NASHVILLE THEATER 101: Patrick James, April Hardcastle-Miles & Matthew Hayes Hunter

Most likely, it is a question pondered by pundits for centuries: Why on earth would a reasonably well-adjusted, fairly intelligent person choose a career onstage? Are the applause and adulation that come over the footlights from the audience enough to satisfy them? Is theatrical ambition completely ego-driven or are there deeper, far more emotional factors that lead otherwise normal, rational people to become part of a creative extended family?

Over the past several weeks, we've been asking Nashville about what makes them pursue lives in the theater. The answers have proven to be as varied and as unique as the individuals we've approached and their responses to our queries may prove inspirational to the most rational and hardest-edged among us.

Today, in our third installment of Nashville Theater 101, we introduce you to three more members of the Nashville theater family: Patrick James, April Hardcastle-Miles and Matthew Hayes Hunter. Our questions are fairly basic and to the point: Why do you do theater? And why do you choose Nashville, perhaps best known as the home of country music, as your home base?

Patrick James is a multi-dimensional actor/director/producer/singer/entrepreneur who moved to Nashville after a sojourn in New York City. This year he was one of the red carpet hosts for the First Night Honors: Theater is a powerful art. There is no other art form with a higher standard intuitively and in discipline.

Nashville happened as a part of a natural progression somewhat. I graduated high school in Clarksville after living the life of a military kid. Then, after six years of dancing and singing in New York I felt led to Nashville. I knew that I was looking to make my home somewhere after New York, although I wasn't sure if I would ever do the arts again.

The mother of a precocious young son, April Hardcastle-Miles somehow manages to find time on occasion to act and direct for local theater companies: I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, my Nannie, when I was a kid. She watched her "stories"-Dallas, Dynasty, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest-and would talk back to the television and call her friends to discuss the events that had transpired. She was transfixed. At five, I had no idea what amnesia, affairs, evil twins or oil booms were. What I did know is that Nannie was absolutely in these stories. I loved watching them with her. Every gasp, every tear shed over weddings...it was her escape. At bedtime, we would watch The Carol Burnett Show. As much as I loved to watch my Nannie react to drama, I loved so much more to see her laugh...and I mean laugh. Hard. Tears streaming down her face. The comedy I got...easily. I was laughing right along with her. Her happiness in those moments brought me complete joy. I think that those things made me want to possess the power to make people feel. Happiness, sadness, anxiety, hope...if you can take a person on a journey you have really done something. For me that means so much. Those little moments, where they take you and where they leave you...huge. There are performances that stick with you.... Layne Sasser and D.J. Qualls breaking my heart in The Boys Next Door (Circle Players). Cinda McCain and Chaz Howard making me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe in Durang Durang...Peyton Chevalier and William Welch "flying" in Peter Pan in such a way I knew that I knew magic was real. Beautiful moments. To give anyone that is a gift. A give-and-take gift.

I love it here. I started when I was 14 with Circle Players. Brighton Beach Memoirs. After I graduated, I worked on The Green Mile. Casting department. I lovedcasting. I decided to go to film school at Watkins. Writing was my favorite. While there, I was offered an incredible opportunity to move to Mississippi and work on the Coen Brothers film O Brother Where Art Thou. Casting, once again. My internship turned into a paying on-set job. One day on-set I was given a role. The SAG actress playing the part could not get her timing right, and "she wasn't working." I wanted to vomit. I wanted to cry. I wanted to say no. I had been on so many auditions in Nashville for music videos, plays...I was never cast. Here was Joel Coen standing in front of me and asking me if I could "act." I nodded. It was a pretty incredible day. When I came back to Nashville, I knew I wanted to move to Los Angeles. I had friends there, and job offers to work on production. I was saving money and trying to figure out a plan when I found out I had a tumor. Not cancer, vascular. It was wrapped around my facial nerve. I was told that there was a very good chance that one half of my face would be paralyzed. With that, I put acting out of my mind. I felt like I had to. I put the surgery off for a year. Luckily, my paralysis was only for about six months. I was very lucky. At that point, I felt lucky to be alive. I loved my life here. I liked my community; I still do.

Honestly, at 23 LA and the industry would have eaten me alive. I was so naïve. I have no regrets. I had a beautiful charmed moment and maybe I will have another one someday. I love Nashville and I am happy the film industry is giving her a chance. The theater community is still my favorite. There is nothing in the world like doing it live...walking the emotional tightrope without a net. That is bravery. And there are a lot of brave people that inspire me onstage in this town.

Matthew Hayes Hunter, who was a First Night Most Promising Actor in 2012, formerly studied in the theater department at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. Deciding to take some time off from school to find himself, he's been moving at breakneck speed, performing, directing, producing-you name it, he's done it-for theaters throughout the region: I love the thrill of performing for a live audience. But to be a little more specific, it's my vice. My escape. The one place I can go and just get away from everything for a little while. Oddly enough, when I was really young, I had a lot of anxiety problems. I couldn't stand to be in the grocery store, the hallways at school, or around any large groups of people. But I loved movies. And music. And when I was exposed to theatre, I loved that, too. Any field trips to go see a local musical at Cookeville Children's Theatre or Cumberland County Playhouse were my absolute favorites. So, one day, I decided I would audition for the school musical. I was in the sixth grade and we were doing a little version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves from a company that nobody had ever heard of with songs nobody had ever heard of. Anyway, I was cast as Dopey, the dwarf. I was the oldest, tallest one up there, and had two lines...one of which I remember to this day: "It's nice to meet you, White Snow...(turn to walk away)...(turn back around)...I mean, Snow White." And from then, I was hooked. It's like a drug...I'm addicted and just can't get enough now.

I moved to Murfreesboro from Cookeville to go to MTSU. I spent a good few years in the theater department there, off and on, and who knows, maybe I'll end up back there again. But for now, I'm taking some time and figuring out what I want to do with my life. That got me started doing shows in Murfreesboro, Woodbury and eventually in Nashville.

I only recently ventured out into Nashville theater. The first show I did was Spamalot at Street Theatre Company in 2013, directed by Martha Wilkinson. She took a chance on me and I'm so glad she did! Since then, I've done three more shows at STC (Hair in Concert, Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert and Carrie the Musical), as well as getting to perform at Towne Centre Theatre and Pull Tight Players. What else? Oh, I was in The First Night Honors in 2012 as a Most Promising Actor...that was a lot of fun! Being around that many crazy talented people, and being a part of that special night really reassured me that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. More recently, I've been in callbacks for the Broadway, London, and touring companies of The Book of Mormon. I auditioned almost two years ago in Memphis, did a video callback there, and was sure I had bombed it and wouldn't hear from them again (one assumes this when they ask you to be off book and you freeze, forgetting all of the lines you were just nailing in the holding room, and end up with a video of you standing there with your face in a script.) But, two months later, I heard from them and ended up flying to New York City for the first time for my second callback. While I didn't move further that time, I was so proud of myself and the experience...the memories I was making. Fast forward to about a month ago...I auditioned again, this time in Nashville, and got another callback. I was much more prepared this time. Only time will tell if I'm what they're looking for right now. Who knows if this dream will keep me here, take me to New York, or move me halfway across the world...but I'm ready for whatever the journey may be!

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