HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA: Hume-Fogg's Caitlin Oden

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 is growing by leaps and bounds, challenging all manner or preconceived notions. Led by outstanding educators like 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's spotlight falls upon Hume Fogg Academic Magnet High School's Caitlin Oden, who easily could have been the inspiration for every fictional princess ever: She's blonde, pretty, poised and self-possessed. Even her name - Caitlin Mirabel Oden - has the ring of royalty to it (say it slowly: Princess Caitlin Mirabel...sounds ideal, right?), although Caitlin's down-to-earth and focused on her longterm goals in the theater.

A 17-year-old senior, she is a member of HFA's Concert Choir and the select groups HFA Singers and Carillon. Performing with Franklin's Act Too Players since August 2012, she starred in Sondra Morton's production of Cabaret, playing the iconic role of Sally Bowles.

Late last summer, she joined her HFA classmates to pay tribute to their theater teacher Daron Bruce at the 2014 First Night Honors, singing "Maybe This Time" in tribute to Bruce.

Talented, committed, charming...there are as many words to describe Caitlin Oden as there are minutes in the day. Get to know her better:

What's your ultimate ambition...you theatrical goal? My ultimate goal is to perform on Broadway. I think it would be fun to star on screen, too. Performing is my favorite thing, and to be able to share that with the world would be a dream come true.

What's your dream role onstage? I have so many dream roles, it's unbelievable. Just a couple of them would be Maureen (or Mimi!) in Rent, and Elphaba in Wicked. I also think it would be crazy to be a part of the Rock of Ages cast!

What's been your best theatrical experience to this point in your life? My best experience so far has been Cabaret. I had a chance to be in it twice: once as a Patron in Hume-Fogg's production last March, and then as Sally Bowles in Act Too's production in August. Cabaret is one of my all-time favorite shows, and both times I was able to connect with it in a different and powerful way. It was so amazing to actually feel the weight of the audience's emotions as they experienced Berlin's Nazi takeover. The finale of Act One, and performing the song "Cabaret" and the scene that comes before it were definitely my favorite moments in the show.

Who's your theater crush or idol? Idina Menzel is absolutely my hero. I got to see her live at Fontanel a few years ago, and afterwards I waited in line to get her autograph and....wait for it...a HUG! I can't promise that I didn't cry.

What show do you really, really want to see? I am absolutely dying to see Book of Mormon. I was so disappointed that I couldn't get tickets when they recently came to TPAC, but I'm proud to see that the cast received so much support!

To post a comment, you must register and login.