THE FRIDAY FIVE (on Thursday!): Dog Sees God's Thurman, Heinz, Hamilton & Howie

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, in a special edition of The Friday Five (on Thursday), we introduce you to four young actors who will have you in stitches even before you see them in ACT 1's season-ending production of Dog Sees God: Grafton Thurman (an alum of the theatre program at Lipscomb University), along with three newcomers (at least to us) who we suspect will be among our favorites henceforth: Chris Heinz (who choreographed Circle's rollicking The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Cassie Hamilton and Steven Howie. We suggest you read about them now, then rush hurriedly to your phone to make reservations for a performance of Dog Sees God, directed by Jim Manning, and opening Friday night at Darkhorse Theatre for a two weekend run.

Grafton Thurman

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I was baby Jesus in a nativity play. I felt I knocked it out of the park but no mention on Broadway World. Totally crushed then, but the past is in the past. The first I experienced when I wasn't a shining light on the stage would be a children's theater production of 101 Dalmatians. Much to our parents' delight, the play encouraged the kids to partake in barking along at times. I continued to do so well after the play.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I do a speeded-up version of the play in my head remembering everything I need to do and say. To combat jitters I start doing breathing exercises, get in my character's mindset, then goof with other cast members. Anyone that's worked with me knows that backstage is where I get a little weird. But in a good way.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? My wig cap came apart during a show...my character was supposedly a grey-haired fellow when suddenly a gigantic brown widow's peak started to emerge. I ripped the wig off (bobby pins and all) and said plainly, "You think you got it rough? I'm going bald." Short laugh from the audience and back on the rails we went.

What's your dream role? Leo Bloom. He's a little out of my vocal range but Matthew Broderick's portrayal made the character so relatable despite his quirks. I also kind of lived vicariously through him when he got Uma Thurman.

Who's your theatrical crush? (See above.)

EXTRA-SPECIAL BONUS ROUND QUESTION: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people. Not to brag, but I'm an excellent swimmer. I have asthma so most people think I avoid most physical activity. Then they get whooped when they try to beat me swimming laps. Not competitive though. I'm just the best.

Chris Heinz

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? I played Enchanted Woodland Critter of the Enchanted Forest #3 (out of three total, so, big deal) in a middle school production of Snow White. It's unclear from photos whether I was a skunk or a chipmunk. I want to say that in my head I was a chipmunk, but I also made my own costume with minimum supplies and maximum hot glue. Either way I was fantastic.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? In the weeks leading up to the show I like to make a playlist of music that my character would enjoy. Before every show I spend some time walking around alone listening to the playlist and clearing my head.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? (I don't have any funny stories here - I've luckily never had anything go seriously wrong during a show so fingers crossed Dog Sees God isn't my moment.) During Pull-Tight's production of 9 to 5: The Musical, one of the male ensemble members had an emergency and had to fly home and miss a performance last minute. There were only six male ensemble members and each of us played several roles throughout the show, had a million costume changes, scene changes, prop placements, and we had an all-male tap number. Luckily the cast was fantastic and we managed to rework our choreography for symmetry, fill all the holes, and perform without anyone noticing in less than 24 hours.

What's your dream role? Frankie Epps in Parade (though I fear I am now too old to play him).

Who's your theatrical crush? This question is hard; I'm a pretty bad theatre person in that I don't really follow who's doing what and probably would have said something like "Who is Idina Menzel?" until everyone in the world besides John Travolta knew her. That said: Aaron Tveit tends to do a lot of stuff I like and I would do unforgivable things to hang out with the entire cast of the Pippin revival for a day.

EXTRA-SPECIAL BONUS ROUND QUESTION: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people. Wow, nothing makes you feel lamer than trying to think of things that would surprise people and coming up with NOTHING. Here's a super boring fact: I graduated from Vandy with a degree in mathematics and am a financial analyst when I'm not acting. That won't surprise my friends, but it's probably mildly unusual among the acting community of Nashville. If you end up meeting me and you find that you are not surprised that I majored in math, please don't tell me; no one wants to hear "yes, you seem like a math major."

