatre (the information follows the Q&A) for tickets - chances are, they'll move quickly - and make it to the Roxy in time to see them do what they all do best:

Ryan Bowie (Jeff/Director)

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? My first "live, onstage" experience was in my grandmothers Christmas Pageant at her school. She was teaching kindergarten and I was only 3 or 4 but I landed the part of the little lamb...next to baby Jesus, clearly.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I actually stick to myself most of the time. Due to wearing different hats at the theatre, I never really have the time to sit down and focus or socialize. Some of my pre-show ritual also depends on my mood. Some nights I want to blast '90s pop and have a dance party, other times I just need a good magazine in my station backstage and some nights I head backstage and start the show. It all keeps me on my toes, which I think helps to keep the show itself fresh.

What is your favorite "the show must go on" moment? There have been SO MANY. One of my favorites was on a small tour of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. I was playing Finch and started high above the stage on a window washing unit and I am petrified of heights. The overture started and my cue came to start moving and the lift didn't work. I started the opening song without anyone seeing me.

Here at the Roxy, after a very long week of many performances of A Christmas Carol, one of my cast mates gave me, what he thought was, Tylenol and it in fact was Tylenol PM. I missed an entrance and the rest of the show was a BLUR.

Who is your theatrical crush? Golly, there are so many. Elaine Stritch, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Wilson, Will Swenson, Ethel Merman...this could go on forever.

What is your dream role? Honestly, I am living my dream role. Being able to come to work every day and do what I love is the best dream role that has become a reality. I get to produce amazing theatre, I get to play onstage (although that is going to be a little less frequent), I get to work with and coach amazing actors, I get to spread the excitement and joy of live theatre and I get to work in such an amazing community that supports the arts.

Why should people come see [title of show]? Well, this show isn't produced that often. If you love musical theatre, if you love Broadway, if you love an off-color joke, this is the show for you. You will find yourself in each one of these characters and you will laugh with them, cry with them and cheer them on all at the same time. And the talent isn't too shabby, either!

Emily Rourke (Co-Director)

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? I was in the audience watching my sisters perform in dance recitals practically from the day I was born. However, the first "live, onstage" theater experience, as far as musicals go, would be the national tour of 42nd Street in the early '90s at the Fox in Atlanta. I was very young, but that performance made a huge impact on me and has stayed with me my whole life.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I almost always listen to music before every show, but my pre-show ritual changes from show to show and cast to cast. One of my favorites would probably be during the run of American Idiot. The girls would stand offstage in the wings dancing and having a blast jamming out to the guys opening the show before we busted out and took over the stage.

What is your favorite "the show must go on" moment? There have been too many. From having to kick a fallen can of Spam off-stage while dressed as a nun to wigs falling off mid hand-jive, countless costume malfunctions to a fire alarm going off in the middle of Willkommen. It's all a part of the beauty of live theatre, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Who is your theatrical crush? Steven Pasquale. And Drew Gehling.

What is your dream role? Honestly, almost any role involving Fosse choreography, and any role in A Chorus Line #dancerfirst

Why should people come see [title of show]? Of course, it is a clever and funny show for those who are lovers of theatre and musical theatre, but the wit and genius of it goes so much deeper and is accessible and enjoyable to anyone in the audience. And incredible cast has been assembled, and it's guaranteed to be a great night of theatre. You'll laugh, you may cry, and you'll leave entertained.

Grant Fitzgerald (Hunter)

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? When I was four or five, my mom performed in a Broadway review called Some Enchanted Evening at our local community theatre in Owatonna, Minnesota. From Golden Age musicals up to Beauty and the Beast, 80 songs were performed in this two and a half hour long show. I don't so much remember the actual performance but rather how I would watch the VHS of that show on repeat. My favorite was from the Andrew Lloyd section in the review when they sang numerous songs from Cats. I have since gone back and watched this VHS and it is still the best community theatre production I have ever seen.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Taking quiet time to center and warm up my voice and body is a must before each show. I also take a minute to pray backstage before places to thank God for all the gifts and experiences he has given me.

