THE FRIDAY FIVE: DOGFIGHT's Audrey Johnson & Jens Jacobson

Inspired by BroadwayWorld.com's Friday Six, welcome to BroadwayWorld Nashville's latest installment of The Friday Five: five questions designed to help you learn more about the talented people you'll find onstage throughout the Volunteer state. Today, we introduce two actors from Street Theatre Company's production of Dogfight - one of the most eagerly anticipated new musicals we've heard about in the past 25-plus years of covering Nashville/Tennessee theatre - and, judging from their answers to our five questions and our new "bonus round" question, Audrey Johnson and Jens Jacobson are two names we think you'll be talking about in the coming months. So, here's your opportunity to get to know them better, then make your reservations for the show's opening weekend!

Audrey Johnson

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? My first taste of live theater was as an orphan in Annie when I was in second grade. The production was at the local high school and the only thing I can remember is being on a top bunk bed during "It's a Hard Knock Life" and somebody would catch me as I jumped off of it and spin me around. It was awesome. That and the girl who played Ms. Hannigan ended up being our babysitter. Her name was Fransisca but I always called her San Fransisco...

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I always do a vocal warm-up and then something physical with a few sun salutations. I also must have my massive mason jar of water and sometimes a caramel almond milk latte. Jammin' out to the Spice Girls is definitely a possibility as well.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Oh man. To preface this story you should know that I have INTENSE arachnophobia. So I was playing Urleen in Footloose at an outdoor theatre in Austin. I had this super awesome '80s wig that was massive and curly and was being stored in the dressing rooms in the park that also happened to be a nice little home for some daddy long legs. In the middle of the town council scene as I am sitting on a bench next to Wendy Jo (who was played by one of my very best friends who, of course, knew of my problem) I see this little spider start to rappel out of my wig in front of my face like a ninja. All I could do was squeak out 'Terry!' and she looked over, saw the little monster, grabbed him out of my hair and threw him to the wind before the tears started streaming down my face. And of course this was all happening in the middle of Ren's big speech where we were all supposed to be quiet and still. But, hey! I lived to finish the show and tell the story!

What's your dream role? Eponine in Les Mis on the West End. That's all.

Who's your theatrical crush? Bernadette Peters! Her ability to let the audience into her soul from the first words she says blows me away every time. Watching her just be on stage is the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced. I also LOVE Gary Oldman. In fact if the two of them could sort of merge into one human I think my life would be complete.

BONUS: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people! I had originally planned to major in Microbiology but changed to Musical Theatre at the last minute (literally, the week I graduated high school). I wanted to be an epidemiologist and to this day Outbreak is still my favorite movie. I also have several stuffed animals that are shaped like infectious diseases...yep, I'm a weird nerd.

Jens Jacobson

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? One of my first big, memorable experiences that blew me away was when I saw The Lion King in Chicago. I learned all of young Simba's part by heart and constantly sang it in the car, along with my siblings covering all the characters.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I treat the day like it's any other day of my life, but about half an hour before the show, I like to listen to classical cello music and get focused.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Now that's a good one: I was playing Dick Deadeye in a production of HMS Pinafore, and right before opening night my throat started swelling. It got so bad that I had almost no voice for the entire run of the show. I had to tough it out for most of the show, but for the big duet we brought out a third guy to sing my part. It ended up being one of the most hysterical scenes in the show as we played off one another so well.

What's your dream role? I would love to play the baritenor in Songs for a New World. Basically anything JRB is on my bucket list.

Who's your theatrical crush? Awwww that's a hard one, but I would have to say Audra McDonald. That woman could sing to me all day every day.

BONUS: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people! I have been chased by an elephant in Tanzania before.

About the show: Street Theatre Company continues its 10th anniversary season - every show this season is pay-what-you-can at the company's new/old home at Bailey Middle School - with the Nashville premiere of Dogfight, the off-Broadway musical hit by the contemporary musical theater team of Pasek and Paul.

Dogfight originally opened in New York in 2012 and, after receiving rave reviews and numerous awards, made its way to the London stage in 2014. Following its initial success, regional theaters in both the United States and Europe will be mounting productions of Dogfight this year.

Written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Peter Duchan, Dogfight won the Lucille Lortell award for Best Musical. Set in the 1960s at the start of the Vietnam War, Dogfight takes audiences on a romantic and heartbreaking theatrical journey. On the eve of their deployment, three young Marines set out for one final boys' night of debauchery, partying, and maybe a little trouble.

But when Corporal Eddie Birdlace meets Rose, an awkward and idealistic waitress he enlists to win a cruel bet with his fellow recruits, she rewrites the rules of the game and teaches him the power of love and compassion

Cathy Street, artistic director and founder of Street Theatre Company, directs Dogfight, which runs June 5-21 at Street Theatre's new east Nashville location.

"As always, the story and the music are what compelled me to add it to our season," says Street. "The show deals with so many things: judgments about people based on appearance, cruelty and innocence, the Vietnam War and the soldiers who fought it, and the repercussions when they came home."

Dogfight stars Belmont graduate Jens Jacobson as Eddie Birdlace and recent Nashville transplant Audrey Johnson as Rose.

Dogfight runs June 5-21 at Street Theatre Company's new location in East Nashville, Bailey Middle School. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets are available by visiting www.streettheatrecompany.org or by calling (615) 554-7414 and prices are pay-what-you-can.

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