Cassie Hamilton

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? My first memorable "live onstage" moment happened in third grade, I had a solo, I skipped to the front of the stage during "follow me in merry measure" for a Christmas pageant which was followed by me falling flat on my face! Recovering I quickly scrambled to the next part in the routine. When I got off stage my favorite teacher Ms. Latta said how brave I was to keep going, I knew then that there was no other feeling like performing live, even when falling!

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Aside from listening to jams and sharing in backstage fellowship with other actors, I usually take a moment to remind myself why I'm here, feel my heart, breathe and say a pray of thanks to send out good vibes.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Possibly the moment when I was a page boy in Cinderella and the Prince missed his trumpeted entrance, being a royal servant I rushed off stage to see what was up, no one had a clue, so I rushed back on and began to improv for the first time in my life! "He is in the royal throne room," the King responded with "but we are in the royal throne room." I then squatted, crossed my legs and retorted, "No, sire the other royal throne room." A little tasteful bathroom humor to continue the show and like magic, the prince stumbled onstage, he had apparently fallen asleep in his dressing room! I was about to propose to Cinderella myself!

What's your dream role? There are so many, but Most recently my dream role would be hands down the amazing cross-dressing role, Yitzhak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell or Marianne in the recent Constellations by Nick Payne.

Who's your theatrical crush? Lena Hall because she is such a badass...not sure if I can say that but I'm at a loss on how else to describe her! Also, Sherie Rene Scott but who doesn't have a crush on her!?

EXTRA-SPECIAL BONUS ROUND QUESTION: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people. Um, something that may surprise people is that I can tie people's shoe laces for them only using my toes. I have E.T. feet.

Steven Howie

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? When I was 11, I got to go to a showing of Peter Pan that was happening at my local theater. Before then I only ever knew of the Disney adaptation, and I was blown away by the set and acting. So the theatre bug had bit me early on but I did not get to act on my desire to perform until much later in life when I got a small speaking role in Lysistrata as an old man. I don't think the director expected how dedicated to the role I was since I wasn't even a theatre major at the time.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? A few good vocal and physical warm-ups, specifically when I was in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts as Reverend Manders I was sure to take time to work on pronunciation and demeanor before show. When my nerves are messing with me I tend to calm them with some tea and music.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment?? I once was thrown into a show that was less than two weeks from opening night, and I was one of the main characters. I had to learn my lines, blocking and develop a character so quickly that it was really thanks to the supportive cast and crew that made it at all possible.

What's your dream role? So many! Sweeney Todd, Iago and Caligula are definitely on my bucket list. Really though just getting the opportunity to be on stage in any form is just a dream in its self. But it would be made even better as Caligula!

Who's your theatrical crush? Viola Davis is amazing and I would watch her read a dictionary. Also Nathan Lane is hysterical in anything. Of course Megan DeWald, my girlfriend, is my literal theatrical crush. She is amazing to watch onstage, and I feel so lucky to be with her.

EXTRA-SPECIAL BONUS ROUND QUESTION: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people. I'm actually from outer space! No, that's a lie. But I am a big fan of whiskey, to the point where I can usually tell what kind it is by tasting. So there's that. Oh also I was in the military for six years. That seems to surprise people since I look so young.

About the show: Nashville theater icon Jim Manning directs the final production for ACT 1's 2014-15 season, Bert V. Royal's Dog Sees God, running June 5-13 at Darkhorse Theatre.

"When CB's dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, the target of this group's bullying, offers CB a peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that's both haunting and hopeful.

Manning's cast includes Lipscomb University theater alum Grafton Thurman as CB; Cassie Hamilton as CB's sister; BWW Nashville Theatre Awards winner Justin Boyd as Van; Belmont University alumna Gina D'Arco as Van's sister; Hillary Morris as Marcy; Christopher Heinz as Beethoven; Austin Peay State University alum Steven Howie as Matt; and Morgan Dorris as Tricia.

Curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night performances, with a matinee this Sunday, June 7 at 2:30 p.m. For details, go to www.act1online.com.

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