HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA: Ravenwood's Emily Whitlow

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, we focus on and celebrate the birthday of Emily Whitlow, a 17-year-old (or is she 18 today?) student at Ravenwood High School in neighboring Williamson County. A native of New York, Emily moved to Tennessee with her family at the age of 15 and since then she has appeared in several school productions, including her turn as Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello, Dolly! during her sophomore year. In addition she's appeared in Circle Players' bare and Shrek the Musical and Promises, Promises at Boiler Room Theatre.

Currently, in addition to celebrating her birthday (I'm convinced she's 18 today), she is in rehearsals to play Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie and "woman 1" in Edges: A Song Cycle. Ravenwood High is one of the first schools to add a song cycle, along with a fall and spring musical, to its slate of theatrical openings for students and audiences alike.

"I'm also currently in the middle of the college audition process and plan to go on to major in Musical Theatre," Emily explains. In fact, at the time of this interview, she was at Chicago's Midway Airport, awaiting a return flight to Nashville, after doing 11 auditions in a five-day span.

"I'm leaving with a lot of hope as well as an on-the-pot offer to one program. I have two more auditions and I'll find out about the other schools in March and April," she says.

Obviously, it's a momentous time in the life of the talented Emily Whitlow...now's your chance to get to know her better so you can say you knew her when and, in the process, wish her a happy birthday...

What's your ultimate goal? Of course, a huge goal of mine is exactly what you'd expect: Broadway, earning a living doing what I love (performing), Tony Award, etc., but really what I would love to do is collaborate with friends and perform something of my own. Looking at Broadway now, it's transforming into something new. Actors who are sick of not getting work are creating their own and starring in it. Look at Lin Manuel Miranda, Hunter Bell, etc. they're all making art and then sharing it with the world. That's the goal.

Do you have a dream role? Cathy in The Last Five Years. I know, I know cliché, but Jason Robert Brown has a special place in my heart forever and ever. Others include Sheila in Hair, Amalia in She Loves Me, Rose in Dogfight, and Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County some day in the very distant future.

What's been your favorite or most memorable theatrical experience to date? Well, I've had so much fun in so many shows, but my favorite theatrical experience to date wasn't from a show. I attended a summer intensive called the performing arts project this past summer and it changed my life. They're a program catered to collaboration and bettering yourself as an artist. Emphasis in growing through failure and supporting other people in this cut throat business. It changed me in a way I can barely explain. It taught me to embrace failure and flaws and quirks, etc. I made amazing friends through it and also got to train very intensely for three weeks. I learned more about myself and performing that I have from any show I've been in.

Who's your theatrical crush? Oh gosh...this is a tough one. I have so many! Kelli O'Hara is definitely top of the list. Others include Steven Pasquale, Jeremy Jordan, Laura Benanti, Betsy Wolfe, Patti LuPone, Derek Klena, Gavin Creel...ugh the list goes on and on!

What show do you really, really, really want to see? Fun Home. It's an up and coming show that's going to be on Broadway in 2015. The plot is fantastic, the music is amazing, and I want nothing more than to see it live!

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