What is your favorite "the show must go on" moment? I've had numerous bloody noses on stage. Usually I have time to shove a tissue up my nostril before going out for a scene or production number. But there was that one time when I covered half my face 'cause blood was dripping down it.

Who is your theatrical crush? Laura Osnes...or Aaron Tveit..or Ramin Karimloo (I admire the last two more than I have a serious crush on either), but definitely Laura Osnes.

What is your dream role? My dream role is to be Tony in West Side Story. It's my favorite musical and something I have wanted to be able to do professionally for many years now.

Why should people come see [title of show]? What's so great about title of show is that it will give thespians their musical theatre fix. But for those in the audience that don't usually find themselves at the theatre they can enjoy a tight 90-minute show that will entertain with laughs and a quick pace that isn't interrupted by a 10-minute ballet sequence.

Jessica Medoff (Heidi)

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? I grew up in the theater, as my father is a playwright and was also the head of the theater department at the university in our town. I spent countless hours watching rehearsals and hanging out backstage with the actors and tech people. It was the most comfortable and joyful place to be for this five-year-old.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? After getting all the "responsible" things out of the way like warming up my voice and body and getting in make-up and costume I like to jam out to some old school music and dance around the dressing room.

Who is your theatrical crush? Benedict Cumberbatch.

What is your dream role? Mrs. Lovett.

Why should people come see [title of show]? It is honest and hilarious and gives the audience an insider's look on what goes on in the minds of theater people.

Beth Kirby (Susan)

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? My parents took my sister and me to lots of high school plays when we were young. It wasn't actually my first, but the most memorable was seeing a high school's production of Merrily We Roll Along when I was about 12. That's when I started falling in love with Stephen Sondheim. It's fun getting to reference Merrily in our show!

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Rocking out to '80s and '90s jams is an important part of my pre-show routine.

What is your favorite "the show must go on" moment? In college, I was an assistant stage manager for a play with a small ensemble cast. One of the actors got a stomach bug on the second night of the show, and since I fit into her costume the best, I went on in her role. I got to carry around a script, but I like to think I still gave a pretty decent performance.

Who is your theatrical crush? So many! But probably Brian d'Arcy James. It's something about the eyebrows...and the amazing voice.

What is your dream role? After a really long break from theatre, just being onstage is a dream! Have I mentioned my love of Sondheim? Any role in one of his shows would be amazing, but in 20 or 30 years I would kill to tackle Phyllis in Follies.

Why should people come see [title of show]? Not only will you laugh your face off, you'll also see a moving story about friendship, creativity, and passion. It's really a piece of theatre that is unlike any other. Don't miss it!

About the show: To anyone who has ever had a dream and dared to try and make that dream a reality, no matter what the obstacle, the Roxy Regional Theatre has just the show for you: Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell's unique, unusually named hit musical comedy [title of show] comes to the corner of Franklin and First in Historic Downtown Clarksville, April 28-May 13.

A hilarious musical about a musical by people who write musicals, this Tony Award-nominated one-act centers on two struggling writers, Jeff and Hunter, who are desperate to get a piece into the New York Musical Theatre Festival. The only problem is they have no ideas...and the submission deadline is a mere three weeks away.

With nothing to lose and through the help of friends Susan, Heidi and Larry, the duo embarks on an artistic and humorous journey of creative self-expression. [title of show] - taken from the space on the festival's application form which asks for the [title of show] - is, above all, a love letter to the uniquely American art form of musical theatre and to the joy of collaboration.

Starring Ryan Bowie as Jeff, Grant Fitzgerald as Hunter, Beth Kirby as Susan, Jessica Medoff as Heidi and Matt McNeill as Larry, [title of show] is co-directed by Bowie and Emily Rourke, with musical direction by McNeill.

Performances run April 28 through May 13 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Friday, April 28, is the traditional pay-what-you-can preview of [title of show]. All tickets not pre-sold at the regular ticket price will go on sale at 7:30 p.m. that evening for a $5 minimum donation. Tickets are $25 and may be reserved online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org, by phone at (931) 645-7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Monday through Friday, and one hour prior to curtain.

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