The Friday 5: SHREW's Whitney and Ostick in the Spotlight

Get ready for the battle of the sexes to take over Clarksville as the Roxy Regional Theatre presents its mounting of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, which had its preview pay-what-you-can performance last night and continues through the weekend.

To whet your appetite, today our Friday 5 spotlight falls upon Jonathan Whitney, who plays Petruchio, and Roxy veteran Jackie Ostick, who takes on the role of Grumio. Frankly, after hearing their responses to our question, the real show might be in the dressing room before curtain.

Read along, gentle BroadwayWorld.commies, and find out what makes them tick and why you should make a point of being in the audience for The Taming of the Shrew (we are assured there is much awesomeness abounding).

Jonathan Whitney (Petruchio)

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? Playing the Big Bad Wolf in first grade in The Three Piggy Opera.

What's your favorite pre-show ritual? Jamming out in the dressing room with the cast.

What's your favorite, most memorable, example of "the show must go on"? When several friends and I performed The Importance of Being Earnest, we booked out a small restaurant for a couple nights to perform for people while they ate. When we got to the establishment, they had not even remembered who we were and they would not turn down their music nor provide us a place to play. So, it just so happened that my apartment was just down the street, and the next day we managed to invite everyone who had purchased a ticket to my humble abode, furnished with chairs, and pillows, and blankets to accompany the 25 or so people for the most fun and happy performance of the run.

What's your dream role? Henry V would be just lovely to play.

Who's your theatrical crush? Ms. Krysta Rodriguez

EXTRA-SPECIAL BONUS QUESTION: Why should people come see THE TAMING OF THE SHREW? So that they can witness a bunch of extremely talented people perform some incredible feats.

Jackie Ostick (Grumio)

What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? My first taste was watching my Mom perform in these original jukebox musicals to help raise money for my Dad's school. I got to perform in one "kids' number" every year and was just mesmerized.

What's your favorite pre-show ritual? I love sitting at my dressing room table and putting on my makeup and listening to music. I have my own mini dance party!

What's your favorite, most memorable, example of "the show must go on"? There have been a couple, but my most favorite was when I was on the national tour of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Our company van was stolen from our hotel parking lot and we lost every single set piece, costume, prop and sound system item. Our next stop provided everything we needed to put on the show. It was a testament to an amazing community who came together to help. I still get chills thinking about it. Thank you Lufkin, Texas!

What's your dream role? Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd! I'm playing another one of my dream roles this summer and I cannot wait: Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret!

Who's your theatrical crush? I could listen to Colin Donnell sing all day long!

EXTRA-SPECIAL BONUS QUESTION: Why should people come see THE TAMING OF THE SHREW? Because it's aswsome: Our cast is unreal!

About the show: Get ready for the battle of the sexes as only the greatest playwright of the English language could tell it, as William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew opens at Clarksville's Roxy Regional Theatre for five public performances in April.

The Taming of the Shrew follows the comic courtship of Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona (played by Jonathan Whitney), and the headstrong Kate (Margaret Eilertson), who must marry before her more popular sister, Bianca, may be wed.

Starring Eilertson and Whitney, The Taming of the Shrew features Emily Rourke as Bianca, Jay Doolittle as Baptista, Zak Schneider as Lucentio, Michael Klug as Gremio, Scott Watson as Hortensio, Michael C. Brown as Tranio, Jackie Ostick as Grumio and Leslie Greene as the Widow.

The Taming of the Shrew has been the subject of numerous adaptations, one of the most famous of which is the 1967 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Cole Porter's musical Kiss Me, Kate, which premiered on Broadway in 1948, was also based on Shakespeare's comedy.

With a script edited by Tom Thayer, John McDonald and Leslie Greene, with McDonald directing, the Roxy Regional Theatre's production of The Taming of the Shrew will be presented in modern dress to place emphasis on the words rather than elaborate costuming.

The theatre's traditional pay-what-you-can preview is set for Wednesday, April 6. All tickets not pre-sold at the regular ticket price will go on sale at 6:30pm that evening for a $5 minimum donation. The Taming of the Shrew plays April 6 and 7 at 7 p.m., April 8 at 8 p.m., and April 9 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 (adults) and $15 (ages 13 and under) and may be purchased online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org, by phone at (931) 645-7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and one hour prior to curtain). Active-duty military, APSU students and CitySaver coupon holders can receive two tickets for the price of one to Wednesday's and Thursday's performances.

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