WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Jason Lewis

Covering theater for as long as I have is not without its privileges, chief among them being the opportunity to witness some very talented people come and go from the various stages in my life (and at varying stages in their careers) on the various stages I am honored to cover. While keeping up with them nowadays may be as easy as signing onto social media, their contributions to the cultural fabric of a major creative hub like Nashville (a city where virtually everyone sings, writes, makes music, and/or has a development deal in the works) may be unknown to a great many people now walking in their very footsteps.

More importantly, perhaps, seeing as how I know where the bodies are buried-both literally and figuratively-I am provided a unique perspective on the personalities that have shaped theater in Tennessee for at least the past 37 years (if you count that first show I reviewed as a college sophomore). Today you will be introduced to one of the finest actors to ever walk onto a Tennessee stage via what is quickly becoming our most popular feature series...WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Today, our focus is on one of our favorites: Jason Lewis, who's been in New York City for the past several years but has been able to maintain his connection to Music City through a variety of successful projects, some of which have brought him back to Nashville for another stint.

Give me an update on where you are and what you're currently doing. I left Nashville for NYC with intentions with intentions of continuing in performance and immediately found my true passion in writing. Some people know that I made a brief return to Nashville as a student at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film where I wrote and directed the web series Trailer Made, for which I won Best Comedy Writing at the third annual Indie Series Awards. From this also sprung the cult YouTube series How I Seize It. I also have two plays, Straight As An Arrow and Me&You&You&Me, that I am bringing back to Nashville to develop. I'll begin splitting my time between Nashville and NYC as early as this summer and I was just cast in the role of William Barfee in Circle Players' The 25 Annual Putnam County Annual Spelling Bee.

What brought you to Nashville/Tennessee in the first place? I was lucky enough to follow my parents from East Tennessee to the Nashville area. I'd just left an abusive relationship in which I'd been forbidden to perform. When I escaped, I needed a fresh start where I could refocus attention on my craft. Nashville was a godsend. It saved my life. My upcoming memoir, If You Can Make It There, actually chronicles these years and (hopefully) explains a lot to those in the community who embraced me.

How did your time in Nashville prepare you for where you are now in your career arc? The supportive theatre family in Nashville gave me a safe place to figure out what I wanted to do with my life as I got back on my feet. As soon as I left and began writing, and I missed my friends so much, I started writing parts for them in various scripts. A lot of these folks lent their time and talents to Trailer Made, and without them, I wouldn't have the loyal audience and following I have today. I owe them everything. It's much easier to get projects off the ground in this type of environment, which is why I'm so eager to return.

What's your most vivid memory of your time in the Volunteer State? This is always going to be a toss-up between the first and most recent major events that happened in my life spanning both times I've called Nashville home. In September 2001, I was in my Nashville production, Circle Players' Assassins when midway through our run, 9/11 happened. From continuing on with our performances, I learned unity and perseverance.

Then, as I was finishing principal filming on Trailer Made, I tested positive for HIV. It was a huge personal setback for me and was a major reason why the series rollout took so long. Shortly after, I rollout took so long. Shortly after, I was lucky enough to be cast in Street Theatre's Hairspray. It rekindled a basic happiness I'd been missing and gave me the opportunity to exhibit humility by taking a smaller role and doing our lead' s make-up. I set my ego aside and made a life-long friend in L.T. Kirk, which is far more valuable than applause or stage time.

Who were some of the people in Nashville/Tennessee who had a Who were some of the people in Nashville/Tennessee who had a lasting impact on your and/or your career? New to town and house-sitting for Stephen Henry, I'd have coffee every morning with a headshot on his fridge of a vivacious blonde woman. Seven years later I would finally meet Cinda McCain. Together, we developed How I Seize It on YouTube, which has been running for five years and is poised to air indefinitely. I can't go into detail, but let's just say we have been "taking meetings" lately. Her friendship, mothering and tenacity to stand by me through good times and bad and has positioned me to achieve even acknowledgement for my work.

Also, I owe a lot of my inner strength to my former roommate, Nashville recording artist/actor Byron Rice. An out HIV+ artist himself, he didn't let being dismissed from a Nashville production of him Rent because of his medical status deter him from his artistic pursuits. His courage serves as an example to me of how to not let what life dishes out get the better of you. It doesn't control your destiny. You do. You find catharsis in life's problems and make art from it!

What advice would you give to someone taking their first steps would you give to someone taking their first steps to becoming a part of the theater scene here? Be humble and respectful. I've curbed my diva behavior considerably, but I learned the hard way. You don't have to. Be willing to "crew." You not only learn the inner-workings of stage production, it gives you added respect for everyone who supports performers onstage. Nobody is "too talented" to crew. Drop that notion at the door. Be limitless. Nashville has opportunities for everything and everyone, but if nobody's doing the kinds of things you want to see done, create opportunities for yourself. You could not hope to find a more fostering and supportive city.

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