THE FRIDAY FIVE: SHREK's Jackson, Hutchens, Sands and Clark

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 actors who will have entertain you beginning tonight in Shrek the Musical, directed by First Night Star Award winner Kate Adams for Dickson's The Renaissance Players.

Tackling today's Friday Five are 2013 First Night Most Promising Actor Rachel Beth Jackson (who plays Mama Ogre, among other Shrektastic roles), Mary Hutchens (Fiona), Troy Sands (Shrek) and Jarrod Clark (Lord Farquaad)...

Rachel Beth Jackson

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? When I was little, my absolute favorite movie was The Wizard of Oz. No joke, I watched it at least once a day. I had this adorable ruby red slipper brooch that my mom never let me wear because she was convinced I'd lose it. We were living in Sweetwater at the time and Hiwassee College was doing The Wizard of Oz. I went, I got to wear my brooch, I cried like six times. It was a highlight of year five.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Typically, I'm a "get in the zone" kind of gal. I usually make a playlist that gets me in the mindset of the show I'm doing, and I listen to that with my headphones in while I'm getting ready. I also try to give myself 15-ish minutes before curtain to go sit by myself somewhere backstage. That's my moment to go over my track in my head, pray a little, and just really focus in on what I'm there to do.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I was doing Honk, Jr. at the Renaissance Center and I was 12 or 13. It was a two weekend run and between the two weekends I caught some stomach bug and spent 5 days puking my guts out. When I got backstage for the next Friday's performance, all of my costumes were a tiny bit loose, but I didn't think anything of it. So we're doing the big opening number, and I'm front and center. I do a turn, and my entire petticoat just falls off. Everyone is trying to kick it out of the way and keep dancing, but it's literally just this big white lump that is upstaging all of us. I think it got stuck on Christian Redden's shoe. It was truly tragic.

What's your dream role? Natalie in next to normal (not that I'm dropping any hints here).

Who's your theatrical crush? I'm sure this will be a shock to everyone, but that Aaron Tveit fellow is something else. But I guess if we're talking Nashville peeps, I have a major girl crush on Jenna Pryor. I'm obsessed.

BONUS QUESTION: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. Well, a handful of my friends know this, but up until I was about 11, I competitively rodeoed. It's such a random thing, but my whole family is in to it.

Mary Hutchens

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I started dancing at two and a half, so most of my life onstage was as a dancer (including a particularly epic stint as a tap dancing shopping bag for a Foley's grand opening). I didn't get on stage as an actor until I was 14, in the chorus of Fiddler on the Roof. Fiddler was and remains very close to my heart, because it was my first foray into theater, and for so many other reasons.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Other than napping? Napping is my favorite pre-everything ritual. If we're getting show-specific, my favorite (and totally necessary) pre-show ritual is stretching. Some fairly straightforward stretches, like ya do, and then also some weird yoga poses to (1) make everyone wonder what is wrong with me and why I'm so awkward and (2) calm myself down. Shoulder stands are the greatest single tool for combating nerves that I've ever found.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Probably the most traumatizing was when I had one of my first major roles and had to sing a big, high, wordy song in the middle of a big party scene with the whole cast on stage. There were three verses. I forgot the words to the last two, and sang the first verse three times. Apparently, the conductor felt that the lyrics to the last two verses were key to the story, and figured I'd remember them eventually, so the orchestra played through the verses' accompaniment two more times in the hopes that I'd get there. I didn't, so between my mortification and confusion, it was the longest song of my life.

What's your dream role? Eliza Doolittle. Please, please, please, please, PLEASE.

Who's your theatrical crush? Sutton Foster. She is everything.

BONUS: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. Until a few months ago, I hadn't done any theater at all in more than ten years. I hope that surprises people - but it's definitely possible that everyone who's seen me since my return to theater has thought to themselves, "Ten years? Sounds about right - she seems rusty."

Troy Sands

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? The first time I was on stage I was 8 years old in a church production, but my love for the theatre didn't come till much later (about 3 years ago) when I auditioned for a show at the prompting of my then-eight-year old daughter. I got a part and I was hooked.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Well, it may sound strange but I enjoy sweeping the stage before the show. It's a mindless task that allows me to walk the entire stage, mentally walk the show and check and preset all props.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? That happened just last year during The Fantasticks, I was playing the role of El Gallo, I walked out on stage and started in on a monologue that I had already done a scene before. In my mind I was thinking, I'll just keep going till I remember the correct monologue, well that time never came and I quickly reached the end I guess that I was so flustered that I couldn't find it in my brain that I just tacked on, "I hurt them," which was only part of the monologue and not even the light que for the next scene. To this day when I see some of the my cast mates from that show they still say "I hurt them" out of love I'm sure. Oh well, maybe only a few folks, from the audience anyway, even noticed.

What's your dream role? It would be a movie role in any move staring the great Sandra Bullock.

Who's your theatrical crush? I don't know? Kristin Chenoweth, or Alison Luff who played Elphaba in the North America tour of Wicked.

BONUS: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. I am terrified of public speaking.

Jarrod Clark

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I have been on stage singing or doing some type of performing since I was a small child but my first taste of theatre was in my freshman year of high school when I decided to join the Theatre Arts program. I was in our high shool's production of Fiddler on the Roof and I have been hooked ever since.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I don't really have a pre-show ritual other than the fact that, for some reason, on show days I will get very cranky/grouchy until I have time to get to the theatre early to study my script or listen to music and then I'm all better, hyper and ready to go.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I can't recall any that have happened during a performance but I have had plenty of mishaps in rehearsals over the years. The most memorable would have to be my very first stage kiss. Thankfully, it was with my dear friend, Emma Jordan, because it was a first for both of us to kiss on stage in front of people and it didn't go so well. Our mics got tangled up, there was a awkward loud noise over the monitors and the other actress on stage with us was just speechless. Our theatre families have not let us live that down.

What's your dream role? Mark Cohen, hands down. Rent is one of my favorite shows and definitely one of my favorite soundtracks. It would be a dream come true to be in that show and especially have the honor of playing Mark.

Who's your theatrical crush? It has and always will be Idina Menzel. I can listen to her sing all day and not mention she is absolutely gorgeous.

BONUS: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. It always surprises people when they find out that I rode horses and participated in what is called Team Roping, which is an event in Rodeos, when I was growing up. Also the fact that I showed 4H steers for several years during high school.

ABOUT THE SHOW: "Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek..." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude, and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand...and his name is Shrek. Show Dates are June 19, 20, 26, 27 at 7 p.m. and June 21, 28 at 2 p.m.Tickets can be purchased at the box office at The Renaissance Center or by calling (615) 740-5600.

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