HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA: Brentwood High's Cameron Bortz

There are some terrific young actors coming up through the ranks in Tennessee, mentored by some outstanding educators who continually raise the bar for academic theater. You can't help but wonder if more seasoned actors are casting a glance over their shoulders, looking at the youngsters gaining on them. Seriously, the talent pool is that deep in the Volunteer State.

What is it about theater kids that make them special? What's that indefinable quality that sets them apart from other teenagers? To my way of thinking, theater kids have more poise than the average high school student, an ability to talk to anyone they meet with confidence and razor-sharp focus. At least, that description certainly applies to this week's star of High School Drama, 2015 First Night Most Promising Actor Cameron Bortz of Brentwood High School.

Smart, funny and talented, 17-year-old Cameron's been active in theater for most of his life and looks forward to a career doing what he loves. And it's clear that he loves performing: "I have done everything from community theater to professional gigs," including TV shows, commercials, plays and musicals. Boasting a resume that actors of an older vintage might envy, he's played The Artful Dodger in Oliver at Towne Centre Theatre, Rodney in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jesus in Godspell at Nashville Children's Theatre, Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Barry in The Boys Next Door (directed by 2013 First Night Most Promising Actor Leslie Marberry) and Giles Corey in The Crucible. He's appeared in commercials for LifeWay and Nashville Guitar Store, the films Hannah Montana, The Secret Handshake and The Giant Spider, and has been an extra on ABC's Nashville television series.

Now's your chance to get to know, the one and only, genuine, original Cameron Bortz...

What's your theatrical goal in life? This is an interesting question to answer, because my goals are very different from other peoples, see the thing is, I don't want to be famous, I don't want to be a millionaire, I just want to make a living off of something I love to do...which is acting. Along with that can come fame, but that is not my first priority.

If you could play any role in any show...what would you choose? Tom Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie and Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can. Tom: Because the character in the play has such a dynamic depth to him, and the play itself is phenomenal. Frank Jr.: Because I love his character of a 17-year-old runaway living life the way he does, being a con man.

What's been your best theatrical experience to date? While I was playing Giles in The Crucible, I had a fat suit on and then an apron type costume piece over that...When I went onstage, the fat suit was too fat for the apron and the middle button popped off, so I stopped in the middle of my line, looked down, gave a chuckle and said I should stop eating, then continued the line..or the fact that I work at Studio Tenn now as an intern, which has been the best experience ever!

Who are your favorite actors? Sanford Meisner...because Meisner; Sean Penn...because he can play any kind of character; Johnny Depp...because his range of characters; and Erik Raymond Johnson...because he is amazing.

What show that you've never seen would you most like to see? Book of Mormon, because I have heard the music, but not seen the show. Or Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Or A Tuna Christmas, because I have seen Greater Tuna, but none of the sequels.

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