HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA: Arden Taylor Guice

Welcome, dear ladies and gentlemen and all supporters of theater (both local and otherwise) to our freshest installment of High School Drama, in which we introduce BWW Nashville readers to some of Music City's hardest working teenaged actors. Living in a city made all the more unique and interesting by the creative people who live here and create art every day, we are especially to be blessed by scores of talented individuals who make a night in the theater both compelling and challenging.

Throughout Middle Tennessee, high school theater - and outside theater programs and troupes that cater to the needs of younger actors - is growing by leaps and bounds, challenging all manner or preconceived notions. Led by outstanding educators like Sondra Morton, Mary Ellen Smith, Matt Smith, Paula Flautt, Daron Bruce, Jenny Noel and Will Butler, student actors are making their mark on the theater community, not only in academic productions but in community and professional projects, as well.

Today, we introduce you to Arden Taylor Guice, a 17-year-old high school, whose unique theatrical life sets her apart from others in her age group: She's been a student at Franklin High School, but in her senior year she was lucky enough to gain an internship with the musical theatre program at Belmont University and is now finishing school online. She's also a veteran of Sondra Morton's Act Too Players troupe in Franklin!

What's your theatrical goal in life? I would like to have a successful career in New York, and after that I want to start a children's theatre company in a third world country!

What stage role would you really love to play? If I could play any role in any show it would have to be Lucille in Parade (when I get older obviously!).

My best theatrical experience to date was last December 2013, when I was in A Christmas Carol with Studio Tenn at TPAC. It was a time I will never forget. On opening night we were completely sold out which meant there were around 1,200 people were out there. The whole cast was absolutely amazed and humbled when we went out for bows. Just looking out over the crowd and seeing all of those people cheering for us. It was a moment I will never forget. That was the moment I knew that this was what I was supposed to do with my life.

My favorite actors are probably Laura Osnes, Ramin Karimloo, and - I know she's local - but I love anything Laura Matula does, she's brilliant. That's all I can think of off of the top of my head.

What show (that you haven't seen) would you most like to see? A show that I have never seen that I would like to see would probably be - okay no one judge me - but I really like Bring it On the Musical!

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