THE FRIDAY FIVE: Four from ACCC's BRING IT ON, THE MUSICAL

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 you to four cast members from Arts Center of Cannon County's production of Bring It On, The Musical, opening tonight in Woodbury.

Here's your chance to get to know Cheyenne Clark, Shawna Rayford, Allison Hall and Kyle Henry from Bring It On, The Musical...then you can make your reservations to catch the show, which runs at ACCC through July 25.

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? What is your favorite pre-show ritual? What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? What's your dream role? Who's your theatrical crush?

Cheyenne Clark

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I was in the fourth grade at a talent show in front of 400 people. I sang a "Cheetah Girls" song! It was the first of many performances to come!

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I love to eat those iced animal cookies. I've always got a bag of them hidden somewhere where no one else will find them, but I eat like 20 of them before a performance/show.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I was singing the National Anthem at an Elementary School's Memorial Day program. About a few verses into the song, my mic cuts out. So I'm already in this gym and I was thinking "hmm...the acoustics sound pretty good in here. I'll just take a few steps toward the audience and just sing louder..." So I just continued singing!

What's your dream role? Since I'm just now getting into the theatre life, getting this lead role as Campbell is definitely a dream role! This is my very first musical, and it's been an amazing experience so far, and I'm getting to learn so much. And the character of course is so much fun to play.

Who's your theatrical crush? Is it possible to have a girl crush on Kristin Chenoweth? She is so amazing, hilarious and I just love her singing voice! I'm actually getting to sing one of her songs, "14G", this fall semester at Tennessee Tech for a vocal requirement for my major, so it will be very interesting to see how that will turn out!

BONUS: Tell us something that would most likely surprise the hell out of people. I actually really don't like speaking in front of people haha. It terrifies me! I would much rather sing a speech in one of my college classes or sing all of my lines for this entire musical than actually speak! I guess I'm getting over that fear now!

Shawna Rayford

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? My first "live onstage" taste was in high school when I took a poetry class. Our teacher had us memorize a poem and we had to perform it on stage with props, lighting, and music. We invited family and multiple classes. I performed "I Rise" by Maya Angelou. That was the moment I knew I had a passion for theater.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? My pre-show ritual starts with prayer and giving thanks. Then I go around and give everyone hugs or fives to let them know I appreciate them and spread positivity. I then get my script and read over my lines/sing my songs. I end my ritual with stretching, and getting into character. Then I am ready to tell the story.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I have had a couple of these, but the most recent one that comes to mind would be when I was Little Inez in Hairspray at Lipscomb University. Tracy Turnblad (played by my good friend Whitney Vaughn) had a wardrobe malfunction in the middle of a scene that had no costume change in sight, so I used my next entrance to safety pin her back together to finish the show. It was a moment that neither of us will forget, but we both knew that the show had to go on skirt or no skirt.

What's your dream role? My dream role at the moment would be Mama in Raisin in the Sun.

Who's your theatrical crush? L. Steven Taylor - he is so talented!

Bonus: Tell us something that would most likely surprise the hell out of people. I was Campbell in High School. Having to transfer from a small prep school to an overcrowded city school. It was GREAT, but a culture shock. I liked the challenge and it definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone into the person I am today.

Allison Hall

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? The first memory I have of being onstage was probably me dressed as a baby cow (or some other farm animal...I don't quite remember) for a Christmas Nativity thing at church. My "agent" (aka mom) got me the gig. It paid in candy and kisses. Looking back now, I should have negotiated my contract a little better...

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? It's not my favorite ritual, but it seems to be my most common. I tend to think I have forgotten EVERYTHING prior to walking on stage for the first time every single performance. While I wait in the wings, I repeat my first few lines over and over quietly to myself until my entrance.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? When directing Honk: The Musical we had three performances in one day for school field trips. The woman playing the Mama Duck called around two hours before show-time and let me know that she couldn't speak/sing. I stepped into the role completely off-book and became a star in the eyes of 600 third graders.

What's your dream role? I have been fortunate to play 2/3 of my dream roles: 1) Tracy Turnblad - Hairspray: I've had the pleasure of performing this role twice (at ages 22 and 27). I'm now fully confident that I look like a 16 year old girl, and not almost 30. 2) Amneris - Aida: I took a two-week break for my wedding/honeymoon while rehearsing for that one! 3) Lucy - Jekyll and Hyde: In concert, of course, because I'm not about to put my big booty in lingerie on stage!

Who's your theatrical crush? Every gay man I've ever played opposite of, but was too naive to realize he would never love me back...

BONUS: Tell us something that would most likely surprise the hell out of people. In 2014, I was a featured audition on BET's gospel singing competition Sunday Best. I was given two yes votes and two no votes so I did not advance into the competition. I'm still holding a grudge against Kim Burrell.

Kyle Henry

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? In seventh grade I was Mr. Warbucks in "Annie" at my middle school. The best part was that I was still a first soprano!

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I usually do a bunch of push-up's in the dressing room or somewhere backstage to help get some of the nervousness adrenaline out.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I was in a show at Dollywood that performed at an outdoor theatre. We were in the middle of a song when a squirrel got on the stage and started running around our feet!

What's your dream role? I have always wanted to play the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.

Who's your theatrical crush? I am gonna have to go with Barbra Streisand as my theatrical crush.

BONUS: Tell us something that would most likely surprise the hell out of people. I was a ballroom dance instructor.

About the show: "Brrr...it's cold in here...must be some Toros in the atmosphere..." If I had a dollar for every time I've uttered that phrase to my dog, Jessie, when coming in from a cold walk outside during the wintertime! And nothing makes me think of one of my favorite movies more so than that one line from the film version of Bring It On, now brought to life as a musical and opening tonight at Woodbury's Arts Center of Cannon County (watch for my review on Monday!)...

Bring It On: The Musical takes you on a high-flying journey through friendship, forgiveness and determination. Bring It On: The Musical tells the story of the challenges and unexpected bonds formed through the thrill of extreme competition. With a colorful crew of characters, an exciting fresh sound and explosive dance with aerial stunts, this all new story is sure to be everything you hoped for and nothing like you expected. It's based on a really fun film!

To get tickets, call The Arts Center of Cannon County at (615) 563-2787 or go to www.artscenterofcc.com.

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